Rating: 
Summary: A fairly good reworking of Lord of the Rings
Review: The series is long and some times of mixed quality but overall is a pretty good read if you like Lord of the Rings - there are a lot of similarities with both the story line and the types of characters that exist.
Rating:
Summary: Wears its influences on its dust jacket
Review: The second in the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy. About 3/4 of the way through this volume, too much of the influence began to show. Not that such an occurrence is surprising--it's damned difficult to write a fantasy epic without Tolkien influencing it in some way--but something pegged a memory cell, and I winced at the similarity. As I said about The Dragonbone Chair, Williams isn't as bad as Terry Brooks. Brooks' main character was a short halfling type; Williams' is a young boy who is maturing quickly. Brooks' main good wizard was a mysterious man who comes and goes; Williams kills off the good wizard halfway through the first book. The similarity that made me wince, however, was the knowledge that the main bad wizard (as opposed to the overlord baddie) was once a member of the good wizard group. Shades of Saruman, and, as Jill pointed out, Star Wars.To break it down into these stereotyped roles is to reduce the work. Williams does a wonderful job in scene description, and his plotting ain't too shabby. Many times I was caught in a storyline that I wanted to see resolved. These were often the times that Williams would break from that action to cover a slower scene elsewhere, in the hopes that you stay fixed to the book looking for the resolution of the first. Unfortunately, there's more than just two of these situations going on, but something like four or five. Tolkien did the same thing, but in large chunks. (In fact, if my memory serves me, Tolkien had one group move on, and then returned to another and the time had to backtrack several months. Williams' sections seem to match fairly consistently in shorter durations than that.) I'm still enjoying it, though I think I might take a little breather before attacking the last, and thickest, volume.
Rating: 
Summary: Turned me off to the series
Review: I wrote a review on the first book of this series, The Dragonbone Chair, and there I stated that everyone should stick with the book because though it started out bad, it turned into a real winner. That still applies to that first book, but don't get so enthused you go out and buy this one. I don't know why, but I almost couldn't finish this book. It had the some problem as Dragonbone Chair, but only it never got better. The interesting action was interspersed between such long, drudging scenes that once you got to the good stuff, instead of getting excited, all I felt like saying was, "About time." The actual writing in this book seems weaker as well...maybe Williams had a deadline he was pressed to meet. I don't know. Problem is, I can't really be sure this book is that much worse than the first. It may be that my taste has just changed since I read the first one. That is very possible, since I haven't found a fantasy novel I've really enjoyed in the past two years (except for Martin and Goodkind...they stand out). It could be that I've learned more about writing, and now pick out weaknesses in plot and style more easily. I'm not sure, so if you loved the first one, take this review with a grain of salt. I think the main problem with these novels, Dragonbone Chair and Stone of Farewell, is that Williams is padding the books. These could be stellar, 300-400 page fantasy novels. Instead, they're slow, plodding, 800 page novels. Kill your darlings, Mr. Williams, and be ruthless. To sum up, pick buy this book at your own risk. I'm definitely not reading the third book of the trilogy--a third book that comes in two parts, each about 800 pages...see what I mean?
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Volume In An Uncannily Deep and Emotional Trilogy
Review: Though the series as a whole is wonderful and highly-recommended, Stone of Farewell led me on an unexpected emotional journey. William's number one strength is his characters - Miriamelle aside (I almost gave this book four stars because she annoys me so much) However, reading it through for a second and third time and skimming through her passages made this a perfect read. Secondly, he has a great sense for the visual. Mists, flowers, groves, hills, towers...his visions fill my mind for days after I put the book down... Though all the sub-plots are engrossing, especially those involving Maegwin and the journey of Prince Josua, I found the journey into the Sithi-stronghold some of the most amazing story-writing I've ever encountered. The Sithi come to life in a magical, three-dimensional way with me striving to understand like some whacked-out, hungry anthropologiest. It's been a long time since I've wanted to get the 'heck' out of this world or ours and jump headfirst into another - but this is where I would go if I could find it. Like a shot. I'm also an adult reader, so if you're a kid looking for massive amounts of sword-play and 'cool' magic (though I think these things DO lie here-in), this isn't the book for you. But if you enjoy a depth to your story, striking characterizations and dialogue that is actually enjoyable to read (read: NOT Goodkind) then you will enjoy this series and especially this volume. This is also one of the only series - and certainly the first since I was TWELVE - that I find myself concocting alternate stories in my head before I fall asleep in the eve or even day-dreaming during my day (fan-fiction of the mind, if you will!). I cannot emphasize what a cut above the rest of fantasy-schlock this triology is. It even gets better on a second read. But I do believe you have to have a certain tolerance for steady pacing, emotional complexties, drawn out descriptives (which I adore), and the bittersweet undercurrents of beauty lost beyond retrieving.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent edition to this fantastic series
Review: Epic fantasies are about several things. They are about long journeys, endurance against overwhelming odds, loyal companions put through extreme tests, and ultimately good winning out over evil. Often in fantasy trilogies, the second volume is merely a connecting story to continue moving the story along until the final volume where the really exciting part happens. Not so in 'Stone of Farewell'. Yes, it's largely about the journeys of the various personalities in this series as they make their way across Osten Ard, trying to find a place of safety where they can decide how to resist the evils of Elias, Pryrates and the Storm King. But 'Stone of Farewell' isn't merely a connecting volume. It's one of the most interesting stories in the entire series. Osten Ard is covered in snow, thanks largely to the unnatural winter brought on by the Storm King. Simon, who recently recovered the magical sword Thorn during his visit to the mountains of the north (which includes a very nice section where he meets Binabik's people and we learn about the ways of the trolls), now must make his way to Sesuadra (the Stone of Farewell) where the forces resisting Elias's armies must try and regroup. On his journey, Simon and his companions have many exciting adventures as well as unexpected discoveries that fill in the background on the events currently unraveling around them. Since I've given a more complete review of this series as a whole in my review of the DragonBone Chair, I won't go into all of my thoughts again here. Suffice it to say that this isn't the standard 'second book' in a fantasy trilogy. It has real depth, and is an essential companion to the first volume, leading nicely into the concluding books. I'll say it again. Don't hesitate. Read this series now. You'll be very glad you did.
