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128 reviews for:
The God Is Not Willing: Book One of the Witness Trilogy: A Novel of the Malazan World
Steven Erikson
4.52 AVERAGE
128 reviews for:
The God Is Not Willing: Book One of the Witness Trilogy: A Novel of the Malazan World
Steven Erikson
4.52 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Erikson has somehow crafted a more zoomed-in vision of Malazan world set 10 years after the first series. The multiple perspectives that focuses in on the same threat called to mind Joe Abercrombie's The Hereos in the best way. As usual Erikson isn't one for hand-holding and throws readers head first into his world. Even readers familiar with the first series (though maybe not the hardest of hardcore) will be left a little lost with the changes wrought after the events The Crippled God. That being said the tighter focus definitely helps ease back into things. I honestly can't wait for more and this isn't even out in the US yet!
High fantasy + military fiction seems a strange combination, but Erikson does it well. Too well that I am impatient as HECK waiting for the second in the planned triology. Please, oh please become a thing!!!
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's been a long time since I've read a Malazan book and holy hell I forgot how amazing Erikson is.
The world is vast and ancient, yet the action takes place in a small area in a short period of time. Seeing the consequences of the previous books I'd remarkable, from the changing gods to the magical landscape and even to characters we know and wish we couldn't imagine the smell of.
Rant is a brilliant character. Bastard son of Karsa Orlong, a god we know is associated with chains and freedom, Rant seeks a path to survival and acceptance after being driven from his home. Through him and the characters around him we see different aspects of Karsa's domain, from the oaths the warleader demands from all warriors to chain them to him, to the ex-slaves chained to their cycles of revenge, to the familial bonds tearing Rant's sisters apart. All concepts Karsa himself has shirked, providing many foils to his looming presence in the background.
The marines are also fantastic. Nevermind that they're hilarious and that Stillwater could solo-carry a while series, they speak to many of the recurring themes of the Malazan books. The horrors of war, even as it advances. The camaraderie to be found in fighting together. The compassion needed to live in the world.
But it goes farther. A modern military, able to construct a civilization as easily as it tears them down. The view of refugees and what any compassionate society needs to do for them. The affect of wanton destruction and the deaths of friends and foes alike on mental health. The need to see natural disasters coming, and to be ready for the displacement of humanity they cause. All very modern concerns, ones we see on the political stage constantly.
Just an absolutely brilliant book in all regards. Desperately need to reread all my Erikson books.
The world is vast and ancient, yet the action takes place in a small area in a short period of time. Seeing the consequences of the previous books I'd remarkable, from the changing gods to the magical landscape and even to characters we know and wish we couldn't imagine the smell of.
Rant is a brilliant character. Bastard son of Karsa Orlong, a god we know is associated with chains and freedom, Rant seeks a path to survival and acceptance after being driven from his home. Through him and the characters around him we see different aspects of Karsa's domain, from the oaths the warleader demands from all warriors to chain them to him, to the ex-slaves chained to their cycles of revenge, to the familial bonds tearing Rant's sisters apart. All concepts Karsa himself has shirked, providing many foils to his looming presence in the background.
The marines are also fantastic. Nevermind that they're hilarious and that Stillwater could solo-carry a while series, they speak to many of the recurring themes of the Malazan books. The horrors of war, even as it advances. The camaraderie to be found in fighting together. The compassion needed to live in the world.
But it goes farther. A modern military, able to construct a civilization as easily as it tears them down. The view of refugees and what any compassionate society needs to do for them. The affect of wanton destruction and the deaths of friends and foes alike on mental health. The need to see natural disasters coming, and to be ready for the displacement of humanity they cause. All very modern concerns, ones we see on the political stage constantly.
Just an absolutely brilliant book in all regards. Desperately need to reread all my Erikson books.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
More focused than the main series, with all the classic Malazan flavours reduced down to a fine gravy. Great banter, blockbuster set pieces, rock star gods, and big meandering dollops of philosophical pondering. Your mileage will vary on that last point but for me it didn't slow things down by a distracting amount.
Erikson is fearless as a writer and he does a lot here to admire. Prose and plot are nice and sharp, and the mostly all-new cast grow on you quick, as usual in Malazan books. The story explores pretty bleak subject matter (again as usual, but in this case it really does go wading in some very murky depths), and death is never far from the page.
But as with the other books things aren't exclusively grimdark, always being tempered by the hallmark compassion and levity so obviously important to the author. Whether the moment calls for a sombre, introspective monologue about mortality or a quick and dirty dick joke, Steve knows the score.
If you're a Malazan fan, you'll probably love this. If you're not a Malazan fan this book isn't going to try and change your mind. "Poor you," Stillwater would say.
Erikson is fearless as a writer and he does a lot here to admire. Prose and plot are nice and sharp, and the mostly all-new cast grow on you quick, as usual in Malazan books. The story explores pretty bleak subject matter (again as usual, but in this case it really does go wading in some very murky depths), and death is never far from the page.
But as with the other books things aren't exclusively grimdark, always being tempered by the hallmark compassion and levity so obviously important to the author. Whether the moment calls for a sombre, introspective monologue about mortality or a quick and dirty dick joke, Steve knows the score.
If you're a Malazan fan, you'll probably love this. If you're not a Malazan fan this book isn't going to try and change your mind. "Poor you," Stillwater would say.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No