To Green Angel Tower by Tad Williams Book Review & Reaction | How Every Fantasy Ending Should Be

[@Avarn388]

This book was fantastic! Yes it has its slow moments but so many elements were resolved so well. And definitely I felt sad when it was over. Tad Williams definitely is in my favorite fantasy writers. His prose is masterful.

[@zachw755]

Good review! I was born around the time this series was being finished and picked it up in my early teens, along with many of Tad's other series (Otherland, Shadow lands, War of the Roses, eventually the Bobby Dollar books), and I've loved them all. He was kind of my first foray into grand and epic stories. Huge Tad Williams fan and I'm happy to see him get some appreciation! Also, yeah, read Otherland. It's wild and crazy, sometimes a little slow, someone's extremely unsettling, but it's an incredible work of Scifi/Fantasy, in my mind at least.

[@annarien4333]

I had to run here immediately after finishing the book, to thank you for bringing these books to my attention and to slowclap at everything you say about it. Because SO MUCH STRONG AGREE. Especially about the love for the side characters (my softest spot is for Isgrimnur). I'm going to read the rest of the Osten Ard books ASAP and I hope you're going to review those as well, at some point.

[@Kellen81]

Thanks as always! I struggled to get through this one but it was well worth it. The book dragged for me in the beginning but I was so happy with how things came together. The last scene with Rachel the Dragon was so satisfying.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, that reunion was special.

[@JLchevz]

I'm glad you liked it Mike, Tad is such a fantastic author.

[@nickfoster9350]

This trilogy is a masterpiece, in my opinion. The pacing is top notch; I enjoyed the slower moments when the scene basically travelling/exploring and just characters talking amongst themselves. What I also really like is that it's not riddled with nonstop, super gory battle scenes every thirty pages or so. "The Last King of Osten Ard" is equally as good, too. I'm on the fence about this series (one of my most beloved series of time) being made into a tv show or movie. I just don't want to see it butchered just to please couch potatoes that never read it.

[@kirstenholmes6]

I'm so glad you enjoyed these books! Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is one of my all time favorites. This was recommended to me a long time ago after I finished ASOIAF and was looking for something to read waiting for the Winds of Winter. I'm still waiting for Winds, but there is a lot of good fantasy out there to pass the time!

[@ahojahojish]

I don’t believe we will get the last book by Martin. He lost it, he lost the connection to the world of westeros, his mind is not in it anymore, he’s not motivated anymore and he doesn’t enjoy it anymore, he has too Many distractions and other things on his mind, that he can’t finish the damn book. He has a block. The book will never be finished unfortunately.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, all these series I discovered was while waiting for Winds. Dammit.

[@asfaloth12]

First of all, I love the shirt! It has been great to see somebody on Booktube read and discuss this book. It definitely deserves more love on here! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

[@DuckRon626]

To Green Angel Tower is definitely a book for me to read. I’ve read The Dragonbone Chair and Stone of Farewell, so, I’m going to finish Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. So far, it’s a favorite fantasy series for me.

[@JoeMama410]

I would love to hear another spoiler discussion like you did for book 1. Also, I’m really enjoying the sequel trilogy. He really upped the political game. Book 3 comes out today

[@thesmuli83]

Hey. Great that you, too, Mike like this legendary series👏 When the series was translated into Finnish. It became a 12-part series🤓 Which I think is a good solution. I have been trying to find a series for myself for several years. So far, I’ve been content with the library’s books 😁

[@mikesbookreviews]

12 parts, huh? Wow!

