A journal, a lost love, and
grief set
the stage for this
dark fantasy novel written by Tad Williams. The
War of the Flowers
hosts characters that hide the in the shadows and never ask for redemption. The
would-be “hero” of the tale, Theo Vilmos, is a musician who can’t seem to get
his act together. Within the first 50 to 100 pages you will find yourself in
the midst of a mystery shrouded in grief. So much grief, in fact, that you
wonder why Theo turns away from music in his time of deepest sorrow. Instead
Theo turns to a battered journal, intrigued by its words. The journal, written by
his great-uncle Eamonn Dowd, taunts Theo with the promise of a city unlike any
other. At first, Theo struggles to wrap his mind around the difference between
fantasy and reality, for the City Eamonn speaks of exists in the
world of the
Faerie.
At every turn, Theo is unwillingly immersed in a power
struggle. The scheme, plotted well before his birth, takes Theo to some dark
places of fear and abandonment. Within his character, you wonder if he is
strong enough to handle the alien
feel of the fae world, the grief within him,
and his growing self-awareness as he journeys. This novel is less about heroism
and more about a lost bard who travels to find his music once again. Once Theo
does find his voice, you understand that only the Theo who survived
fire-breathing dragons, murder, Hollowmen, an Irrha and Nidrus Hellebore could
have mustered enough courage to sing again.
The War of the Flowers is written in such a way that you
forget the fae archetypes that run amuck in this novel. Williams’ quality of
writing gives a visual feel to the book that lets you revel in the myriad of
faerie types he describes. Sprites, pixies, hobgoblins, tommy-knockers,
ferishers, selkies, goblins, trolls, poleviks and nixies are just a small part
of this tale. Each type of faerie has been distinguished from its archetype in
such a way you feel that Williams collected several as if they were fragile
butterflies. Not so breakable are the trolls. While ugly and useful for their
strength, their endearing quality is that they are named after their favorite
childhood “toy.”
If you are looking for a longer, dark fantasy read, at
close to 830 pages The War of the Flowers, written by Tad Williams entertains
and inspires. With a glossary included at the book’s end, Williams’ assures you
that you will find yourself immersed in the dark world of the Faerie.