The Splintered Sun

DNF

I waited till the 200-page mark before giving up. Tad Williams has always been a slow starter, so I wanted to give him a chance to truly get going. Sad to report that The Splintered Sun is not an adult fantasy novel. Not quite YA and not quite middle-grade, the book fits somewhat in between. You are no doubt aware of my views regarding YA works, so you can imagine how I feel about middle-grade ones.

Other than the Robin Hood-esque character, the main protagonists are children/teenagers with all that this implies. Which forces the author to hold your hand and spoon-feed you information about politics, history, etc. The target audience is definitely a younger crowd, what with everything being black and white. This sucks because, given my thoughts on his last Osten Ard series, I was looking forward to something new by Tad Williams. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Understandably, your mileage will vary. . .

Here's the blurb:

New York Times bestselling Tad Williams delivers a thrilling new tale set in the legendary world of Osten Ard, perfect for fans of John Gwynne and Brandon Sanderson

A swashbuckling bandit and his band of misfit rebels navigate a kingdom menaced by dark sorcery and war in this fast-moving epic fantasy

With the old King of Hernystir's health failing, warlords carve up the land and rival factions clash over the rightful heir. Into this chaos steps Flann, joined by allies both noble and common, to help the King’s one legitimate heir claim his father’s blessing and restore stability. But enemies, human and inhuman, stalk their every move, determined to end Flann’s quest before it begins.

Packed with action, unforgettable characters, and the sweeping imagination that has made Tad Williams one of fantasy’s most beloved voices, this is Osten Ard as you’ve never seen it before.

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.