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  • Into the Narrowdark

Into the Narrowdark

The Last King of Osten Ard #3 / 4 ✓
by Tad Williams
Into the Narrowdark (The Last King of Osten Ard #3) by Tad Williams
Unrated

 

The New York Times bestselling world of Osten Ard returns in the third Last King of Osten Ard novel, as threats to the kingdom loom...

The High Throne of Erkynland is tottering, its royal family divided and diminished. Queen Miriamele has been caught up in a brutal rebellion in the south and thought to have died in a fiery attack. Her grandson Morgan, heir to the throne, has been captured by one of Utuk’ku’s soldiers in the ruins of an abandoned city. Miriamele’s husband, King Simon, is overwhelmed by grief and hopelessness, unaware that many of these terrible things have been caused by Pasevalles, a murderous traitor inside Simon’s own court at the Hayholt.

Meanwhile, a deadly army of Norns led by the ageless, vengeful Queen Utuk’ku, has swept into Erkynland and thrown down the fortress of Naglimund, slaughtering the inhabitants and digging up the ancient grave of Ruyan the Navigator. Utuk’ku plans to use the Navigator’s fabled armor to call up the spirit of Hakatri, the evil Storm King’s brother.

Even the Sithi, fairy-kin to the Norns, are helpless to stop Utuk’ku’s triumph as her armies simultaneously march on the Hayholt and force their way into the forbidden, ogre-guarded valley of Tanakirú—the Narrowdark—where a secret waits that might bring Simon’s people and their Sithi allies salvation—or doom.

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FantasyEpic FantasyHigh Fantasy
Release date: July 12, 2022

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Tad Williams

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.

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Williams has often said that one of his greatest joys as a writer is not just creating worlds, but creating places—locations that feel like they have existed long before the story begins, and will continue to live on after the story ends. That love for detailed world-building is evident throughout his works, especially in his Shadowmarch series and the more recent The Last King of Osten Ard. These books are filled with richly textured landscapes, layered histories, and characters whose struggles feel both monumental and deeply personal.

Beyond his immersive worlds, Williams has a rare gift for weaving myth and legend into his narratives in a way that feels both ancient and fresh. Whether he’s exploring the collapse of kingdoms, the rise of unlikely heroes, or the endless battle between light and dark, his stories have a timeless, almost mythic quality to them.

Williams’ impact on the fantasy genre has been profound—his books have resonated with readers across generations, earning him a devoted fan base and critical acclaim. His ability to blend traditional high fantasy with modern sensibilities has ensured his place among the greats of the genre.

Even as he continues to push the boundaries of fantasy, Williams remains grounded in his love for storytelling. "The world isn't built from a map or a plot," he once said, "it’s built from the people who live in it." And that’s what makes his works so memorable: the heart and soul of every place, person, and event he brings to life, no matter how grand the scale.

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.

The Heart of What Was Lost (The Last King of Osten Ard #0.5)
★ 9.00 / 3
Brothers of the Wind (The Last King of Osten Ard #0.7)
⧗ 9.34 / 3
The Witchwood Crown (The Last King of Osten Ard #1)
★ 9.00 / 1
Empire of Grass (The Last King of Osten Ard #2)
Unrated
Into the Narrowdark (The Last King of Osten Ard #3)
Unrated
The Navigator's Children (The Last King of Osten Ard #4)
★ 10.00 / 1


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