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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
A bit of a disappointment following a masterpiece of a third book.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Star Rating: 5 stars
Note: This is the 4th book in the Malazan series (at least in the order I have been advised to read them) so this will not be an in-depth review.
For most of my life, reading has been my favorite hobby, and even though I have discovered video games, Asian dramas, and K-pop since then, it still remains the one that I make a point to do every single day. Since I have been reading for most of my life, I have pretty much nailed down what my favorite dramas and sub-genres are, and I have decided that, for most of this year, I will be predominantly focusing on this, especially as I am currently making my way through a lot of long series, and the one that I made progress in most recently is Malazan with book 4, House of Chains by Steven Erikson (This series has two dominant authors).
Bearing in mind that this is the 4th book in a series, I will be speaking about the general things I loved about this book because I hate to be spoiled and don’t want to do it to anyone else. The first thing that I want to talk about is the literary devices that Erikson uses over the course of this 1000-pg book to maintain his story like a well-oiled machine. One of the things I look for in a book is the skill that the author portrays in their craft, in other words, are they trying to say something with their narrative and can they do it in a way that’s visible but also nuanced. Erikson does this with his discussions of the pitfalls and advantages of empire and the fact that if anyone can ascend to godhood if they try hard enough, what does this do to faith and religion; themes of history and its importance to civilization and the determinant that losing it can have, and how words, opinions, and knowledge have power; as well as using extended allusions to chains, mirrors, and circles/cycles and the dichotomy between light, dark, and shadow to express the aforementioned topics and keep everything flowing smoothly. In other words, Erikson is exactly what I look for an author so if you enjoy novels/series in the same way I do, then you might want to give this one a try, but if you’re reading reviews for book 4, you probably already have.
Another thing about Erikson that I absolutely love is his writing style. Most authors write in a chronological style from the beginning of events to their inevitable end, however, Erikson demonstrates his mastery by, instead, starting with a pivotal event and then spiraling out from there, adding threads and connections as he goes. This ensures that the readers get to explore the world and characters in complex and challenging ways so by the end of the series/novel, they feel satisfied with the time and energy that they’ve invested. Also, his descriptions of settings are lush, evocative, and beautiful so much so that I copied many of them into my book journal in my favorite writing section. Although, again, if you’re reading reviews for book 4, you probably don’t need this encouragement, if you like to be challenged with interesting storytelling, then try this series.
Finally, there are multiple instances in this book, again, where Erikson shows his expertise from his day job as an archaeologist and anthropologist by his descriptions of natural phenomenon (In order to find ancient sites and creatures, you have to understand geology and natural processes. Trust me, before my condition got so bad, I was considering going into the field), as well as giving nods to human evolution and dinosaurs/ancient creatures fossil sites. I personally really enjoy these moments and hope that he keeps putting them into his books.
All in all, this series continues to be an all-time favorite, and I can’t wait to keep reading. I actually already checked out book 5, Midnight Tides, from the library that my mom works at. 5 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!
Note: This is the 4th book in the Malazan series (at least in the order I have been advised to read them) so this will not be an in-depth review.
For most of my life, reading has been my favorite hobby, and even though I have discovered video games, Asian dramas, and K-pop since then, it still remains the one that I make a point to do every single day. Since I have been reading for most of my life, I have pretty much nailed down what my favorite dramas and sub-genres are, and I have decided that, for most of this year, I will be predominantly focusing on this, especially as I am currently making my way through a lot of long series, and the one that I made progress in most recently is Malazan with book 4, House of Chains by Steven Erikson (This series has two dominant authors).
Bearing in mind that this is the 4th book in a series, I will be speaking about the general things I loved about this book because I hate to be spoiled and don’t want to do it to anyone else. The first thing that I want to talk about is the literary devices that Erikson uses over the course of this 1000-pg book to maintain his story like a well-oiled machine. One of the things I look for in a book is the skill that the author portrays in their craft, in other words, are they trying to say something with their narrative and can they do it in a way that’s visible but also nuanced. Erikson does this with his discussions of the pitfalls and advantages of empire and the fact that if anyone can ascend to godhood if they try hard enough, what does this do to faith and religion; themes of history and its importance to civilization and the determinant that losing it can have, and how words, opinions, and knowledge have power; as well as using extended allusions to chains, mirrors, and circles/cycles and the dichotomy between light, dark, and shadow to express the aforementioned topics and keep everything flowing smoothly. In other words, Erikson is exactly what I look for an author so if you enjoy novels/series in the same way I do, then you might want to give this one a try, but if you’re reading reviews for book 4, you probably already have.
Another thing about Erikson that I absolutely love is his writing style. Most authors write in a chronological style from the beginning of events to their inevitable end, however, Erikson demonstrates his mastery by, instead, starting with a pivotal event and then spiraling out from there, adding threads and connections as he goes. This ensures that the readers get to explore the world and characters in complex and challenging ways so by the end of the series/novel, they feel satisfied with the time and energy that they’ve invested. Also, his descriptions of settings are lush, evocative, and beautiful so much so that I copied many of them into my book journal in my favorite writing section. Although, again, if you’re reading reviews for book 4, you probably don’t need this encouragement, if you like to be challenged with interesting storytelling, then try this series.
Finally, there are multiple instances in this book, again, where Erikson shows his expertise from his day job as an archaeologist and anthropologist by his descriptions of natural phenomenon (In order to find ancient sites and creatures, you have to understand geology and natural processes. Trust me, before my condition got so bad, I was considering going into the field), as well as giving nods to human evolution and dinosaurs/ancient creatures fossil sites. I personally really enjoy these moments and hope that he keeps putting them into his books.
All in all, this series continues to be an all-time favorite, and I can’t wait to keep reading. I actually already checked out book 5, Midnight Tides, from the library that my mom works at. 5 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Everyone in this book is overwhelmed by what came before them, I am underwhelmed for the exact same reason. If Karsa Orlong will win me over by sheer audacity remains to be seen.