The War of the Flowers - Tad Williams

Hmmmm... I have to say I had mixed feelings about this until I was about 2/3 of the way through. Though well-written, it was a bit slow to start rolling. The first half-dozen chapters I had to encourage myself regularly to keep reading. After about the half-way mark I realized I had transitioned from "reading for the sake of reading" to "reading because I wanted to". By the 2/3 mark, I couldn't put it down. I suffered some severe eyestrain near the end due to reading for hours at a time with very poor lighting.

Overall, I rate this book 3.5 out of 5. The only reason I take the 1.5 off is due to the slow start and slightly rushed feeling conclusion (SLIGHTLY... Not too bad).

This is a stand-alone novel, unlike most of his other work. I have yet to pressure my bookstores into carrying more of his work but I am leaning on them in hopes of getting my hands on a copy of his "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" trilogy, which I have heard is fantastic (no pun intented).

The tale starts in modern-day Earth and, though a series of events which I will allow you to discover yourself, transports the main character into the realm of Faerie. Yes. Fairies. Little tiny people with wings. It sounds like a book that is not intended for grownups, but it is.

It is a good read. Not a bad risk to take at the ol' book store.