The Heart of What Was Lost
New York Times-bestselling Tad Williams’ ground-breaking epic fantasy saga of Osten Ard begins an exciting new cycle! • Perfect beginning for new readers!
The perfect introduction to the epic fantasy world of Osten Ard, The Heart of What Was Lost is Tad Williams’ follow-up to his internationally bestselling landmark trilogy. Osten Ard inspired a generation of modern fantasy writers, including George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, and Christopher Paolini, and defined Tad Williams as one of the most important fantasy writers of our time.
A NOVEL OF OSTEN ARD
At the end of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, Ineluki the Storm King, an undead spirit of horrifying, demonic power, came within moments of stopping Time itself and obliterating humankind. He was defeated by a coalition of mortal men and women joined by his own deathless descendants, the Sithi.
In the wake of the Storm King’s fall, Ineluki’s loyal minions, the Norns, dark cousins to the Sithi, choose to flee the lands of men and retreat north to Nakkiga, their ancient citadel within the hollow heart of the mountain called Stormspike. But as the defeated Norns make their way to this last haven, the mortal Rimmersman Duke Isgrimnur leads an army in pursuit, determined to end the Norns’ attacks and defeat their ageless Queen Utuk’ku for all time.
Two southern soldiers, Porto and Endri, joined the mortal army to help achieve this ambitious goal — though as they venture farther and farther into the frozen north, braving the fierce resistance and deadly magics of the retreating Norns, they cannot help but wonder what they are doing so very far from home. Meanwhile, the Norns must now confront the prospect of extinction at the hands of Isgrimnur and his mortal army.
Viyeki, a leader of the Norns’ military engineers, the Order of Builders, desperately seeks a way to help his people reach their mountain — and then stave off the destruction of their race. For the two armies will finally clash in a battle to be remembered as the Siege of Nakkiga; a battle so strange and deadly, so wracked with dark enchantment, that it threatens to destroy not just one side but quite possibly all.
Trapped inside the mountain as the mortals batter at Nakkiga’s gates, Viyeki the Builder will discover disturbing secrets about his own people, mysteries both present and past, represented by the priceless gem known as The Heart of What Was Lost.
Praise for Osten Ard:
“Inspired me to write my own seven-book trilogy.... It’s one of my favorite fantasy series.” — George R. R. Martin, New York Times-bestselling author of The Game of Thrones
“Groundbreaking...changed how people thought of the genre, and paved the way for so much modern fantasy. Including mine.” — Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times-bestselling author of The Name of the Wind
“Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is one of the great fantasy epics of all time.” — Christopher Paolini, New York Times-bestselling author of Eragon
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Tad Williams
Tad Williams never set out to create entire worlds from scratch—yet, in many ways, that's exactly what he's done. Known for his lush, expansive fantasy novels, Williams has an uncanny ability to make the fantastical feel deeply human. His work taps into the timeless themes of adventure, destiny, and the complexity of the human spirit, all while layering in rich, immersive worlds that are as fully realized as the characters who inhabit them.
Born in San Jose, California, Williams’ journey into writing was not a straight line. He began his career as a writer of short stories and a member of the underground comics scene before discovering his passion for epic fantasy. It was the immense, world-spanning narrative of The Dragonbone Chair, the first book in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, that catapulted him into the literary spotlight. His ability to balance sweeping, epic landscapes with intimate character studies made him a standout in the genre and drew comparisons to other masters of fantasy, while allowing him to carve out a voice uniquely his own.
The Last King of Osten Ard
The Last King of Osten Ard returns readers to the iconic world of Tad Williams’s New York Times-bestselling Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, as characters both beloved and new defend the kingdom from an ancient and powerful enemy.
The Last King of Osten Ard consists of four primary books, and includes two additional books that complement the series but are not considered mandatory reads — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
