The War of the Flowers

It seems to have gotten mixed reviews... I certainly don't think the book merits a bad review, and certainly not a full 5 stars unless, perhaps, you are only just discovering the sci-fi/fantasy genre.
When compared to George R. R. Martin's series or David Eddings' earlier work, it lacks that deep connection with the characters. It is very slow to build. I found it took until almost halfway though for me to be riveted by the book, but I did find myself unable to put it down by then.
If you have the patience to read several hundred pages of "good but not great" storyline (description and setting are great though) to get to an amazing final few hundred pages that make you remember why you love reading, then this is for you. If you have to have the book grab you right away to make you want to read, look elsewhere.
Still makes it on my top 20 fantasy books list though.

Tad Williams is an extraordinary writer. His latest novel gives ample prove of that. THE WAR OF THE FLOWERS is a complex, dark exploration of some of the most popular fairy tropes in literature. Firmly grounded in popular culture, Tad Williams explores important questions of class, race and gender against an exotic and dangerous background. This is a mature novel for the educated, grown-up reader. Read slowly and be amazed!

This was one of the best and most enjoyable reads I'[ve had in a long, long time. Williams is a master at what he does, and I'm only sorry this is a one volume series. I'd love for a return to the land of Fairie to see how Theo is doing several years later. I highly recommend you read this book! you on't be disappointed.

In typical Tad Williams style, the first two hundred pages are very hard to get through. The story flows nicely, but it starts off slow. The first two hundred pages, you might as well be reading about your next door neighbor.
Also typical Tad Williams, the last 600 or so pages just grab you and does not let go until you are done with the book and breathless. Whatever you think you know about faeries? Forget it. Tad has come up with his own world, own rules and made it quite... logical.
Very nice read. Not his best work, but when I was done I found myself wishing it was a series. If you like fantasy, you will like this book.

Well, I just got finished reading this book this week and I really enjoyed it. It was well written, epic, and kept me going from page to page. This is the first book from Tad Williams that I have read and I plan on exploring some of his other works now. Great book.

I quite enjoyed "War of the Flowers". The descriptions of Faerie made me envision it, and even want to check the place out! Skewing off in a different direction, I'd like to see this made into a film, similar to "NeverEnding Story". With today's CGI capabilities, Faerie & its inhabitants wouldn't be difficult to bring to screen. For other delightful "alternate reality" material, read Harry Turtledove's books. "War of the Flowers" is very like Turtledove's writings. To compare Williams' "War of the Flowers" and Turtledove's "The Two Georges" is, in a nutshell, the same thing, only different. Turtledove's 1996 America, in "The Two Georges", isn't too different from Williams' Faerie in "War of the Flowers".

I am so sick of Tolkien fantasy wannabes! this is what I find so refreshing aboutTad Williams. This book hands down is my favorite stand alone fantasy book ever. His fantastic interpretation of this fictional world is so refreshing in a world of Tolkien knockoffs. Keep them coming!

I started off this novel thinking I was really enjoying it. The plot is excellently told throughout most of it and the characters are unique and interesting. But the paragraphs were too long and offered too much description. The prose just became so terribly verbose I could not handle it any longer and began to skim through the end. It was a genius story but could have been cut by 100-200 pages by not trying to force-feed us his vision of every little detail. In novels an author can either starve you or choke you with description. Williams definitely can choke you with too much detail.

Let's imagine the following marketing scenario:

Publisher: Well Tad, you did very well with the Dragonbone Chair. People liked it. You'll agree that your next try was a bit less successful.

T.Williams: Actually a huge bit less....

Publisher: Ok so now you stop trying to be original and get back to basics. Understood?

T.Williams: Hmmm...errr...well...OK.

Publisher: Here's the deal. You aim for the following segment . Younger people, newbies in fantasy, they like Harry Potter, Eddings, Brooks or Goodkind. If you hit it, it sells in 5 digits. Perhaps 6. Can you?

T.Williams: I see...I will make it simple. Between us bordering on stupid. Pretty black and white. Perhaps some alternate world by ripping off S.Donaldson - he wrote some really good stuff. While I am at it I can even rip off Donaldson's kind of reluctant anti-hero. People who read Eddings or Harry Potter will never notice.

T.Williams (picking up speed): Of course I need an archi-villain plotting to be the master of the universe. I already did that in Dragonbone Chair so I know the ropes. Of course he won't stand a chance because the anti-hero will own him. Yep, the people in your segment will buy that, they might even find it surprising...

Publisher: That's it Tad. Now away with you, delivery in 5 months. Ah, Tad don't forget to put a lot of fairies in it. I know it's nothing original but people tend to like sprites and stuff. When you are already ripping off Donaldson, rip off also some of the Disney cartoons - plenty of fairies there. This pinkish kind you see?

T.Williams: Sure, good idea even if I'd prefer them green. But whatever, now I am off. As we needed 10 minutes to make the plot, the hardest is done.

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And that is what we got in the end. A moronic utterly unbelievable villain who couldn't lace his shoes without tripping over them and an equally moronic anti-hero who finishes by saving the world through sheer luck.

No creativity, no originality, no surprise.

Boredom.

But I bet that the editor was happy because he hit exactly the consumer segment he was aiming for.