Rating: 
Summary: "Light at the End of the Tunnel" Type Fantasy Enjoyable
Review: Unlike some of the reviewers of this book, I saw it as being ultimately hopefull. I also liked the vivid descriptions of Fairy and its varied inhabitents. The other thing a liked about the War of the Flowers is its humorous parts, especialy the foul mouthed sprite, Applecore. And finally, even the dark parts of this book were interesting.They draw interesting parallels to what realy happens in the "real world." It is especially earie that parts of it closely parallel what happened on Sept. 11th, especially considering that they were written BEFORE that date! However, in spite of that piece of disterbing imagary,this book ultimately ends on a hopefull note.
Rating:
Summary: Another excellent Tad Williams universe
Review: Tad Williams doesn't just create worlds from the ground up, he even creates the ground. As he has done with all his novels, he does so once again with The War of the Flowers.A modern day Fairy tale, Tad has done his homework and researched everything that's already out there about Fairyland - all the legends and myths and stories are taken into account, mixed with Tad's own imagination, thrown into a nice cool cellar and aged and fermented to be brought out as this delightful and delicious book. The down side to that is that some readers find it hard to get through the initial pages of Tad's writing, with so much of a fully developed alternate reality to be relayed to the reader's imagination, but I believe that he is getting better in that regard. In this story, Theo Vilmos is plucked from his average life and thrown into a fairy-land adventure. This allows for a faster pace than some of Tad's other novels, as the reader gets to learn how things work same as the protagonist - by being thrown into it and getting snippets of explanations along the way.
Rating:
Summary: Tad does it again.
Review: Not much to say here. If your a Tad Williams fan you'll love this book. If you arent a Tad Williams fan, you'll love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo!
Review: As an avid Otherland fan, I was a bit leery of picking up Tad's newest book when it came out, but he failed to disappoint me. Another amazingly descriptive and enticing book; I recommend it for any Williams fan!
Rating:
Summary: The Master!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent and original fantasy novel
Review: War Of The Flowers departs from William's tendency toward multi-book sequels to provide a satisfying stand-lone fantasy set in Northern California and centering around a strange parallel world. A has-been rock singer who seeks refuge in an isolated woods cabin finds an odd memoir written by a relative who believes he's found a fairy world - and finds it the key to a universe almost beyond imagination. Swift action and strong characterization make War Of The Flowers an excellent and original fantasy novel.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book from an excellent author
Review: I loved Tad Williams's two previous series, Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn (a fantasy which begins with the Dragonbone Chair and continues in Stone of Farewell and To Green Angel Tower), and Otherland, (science fiction which begins with City of Golden Shadow). When I heard that he had a new book out, I bought it the week it was available. This new novel, a standalone, did not disappoint. Williams shows again that he's one of the best world-builders around, creating a complex, believable world with its own history, customs, and laws of magic which are alien yet familiar. My one gripe with the book is that it takes a bit too long for the actual plot to get started. This is, in general, a weakness of Williams. All the background which he lays for the reader at the start of a story is necessary, but not always apparent except in hindsight. It's always worth it, however, to make it through the exposition to reach the other side.
Rating: 
Summary: I expected much better from Williams !
Review: Since reading Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, a fantasy saga by Williams I have rated him as one of my must read writer. I was of course looking forward to the War of the Flowers. It is certainly not Williams' best effort. The story started off well and Williams did a great job delineating Theo's life especially his touching relationship with his mother. However from the time Theo entered the faerie realm, the tone sort of changed and I have the impression I was watching "The Man in Black" except that I was reading it in words. There is excitement and the plot keeps you moving along but the characters just lack depth. Theo who started off interesting ended as a clumsy somewhat dull protagonist and the side characters are just there to fill the pages. Still if you are looking for just an enjoyable read go ahead and buy this.
Rating: 
Summary: how disappointing
Review: I know there is no way Tad Williams fans won't buy this book, but I would highly suggest borrowing it from the library or a friend. With such an interesting topic as fairlyland in the modern era it's difficult to believe how poor this books was. The plot was weak and extraordinarily predictable. The characters were lackluster and in general appeared as little more than watery shadows of other characters Williams had already created. It was a very uninspiring read. Williams is typically such a good author, but I guess everyone has their worst work.
Rating:
Summary: Really, Really Good -- But Probably Not For Everyone
Review: _War of the Flowers_ starts out with a standard device in fantasy literature of the fey variety: Theo Vilmos is a singer in a California rock band. His band-mates are barely out of high school and at the age of thirty, he's beginning to wonder whether he's ever going to grow up and make something of himself. A series of personal crises sends Theo to a cabin in the mountains to sort things out. Soon enough he finds himself drawn into Faerie, where he is a pawn in the power struggles between several noble families. There is so much to like about this book! First off, Tad Williams is just an incredible writer: his characterizations are deft and realistic, his descriptions of both places and experiences are moving and his vision breathes a needed note of originality into an increasingly over-used theme. WotF uses many of the standards of faery lore to paint a very different picture than one might be used to seeing, and I found it incredibly absorbing. There's a lot of darkness in this book, but there's humour, too, and a sense of irony that struck me as a very true depiction of the way a mortal mind might work when trying to make sense of things that just don't cop to this-world rules. There is not, however, that overblown sense of magic and mystery to which many writers succumb when trying to tackle the subject. We're shown a Faerie that is a super-real reflection of our own world rather than one that is awe-inspiring on a spiritual level. Probably not all readers will appreciate this take, as it makes for uncomfortable reading at times. Williams also manages to reconcile different faery mythologies in a way that makes sense, so that there's room in his world for both the more human, Tuatha De Danaan type fairy and the Victorian Flower Fairy. And he gives a reasonable explanation for culturally different kinds of fairy lore while totally dispelling the notion that all mystical beings must live in some idealised 5th century Tuath. I really appreciated this. As far as plot itself goes, there isn't a whole lot new here. It's what Williams does with it that makes WotF an incredible read. If you're looking for the same old superficial take on Faerie that some writers dish out this book is probably not for you. If, however, you're looking for an absorbing challenge that will make you think. _War of the Flowers_ is a great choice.
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