wow, all I can begin to say is wow!

It has been a long time since I got to sink my teeth into such a rich, textured world; one that feels alive with every word and page. I'd never read any of Williams' work before The Witchwood Crown so I had no idea what to expect, but it exceeded my expectations entirely. Williams is a master storyteller, he takes his time; and when I say takes his time, he savours it as if every second may be the last. The world and character building are exceptional, he lets each place and character grow, slowly in their own time making sure you have the opportunity to know this person or place, as if they are old friends and not merely an acquaintance.

It is Williams' attentional to detail that I have to applaud most; he transports the reader to Osten Ard, we live there, fully immersed in the thick, tangled forests, or skin prickling at the harsh winds on the icy crevices and peaks of the Nornfells. My admiration runs deep for Williams and his style, though this may lack some of the vicious, bloody fervour of some contemporary epic fantasies, it more than makes up for this with the characterisations, world-building and main plotlines.

Don't be put off by the length, it's far from a difficult or taxing read, quite the contrary. You become sucked into the pages of this book, hoping and praying that it'll never come to an end!