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The Dragonbone Chair

Book 1 in the series:Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn

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The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams is the first book in the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, following the story of Simon, a kitchen boy who becomes entangled in a world of ancient evil, mysterious groups, and royal conspiracies. The book is praised for its creative storytelling, character development, and intricate world-building, setting the stage for an epic fantasy series filled with rich details and complex characters.

Characters:

The characters are diverse, with significant growth and depth, although some secondary characters might lack complexity.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is rich in description and character development, though some readers find it overly detailed.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is characteristic of classic fantasy, following a young protagonist in a quest to save the world, with rich themes of love and loss.

Setting:

The setting is a meticulously crafted, medieval-inspired world rich in cultural details, primarily around the castle of Hayholt.

Pacing:

The pacing begins slowly due to extensive world-building but becomes more engaging as the story progresses.
ON THIS day of days there was an unfamiliar stirring deep inside the dozing heart of the Hayholt, in the castle's bewildering warren of quiet passages and overgrown, ivy-choked courtyards, in the monk...

Notes:

Tad Williams's debut novel was Tailchaser's Song, which features cats and is reminiscent of Watership Down.
The Dragonbone Chair is the first book of the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy.
The trilogy was written in the 1980s, before many modern fantasy epics.
The series inspired George R. R. Martin in crafting A Song of Ice and Fire.
The main character, Simon, is a kitchen scullion who matures throughout the series, showcasing significant character development.
The world of Osten Ard is heavily influenced by various real-world cultures, such as Asian and Celtic.
Magic in this series is described as subtle and rare, with moments of significant impact when it does occur.
The trilogy is noted for its slow pacing, particularly in the early parts of the first book, which can be a hurdle for some readers.
Tad Williams's writing style is characterized by rich descriptions and intricate world-building, drawing readers into the story's depths.
The series includes themes of love, loss, sacrifice, and the struggles of growing up.
The characters reflect a range of backgrounds and cultures, enhancing the depth of the story.
The book includes a variety of secondary characters that add complexity to the narrative.
Critics note that although the trilogy employs many classic fantasy tropes, it often subverts them, providing a fresh take on the genre.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

There are medium-level content warnings due to themes of violence, betrayal, and some emotionally heavy situations, including instances of death and grief.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance present, characterized by emotional connections and relationships that develop throughout the narrative.

From The Publisher:

"One of my favorite fantasy series." -George R. R. Martin

"Groundbreaking." -Patrick Rothfuss

"One of the great fantasy epics of all time." -Christopher Paolini

New York Times-bestselling Tad Williams' landmark epic fantasy saga of Osten Ard begins an exciting new cycle with THE WITCHWOOD CROWN, on sale now!

With The Dragonbone Chair, Tad Williams introduced readers to the incredible fantasy world of Osten Ard. His beloved, internationally bestselling series Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn inspired a generation of modern fantasy writers, including George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, and Christopher Paolini, and defined Tad Williams as one of the most important fantasy writers of our time.

BOOK ONE: THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR

A war fueled by the powers of dark sorcery is about to engulf the peaceful land of Osten Ard-for Prester John, the High King, lies dying. And with his death, the Storm King, the undead ruler of the elf-like Sithi, seizes the chance to regain his lost realm through a pact with the newly ascended king. Knowing the consequences of this bargain, the king's younger brother joins with a small, scattered group of scholars, the League of the Scroll, to confront the true danger threatening Osten Ard.

Simon, a kitchen boy from the royal castle unknowingly apprenticed to a member of this League, will be sent on a quest that offers the only hope of salvation, a deadly riddle concerning long-lost swords of power. Compelled by fate and perilous magics, he must leave the only home he's ever known and face enemies more terrifying than Osten Ard has ever seen, even as the land itself begins to die.

After the landmark Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, the epic saga of Osten Ard continues with the brand-new novel, The Heart of What Was Lost. Then don't miss the upcoming trilogy, The Last King of Osten Ard, beginning with The Witchwood Crown!

Praise for Osten Ard:

"Inspired me to write my own seven-book trilogy…. It's one of my favorite fantasy series."

-George R. R. Martin, New York Times-bestselling author of A Game of Thrones

"Groundbreaking…changed how people thought of the genre, and paved the way for so much modern fantasy. Including mine."

-Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times-bestselling author of The Name of the Wind

"Tad Williams is a master storyteller, and the Osten Ard books are his masterpiece." -Brandon Sanderson, New York Times-bestselling author of Mistborn

"Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is one of the great fantasy epics of all time."

-Christopher Paolini, New York Times-bestselling author of Eragon

Ratings (89)

Incredible (14)
Loved It (23)
Liked It (30)
It Was OK (11)
Did Not Like (7)
Hated It (4)

Reader Stats (281):

Read It (86)
Currently Reading (4)
Want To Read (146)
Did Not Finish (9)
Not Interested (36)

2 comment(s)

Loved It
2 months

Binabik is a precious smol bean that must be protected at all costs.

Also, I enjoyed this a lot and am definitely going to continue on with the series.

 
Did Not Like
5 months

Gosh... it took me a long time to finish this book.

"The Dragonbone Chair" by Tad Williams is one of those books that you go into with high expectations, and come out of wondering if you read the right book. I saw this book for the first time in a Barnes & Noble a while back. The cover looked interesting, so I looked it up on here to see what it was about. I'm always a sucker for a good fantasy series, so that fact alone was enough for me to put it on my To-Read shelf. When I saw that this series had inspired Patrick Rothfuss when he read it, my expectations soared. Needless to say, I was disappointed.

Our main character, Simon (or Seoman), has no redeeming qualities. When I say that, I mean that every aspect of his character was uninspiring of confidence or affection. He is a whiny, immature, unskilled freeloader whose only purpose in this story seems to be showing how NOT to act, and having some sort of destiny that he is (in my opinion) entirely unworthy of. I swear, if the only reason he is "special" is that one of/both of his parents were special as well, I'm going to flip a table.

The characters I liked in this book were few, but they are there. And to be fair, while I didn't care very much for most of the characters, I can see the potential in this series. I'm still on the fence about whether I should read the second book or not... Perhaps I'll start it, just to see if Simon has a complete personality makeover.

 

About the Author:

Tad Williams is a California-based fantasy superstar. His genre-creating (and genre-busting) books have sold tens of millions worldwide. His works include the worlds of Otherland, Shadowmarch, and Osten Ard-including the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, and The Last King of Osten Ard series-as…

 
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