[@Ulmo90]

Crazy that it was translated to Finnish and to a 12 part series. I usually read Fantasy in English since only the most popular series get translated to Swedish or Finnish

[@thesmuli83]

@@mikesbookreviewsYep 12 books. Here are their names in Finnish. The Dragonbone Chair B1 1. Velhon oppipoika 2. Kruununperilline 3. Miekan mahti The Stone of Farewell B2 4. Myrskyn silmä 5. Pimeyden käsi 6. Jäähyväisten kivi To Green Angel Tower B3 7. Piiritetty kivi 8. Korppien tanssi 9. Torven taika 10. Liekkien loimu 11. Varjojen vanki 12. Vihreän enkelin torni You can find the cover images of the books with the Finnish name🤓

[@joebarrera334]

Fantastic series! I plan to pick up the other books in Osten Ard sometime in the near future. Only gripe with TGAT was that the climax felt just a little too short---it's very much a product of its time in that regard. Like you said many times, this book pioneered modern fantasy while keeping a foot in the classic stuff. The climax felt old hat, very Tolkien-esque. Otherwise, just a joy. Thanks for the thoughtful review!

[@wardo1602]

Great review Mike! I'm loving the light you are shining on this classic. I found myself appreciating Simon more and more, and by the end I was emotionally invested in his trials and victories. I've also read Otherland, although it's a very different experience, so I hope you enjoy it as well. The Whelan covers for those books are excellent.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I think Tad is a talented enough author I’m almost positive I’ll like it.

[@mimimayhem]

Can't wait to get to MST Book 3! Thanks for this review, Mike!

[@mikesbookreviews]

You bet! Hope you enjoy.

[@dinocollins720]

finally finished yesterday!!!

[@CD287-]

Sludig! This was quite a journey! So glad after all this time it was a win for you! :)

[@dpeady78]

Like you I spent the latter parts of the final book thinking “this would make for spectacular Movie/TV show if done right Really enjoyed it and after having finished book 1 over a year ago, thanks for helping me finish the series off

[@mikesbookreviews]

Happy to encourage, as always.

[@therealdavemg5511]

It was a blast reading and sharing and reading everyone's thoughts in the read along. I basically agree with all the pros and cons you address and this book had one of my favorite animinal companions. Thanks for doing the read along!

[@abnushagnasty805]

I really didn’t like how he wrote Miriamele and Maegwin. But with that said, I agree that Williams stuck the landing at the end. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ugh, Maegwin.

[@holybaldness8047]

Hmmmmmmmmmm............I think I will re-read this, you make it sound exciting.............I remember this one, that first book was a real page snoozer, everytime I pick it up, I doze off. Thank you Mike!!!

[@Jane-w]

I'm so glad you started a readalong for MST. I would never have picked it up otherwise and it's definitely one of my top 10 series now.

[@tadreadsbooksstuff]

So glad you were able to finally read Tad Williams! I think you will really dig the Otherland books as well!

[@MrTheCDCRASH]

One of my favorite Books! Such an emotional ride. Glad that you have finally discovered this classic and enjoyed it 🥳

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, same here. A great ride.

[@Irishdazza]

@@mikesbookreviews my bad. Was sure you wouldn't like it. For me it just kept promising and never delivered.

[@thomaskittock2866]

I just finished it today. I think I read about 80% in around a week, before I kept picking it up, putting it down, etc. Probably for about 8 months. Finally decided to bang it out! 4 stars, some parts really exasperated me and others were an absolute thrill-ride.

[@nagamata]

Throughout the whole story I kept thinking MS&T would make an incredible anime series. I think the imagery and emotional depth of the story is beautifully suited to the typical stylings of anime; it translates clearly and easily in my mind’s eye, as it it was meant for it. Anime can do epic unlike any other medium.

[@KingBowserVlog]

I wanna add that 'To Green Angel Tower' is such a cool name for a book. It just sounds urgent. Ever since I saw that name years ago I was fascinated by it, for some reason. It's the fact that during the first 10 pages of Dragonbone Chair Green Angel Tower is mentioned and you just see that final book title and you get excited for what's to come. What could be so important about that tower? Just wanted to point that out

[@knittymama570]

I never would've known about this series if not for you and your channel and discord. I very much enjoyed it, even though certain parts dragged on a bit. But thankfully that didn't happen over much. Can't wait to join you for Codex Alera. Another new to me series.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Looking forward to it!

