Now in paperback, the New York Times bestselling world of Osten Ard returns in the third Last King of Osten Ard novel, as threats to the kingdom loom... The High Throne of Erkynland is tottering, its royal family divided and diminished. Queen Miriamele has been caught up in a brutal rebellion in the south and thought to have died in a fiery attack. Her grandson Morgan, heir to the throne, has been captured by one of Utuk’ku’s soldiers in the ruins of an abandoned city. Miriamele’s husband, King Simon, is overwhelmed by grief and hopelessness, unaware that many of these terrible things have been caused by Pasevalles, a murderous traitor inside Simon’s own court at the Hayholt.   Meanwhile, a deadly army of Norns led by the ageless, vengeful Queen Utuk’ku, has swept into Erkynland and thrown down the fortress of Naglimund, slaughtering the inhabitants and digging up the ancient grave of Ruyan the Navigator. Utuk’ku plans to use the Navigator’s fabled armor to call up the spirit of Hakatri, the evil Storm King’s brother.   Even the Sithi, fairy-kin to the Norns, are helpless to stop Utuk’ku’s triumph as her armies simultaneously march on the Hayholt and force their way into the forbidden, ogre-guarded valley of Tanakirú—the Narrowdark—where a secret waits that might bring Simon’s people and their Sithi allies salvation—or doom. Praise for the world of Osten Ard “Inspired me to write my own seven-book trilogy.... It’s one of my favorite fantasy series .” —George R. R. Martin, New York Times -bestselling author of A Song of Ice and Fire   “ Groundbreaking .... Changed how people thought of the genre, and paved the way for so much modern fantasy. Including mine.” —Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times -bestselling author of The Name of the Wind   "Tad Williams is a master storyteller , and the Osten Ard books are his masterpiece. Williams’ return to Osten Ard is every bit as compelling, deep, and fully-rendered as the first trilogy, and he continues to write with the experience and polish of an author at the top of his game." —Brandon Sanderson, New York Times -bestselling author of Mistborn “ Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is one of the great fantasy epics of all time .” —Christopher Paolini, New York Times bestselling author of Eragon   "Building upon the revered history of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, Williams has outdone himself by penning a 700-plus page novel that is virtually un-put-down-able.... Williams’ grand-scale storytelling mastery is on full display here. Not just utterly readable— an instant fantasy classic ." — Kirkus Reviews (starred)   “Panoramic, vigorous, often moving.... Williams adroitly weaves together the tales...heralding a suitably epic and glorious conclusion .” — Publishers Weekly   “Highly Recommended. [Williams] draws on many mythologies for the background of his fantasy epic...story spiced with political intrigue and strong appealing heroes .” — Library Journal   “ A grand fantasy on a scale approaching Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.” — Cincinnati Post 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. 1   The Keen Edge   They crouched together in deep darkness, his captor's chill, firm hand pressing the knife against Morgan's throat. Each time quiet footsteps passed their hiding place, his heart raced. Whether they were found by Sithi or Norn, Morgan did not think the discoverers would care that he belonged to neither army.   The sounds of pursuit faded at last. After a long silence, he whispered, "There's no one else coming. You can let me go now. I promise I won't tell anyone."   His only reply was a quiet hiss. It might have been laughter but could have been something less pleasant. The keen edge of the knife was cold against his skin. It seemed like such a small thing, that edge, thinner than a broom straw, barely more perceptible than a smear of water or a waft of cool air, yet he did not doubt it could end his life.   The one who holds me is a Norn-one of the White Foxes. They have no souls. They hate us and they want our kind dead. But for some unknown reason he was still alive.   The Norn put her feet into the small of his back and shoved him hard enough to send him sprawling forward onto his hands and knees. "Get up," she said quietly. "Slow. We go now."   He considered trying to crawl away and then make a run for it but remembered that both the Norns and Sithi could see much better in the dark than he could. H