Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
J'ai hésité entre 3 et 4 car ça vaut plus un 3.5 pour moi mais pour le personnage de Coltaine et de son armée pour leur bravoure je mets 4.
Le début de lecture fut laborieux. Les chapitres sonr long. Javais une impression de ne pas avancer. Cela fait presque 2 ans que j'ai lu le tome 1 et comme ce n'est pas la suite directe j'ai été perdue. J'ai aussi eu du mal à m'intéresser à une intrigue qui n'avait rien à voir avec ce dont je me rappelai du 1. Mais c'est venu au fur Et à mesure et j'aime toujours ce côté grandiloquent... cette lecture qui demande de l'investissement. J'en peux plus de la fantasy "classique" j'ai besoin d'un vrai grand monde. Je lirai la suite car il y a des choses que je vais oublié mais qui doivent avoir leur importance mais que je ne comprends pas encore. Par contre ne pas attendre 2 ans entre chaque tome.
Le début de lecture fut laborieux. Les chapitres sonr long. Javais une impression de ne pas avancer. Cela fait presque 2 ans que j'ai lu le tome 1 et comme ce n'est pas la suite directe j'ai été perdue. J'ai aussi eu du mal à m'intéresser à une intrigue qui n'avait rien à voir avec ce dont je me rappelai du 1. Mais c'est venu au fur Et à mesure et j'aime toujours ce côté grandiloquent... cette lecture qui demande de l'investissement. J'en peux plus de la fantasy "classique" j'ai besoin d'un vrai grand monde. Je lirai la suite car il y a des choses que je vais oublié mais qui doivent avoir leur importance mais que je ne comprends pas encore. Par contre ne pas attendre 2 ans entre chaque tome.
I really connected with these characters, maybe even more than the ones from book one. It was compelling and exciting, as well has heartbreaking and very difficult to read at times. I certainly feel more attached at this point.
But the world is still confusing as all get out and I honestly have no idea what's going on half the time.
I think I'm enjoying this series but truthfully I'm not entirely sure yet. On to the next one I guess haha.
But the world is still confusing as all get out and I honestly have no idea what's going on half the time.
I think I'm enjoying this series but truthfully I'm not entirely sure yet. On to the next one I guess haha.
MALAZAN PROJECT 2020 #2
Probably better than the first book, but in some ways not as enjoyable. The book feels much darker. There are no characters like Kruppe to provide comic moments, for example. Closest would be the High Priest, but he's clearly cleverer than he lets on and more than a little mad.
Still, the writing was better, and the stories generally more unique - Felisin is such an interesting character, by comparison illustrating the problems I have with GoT and it's use of sex in relation to it's women. The end of Kalam's plotline in this book is haunting and seems to hold fascinating implications for the rest of the series. Will have to wait and see on that.
Onward to Memories of Ice and a return to the Bridgeburners.
Probably better than the first book, but in some ways not as enjoyable. The book feels much darker. There are no characters like Kruppe to provide comic moments, for example. Closest would be the High Priest, but he's clearly cleverer than he lets on and more than a little mad.
Still, the writing was better, and the stories generally more unique - Felisin is such an interesting character, by comparison illustrating the problems I have with GoT and it's use of sex in relation to it's women. The end of Kalam's plotline in this book is haunting and seems to hold fascinating implications for the rest of the series. Will have to wait and see on that.
Onward to Memories of Ice and a return to the Bridgeburners.
After finishing Gardens of the Moon, I immediately reread it seeking clarity. Thankfully, Deadhouse Gates was not quite as obtuse, I think because much of the reader's learning takes place throughout Gardens of the Moon.
Deadhouse Gates improves upon Gardens of the Moon in every respect. The biggest improvement is, I think, in its pacing, which was one of GotM's weakest points.
Several times throughout this book I stopped and thought, "That was the coolest thing I've ever read." - Only to have Erikson write something even more amazing a few chapters later.
My only warning is that this is a long novel. It required quite a bit of stamina to push through, despite greatly enjoying it. I think that will prove common with the rest of the series. Onto book 3.
Deadhouse Gates improves upon Gardens of the Moon in every respect. The biggest improvement is, I think, in its pacing, which was one of GotM's weakest points.
Several times throughout this book I stopped and thought, "That was the coolest thing I've ever read." - Only to have Erikson write something even more amazing a few chapters later.
My only warning is that this is a long novel. It required quite a bit of stamina to push through, despite greatly enjoying it. I think that will prove common with the rest of the series. Onto book 3.
Perhaps it was more appropriate to title this book "Chain of Dogs," as that plot-line of the book served as an immense emotional center to the book--it's up there as one of the all time great war epochs. Erikson is such a valuable asset to the fantasy genre. While the accessibility of the Malazan series is frustratingly difficult for readers to grasp everything, in both books now, once you get going you get whisked away into a world alive with culture and history. Fittingly, the Chain of Dogs subplot of Deadhouse Gates follows the perspective of an historian, Duiker, as a continent-wide revolt pushes the army he is assigned to across leagues of rebel-controlled lands. The only safe city lies on the other side of the continent, and Duiker must witness and record the army's impossible task to transport refugees while beleaguered by rebel armies that weaken the ragged group of soldiers battle after battle.