[@Sammy00_]

After decades, I still have nightmares of this great series. The three books were split into twelve, when they were published in Finnish. About twice a year I got a slice of a book, full price of course, without it containing a proper story structure -- which is to be expected for just a few off-plucked chapters of the original books.

[@alexfrederick3404]

Great review. I'll be reading the sequel trilogy. I just read The Heart of what was lost, and it was a good, short follow up. It's definitely not to be read fast ... definitely about the journey.

[@CallmeJochem]

Finished it myself this week! Really enjoyed it and definitely found it the best out of the 3. It had a very interesting plot and I loved the characters! I only had 2 major problems. One concerning a characters' death and one concerning the villain. But overall it was really really good! I'm now onto some shorter books.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Guthwulf's conclusion was my least favorite part.

[@tantepacko3009]

Isorn's death made me cry. It Was so senseless and I felt so sorry for Isgrimnur and his wife

[@sjkrum320]

We should be starting this book in a week or so. Really glad to hear the ending is great. I'd love it if you did another talk video with Madison about the whole series. 😃

[@mikesbookreviews]

Not sure if we're going to do a spoiler talk or not.

[@sharinray2698]

Tad Williams is one of...no, no qualifiers, he's the best writer I have ever read in any genre. I'm sure my opinion means little to nothing to most, but there it is. I have read and/or listened to this series countless times over the last 20+ years and have never understood how Tad Williams or this series has avoided becoming a household name over all that time. I admit to some resentment toward authors like GRRM who have found so much success by (from my perspective, having been familiar with these books) riding Tads coat tails. But I do my best to follow Tads example and be gracious and open minded about it. I hope you enjoy the follow up series. I was worried when I started them bc at first it felt like he was just going to rehash the same story...but as you get deeper into the books and revelations it becomes clear that is not the case. If you get a chance to listen to the stories Andrew Wincott does a magnificent job narrating. Tad aged the characters so well, they are older, but still familiar. I feel like Andrew's fantastic narration from one series to the next amplifies how masterfully Tad accomplished this...I hear what a lot of people say about not enjoying parts of the books that drag on like Simon wandering in the tunnels, but I always felt like that was the point...I mean I agree with those people, I didn't enjoy it, but I didnt think I was supposed to, like... that was Tads intention. So even though it was tedious I stayed with Simon through it all. If that makes sense. Anyway, thank you for bringing the series to more peoples attention. I cant wait for the Navigators Children, so many questions to be answered!

[@fernandogarcia3957]

Oh! And I hope we get the spoiler video of this one. Also would be fantastic if you comment the homages and ideas GRRM took from MS&T. Cheers Mike!!

[@theoa126]

Great review! Still working my way through TGAT! Enjoying it :)

[@NoiseFetish]

I used to borrow the entire trilogy (in Polish) from the local library whenever I saw all 6 books (cause they split the 3rd one into FOUR over here, I guess even split into two the books were too thick for the printers they used) and would reread it over the course of the week and come back to it in a couple of months when all books were available again. I also read it twice in English since then and it still remains one of my favorite series and is probably my most re-read series too. So, glad you liked it and glad I stuck around (I originally came here for the Berserk videos) :D

[@mikesbookreviews]

Wow, so it literally was like a 6 book series.

[@NoiseFetish]

@@mikesbookreviews Yep, and just the right length for a fast reader who had no other obligations aside school for a weekly long reread every few months :D

[@ToddsBookTube91]

I enjoyed this video Mike! 😊 I'm not going to lie, the length of these Tad Williams novels are a little intimidating, but they are on my shelves and I'm going to give them a try

[@thomasgibson7019]

This series is what made me really enjoy Tad Williams. Otherland is a really well done story as well. I really do hope you love it as much as I did. You should also check out Shadowmarch some time as well. Similar themes and it duality really plays a big part.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Pretty sure I'll eventually read all of his works.

[@illinirick1]

I loved Shadowmarch. Otherland was good, but could have been great if the series was 500 pages shorter.

[@tkinsey3]

Loved it, and great review Mike. I know your TBR is massive, but I hope someday you can read the sequel trilogy too. It is unbelievably excellent - even better than MST, as hard as that may be to believe. Best books I read in 2021.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It'll happen.

