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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
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
Holy shit this book is so funny
I think I’ll give this a 4 solely out of the time investment for us to see it ramp up–as always, Erikson is balancing three-ish plotlines throughout, but for my taste it felt like all three took a little too long to reach a point where I enjoyed each. Ironically, one plotline was fully boring for me until characters (from a book series I haven’t nor will read) appeared. Halfway through Malazan at this point!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, War
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Slavery
One of the best books in the series so far. Although you can start the series from this book without spoiling anything for the previous 4 books. That's how remote this book is from the others. Yet a wonderful read. It was the perfect balance of humor, wit, war and bloodshed. I totally loved the new duo Tehol and Bugg and their associates from Letheras.
I stand corrected.
Where book 3 in this series was the continuation of book 1, and book 4 was the continuation of book 2, I assumed that this book 5 would be where the two plots converged. I was wrong.
Instead, Midnight Tides acts as a prequel to the entire saga, set thousands of years before Gardens of the Moon. Aside from only a couple of (long-lived) characters we've already known, these are all new people in an all new conflict. New to the reader anyway.
Of all these new characters, I'd say Bug is my favorite. Possibly even tied with my until-now favorite, Kalam. Here's hoping the two interact at some point!
Like previous entries in this series, the writing by Erikson is fantastic. A sweeping epic with gods, demons, and the folly of man all mix into a powerful tale of destruction and the fall of an empire.
Some people complain about the 'anti-consumerism' theme of the story. I for one like it. but perhaps I'm predisposed to entertain those themes. Either way, the sheer awesomeness of the storytelling here is sooo worth reading and I'm continuing the series for sure.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
Where book 3 in this series was the continuation of book 1, and book 4 was the continuation of book 2, I assumed that this book 5 would be where the two plots converged. I was wrong.
Instead, Midnight Tides acts as a prequel to the entire saga, set thousands of years before Gardens of the Moon. Aside from only a couple of (long-lived) characters we've already known, these are all new people in an all new conflict. New to the reader anyway.
Of all these new characters, I'd say Bug is my favorite. Possibly even tied with my until-now favorite, Kalam. Here's hoping the two interact at some point!
Like previous entries in this series, the writing by Erikson is fantastic. A sweeping epic with gods, demons, and the folly of man all mix into a powerful tale of destruction and the fall of an empire.
Some people complain about the 'anti-consumerism' theme of the story. I for one like it. but perhaps I'm predisposed to entertain those themes. Either way, the sheer awesomeness of the storytelling here is sooo worth reading and I'm continuing the series for sure.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
Despite its complete change of setting (the book takes place in a distant continent with an almost totally new cast of characters) which can disorient the first-time reader, despite its slow beginning, Midnight Tides is probably the best book in the series. Full of political and philosophical commentary (the Letheras empire is a thinly disguised version of our Western capitalist world which sweeps over indigenous populations), a tight plot, memorable characters (the Beddict brothers, Shurq Elalle, the Ceda, the Sengar brothers, the Crimson Guard battalion, and so many more), and the most iconic duo of the world (one of fiction's best as far as I am concerned), Tehol Beddict and his manservant Bugg.
Not much else to say here without spoilers, just looking forward to return to Letheras (in book 7 iirc).
Not much else to say here without spoilers, just looking forward to return to Letheras (in book 7 iirc).
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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