THE BEST FANTASY NOVEL IN THE LAST 20 YEARS!!! INTO THE NARROWDARK/ Tad Williams / Book Review

Wherein our hero Durfee reviews the best fantasy novel he has read in the last 20 years. Into The Narrowdark by Tad Williams. Last King Of Osten Ard. #IntoTheNarrowdark #TadWilliams #BookReview

[@kozad86]

I've been a fan of Tad since the early 2000's. Found MST, then Otherland and Shadowmarch afterward. This return to Osten Ard in these new books was at first saddening - we got that "there are no happy endings" vibe in both The Heart of What Was Lost and The Witchwood Crown which Tolkien discovered when he attempted a sequel to LotR. It was like a scab being torn off, but the more I read, the less melancholy I felt about the state of affairs in Osten Ard. I'm honestly happy we got to return to Osten Ard. Hopefully all the books are made into a series at some point in the near term, because the fanbase for Tad's books should be much larger than it is.

[@CnoacdeTara]

A series nowadays? No, please, they would destroy the lore and its legacy.

[@epicgamer2727]

I’m psyched for this but I have to say I really am disappointed in the cover art they went with especially after Empire Of Grass which was one of my favourite covers of all time.

[@blubablubahumbug]

I read your comment and thought "this cover designs pretty sweet tho", then he pulled the other ones off the shelf and I was like "I see what you mean"

[@danitelcontar9361]

Not only that, the title and author in the spine are changed also. It's infuriating

[@TheTinyTimmyTimTim]

All 4 covers look different, it’s an odd choice. Empire of Grass is gorgeous

[@tkinsey3]

My most hyped release this year, and this only adds to the HYPE METER, Brian! Great review.

[@danbe6280]

I just watched your tutorial on how to protect/preserve your book collection, I liked it a lot, specially the paperback tips, what I use is plastic film, I carefully wrap my books with 1 layer of plastic film and that way I protect them against dust, bookworms and any other insect that could be interested in the cellulose of the paper, it's cheap and easily replaceable, every time I finish reading a book I wrap it up and then place it in my library. BTW your book "The Blackest Heart" its already on display in my bookshelf, it looks fantastic, the HC edition I have is superb, can't wait for the HC edition for the 3rd book to be announced and available for preorders (and maybe with a little bit of luck a reprint for the 1st book in HC as well).

[@davidcarroll9698]

Greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪 Sir. I found out the 4th book of the series is released March 7 2023. Like yourself cant wait and will be getting Into the narrow dark very soon.

[@jezebeltw]

I love the BCR shirt! 🤘🏼 you’re so metal-you rip!

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

SATURDAY night!!

[@eazyecoheed16]

Tad Williams is so good! Another great video! Thanks!

[@dustintbrproblems]

Kind of surprised you didn't lose it over the publisher deciding to not use Whelan anymore. Yes, apparently they decided he's too expensive, and I can't speak to that, but I do hate publishers changing art style's mid series. Can't say I care for the new art either, personally. Glad to hear the book was great though!

[@CnoacdeTara]

Waiting for The Navigator's Children.

[@johnreynolds2512]

Got it pre-ordered from Amazon, supposed to arrive tomorrow. Can't wait. Read Dragonbone Chair back in Jan of 1989.

[@CinHotlanta]

Brian, I am psyched! My pre-order for Narrowdark is on the way right now as I type, and I have also received my order of the first two FWA books (with the third on pre-order). I can't promise that I'll have all three read as fast as you would knock them out, but I look forward to taking them in through the fall. I'm wondering if the split of Navigator's Children, but keeping the name for the fourth, just means that the originally commissioned Whelan art will just be used for that book and there was no time for a Whelan piece for Narrowdark, or he was just all booked up since it was a late decision?

[@personmcpersonperson2893]

Always great to see you enthusiastic!

[@ministryoftruth8499]

Don't forget "The heart of what was lost", a tiny but brilliant book, which connects the original series with this one. Btw you got me really hyped about this one!

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Yes I reviewed that on my channel about a year ago

[@andrewlavigne44]

Well that has me more hype than even before. Nice review, Brian.

[@johnjoines2075]

Well dang, you got me fired up for this one!

[@williamgelinas6646]

Loved Memory, Sorrow and Thorn! Haven’t started Last King of Osten Ard yet….but I know I’ll love it…..and after watching this review feel like I should start it soon! I mostly want to say though that I totally agree with you about the cover. It’s great in and of itself but just doesn’t fit in with previous covers. It’s like the old Sesame Street “one of these things is not like the other” scenarios. I’m hoping that the publishers or author let’s us know why cause it does bother me that this cover looks so different from the other covers……as a collector it feels like I’ve got a different version of the book from the other books in my set…..😬😞🤨

[@kathleenwhowell5731]

thanks for the review I will look into this book. have a great day.

[@Jaredthelord]

Just finished up the Forgetting Moon. 5-star material there. Very eager to read book two.

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Thanks

[@DanielGFreeman]

I read The Forgetting moon a couple of months ago and Parts of it are still with me, calling me to come back to the Five Isles. Fantastic stuff going on there!