[@johnbiggar7889]

It’s been along time since I read this brought back memories,really enjoyed these books.📚

[@mikesbookreviews]

I've been told I've made a lot of people fall back on nostalgia with this and Drizzt.

[@micahhall8822]

I enjoyed this series but I'm telling you... The next series is even better

[@christophertheofilos1063]

Wow, that puts my speed in perspective. I finished it in 3 days in 1993

[@neils.9846]

Huge long time fan of this series.the Seahawks are amazing too

[@terryking3232]

I first read this series so long ago, and I loved it then. I re-read it about 10 years ago and still thought it was good. I’m happy that you finally read it, and enjoyed it. I’ve got his Shadowmarch series in my Kindle but still haven’t read it. Loved his short story compilation and War of the Flowers. Haven’t read any Otherland, though. Be interested to know your thoughts.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, my brother re-reads it every 4-5 years.

[@scottferris2686]

Since this is my favorite series of all time, I was glad to see that you enjoyed it. Yep, this is the series that made ASOIF unreadable to me (just felt like Martin stole all the ideas in his books from Williams - just my opinion). Loved the videos and the reviews.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'll never say it ripped ASOIAF off, but I totally see a ton of things he borrowed.

[@scottferris2686]

@@mikesbookreviews I would just word it different, How about - Martin took a great many ideas, concepts and characters out of Memory Sorrow and Thorn and reused them in asoiaf. Doesn’t matter, glad you enjoyed the series.

[@brentandrews6960]

Just finished it. So good

[@drewe9163]

I finished it back in March and I loved it. The only chapters I never looked forward to were Maegwin's. Even her payoff chapter didn't make the buildup worth it. But for the most part I loved the rest of the series.

[@laurac56]

I enjoyed this series a lot, I gave the books each 4 stars, although the second was the weakest. Thanks for providing the opportunity to read this, I had never heard of it otherwise.

[@mikesbookreviews]

You're very welcome! I think I'd rank Stone of Farewell my least favorite, as well.

[@bramvandenheuvel4049]

I read the first 2.5 books of this series some 10 years ago and never picked up the final volume. But, I just picked up Shadowmarch ~100 pages in. And I mean, I literally picked it up from a box of books someone left on their doorstep :P

[@TheWalkMan1234]

This was rad, adding it to my list!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Enjoy!

[@silverthorn39]

Great review. My favourite of all time.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@bobapples5630]

Luv this series...really my only problem was the slog..of countless pages describing Simon walking through tunnels with nothing happening, worth reading but dang that part of the final book was hard to get through

[@thomasross6824]

3:26 honestly, I feel like this series could have been five books (including splitting TGAT into 2 parts.) One issue I had with this book was the introduction of plot threads that weren't really expanded upon until the end when they were rushed super hard. (MAJOR SPOLIERS BTW) The stuff with the Ghants and Kilpas felt pretty rushed, and it felt like it sort of resolved itself without much actually happening. The Nabban campaign resolved itself in like 100 pages despite it being a literal war. The actual fight with the Norns and Elias's soldiers was also kind of rushed. Finally, Simon/Josua's heritage also felt kind of rushed, they were both revealed within like 10 pages of eachother, in the last 30 pages of the book. Honestly, there was like 600 pages of other material that could've been written, but it probably didn't flow well with Simon and the other's story, which is why everything felt so rushed at the end.

[@KalleVilenius]

Other than a slight disappointment with how little villains like Ineluki, the Red Hand or the Norn Queen were fleshed out, I was very happy with this whole series. Simon was really put through the wringer here and he damn well earned the victory he won. Very good series, look forward to reading more Tad Williams. Maybe I should pick up The Heart of What Was Lost, it's apparently got Norn POV in it. More Isgrimnur too. The copy of Empire of Grass I got might have my favorite cover for a fantasy book I've ever owned. All that greenery growing over stonework, that's great stuff.

