Reviews

It’s finished. What can say? How do I even begin to review the greatest fantasy series I have ever read. Was it worth a year of my life to finish it? That would be a huge YES! this is a life changing work. I see the world through a new set of eyes now. An amazing achievement. Steven Erikson should be applauded for completing it and sticking the landing. I will never forget these characters and look forward to a third reread of the entire thing someday.

kwrobs86's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

4.0

halynah's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Breathtaking conclusion of the best fantasy series of all time!!!
All the battle scenes were gorgeously written! Erikson is unequalled in portraying military atmosphere and banter! He is also the king of dry humour and his writing is truly English at its finest!!! I'm in love with his brains and imagination!!!It's remarkable that this flawed world is still capable of birthing a man of such a formidable intellect!
Besides the battles, among the highlights of the tenth book were Draconus and Ublala's friendship, Bent and Roach's scenes, background stories of marines, crossing of the Glass Desert. There are many loose ends - Karsa, Laseen and all those we left in Mock's Hold, Envy and Spite, etc. All those characters beg for their own spin-offs and we may only hope, that Steven Erikson will deliver! Barring The Reaper's Gale, all the books in the series are masterpieces, so - highly recommended!!!

adam_marcus's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

It's over. One and a bit years since I finished Gardens of the Moon. 10 books, 3 and quarter million words, 453 POVs and a lot of patience later - Malazan Book of the Fallen has become, undoubtably, the greatest book series I have ever read.

More than potentially any form of media I've ever encountered, I am confident that Malazan will remain with me for the rest of my life. For the lessons that it taught me. The characters that will live rent-free in my head (Tehol, Fiddler & Mappo my sweet boys I love you). The jaw-dropping moments of spectacle that are present in each and every book.

It's so much more than just an epic fantasy series. It's a story of love & loss. Sacrifice & redemption. Faith & compassion. Its an examination of humanity that forces you to confront your own belief system, and pierces the depths of your soul in doing so.

Malazan is not an easy read, you spend about 70% of these books being terribly confused and the other 30% being mostly depressed. But the payoff Erikson provides at the end of each book and the series as a whole make the journey so very worth it.

My final individual book ranking of the series:

1. Memories of Ice
2. The Crippled God
3. Midnight Tides
4. The Bonehunters
5. Toll The Hounds
6. House of Chains
7. Deadhouse Gates
8. Gardens of the Moon
9. Dust of Dreams
10. Reapers Gale

jeanjgelee's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

dhilger's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced

2.5

Great book if you love long walks through the desert musing about ecoside. Million side characters that are almost exclusively for exposition about environmentalism and cultural genocide

More...