'Brothers of the Wind' – Tad Williams (Hodder & Stoughton)

Well, that's one of my 2022 'Bookish Resolutions' in the bag :o) If only all resolutions could be as enjoyable as this one. I've been meaning to sit down and really get into 'Brothers of the Wind', for ages, but Christmas reared its jolly head and that was that until a couple of days ago when all the fuss finally died down and I had an evening to myself. And what an evening it was... I'll tell you all about it in a bit but before I do... I was sent my copy of 'Brothers of the Wind' in exchange for a fair and honest review and that is what I'm shooting for here. I've been a fan of Tad Williams' work (and 'Osten Ard' in particular) since the late eighties and new Osten Ard books are like Christmas' and Birthdays happening at once for me. So, I'm aiming for fair but I'm also just really happy that I got to learn a little more about a real key point in the history of Osten Ard and that will probably come through here. With that in mind then, lets get going shall we...?

Pride often goes before a fall, but sometimes that prideful fall is so catastrophic that it changes history itself.

Among the immortal Sithi of Osten Ard, none are more beloved and admired than the two sons of the ruling family, steady Hakatri and his proud and fiery younger brother Ineluki - Ineluki, who will one day become the undead Storm King. The younger brother makes a bold, terrible oath that he will destroy deadly Hidohebhi, a terrifying monster, but instead drags his brother with him into a disaster that threatens not just their family but all the Sithi - and perhaps all of humankind as well.

Set a thousand years before the events of 'The Dragonbone Chair', the tale of Ineluki's tragic boast and what it brings is told by Pamon Kes, Hakatri's faithful servant. Kes is not one of the Sithi but a member of the enslaved Changeling race, and his loyalty has never before been tested. Now he must face the terrible black dragon at his master's side, then see his own life changed forever in a mere instant by Ineluki's rash, selfish promise.

In the end, Pamon Kes must question everything about his life - and risk everything, too - as he struggles to save his beloved master, Hakatri. But will anything Kes does be enough? Or has Ineluki's rash promise already set the entire world on an unstoppable course toward destruction?

‘Brothers of the Wind’ takes Jarnauga’s story of Hakatri and Ineluki, from ‘The Dragonbone Chair’, and greatly expands on it, shedding new light on what we thought we knew. As such then, and at least from where I’m sat, I’d say that ‘Brothers of the Wind’ can be read before embarking on ‘Memory, Sorrow and Thorn’ although perhaps the most fun, and greatest reward, can be found in approaching this book from the other direction and discovering those links between the ‘past’ and the ‘present’. I had loads of those moments and it all serves to make the book just fascinating to me. It’s not just the story, it’s those glimpses into a much wider world, and its history, that really made it for me. Williams is clearly really happy to be back in Osten Ard again and it shows in where he takes us and what he shows us while we’re there.

That’s not to say that the plot didn’t do its fair share though, far from it. The potential problem, with a story like this, is that the majority of readers will know exactly what’s coming and you’re left wondering whether to keep reading. I knew exactly what was coming but Williams does a lot more than just pit Hakatri and Ineluki against a big dragon. I mean, that does happen and it’s awe inspiring to watch play out but there is so much more to ‘Brothers of the Wind’ than just this. This is a book about how the world turns on what looks like the smallest of events; a misplaced oath, a horse falling down or the mettle of man in the direst of moments. You know what’s coming but now you know the why as well and that really lends something extra to the air of tragedy around this book. Horrible, tragic things can happen to us all and the world is cruel because shit can happen for seemingly no logical reason at all.

What is also very interesting is watching this all play out through the eyes of the Tinukeda’ya servant Kes and seeing how his loyalty is slowly tested as he begins to slowly realise that his people have been mistreated by his Master’s kind. Williams has form for building up the fortunes of his races off the backs of others misfortune and here, we get to see that taken back to its earliest roots. Kes may not work his way free of his upbringing but that’s understandable given his life up to now. It shows a real strength in Kes’ character that he is able to get to where he is at the end of the book.

‘Brothers of the Wind’ is one of those glorious reads where you open it up and the next thing you know, it’s several hours later and you’ve just been sat there reading the whole time. This was no surprise to me as that’s exactly what Tad Williams does; if you haven’t read him though, well… you’re in for a treat here and it’s as good a place as any to start reading. An intoxicating brew of lush worldbuilding and events that may yet impact on a world that we thought we knew.