[@mikesbookreviews]

More Isgrimnur is always a win.

[@TheTinyTimmyTimTim]

Devoured the book in like less than 2 days. Loved the entire series start to finish, but I agree in the main points of criticism. I wish Simon/Miri had more time to flesh out their relationship.

[@Momentumunboun]

Something I wonder, and something I personally am not used to, is reading multiple books at the same time. Usually with a trilogy or books that have more than three parts, I typically read one part a month. But I also feel just focusing on that one entire series for several months takes away from reading other books on my radar (TBR). What are your thoughts on reading maybe two books at the same time at the very least? Btw, farily new subscriber, love your channel! :)

[@mikesbookreviews]

I know not everyone can do it, but it's a must for me. Especially a book as long as this one. I usually like to do two books at once. I look at it as "I can watch two TV series at once; how is reading two books at once any different?" It's just something I've always done to avoid burnout.

[@winterwolf7423]

It's interesting that you connect Miriamele to Sansa. This series is often recced to me with Miriamele/Marya being the Arya Stark of the story. Just reading up on her, she seems like an Arya-esque character, especially if you ignore GOT and only take ASOIAF into account.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Definitely a split. The Arya ones are obvious. The Sansa ones I look at as her being taken by Littlefinger and being forced to grow up fast when you're royalty plucked form the castle because you lost your father.

[@timmeyer9191]

Some editor or publisher should have insisted on breaking this series up a bit more. Tad could have almost doubled his income on this series.

[@fernandogarcia3957]

As usual, I have to agree, it's a CLASSIC, read it some 20 years ago, and I'm going to reread it. Well built, big payoff, epic, a classic, well written tale of all times. But Otherland, no way, I could not finish it. Read 2 books and a half. Didn't engage well, hope you enjoy, though, and as always, wish you the best, man!

[@Wildcarde1]

I havent read any of it. Wanted to hear your review of how good it is in total before spending the time and find out it had a bad last part as big as it is

[@musicgenius1948]

You should update a top ten fantasy list

[@mikesbookreviews]

Eventually.

[@chrispirillo9791]

1 đại gia đình hạnh phúc - chúc mừng Lộc, quá viên mãn rồi !

[@royalrhyno6853]

Has anyone read the Bobby Dollar series by Tad Williams?

[@blablah6958]

yes. i have

[@praetorxyn]

How long do you think your brother is going to gloat? 🤣

[@mikesbookreviews]

Man, he is even shittier now than he was before I read it.

[@rhahnabunaid]

I put down Dragonbone Chair after page 350 because it was so slow, but boy am I glad I picked it back up again because this series has quickly become one of my all-time favorites. I just simply could not put it down and read SoF and TGAT back to back in 6 weeks time. It's a shame we're never going to see this adapted to the screen due to the simple fact that Tad Williams used the Christian religion as the centerpiece of the story. And if there's one thing the movie/tv industry doens't like doing, it's to have to romanticize and promote Christianity rather than to ridicule it.

[@Redundant_underscore]

HBO could get 5 or 6 seasons out of this.

[@zacharia827]

Do you count as 1 book or 2 on year count?

[@tiananesbitt7156]

Did you love THE BATMAN?😘

[@TMAC_93X]

Warner Bros did pick up the film rights

[@mikesbookreviews]

Well, I have very little faith in that ha ha

[@thesaint8957]

I hate Aspitis more than I've ever hated another minor character before.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

🥳🥳🥳

[@noiceman]

Just couldn't get through book two. Simon is such a whiny, uninteresting character and half way through the second book he hasn't grown as a character. Also, the other story lines are largely uninteresting. I feel the same about Magician. Can someone tell me if the second half of Magician gets better?

[@CaptainAugust]

Sounds like you just have bad taste man 😊

[@d_ruggs]

It cant be a ripoff though? Like, huh? It came out first. Can Tad time travel ?

[@mikesbookreviews]

Are you talking about ASOIAF? Not even sure what you mean. This trilogy was done before A Game of Thrones even released.

[@neils.9846]

Sequels Lol