Other more pointed narratives center around a plot to assassinate an empress and a prison-break and its following journey to escape, all the while the reader knows that the events from the first book are still mobilizing the greater story in the background. The depth and management of all these different plot-lines are certainly impressive, but Erikson's ability to lend each its own emotional gravity is a feat not many fantasy writers are capable of.
Other more pointed narratives center around a plot to assassinate an empress and a prison-break and its following journey to escape, all the while the reader knows that the events from the first book are still mobilizing the greater story in the background. The depth and management of all these different plot-lines are certainly impressive, but Erikson's ability to lend each its own emotional gravity is a feat not many fantasy writers are capable of.
There is not a single character in this book I care about. All of these malazan books do nothing to make you like nor root for any characters. They are purely plot driven and read mostly like a dry history of the Napoleonic wars.
Rereading this was honestly such an awesome experience, like wow. I have all the feels right now for Malazan. It’s been around two years since I first read this and since then, I have had a lot more experience with adult fantasy and rereading it this time, I really was able to understand a lot more of what was going on, but also being able to appreciate it a lot better. Malazan is probably in my top 5 series of all time and I do believe that this series really highlights what fantasy is capable of in the level of worldbuilding and scope. With that being said, it isn’t perfect however I much that I do happen to love it(which is a lot).
One thing that this book gets right is this whole aspect of following these soldiers and getting their perspectives in war, and that it is a brutal and devastating thing. This is a series that largely follows normal people and soldiers who have perhaps found themselves in a position of fame or authority(obviously there are people like Rake and Shadowthrone, so this isn’t always the case). It doesn’t always focus on the tactics and strategy of a particular battle, but rather the soldiers that are living through the moment which I really like.
Another thing that I’m sure anybody has read this series is that the worldbuilding is immense, with several different magic systems, different realms and an entire world to explore whether it is Seven Cities, Genabackis and later on in the series, Letherii. I find that very few series can match it in its scope of its worldbuilding that I have yet read, with some comparable examples being The Wheel of Time, Middle-Earth(LotR, Silmarillion etc) and A Song of Ice and Fire. I’m a huge sucker for good worldbuilding and the world that had been created here manages to just feel so full of everything.
Coltaine’s March is truly epic in how it is written and the way it ends is quite chilling. I managed to really enjoy each and individual POV points and found them all to be interesting in their own right. While I enjoyed some more than others, there wasn’t one I actually disliked reading about or wasn’t in engaged in.
One thing I have found that earlier on in this massive series, is that since there are so many characters, there are a few here and there that I can’t properly connect with or love straight away, which is perfectly understandable as you want them to develop. There are many that really shine straight away, but at the same time, there are also a few that just after rereading this book, that from here, I don’t love immensely yet.
I don’t really have the most to say about this book though it certainly is very interesting to be rereading some of Malazan and to be immersed in this world once again. Also, for some reason, I’m in this huge mood to read Malazan and I don’t know why. 9.8/10
One thing that this book gets right is this whole aspect of following these soldiers and getting their perspectives in war, and that it is a brutal and devastating thing. This is a series that largely follows normal people and soldiers who have perhaps found themselves in a position of fame or authority(obviously there are people like Rake and Shadowthrone, so this isn’t always the case). It doesn’t always focus on the tactics and strategy of a particular battle, but rather the soldiers that are living through the moment which I really like.
Another thing that I’m sure anybody has read this series is that the worldbuilding is immense, with several different magic systems, different realms and an entire world to explore whether it is Seven Cities, Genabackis and later on in the series, Letherii. I find that very few series can match it in its scope of its worldbuilding that I have yet read, with some comparable examples being The Wheel of Time, Middle-Earth(LotR, Silmarillion etc) and A Song of Ice and Fire. I’m a huge sucker for good worldbuilding and the world that had been created here manages to just feel so full of everything.
Coltaine’s March is truly epic in how it is written and the way it ends is quite chilling. I managed to really enjoy each and individual POV points and found them all to be interesting in their own right. While I enjoyed some more than others, there wasn’t one I actually disliked reading about or wasn’t in engaged in.
One thing I have found that earlier on in this massive series, is that since there are so many characters, there are a few here and there that I can’t properly connect with or love straight away, which is perfectly understandable as you want them to develop. There are many that really shine straight away, but at the same time, there are also a few that just after rereading this book, that from here, I don’t love immensely yet.
I don’t really have the most to say about this book though it certainly is very interesting to be rereading some of Malazan and to be immersed in this world once again. Also, for some reason, I’m in this huge mood to read Malazan and I don’t know why. 9.8/10
Having read this book before, and having read the next four or five in the series, I am amazed at the planning and forethought that went into such a humongous story.