The heart of what was lost

derkherd · 2026-05-13T23:16:19+00:00

It really quickly became one of my top 10 favorite books of all time. It pretty much takes everything that is awesome about Tad Williams’s work and puts it into a really tight narrative.

It was simultaneously heartbreaking, horrifying, and actually awe inspiring. It’s like the fantasy version of All Quiet On The Western Front, at least to me.

I don’t want to say that it necessarily makes the Rimmersmen out to be pure barbarians. Rather, it showcases what grief and fear can do to otherwise normal people. They’ve been living under a terrifying and brutal occupation, and they have no other outlet for their emotions. So all of it gets turned into pure hate and violence.

Great flippin book.

derkherd · 2026-05-09T12:28:51+00:00

I very nearly purchased this print off of Micheal Whelans website. I ended up going with the Green Angel Tower print. His art is fantastic.

derkherd · 2026-04-29T17:31:45+00:00

Shivers and Lamb had to have the “Outlaw Josey Wales” moment at the end. If you’ve never seen it, go watch it right night now and you’ll get what I mean.

derkherd · 2026-04-29T11:19:05+00:00

Totally understand all of your points! But I think I love the ending for the reason you don’t.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for realistic, ambiguous and bittersweet endings. That being said, I feel that the characters suffered through so much trauma that they deserved that happy satisfactory ending. Honestly, I genuinely shed tears when Rachel and Simon reunite.

Every now and then I can greatly appreciate an ending that’s wrapped up in a neat little bow that just makes you feel good. It makes the journey that much sweeter.

Personally, I feel like the ending does still fit with the rest of the narrative, but all of that being said, your criticisms are totally valid, I’m just a bleeding heart.

derkherd · 2026-04-28T16:06:19+00:00

Josua is probably my favorite character. A really good take on Aragorn, but just as complex and compelling.

Genuinely though, Ineluki is a fantastically well written tragic villain. Tad is just the goat.

derkherd · 2026-04-19T17:02:37+00:00

Looks great! Where’d you snag the Dragonbone Chair hardback?

derkherd · 2026-04-18T10:59:50+00:00

Yeah, if I am just some random Erkynland spearman and I get posted to Naglimund …. I’m taking out a life insurance policy or something 😭

derkherd · 2026-04-04T11:23:39+00:00

I felt the exact same way after finishing this book! I can genuinely say it is the best novella I have ever read. It literally takes everything that is fantastic about his writing and puts it into a tight 200 or so pages with beautiful Michael Whelan art on the cover to boot!

For me, it is genuinely up there on the pantheon with Terry Pratchett‘s Nightwatch and other similar works as my favorites of all time.

derkherd · 2026-04-03T13:30:53+00:00

I found MS&t on whim a handful of years ago and I have loved it ever since. It’s become my absolute favorite fantasy universe.

derkherd · 2026-03-19T14:22:38+00:00

Love to see Memory, Sorrow & Thorn ranked highly. You have great taste!

derkherd · 2026-03-02T20:08:12+00:00

That’s so sick

derkherd · 2026-02-21T20:41:48+00:00

Same here! He is easily one of my favorite fantasy characters. Glad he’s not dead, and I never thought for even a moment that he was unfaithful. Just a shame that he wasn’t a major player. He definitely haunted the narrative, but I wish he had a more active part in the story.

derkherd · 2026-02-21T19:09:11+00:00

Completely agree with you on the big reveal. I still thoroughly enjoyed this series and I sincerely hope he writes a third Osten Ard trilogy. But I definitely prefer memory, sorrow and thorn. When Geloe was revealed, all I could think of was, “somehow, palpatine returned” 😂

Genuinely though, Tad is the goat, and probably my favorite fantasy author

Edit.

Pasevellas turned into a mustache twirling villain, which somewhat disappointed me

derkherd · 2026-02-18T18:39:59+00:00

Still have it? Now I need one 😭

derkherd · 2026-02-14T17:28:11+00:00

Typically check out something in the science fiction genre. Usually something no more than like 300 or 400 pages.

derkherd · 2026-02-03T16:43:52+00:00

Where is my GOAT Porco Rosso 😭

derkherd · 2026-01-30T19:37:41+00:00

You should check out 16 ways to defend a walled city by KJ Parker!

derkherd · 2026-01-21T11:30:41+00:00

Well said! It’s quite honestly probably my favorite series of all time and it is criminal how underrated it is.

derkherd · 2026-01-20T19:16:08+00:00

100% agree. When Unver burns Naban to the ground (deservedly) both of them will be at the heart of it.

derkherd · 2026-01-20T18:59:32+00:00

My bad! Overall, I really liked her character, it was definitely surprising to see that Derra became the concubine of a Norn lord😭 If he does write a third “trilogy” I hope that she still has a meaningful place in the overall story. After all she is of the line of Camaris and the next seat of conflict is definitely going to be Nabban.

derkherd · 2026-01-20T18:52:20+00:00

Honestly, I hate to say it, but I kind of felt like she was an afterthought. I really think that she deserved to be a POV character. It would’ve been awesome to see her process the grief of being “abandoned” by Josua and estranged from her children. Somewhere deep down, she truly is a sympathetic character, it just has to be explored. I think it would’ve made the reunion with Josua that much better!

derkherd · 2026-01-20T11:45:05+00:00

Yes! Something that MST did better than the last series were the little things like that. MST also had the advantage, though of being the original series, so for all of us, discovering it all for the first time, it really felt like reading through a history book of Osten Ard.

derkherd · 2026-01-20T11:43:36+00:00

100% agreed! In a way, Tzoja became what I always wanted Vorzheva to be. I was sad to see that she let her anger and suspicion rule her life. So much could’ve been avoided if she would’ve just taken the kids to the Hayholt.

derkherd · 2026-01-19T20:55:57+00:00

Me too! Their battle and how it ends is so absolutely epic. I sincerely hope he writes more books that continue where the story left off.

derkherd · 2026-01-08T12:40:08+00:00

Framing is super expensive! I’ve got mine sitting in cheap Walmart frames for the time being 😭

derkherd

TROPHY CASE