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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
I will write a full review tomorrow. But I'll say that this is most likely my new favorite Malazan book, one of the best villain origin stories full-stop, and one of the easiest 5 star ratings I've ever given.
adventurous
emotional
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 book left me confused, satisfied, and thirsting for more. 5/5
Not the experience I was expecting, but it was great nonetheless and I look forward to see how the plot threads tie into the main timeline.
Not the experience I was expecting, but it was great nonetheless and I look forward to see how the plot threads tie into the main timeline.
Yet another new location, with an almost entirely new cast of characters. Starts off a bit slow for my tastes but by the time it arrives at the climax I was in.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
I really was not feeling this book for a lot of the time I spent reading it. It was frustrating to leave behind nearly every established conflict, character, and piece of setting that this series has built up to go focus on a confrontation between two newly introduced factions, both of which are utterly unpleasant and I was kind of hoping would just wipe each other out. The only character here who appears previously in the series (apart from some gods & ascendants) is Trull Sengar? Who was just not that interesting of a guy in the last book. He doesn't even have an interesting name.
The story builds slowly and I struggled to find interest in the sea of new Proper Nouns and the internal power struggles of these two nations. Every character managed to be frustrating in their own way at some point in the novel- Udinaas would be my preferred narrator, except he's so devoid of agency that he spends more time meditating on his lack of agency than he does doing anything to influence or relay the plot of the book.
I also found the sexuality in this book... weird. The men get to not worry about sexuality, but almost every female character is in some way shaped by their relationship to sex- either as an object of desire, a victim, or as an insatiably lustful vixen causing trouble with her desire to seduce someone. This is especially prominent in Tehol's parts/the surrounding events that happen in Letheras, because he is meant to be the funny character and gets to be caught up in a number of sexual hijinks.
Despite my complaints, this book builds up towards a confrontation and confluence of events, even more definitively and with greater momentum than the previous entries in the series- naturally I got more and more interested as it went along. I do hope that later books in this series will not try to repeat this one's decision to take place before and only loosely connected to the books that come prior. I also feel like I'm actually getting more of a mental hold on the setting and how all these conflicts and characters fit together, so it wouldn't do to quit out here. I still prefer books 2 & 3, it must be said. Still, now I can say I have an actually defined picture in my head of what people are doing when they do things with sorcery, which feels like an accomplishment.
The story builds slowly and I struggled to find interest in the sea of new Proper Nouns and the internal power struggles of these two nations. Every character managed to be frustrating in their own way at some point in the novel- Udinaas would be my preferred narrator, except he's so devoid of agency that he spends more time meditating on his lack of agency than he does doing anything to influence or relay the plot of the book.
I also found the sexuality in this book... weird. The men get to not worry about sexuality, but almost every female character is in some way shaped by their relationship to sex- either as an object of desire, a victim, or as an insatiably lustful vixen causing trouble with her desire to seduce someone. This is especially prominent in Tehol's parts/the surrounding events that happen in Letheras, because he is meant to be the funny character and gets to be caught up in a number of sexual hijinks.
Despite my complaints, this book builds up towards a confrontation and confluence of events, even more definitively and with greater momentum than the previous entries in the series- naturally I got more and more interested as it went along. I do hope that later books in this series will not try to repeat this one's decision to take place before and only loosely connected to the books that come prior. I also feel like I'm actually getting more of a mental hold on the setting and how all these conflicts and characters fit together, so it wouldn't do to quit out here. I still prefer books 2 & 3, it must be said. Still, now I can say I have an actually defined picture in my head of what people are doing when they do things with sorcery, which feels like an accomplishment.
“You still don't understand, do you? The more pain you deliver to others, god, the more shall be visited upon you. You sow your own misery, and because of that whatever sympathy you might rightly receive is swept away.”
greatness, i really was not expecting that from Bugg… thought he was like a high mage but erikson is very creative. love how this conflict originated however from Andii & Edur beginnings on this continent. also it’s crazy how it seems the Edur on here or actually everybody in general has no idea what’s going on everywhere else, some people have never heard of Kellanved. got an amazing set of family dynamics as well from Beddicts and Sengars. Damn this list of favorite characters def gonna be crazy by the end of the series, i actually highlighted a shit load of quotes too but there were def a lot of cool things i got to peep in this book bro. only complaint is feeling like more and more SA is happening in the latest few books. I do love how religion is shown in this book and how that foundation gets shaken with some characters when it comes to the Betrayal that happened in the prologue and the truth of that. Trull got that dog in him tho im still remembering what he did solo after they got the sword from the north. Also Brys… man.
“'I have chosen you, Rhulad Sengar, for my gift. Do you remember?”
greatness, i really was not expecting that from Bugg… thought he was like a high mage but erikson is very creative. love how this conflict originated however from Andii & Edur beginnings on this continent. also it’s crazy how it seems the Edur on here or actually everybody in general has no idea what’s going on everywhere else, some people have never heard of Kellanved. got an amazing set of family dynamics as well from Beddicts and Sengars. Damn this list of favorite characters def gonna be crazy by the end of the series, i actually highlighted a shit load of quotes too but there were def a lot of cool things i got to peep in this book bro. only complaint is feeling like more and more SA is happening in the latest few books. I do love how religion is shown in this book and how that foundation gets shaken with some characters when it comes to the Betrayal that happened in the prologue and the truth of that. Trull got that dog in him tho im still remembering what he did solo after they got the sword from the north. Also Brys… man.
“'I have chosen you, Rhulad Sengar, for my gift. Do you remember?”
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What I Liked :
This book featured 82 characters and just 2 of those characters were recurring characters and yet by the final pages of the book it didn't feel like an arduous task , but felt more entertaining and made me more interested in these new characters
2 characters in particular, Tehol and Bugg , were absolute show stealer . Their conversation even about mundane topics such as what they will have for dinner were hilarious and entertaining . The pages with the duo were the most entertaining ones in the whole series for me. Not to mention both characters also held some mysteries and those revelation later turned out to be fantastic .
Erikson has a habit of creating the tribes and world so masterfully and with so many fine details that you almost think that you are actually reading some archaeologist's note or watching a Nat Geo documentary . This is probably his 10th such creation and each of his creation remain distinct and diverse , be it the Edur , Andii , Crimson Guard , Letherii , Malaz , Daru, etc etc . The Letherii in particular fascinated me , since their role was similar to the Malazan empire as they kept conquering but while the Malaz did it to bring peace and order , Letherii did it for greed . It showed the wrong side of the Malazan purpose.
The plot itself is filled with countless twist , turns , and action ending with a magnificent convergence that brings many characters to finally live upto their potentials , while others to show their growth . The action scenes in particular remain some of the most graphic and yet well detailed with the military tactics told with a vivid imagination and intellect .
What I didn't Like:
As stated the number of new characters may feel like a lot to keep track of for some and at the same time may make some feel cheated , since the story deviates big time from the main plot from the previous book
Many of the chapters featuring the Tiste Edur storyline were also dull at times , I think part of the reason for it being dull was the fact that this storyline was always preceded with the Tehol and Bugg storyline and they stole the show with wit, quick thinking & humor, whereas the Edur chapters for large portions appeared mundane. This also in turn led to the events in this book taking some time to start gearing up , making it an unusually slow start for this book
And the final thing that bugged me was the unusually abrupt attraction that appeared out of nowhere between Seran Pedac and Trull Sengar . It just felt weird and very sudden .
Verdict:
I can probably write pages upon pages about this book , but in fear of losing readers interest and attention ,I'd just say that this is another splendid addition to the series and as I have repetitively said about this series , those who love Epic Fantasy , MUST give this series a read