Description

The third book of The Last King of Osten Ard!

‘Inspired me to write my own seven-book trilogy. It’s one of my favourite fantasy series’ GEORGE R. R. MARTIN

‘A master storyteller, and the Osten Ard books are his masterpiece’ BRANDON SANDERSON

‘Paved the way for so much modern fantasy. Including mine’ PATRICK ROTHFUSS

‘One of the great fantasy epics of all time’ CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI

The High Throne of Erkynland is tottering, its royal family divided and diminished. Queen Miriamele has been caught up in a brutal rebellion in the south and thought to have died in a fiery attack. Her grandson Morgan, heir to the throne, has been captured by one of Utuk’ku’s soldiers in the ruins of an abandoned city. Miriamele’s husband, King Simon, is overwhelmed by grief and hopelessness, unaware that many of these terrible things have been caused by Pasevalles, a murderous traitor inside Simon’s own court at the Hayholt.

Meanwhile, a deadly army of Norns led by the ageless, vengeful Queen Utuk’ku, has swept into Erkynland and thrown down the fortress of Naglimund, slaughtering the inhabitants and digging up the ancient grave of Ruyan the Navigator. Utuk’ku plans to use the Navigator’s fabled armor to call up the spirit of Hakatri, the evil Storm King’s brother.

Even the Sithi, fairy-kin to the Norns, are helpless to stop Utuk’ku’s triumph as her armies simultaneously march on the Hayholt and force their way into the forbidden, ogre-guarded valley of Tanakiru – the Narrowdark – where a secret waits that might bring Simon’s people and their Sithi allies salvation – or doom.

Publisher Review

Tad Williams is a master storyteller, and the Osten Ard books are his masterpiece. Williams' return to Osten Ard is every bit as compelling, deep, and fully-rendered as the first trilogy, and he continues to write with the experience and polish of an author at the top of his game * BRANDON SANDERSON, #1 NEW YORK TIMES-BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE * Not just utterly readable-an instant fantasy classic * KIRKUS REVIEWS (STARRED) * An engrossing epic, mixing adventure, intrigue, magic, and some fascinating new characters * LOCUS * With this book, The Last King of Osten Ard has achieved the greatest possible feat for a sequel: that is, I can no longer imagine the originals without it * TOR.COM * It's quite the tapestry that Tad Williams has woven. If you like fantasy that doesn't hit you over the head with magic spells, or world-spanning tales with numerous rich characters, you'll enjoy what Williams has brought to the table here. I know I did * DEN OF GEEK * Readers new to Osten Ard will quickly be absorbed by the political intrigue, rich description and complex characterization that makes the author stand out in a sea of writers inspired by his work * RT REVIEWS (TOP PICK) * The Witchwood Crown is an easy recommend to both new readers and fans of Williams: a great start to what could be a new classic trilogy * STRANGE COUNTRY * The Witchwood Crown is a weighty, emotional, and engrossing launch to The Last King of Osten Ard * SFF WORLD *