[@BrucePGrether]

I'm reading INTO THE NARROWDARK now and love it! Only started… but I'm glad you had no major SPOILERS! I'm a published author too, 9 books in the last decade and more on the way, though some have been in the works for decades! Your enthusiasm is marvelous! But I'm curious: you do not mention and I don't see on your shelves, the two shorter connective novels: THE HEART OF WHAT WAS LOST, which connects MEMORY, SORROW AND THORN with THE LAST KING OF OSTEN ARD. Also the recent BROTHERS OF THE WIND, which connects the previous book with this one. BROTHERS tells the story of Ineluki and Hakatri, which seems crucial to full understanding of NARROWDARK. I wondered why you didn't mention them or seem to have them on your shelf… Peace - BPG

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Ya I had those books on the shelf. Probably to narrow to see them next to the fat books

[@BrucePGrether]

@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS Cool!

[@jayspeijer614]

Wow, great review… I am so stoked!!

[@nickfoster9350]

Hakatri gracing the cover is pretty cool, I though.

[@Makaan]

Took me three novels to finally realize two things: The real hero is Pasevalles: full respect to someone with the balls and integrity to punish all the cast of inneficient, petty and complacent "heroes". Miriamele is such an insufferable bossy bitch :D. Great series, and to be honest even better than the first saga in some regards.

[@axtell500]

I didnt see War of the Flowers on your Tad Williams shelf, I enjoyed it some nice ideas in it.

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

its there. up top

[@axtell500]

@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS ah sorry🙂

[@catcrazed]

Never heard of this author. I am definitely going to check him out.

[@loopeyange28]

Thank you so much for this review, Brian! I absolutely love Tad Williams, and have read this wonderful series. I’m so looking forward to purchasing the latest book! 👍

[@Paromita_M]

But...but...this isn't available yet where I live! So jealous! Great review. I liked MST more than ASOIAF (specifically Tad Williams' writing), I've read Witchwood Crown and have Empire of Grass so I'm really happy that this book is so good. I really appreciate Tad Williams' thoughtful summaries for his readers so we don't necessarily have to reread everything. In my opinion, this series is seriously underrated compared to MST. I hope it becomes more popular.

[@DanielGFreeman]

Dangit Brian! You're an enabler. My Shelvs are full. Can't you understand that? MY SHELVES ARE FULL!

[@alvinmarcus5780]

I just got the first book in the series. And just finishing up " To Green Angel Tower " so I'm ready.

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Awesome

[@alvinmarcus5780]

@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS God Bless ya in these trying times Sir. 👍😃

[@timmcilveen1246]

I only found your channel a few weeks ago and it is fantastic. Have you ever considered doing a review of any David Dalglish novels? I would be interested in hearing your take as he made the transition from indie to trad, which was discussed in your Writing Discussion video with Tad Williams.

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

I have not read any Dalglish yet but I've seen his books in the bookstore

[@CoachMarkBenge]

Hello Brian, congratulations on your success. I want to send you an e-mail about a KZbin sponsorship deal to review a book I wrote. But there was no email on your about page. I hope to talk to you soon:)

[@TMAC_93X]

The parent company of DAW or whatever didn't want to pay Micheal for cover of this book. And this book was one book split into two, so The Navigators Children is set for March I believe

[@jawadalikhan2077]

i think Mr. William said October in a fb post

[@JohnDavisMurderer]

But it's the third book in a series!

[@JohnDavisMurderer]

Yiprs, spoilers for the series, definitely can't just start with the third book!

[@ToddsBookTube91]

Dear Brian, Do you have to read the other books in the series? or can you read Into The NarrowDark on it's own?

[@nikk345]

Sounds great, but does the spine match the other two? We all know that's the real question here.

[@cipriansirbu3699]

I'm glad that you liked it,I have pre-ordered mine today.Too bad that this cover is a piece of trash compared with the last one.

[@Rhuarc1]

(SPOILERS MAYBE!!) Is it just me, or is it been WAY reinforced that the Sithi and Norns are from an alien planet??

[@StElna]

The cover looks like The Shrike from Hyperion.

[@AngryPict]

Dig the t-shirt.

[@tgwtom]

That’s inspiring to hear.

[@burge2695]

Hello mr durfee! Thanks for all of your videos that you post! I was wondering if you had a video about the reading order for these books or if there is one? If there isn't a video could you text me the order for his books? Please and thank you

[@andrewlavigne44]

Not Brian but depends on if you want to start here with this sequel series or start from the original books, but go in publication order since only one is not a sequel: Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy (Dragonbone Chair, Stone of Farewell, Green Angel Tower), then short novel Heart of What Was Lost (bridge between old trilogy and new), Last King of Osten Ard (Witchwood Crown, Empire of Grass, Into the Narrowdark, the to-be-released The Navigator's Children). Only thing outside of that is Brothers of the Wind, which occurs 1,000 years before Dragonbone Chair and is best read when published, which is before Narrowdark, or after Narrowdark.

[@Pillowvp]

How is it going to fit on the Tad Williams shelf?

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Sigh

[@ocarey2]

Is this review spoiler free?

[@jobuckley2999]

I would read more fantasy if there were more stand alone novels. Can anyone recommend a great fantasy stand alone?

[@tgwtom]

The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany on Kindle The Goblin Emperor by Addison Spinning Silver by Novik

[@moonbot7613]

Check out Philip Chases “best fantasy stand alone “ video

[@epicgamer2727]

The curse of chalion & goblin emperor

[@kevinbishop1750]

Warbreaker and The Hobbit would be great ones to try. Those two alone jump started my love for fantasy novels.

[@jobuckley2999]

@@tgwtom Thanks.

[@dandrum1ify]

Are you gonna read Brian McClellan's In The Shadow of Lightning?

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Not sure

[@dandrum1ify]

Just curious haha

[@philip3572]

does this end on a cliffhanger?

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Ya