Set in Williams' New York Times bestselling fantasy world the second book of The Last King of
Osten Ard returns to the trials of King Simon and Queen Miriamele as threats to their kingdom
loom . . . The kingdoms of Osten Ard have been at peace for decades but now the threat of a
new war grows to nightmarish proportions. Simon and Miriamele royal husband and wife face
danger from every side. Their allies in Hernystir have made a pact with the dreadful Queen of
the Norns to allow her armies to cross into mortal lands. The ancient powerful nation of
Nabban is on the verge of bloody civil war and the fierce nomads of the Thrithings grasslands
have begun to mobilize united by superstitious fervor and their age-old hatred of the
city-dwellers. But as the countries and peoples of the High Ward bicker among themselves
battle bloodshed and dark magics threaten to pull civilizations to pieces. And over it all
looms the mystery of the Witchwood Crown the deadly puzzle that Simon Miriamele and their
allies must solve if they wish to survive. But as the kingdoms of Osten Ard are torn apart by
fear and greed a few individuals will fight for their own lives and destinies-not yet aware
that the survival of everything depends on them. Praise for Tad Williams 'One of my favourite
fantasy series' - George R. R. Martin author of A Game of Thrones 'Ground-breaking . . .
changed how people thought of the genre and paved the way for so much modern fantasy including
mine' - Patrick Rothfuss author of The Kingkiller Chronicle 'One of the main reasons I
started writing fantasy . . . Tad Williams' work is an essential part of any science fiction
and fantasy library' - Christopher Paolini author of the Inheritance Cycle series
