The Heart of What Was Lost

Plunging back into Tad Williams' celebrated Osten Ard, "The Heart of What Was Lost" immediately follows the defeat of the Storm King. His loyal Norns, dark cousins to the Sithi, are in a desperate retreat towards their ancient mountain citadel of Nakkiga. Hot on their heels is the formidable mortal army led by the Rimmersman Duke Isgrimnur, determined to eradicate the Norns' threat forever. Among his ranks are the southern soldiers Porto and Endri, whose journey into the frozen north tests their resolve against the Norns' fierce resistance and deadly magic. Inside the besieged mountain, the Norn military engineer Viyeki of the Order of Builders faces the daunting prospect of his people's extinction. He races against time to secure their haven and defend their race, all while confronting unsettling truths about Norn history and identity. The stage is set for the brutal Siege of Nakkiga, a battle so imbued with dark enchantment and desperation that it threatens to consume not just the warring factions, but the very fabric of their world. As Viyeki uncovers the mysteries tied to "The Heart of What Was Lost," both armies are pushed to their limits in a conflict that redefines victory and survival.