Tad Williams - Shadowheart

The conclusion of Williams’ four-volume saga opens with an array of creatures converging on Southmarch: the Funderlings from below, the Qar from in front, traitors to King Olin from within, and the autarch of Xis from overseas. Prince Barrick struggles to retain his sanity after accepting the powers of the Qar king; King Olin, a captive of the autarch, does his best to slay his captor before that mad monarch can carry out his plan to challenge the gods; and Princess Briony is still with Prince Eneas, who brought an allied army to Southmarch. The plot springs from climax to climax as intrigues and secrets are unwound and revealed. The greatest danger is the autarch’s folly, for in seeking to become a god he arouses Zosim the Trickster, a highly destructive deity. Zosim is defeated at great cost, but the bloody messes he leaves require an immense tidy-up. Anyone who has read the first three novels should have no trouble following the multiple characters and shifting viewpoints. For those who have not, a synopsis is provided. The pacing is noteworthy, and with so many characters, naturally the quality varies; but the best drawn are well done. High-Demand Backstory: The previous volumes in the series have been best-sellers, and with eager reader anticipation of the concluding volume, publisher push will be made obvious.