When the Guardian of the West Passage died in her bed, the women of Grey Tower fed her to the crows and went back to their chores. No successor was named as Guardian, no one took up the fallen blade; the West Passage went unguarded.
Now, snow blankets Grey in the height of summer. Rats erupt from beneath the earth, fleeing that which comes. Crops fail. Hunger looms. And none stand ready to face the Beast, stirring beneath the poisoned soil.
The fate of all who live in …
When the Guardian of the West Passage died in her bed, the women of Grey Tower fed her to the crows and went back to their chores. No successor was named as Guardian, no one took up the fallen blade; the West Passage went unguarded.
Now, snow blankets Grey in the height of summer. Rats erupt from beneath the earth, fleeing that which comes. Crops fail. Hunger looms. And none stand ready to face the Beast, stirring beneath the poisoned soil.
The fate of all who live in the palace hangs on narrow shoulders. The too-young Mother of Grey House sets out to fix the seasons. The unnamed apprentice of the deceased Grey Guardian goes to warn Black Tower. Both their paths cross the West Passage, the ancient byway of the Beast. On their journeys they will meet schoolteachers and beekeepers, miracles and monsters, and very, very big Ladies. None can say if they'll reach their destinations, but one thing is for the world is about to change.
English language
Published 2024 by Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom.
I had to use the audiobook to finish this as think the main problem for me was the font size in the hardcover book was just too small. Making me focus on focusing instead of absorbing information. Overall the story progressed slowly but it’s very detailed, so if there’s a second book to this, then I hope it won’t be as detailed.
This book is so visual and imaginative, and thrives when walking you through the surreal, psychedelic, illuminated manuscript of a world. But while it was always interesting, I found it hard to stay engaged with the story at times, particularly in the middle. The ending compelled me, and I wish I'd had more of that connection to the plot and characters through the rest of the book.
