Brothers of the Wind is a new novel set in the world of Osten Ard by Tad Williams. Released 2nd Nov 2021 by Penguin Random House on their DAW imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
There are so many tie-ins to the other books set in this richly imagined and amazingly detailed world, that while it would be *possible* to read and understand this book out of context, much of the detail would be lost. I heartily recommend reading the other books in the Last King trilogy starting with The Witchwood Crown. Much of the action in this book foreshadows parts of the other books (the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy) and the world building is so well wrought that they form a cohesive whole mythology to rival Tolkein. Every part of the world is well thought out and three dimensional.
This is a solemnly written book which I found quite melancholy in places. The prose is masterfully wrought, however, and I found it moving.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 12 hours and 17 minutes and is capably narrated by the author himself. Sound and production quality were high throughout the recording.
Four and a half stars. Beautifully written and often grim, but ultimately a wonderful read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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