Thanks to NetGalley, Tad Williams, and DAW Books for the early ARC!

I have been a fan of Tad Williams for a while now. The epic world building of Osten Ard is reminiscent and similar to other authors, like Terry Brooks and Terry Goodkind. I remember discovering The Dragonbone Chair, To Green Angel Tower, and Stone of Farewell while I was in college and have since dipped in and out this world many times over the years. To see a new book come out, I jumped at the chance to read it!

This current standalone book (...series, I'm sure) takes place 300 years before the story in The Dragonbone Chair. It follows the main characters, Vedra and Daley, as they navigate the dangerous, mysterious, and magical political arena that they find themselves dropped into. Accompanied by a diverse cast of characters, like the swash-buckling Flann and his merry band of "Crows" and the immortal fairy Xaniko, they must find their way in a world set against them from the start.

If you are a fan epic, fully realized fantasy and whirlwind fast pace, I highly recommend this book! Or anything by Tad Williams! Excellent pacing, excellent storytelling, and hands-down one of the best authors of the genre!

The master is back. Wasn't expected a novel from Williams set in Osten Ard but dang if I needed it! I cannot wait for more of this world.

Definitely a banger of a book. Much faster paced than Dragonbone Chair. Very interesting characters with plenty of action. I think this is a great starting point to the series, even if you haven't read any of the other books in the series!

This was a wonderful novel with superb worldbuilding, characters you want to emotionally support and a plot that leaves you on the edge of your seat and with a satisfactory conclusion!

I have just finished reading my review copy of The Splintered Sun by Tad Williams (the first in a new series based in his world of Osten Ard).
**This review is unpaid and will be spoiler free.**

An easy way to start this review is by stating just how incredible it is to be back in Osten Ard. Having said it before I'll say it again, Tad Williams has captured something truly special with this world. The Splintered Sun takes place 300 years before events of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. You could read this without having read any prior works based in Osten Ard. That being said, having the knowledge of that world from the previous books is certainly nice, though not required. (Moreso makes certain moments feel like clever inside jokes or easter eggs.)

This story follows two young protagonists, a young quiet boy named Daley with a love of climbing and light fingers and a teen named Vedra who is discovering her abilities as a scryer. Both have been left alone in life through seperate tradgedies. One accidental theft later and these two lonely kids brought together by happenstance end up in the middle of a fued between two bastard sons fighting for the throne from their half brother and true heir. Their journey ties them with Flann Alderwood (another portagonist) and his group of outlaws known as The Crows as they attempt to protect the true heir on his quest to claim his rightful title.

Tad Williams has done an absolutely brilliant job of making Osten Ard feel fresh again. The threat in this novel feels different than his previous two series in this world and it shows just how different things were 300 years prior. Rather than the potential ending of a whole world we see a kingdom fueding and how the struggle and treachery unfolds. How a band of outlaws will have to use wit and determination to overcome ruthlessness and staggering odds.

"No, this is our lonely fight, and it is a desperate one. And mark my words, more will die before it is over, some of our own among them."

The characters in this novel are absolutely brilliant! Both of the young protagonists are interesting, well written, and bounce off each other and the rest of the cast so realistically. Flann Alderwood is one of my favorite characters Tad Williams has written. The inspiration from Robin Hood is written clearly here and is done remarkably. I laughed out loud many times when reading Flann's wit. The Crows have lots of charm and great dialog as well. The villains of the story feel real, dangerous, and heartless. One thing I really loved about this book is just how everyone involved in the quest has a good reason to be. You'll learn why everyone is fighting this battle what events led them all together. They may be outlaws but when evil men label you as one, maybe you're not so bad.

The action in this novel is not a constant thing but man is it satisfying when it appears. Tad Williams has not lost any ability whatsoever to write a good fight. And in this case some of them are quite humorous. This book certainly has quicker pacing than The Dragonbone Chair (book one of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn). I love the pacing of that book and I don't mind a slowburn at all but the quicker approach found is this book is just as welcome. Many people may even prefer it.

When reading this you can expect a charming, thrilling, fresh new tale in the world of Osten Ard. Whether its your first time here, or if you've already fallen in love with the world you're bound to enjoy this. Tad Williams really surprised me in his short novel Brothers of the Wind but how different he could make a familiar world feel and he's done it again with The Splintered Sun. I'm very excited to see where this story takes us! For a first entry I am impressed! Not surprisingly given the already impressive installments in the previous saga I give The Splintered Sun a 5/5. It has everything you could ask for the first book of a new series. And now we wait for more!

Thank you to DAW for this review copy, and many thanks to Tad Williams for his brilliant writing! This man's prose is unmatched! #NetGalley #DAW #TadWilliams #TheSplinteredSun

I was totally swept away by this classic, high-octane fantasy adventure. Riding alongside Flann and his band of misfits through a fractured kingdom filled me with pure, nostalgic epic-fantasy joy.