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The War of the Flowers Mass Market Paperback – May 4, 2004

4.4 out of 5 stars 651 ratings

This standalone portal fantasy transports unsuccessful rockstar Theo Vilmos from modern California to a land of magic and mystery.

Returning to the fantasy genre that made him a coast-to-coast best-selling phenomenon, Tad Williams writes this stand-alone contemporary fantasy novel, set in Northern California—and also in the strange parallel world that coexists in the farthest reaches of the imagination.

Theo Vilmos is a thirty-year-old lead singer in a not terribly successful rock band. Once, he had enormous, almost magical charisma, both onstage and off—but now, life has taken its toll on Theo.

Hitting an all-time low, he seeks refuge in a isolated cabin in the woods. While there, he reads an odd memoir written by a dead relative who believed he had visited the magical world of Faerie. And before Theo can disregard the account as the writings of a madman, he, too, is drawn to a place beyond his wildest dreams...a place that will be, and has always been, his destiny.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The War of the Flowers:

"Rock musician Theo Vilmost plummets headlong into the land of Faerie and finds himself thrust into the middle of a political and social maelstrom with only a foul-mouthed sprite as his ally. Williams's unforgettable cross-world fantasy turns faerie lore on its ear and is his best work to date." —Library Journal

The War of the Flowers is an intense urban fantasy of fairies, changelings, and the end of the world…. A richly detailed, fully developed world of mortal vs. fairy.”—Romantic Times (top pick!)

“Travel into another dimension is a popular fantasy ploy, but rarely accomplished with
such humor, terror, and even logic as this standalone by bestseller Williams.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Williams’s latest standalone fantasy epic is
a masterpiece of fantasy worldbuilding, with a Faerie land that eerily mirrors the real world…. The tone is often dark, but rich, building a wondrous tale set in a fascinating world, with a classic reluctant hero and a cause worth cheering for.” —Locus

Swift action and strong characterization make War of the Flowers an excellent and original fantasy novel.” —Library Bookwatch

“For readers who adore de Lint’s contemporary fantasy,
this is a must-read; for people who have appreciated anything else that Williams has done, this is also highly recommended. I’m not sure what Williams will try next…but it’s clear that wherever he’s going, it’s worth following.” —Musing on Books

“I was caught up in the complexity of Mr. Williams’s imagination, and in the marvelous details of this fay world. This story of war and revolution is
one of those perfect tales.” —Center City’s Weekly Press

 “A very
elaborate and fully realized setting for adventure, intrigue, and more than an occasional chill.”—SF Chronicle
 



About the Author

Tad Williams is a California-based fantasy superstar.  His genre-creating (and genre-busting) books have sold tens of millions worldwide. His works include the worlds of Otherland, Shadowmarch, and Osten Ard—including the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, and The Last King of Osten Ard series—as well as standalone novels Tailchaser’s Song and The War of the Flowers. His considerable output of epic fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, comics, and more have strongly influenced a generation of writers.  Tad and his family live in the Santa Cruz mountains in a suitably strange and beautiful house. He can be found at tadwilliams.com or on Twitter at @tadwilliams.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ DAW (May 4, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 832 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 075640181X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0756401818
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.2 x 1.75 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 651 ratings

About the author

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Tad Williams
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Tad Williams is a California-based fantasy superstar. His genre-creating (and genre-busting) books have sold tens of millions worldwide. His works include the worlds of Otherland, Shadowmarch, and Osten Ard—including the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, and The Last King of Osten Ard series—as well as standalone novels Tailchaser’s Song and The War of the Flowers, plus the Bobby Dollar urban fantasies. His considerable output of epic fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, comics, and more have strongly influenced a generation of writers. Tad and his family live in the Santa Cruz mountains in a suitably strange and beautiful house. Visit him online at tadwilliams.com. @tadwilliams @mrstad https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTadWilliams/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
651 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's intricate plot and colorful writing style, describing it as a highly entertaining fantasy adventure with great imagination. The book receives positive feedback for its readability. Character development and pacing receive mixed reactions - while some customers like the characters, others find the main character unlikable, and several mention the pacing is too slow.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

33 customers mention "Plot"29 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the intricate plot of this fantasy adventure novel, with one customer highlighting its creative twists.

"...Unpretentious style, exciting action, memorable characters...." Read more

"...However, he does this seamlessly and unpredictably, so that the reader isn't exactly sure of where they're being taken, but when they finally get..." Read more

"...Mr Williams you sure know how to make a good story. I have been putting off reading this and I'm so glad I finally did...." Read more

"...some really poignant lines throughout, Tad Williams wrote a superb stand alone fantasy." Read more

27 customers mention "Writing quality"21 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as colorful and detailed, with one customer noting its ability to paint vivid pictures with words.

