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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
By this point there is so much story to unpack I don't even know how to review it or even where to begin. The first chapter introducing such a horrific act as part of a cultural tradition really pulls you right back into the world. Of course we transition to seeing how all of the refugees get on after the events of the previous book and Erikson really did deliver. I found this book to be incredibly impactful and although it didn't go as I expected it was wonderfully gritty and dark and hopeful all in one, which is what defines this world. It's hard to do a review for this book without spoilers at this point but I find myself becoming increasingly more invested in this series as each book goes on.
Minor complaint: They changed the audiobook narrator!!!!!!!!! WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT??!!! Now no one sounds the same!!!!
Minor complaint: They changed the audiobook narrator!!!!!!!!! WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT??!!! Now no one sounds the same!!!!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Maybe a 3.5, probably my least favorite so far, with some high points.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Erikson's sprawling saga continues as a disorienting new (or is it??) point of view character taking up the first fifth of House of Chains. Gone again are the familiar faces of the previous book, to be replaced by blood crazed barbarian Karsa Orlong. His culture (and quickly apparent extremist status within that culture) is alien and interesting enough that this detour adding even more layers onto what is already a mind-boggingly vast storyline does not annoy. In fact, it all went past rather quickly, considering the relative novelty of just following one guy and knowing his precise motivations.
Once the Karsa storyline rejoins the rest of Malazan, you'll be left scratching your head as to why exactly this wild man warranted such exploration, but I promise you will be Karsa 4 Lyfe by the time he starts understanding his wider role in the world.
As ever, I am giddy to find out what happens next in the Malazan Empire and beyond. Having said this, you may wonder why I knocked a star off.
At one point, Felisin Younger is shown to converse in direct speech for the first time. Now, it had always been a very Erikson thing to do to simply have everyone be erudite and fancy-talkin' as fuck. From an interview, I gleaned that he believes that even the simplest of folk can think about heavy philosophical subjects and the continued disbelief that they can't is pretty classist.
Nice sentiment, Steve, but I think they would employ different registers from literally everyone else, especially if they're 12ish like Felisin Younger.
Once the Karsa storyline rejoins the rest of Malazan, you'll be left scratching your head as to why exactly this wild man warranted such exploration, but I promise you will be Karsa 4 Lyfe by the time he starts understanding his wider role in the world.
As ever, I am giddy to find out what happens next in the Malazan Empire and beyond. Having said this, you may wonder why I knocked a star off.
At one point, Felisin Younger is shown to converse in direct speech for the first time. Now, it had always been a very Erikson thing to do to simply have everyone be erudite and fancy-talkin' as fuck. From an interview, I gleaned that he believes that even the simplest of folk can think about heavy philosophical subjects and the continued disbelief that they can't is pretty classist.
Nice sentiment, Steve, but I think they would employ different registers from literally everyone else, especially if they're 12ish like Felisin Younger.
These books are DENSE. It makes it hard to put my feelings into words when there is so much to think about. However, here are some of my favorite bits; Karsa ripping off Bidithal's privates and shoving them in his mouth, every scene with Kalam, the dead bridgeburners ascending, the scorpion fight, Torvald Nom, and, of course, our boy Fiddler. Overall, great book, lot's of humor and grand tragedy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Yes
Reasonably contentious book in the series, with a lot of people not getting on with the first quarter of it. From a reread perspective it bangs though. A more subdued affair after the barnstorm of Deadhouse and Memories, but House of Chains really kicks off a lot of the overall story. And Greyfrog first appears in it, which I'd completely forgotten about.