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A review by syinhui
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
The first few chapters of Gardens of the Moon make you feel as though you've been thrown into a portal straight to that world blind, and you're expected to fumble through clues, piece them together, and connect them until you can get a clearer sight of—mind you, not the whole picture but just a part of that picture. You are expected to catch up even though there is nothing to catch up with because you’ve just arrived there.
I'd be lying if I said that I didn’t get a headache or two trying to understand what was happening.
There’s a lot going on. It’s a gargantuan mess…which makes sense in a world so steeped in magic, embroiled in the middle of an ongoing war with so many forces at play, uncertain alliances, power struggles, and unknown agendas, and just to make matters worse, gods meddling for reasons not entirely clear.
So, I get why some readers get discouraged. Gardens of the Moon is uncomfortable and disorienting to read…at first.
Before I dove into this book, I watched a few non-spoiler reviews saying Malazan Book of the Fallen was not for everyone. I love fantasy books; it’s my go-to genre, and I would like to add another epic fantasy to my library. But with people saying it’s a difficult read and me being a non-native English speaker, it might just prove to be too much of a challenge to understand this book and, thus, too frustrating for me to enjoy.
However, I live for the intrigue. And the mysteries.
That’s what kept me going, and I’m very glad I did because the second half of the book, at least for me, is where things started to take shape. There were a lot of unanswered questions still but the further along I read, the more comfortable I got with being uncomfortable with not having any answers laid out for me. It seems being confused and feeling at a loss is a recurring theme for this epic book. (ha!) Both the characters and the readers are just given bits and pieces of information. That’s why when things come together, the result is just so incredibly satisfying.
On another note, I quite liked Erikson’s writing style, and I could say with certainty that I do prefer prose that is highly detailed and yet concise in the use of words. Putting my love of mysteries aside, I suppose it was the writing style that allowed me to finish the book. There are two things that could make me drop a book (into the bin, yes): 1. annoying main character; 2. annoying writing style
Thank the gods, Gardens has neither!
Thank the gods, Gardens has neither!
In terms of the characters, I find a lot of them rather fascinating. Starting with the Lord of Moon Spawn, Knight of the House Dark, Anomander Rake. It’s always such a delight to see badass and OP characters in action. Don’t you just love it when a character lives up to their reputation as a powerful and fearsome being without unnecessarily exaggerating it? Gardens of the Moon truly sets the high mark for ‘show, don’t tell.' and I’m all for it. His conversations with Baruk are also one of my favorites in the book.
I liked Kruppe too and his group, the Bridgeburners, Toc the Younger, the Great Raven Crone, and even the T’lan Imass, Tool.
I realized that I don’t have one who I pointedly hate or dislike. This came as a pleasant surprise. It tells a lot about how great the characters really are. The only one who came close to mind was Turban Orr,but he’s over and done with, and I didn’t really care much about him. (Hell, even Rake volunteered himself to be Rallick’s second just to shut him up. Talk about overkill. Poor dude didn’t stand a chance.)
I realized that I don’t have one who I pointedly hate or dislike. This came as a pleasant surprise. It tells a lot about how great the characters really are. The only one who came close to mind was Turban Orr,
Well, with the way Gardens of the Moon is presented, the preamble to this epic tale, I’m also prepared to hate characters I originally liked and grow to love those I’m not quite fond of.
Just in case. I’m keeping an open mind. My emotions, ready to be toyed with.
(In writing this review, I was compelled to read the preface (which I completely overlooked!), and now I feel silly because Steven Erikson explicitly mentioned stuff about
‘…being dropped from a great height into very deep water, right there on page one of Gardens of the Moon’ or how
‘…the first novel begins halfway through a seeming marathon – you either hit the ground running and stay on your feet or you’re toast.’ or the fact that
‘I’m writing a history and fictional or not, history has no real beginning point; even the rise and fall of civilizations are far more muddled on the front and back ends than many people might think.’
These alone explain why the book is the way it is. Though I’ve heard that it’s complicated, I would’ve properly set my expectations if I had read this bit. This review would’ve been different, perhaps. Silly, right? I really did go through Gardens considerably blind. But oh boy, was that quite a ride.)
‘…being dropped from a great height into very deep water, right there on page one of Gardens of the Moon’ or how
‘…the first novel begins halfway through a seeming marathon – you either hit the ground running and stay on your feet or you’re toast.’ or the fact that
‘I’m writing a history and fictional or not, history has no real beginning point; even the rise and fall of civilizations are far more muddled on the front and back ends than many people might think.’
These alone explain why the book is the way it is. Though I’ve heard that it’s complicated, I would’ve properly set my expectations if I had read this bit. This review would’ve been different, perhaps. Silly, right? I really did go through Gardens considerably blind. But oh boy, was that quite a ride.)
ON TO THE NEXT ONE THEN, DEADHOUSE GATES! 😊