"I haven’t read something this well-written for a while. Unpretentious style, exciting action, memorable characters...." Read more

"...He doesn't go off on tangents, he doesn't go into boring, overly-detailed description, and consistently keeps the plot flowing smoothly and briskly...." Read more

"...Amazing prose and some really poignant lines throughout, Tad Williams wrote a superb stand alone fantasy." Read more

"...It is a solid five-star read. The writing is straightforward and plain, which is a good thing...." Read more

21 customers mention "Readability"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly entertaining and enjoyable to read, with one customer noting it has everything they love as a fantasy reader.

"...the novel that every reader will be waiting for, because it is very addictive and one can't help but marvel at its cleverness...." Read more

"Has to be one of the best reads that I have every had. It's right up at the top of my list. Can't believe the characters and humor and magic...." Read more

"...They keep the story entertaining enough for a three star rating...." Read more

"...EXACTLY what he is writing about, is what makes Tad so very entertaining to read. I recommend this, and all of his books...." Read more

4 customers mention "Imagination"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's imagination, with one noting its ingenious concept.

"...story showcases Mr. Williams' skills as a world-builder with great imagination, it turned out to be a bit of disappointment with my high..." Read more

"...This novel is quite an ingenious concept: What would the world be like if magic were the "science" rather than our technology?..." Read more

"...His vision of Faerie is interesting and has vitality. His concepts are great. The story had massive potential. But the execution was limp...." Read more

"...The author has an imagination that is beyond compare ." Read more

20 customers mention "Character development"13 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the characters in the book, with some really liking them while others find the main character not likeable.

"...Unpretentious style, exciting action, memorable characters...." Read more

"...Theo is sucha great character and I'm very glad he was always the reluctant sort and didn't just fall into some trope of being the sword-weilding..." Read more

"...'s "Otherland" series, THE WAR OF THE FLOWERS harvests a good crop of tasty characters...." Read more

"...in that he is somewhat two-dimensional, and seems to have no personality traits that aren't openly obvious to anyone who spends a half an hour with..." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several finding it too slow, while one customer describes it as well-crafted.

"...we get into the meat of the story, things get somewhat better-but much too slowly. So much of the action feels drawn out and unnecessary...." Read more

"...Unpretentious style, exciting action, memorable characters. Fantastic structure & balance as we move from our clueless main character to the..." Read more

"...It seemed too quick and vague, though this alone does little to detract from the quality of the book...." Read more

"...All this being said, the book is well-crafted and thoroughly enjoyable...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2025
    I haven’t read something this well-written for a while. Unpretentious style, exciting action, memorable characters. Fantastic structure & balance as we move from our clueless main character to the plotting Flower families.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2004
    Having just finished Tad Williams' Otherland series, I was immediately drawn to this stand-alone fantasy. I was slightly skeptical at first, because the idea of a human being trapped in a fairy world sounded cliched and slightly corny. Despite this reluctance, I trusted my established opinion from reading the Otherland books that Tad Williams is a talented author well-capable of writing a stellar story. From the first chapter, I knew that The War of the Flowers was going to be an entertaining, satisfying read.

    The novel is 800 pages long, but certainly doesn't seem like it. Fans/readers of Tad Williams know that he is notorious for long books that generally don't feel long. I think that he accomplishes this best by never really straying from the storyline. He doesn't go off on tangents, he doesn't go into boring, overly-detailed description, and consistently keeps the plot flowing smoothly and briskly. However, he does this seamlessly and unpredictably, so that the reader isn't exactly sure of where they're being taken, but when they finally get there, they're surprised and can't help but marvel at how well Tad Williams combines every element of the story into a coherent whole.

    The War of the Flowers works brilliantly as a stand-alone novel, because there are no loose ends left unaccounted for, come the end of the book. Those who have read Otherland should know that even though things may seem simple and somewhat straight-forward, even close to resolved, Tad Williams always throws in a few curve balls towards the end that make everything that came before seem that much more interesting. It's difficult to make references to the novel without giving anything away.

    The book is separated into various stages of complexity, as most novels logically are. The first 100 pages is character introduction and background, showing us what Theo Vilmos is like in the mortal world. There are some interesting relationship nuances and conflicts that we get to watch unfold, as well as some decisions that define Theo as a person. This part of the novel was very well-written, and surprisingly engaging for a part of the book lacking in any real plot.