Rating: 
Summary: Keep Going..... It Only Gets Better From Here
Review: Ok, if you've made it through "Dragonbone" and are now reading this one, you don't have much farther to go. Sure, the pace has been slow, but things really take off in "To Green Angel Tower", with a few nice surprises at the end that make the whole thing worthwhile.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent epic but a disappointing volume
Review: A lot of readers seem to like "The Stone of Farewell" better than "The Dragonbone Chair," but I felt the opposite. In this second volume of Tad Williams' breathtaking series, the action seems haphazard and events or plot drive the story, rather than characters. Some readers think this is an improvement on the slower pace of the first book, but I enjoyed the slow beginning and beautiful background scenery of "The Dragonbone Chair."
While I still count this series as one of my all-time favorite fantasy epics, it let down my expectations after reading the first book. I found myself eager to reach the end of each chapter and a change of scene and characters instead of enjoying every detail as I had in the first book. Action seems to happen randomly and pointlessly, especially to Simon and Binibik. When Simon arbitrarily slams headlong into a tree while fleeing the witch-girl's house, I almost stopped reading from annoyance. And that incident sets up Simon's storyline for the rest of the book! Hadn't we seen him starving and whining by himself in the forest already? I didn't really like seeing the Sithi homeland either; I loved the first book because it kept the Sithi distant and mysterious, and something was lost in this book. And when haphazard events aren't happening, the pace drags. It took me forever to get through the chapter where Maegwin encounters the Dwarrow. Most disappointing of all, though, was the development of the female characters. Maegwin going mad, unable to handle her grief and her feelings for Eolair? I liked her because she seemed strong and practical and ready to be a competent leader to her people, but in this volume she acts like a child throwing a tantrum. And Miriamele is no better. She has no control over anything that happens to her, although I really liked the scene where she threw Cadrach overboard. But Cadrach is also one of my favorite characters (and I'd like to know what terrible things happened in his past!) and later it seemed clear that he was trying to repent and that Miriamele should be able to trust him, but she is really mean and childish to him. And letting that lord on the ship seduce her at the end? I know she felt frightened and alone, and that it's a sign of good storytelling when characters have weaknesses, but I was very disappointed with her. There aren't very many female characters. Williams might have kept one of them emotionally strong. Despite all that, though, I enjoyed reading another volume of an epic filled with depth, beauty, and mystery. I hope the last volume improves the series.
Rating:
Summary: Now this is getting good!
Review: Ok, I reviewed The Dragonbone Chair (first book in this series) and said it was good, but not great. This is getting a lot closer to what I'd consider great! Tad Williams has taken the all too familiar "quest to defeat evil" plot with which he began this series and molded, shaped and stretched it beyond its boundaries. The characters (particularly Simon) have grown since the last book in a realistic way, and the "other races" have their own cultures, strengths and shortcomings: Yes, even the noble Sithi have skeletons in their cultural closet. That was a surprise -- and in this somewhat overworked genre, surprise is a good thing! I'm glad I started this series and am looking forward to the next book!
Rating:
Summary: amazing !!!
Review: wow. even though the story skips around a lot, i loved this book. the characters' emotions, especially simon's, are clearly expressed. i thought this book to be different and, well, fun to read. the Sithi are my favorite, they have their ancient rules and secrets, but still have a human air about them. i strongly recommend this book. if you like long, interesting novels, you'll like stone of farewell.
Rating:
Summary: Well, I finished it...
Review: I am enjoying the storyline and characters. So I am giving it three stars. And I intend on finishing the series. But I do wish more would happen. It is a bit trying at times to read through the second 700-page volume and see how very little happens. While things do happen, they are subtle changes. For 700-pages now the characters are journeying toward a gathering place, the Stone of Farewell, and after 700 pages, one would expect some type of finality. I am a firm believer in the idea that each book in a trilogy or series must stand alone on its own merits and if it were to be picked up alone and read, it would be a full, complete story. If I look at it that way, The Stone of Farewell is a disappointment. Middle books are hard (just ask Ms. Rowling), but nonetheless, after 1,400 pages, Mr. Williams has yet to key in the reader completely on the goals of the two sides of his conflict. Near the end of The Stone of Farewell, one character stands up and says, "I know what's going on here, and let me tell you..." So much for her... I wish the author would do the same thing. If I had to do it over again, I can't promise you I would have started this. But now I have to finish. I've got 14 unread books on my shelf that I'm dying to get to. Can't say that's a particularly flattering thing to say about your current read, don't you think?
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