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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
slow-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
Right at the end of the previous book one character decides to tell his past to the people with him - and well this entire book is that story.
Having book 5 of 10 books series be about an entirely new cast of characters and in an entirely new continent of the world is a bold move, but one that worked extrememly well. Tehol and Bugg have become some of my favorite characters in the series so far, and the rest of the cast was also extrememly well developed. The plot was also rich with themes of ownership, death and freedom; not to mention the vast amount of world-building we got by diving deeper into one of the main cultures in this world, making Midnight Tides the second best book in the series thus far.
Having book 5 of 10 books series be about an entirely new cast of characters and in an entirely new continent of the world is a bold move, but one that worked extrememly well. Tehol and Bugg have become some of my favorite characters in the series so far, and the rest of the cast was also extrememly well developed. The plot was also rich with themes of ownership, death and freedom; not to mention the vast amount of world-building we got by diving deeper into one of the main cultures in this world, making Midnight Tides the second best book in the series thus far.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Compared to other books in the series, many dark themes are not as singularly dealt with here. It doesn't detract but rather builds a greater empathy for all of the characters, those who are maybe reprehensible especially. There was certainly more of the adventurous and roguish in this book too compared with some of the more relentless entries in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexual assault
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
This was another exceptional book, although I did have some issues getting into it. I’ve been told to treat this book like you would start a new series and while that is certainly helpful advice since you almost have zero character and plot overlap (pretty much only very nuanced stuff aside from one major character) with the first 4 books in Malazan, it still was a bit jarring in the beginning. You get introduced to so many new characters very quickly and it definitely felt more than a little overwhelming. I could already see how this book would be much better on a reread, but I guess that holds true for pretty much the whole series.
That being said, once the new characters and plotlines get going and you just have a grasp on everything that’s happening in this book it is incredible. Personally I was hooked by the end of part 2 (which was like 40%) and that super strong momentum carried through until the end of the book.
Out of the new characters I gotta give a special shoutout to Tehol and Bugg. I already knew that Erikson can produce hilarious lines and character interactions but these two just bring that to a whole other level. Like you can’t just do anything else but constantly smile and laugh during their many dialogues and just the whole plot surrounding them in this book is so funny and we also get introduced to so many super quirky and just laugh out loud side characters (Shurq Elalle, Ublala Pung …). It’s just so damn entertaining.
This book does not only deliver on the humor front though. In fact the core story is a very tragic one. At the core we have this conflict between two races. One is a constantly expanding human empire and the other is an elder race and both of those sides offer us some interesting family dynamics, strong friendships, themes of duty, honor and jealousy which by itself bring a lot of potential conflicts. You stir all those things into a pot and you have a great recipe for a compelling, heartbreaking tragedy to occur. I think that’s as far into detail as I can go without spoiling anything.
The ending of the book was again very good and it brought some pretty cool reveals but also on the other hand it wasn’t really an ending to the story (and more of a setup) which I heard will continue in book 7 and I am already excited about that.
I think from a personal enjoyment perspective I will rate Midnight Tides as my 2nd favorite Malazan book so far mainly because the beginning was a bit rough but it absolutely made up for that later on.
Next month The Bonehunters. Let’s keep the mission of one Malazan book a month going!
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What does a story of a family driven by duty, jealousy, tradition have in common with a man running an Ponzi scheme to collapse a kingdoms economy and a caravan driven by a man who hates for his previous sins have in common? Steven freaking Erikson.
This book feels like you’re walking through the post-mortem of the Roman Empire. If the Romans got into a fight with demon wielding, sorcery slinging Carthaginians.
Its truly impressive how Erikson can make you start feeling heartbreak for new characters, and dread for their fortunes. All these characters in the book are new to the series (save Trull, but even then) and in a single book, you learn to love and grieve them. A brother sentenced to an eternity of insanity and pain, another disillusioned about the fate of his people, and another broken by his rigid code of honor.
And this applies to two different families, but mirroring each other helps serve the point that in a game of fate and the interference of Gods, it is mortals who suffer.
This book feels like you’re walking through the post-mortem of the Roman Empire. If the Romans got into a fight with demon wielding, sorcery slinging Carthaginians.
Its truly impressive how Erikson can make you start feeling heartbreak for new characters, and dread for their fortunes. All these characters in the book are new to the series (save Trull, but even then) and in a single book, you learn to love and grieve them. A brother sentenced to an eternity of insanity and pain, another disillusioned about the fate of his people, and another broken by his rigid code of honor.
And this applies to two different families, but mirroring each other helps serve the point that in a game of fate and the interference of Gods, it is mortals who suffer.