    The majority of the book (the middle four or five hundred pages) is what I like to think of as world development. After the reader is introduced to Theo, and Theo has been introduced to the world of Faerie, the world of Faeries must then be developed and substantiated for the reader in order for it to seem real and interesting. Tad Williams does a fine job of this, while forwarding the plot subtly, but letting it take somewhat of a backseat to the addition of various characters and background/history of the world. There is nothing boring about this middle section, it simply doesn't do a whole lot with the plot that is unpredictable. That comes in the final section.

    The last 200 pages or so of the novel are chock-full of interesting revelations and turns of events which lead to the mostly-satisfying climax. This is the part of the novel that every reader will be waiting for, because it is very addictive and one can't help but marvel at its cleverness. I was surprised when the previously-simple plot began to complicate itself exponentially in just a few chapters. A few very interesting plot-elements, namely concerning the realities of Eamonn Dowd, make for a startling conclusion.

    I would rate this book 4 and a half stars if it were possible, but I rounded down, because to me, 5 stars is a bona fide classic, a title which The War of the Flowers doesn't quite live up to. It would be within its reach, if not for a few significant (though hardly condemning) flaws. First and foremost, Theo, as a main character, can get a bit annoying. He seems to always say stupid things at the worst of times, which can be humorous, but definitely grows old. He is realistic in some aspects, in that he reacts to conflict and adversity the way a human being in his situation would. However, he is unrealistic in that he is somewhat two-dimensional, and seems to have no personality traits that aren't openly obvious to anyone who spends a half an hour with him. He still works alright as a character, but I would've rather had a more interesting protagonist.

    As readers of Tad Williams probably know, the view point is always third-person, but the point of view is always filtered in some way to give an understanding of what the character sees and feels. In other novels with multiple protagonists, this works out well, but seeing as most chapters in The War of the Flowers are following Theo around, we see the world somewhat through his corny, two-dimensional way of thinking. It isn't a blaring flaw--it's very subtle, in fact--but Tad Williams' writing style makes Theo's character flaws affect the reader's enjoyment of the novel, slightly.

    All this being said, the book is well-crafted and thoroughly enjoyable. I managed to finish it in four days, which alone should be testament to its quality.
    18 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2024
    Has to be one of the best reads that I have every had. It's right up at the top of my list. Can't believe the characters and humor and magic. Mr Williams you sure know how to make a good story. I have been putting off reading this and I'm so glad I finally did. Absolutely would recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy with a mix of good and evil. Wonderful story.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2024
    What an amazing story, I absolutely loved every minute. Theo is sucha great character and I'm very glad he was always the reluctant sort and didn't just fall into some trope of being the sword-weilding super soldier. Amazing prose and some really poignant lines throughout, Tad Williams wrote a superb stand alone fantasy.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2004
    Caught in a war between the noble houses of Faerie, relentlessly hunted by something out of a nightmare, down on his luck musician, Theo Vilmos is having a singularly bad day. It seems that Theo is somehow a reluctant pawn in the power games going on in this urbanized Fairyland-and his only ally is a smart-mouthed Sprite named Applecore. After reading through Tad Williams' Otherland series and Memory Sorrow and Thorn quartet, I looked forward to this single volume fantasy story. But while this story showcases Mr. Williams' skills as a world-builder with great imagination, it turned out to be a bit of disappointment with my high expectations of this author. It's an adequate single volume epic faerie tale . . . but I'm afraid that's all it turned out to be.
    The plotline isn't anything new: a musician with unrealized potential is dragged into a war between the elves. There are more than a dozen books that explore this same concept. Now, I'll be the first to admit that a familiar plotline doesn't make or break the book, but it does mean the author can't rest on the laurels of originality. What originality Mr. Williams' has imbued into this modern faerie tale rests in the fanciful world-building of urbanized Faerie realm. While the opening is fairly slow and pedestrian, once our protagonist finds himself in this realm, things went along at a faster clip. Tad Williams delights in showing off the little details of his world-the Dooney chauffeurs that smell their way, the ogre bodyguards that come in pairs, the house hobs-and manages to make that world come alive for the readers. I will not argue that the author's created a fascinating place to set his story.
    I could wish the story had been faster paced. No one will ever accuse Mr. Williams of writing too brief a story, but it was only the fact that I enjoy the author's other books that kept me determined enough to keep reading until the story really got underway. It took way too long for the author to set up our main protagonist-and the emotional bludgeoning he's put through (and we go through with him) to get there, is just overkill. Once we get into the meat of the story, things get somewhat better-but much too slowly. So much of the action feels drawn out and unnecessary. And while most of the story seems to crawl, the climax and aftermath seem to scramble over themselves in an effort to finish. Character-wise, Theo, our reluctant hero, is a little too reluctant and dull-witted. A few times I wanted to give him a good shaking. It's hard to believe this character is supposed to be in his thirties-he's too callow. Tad does manage to redeem him by the end of the story, but it's a bit too much a bit too late for me. Overall, the main characters were not Tad's best effort. Theo just isn't engaging enough, Poppy was a fairly cut a dry heroine without anything to distinguish her. The main villain wound up being rather two-dimensional and uninteresting. The secondary characters are another story altogether-Mud Button the goblin is one of the best creations in this story, and helps to salvage the tale along with Applecore, the feisty sprite and some of the other colorful denizens of Fairyland. They keep the story entertaining enough for a three star rating.
    Overall, this is an adequate read, but Mr. Williams has done much stronger work in his time. If you enjoy faerie-scapes and urban fantasy this may fit the bill for some relaxing reading-if you have the patience for long stories. This may be one to pick up from the library. If this is your first introduction to Mr. Williams, please consider checking out his earlier works: TAILCHASER'S SONG, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn quartet, and Otherland quartet. If it's tales of elves and musicians you seek, try Mercedes Lackey's KNIGHT OF GHOSTS AND SHADOWS or Emma Bull's THE WAR OF THE OAKS.
    Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad
    13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • SRevoy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
    Reviewed in Canada on March 29, 2024
    Great story with well developed characters. An epic tale of good vs evil.
  • Lukas Bürgi
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites
    Reviewed in Germany on December 16, 2017
    Tad Williams shows that he doesn't always need 4000 pages to tell a story after all. A lovely self-contained story.
    Report
  • N K
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in India on April 21, 2017
    This book is the size of a monster but it makes for an engaging read and you'll find yourself finishing it quickly enough. Most bumbling heroes tend to irritate me but Theo Vilmos makes for an appealing one nonetheless. The alternate version of faerie is interesting, so also the technology described. Now I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
  • Mario Hernandez
    4.0 out of 5 stars Grandioso
    Reviewed in Mexico on June 3, 2019
    Uno de esos relatos largos que simplemente llenan el corazón. Siempre me ha interesado la literatura fantástica (Tolkien fue uno de los primero autores que leí en mi juventud) pero desde hace un tiempo parece que los autores se obsesionan en construir grandes sagas de calidad fluctuante durante décadas. Eso no es necesariamente malo, pero algunas veces se extraña la presencia de libros fantásticos (en todos los sentidos de la palabra) autoconcluyentes que puedan disfrutarse por si mismos. "The War of the Flowers" es una de esas novelas. Ambientada en un mundo fantástico que al principio aparenta ser un cliché tipo Disney (cosa de la que más adelante los mismos habitantes de Fairie se burlan) y que bruscamente se torna en un mundo con demasiadas similitudes al nuestro como para que no sea inquietante. Es de remarcar que en este mundo decadente, con lucha de clases muy marcada (las "hadas" aristrocratas son aquellas que más se asemejan a un ser humano), desigualdades economicas, desabasto de recursos, explotación laboral y sobre todo guerra por poder, la incursión de Theo coincide con el inicio de un movimiento contestatario del que a su pesar formará parte. La historia principal de Theo se ve intercalada por algunos capítulos en donde comienza la exploración de como funciona el mundo de las hadas y lo que está en juego por parte de las clases altas (Las casas de las Flores). Poco a poco, la traición, la muerte, y la degeneración de nuestro mundo post-industrial se va haciendo más y más evidente en este antaño mundo mágico en donde a lo que nosotros llamamos ciencia las hadas lo consideran una simple superstición. Es una aventura llena de grandes personajes (Oh, la dulce Applecore, una deslenguada con acento escocés), una trama simple pero llevada a cabo de una forma muy entretenida y que al final cumple perfectamente en entretener y en enternecer el corazón. (A pesar de que los describen muy diferente no pude dejar de imaginarme a los Goblins como se representan en la serie de Guillermo del Toro, Trollhunters)
  • JessieHA
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite books
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2023
    I have reread this book several times. It was my introduction to Tad Williams. I find his narrative so easy and I can picture the story and characters in my head. Stand alone novel, following the depressing life of Theo, this is all going to change in a major way, accompanied by a rude, amusing and brilliant friend.