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A review by justsaiad
The Crippled God by Steven Erikson
5.0
It's honestly hard to wrap my head around the fact that I've finally reached the end of this book series. Eight months went by, but it felt like a quick ride. What an incredible adventure! In this review, I intend to make an overview of all 10 volumes.
Let's kick things off with the very first book, "Gardens of the Moon." Back then, I was truly clueless about what I had gotten myself into. The entire narrative felt like a a cable clutter, and it was up to me to unravel it. You're tossed right into the middle of all this action – falling islands, people dying, dragons popping up left and right, and demons showing up out of nowhere. The author is refusing to provide any hints to follow, leaving you to piece together the puzzle on your own. By the end of this book, you are lost and frustrated. The rules of the magic system are a maze best left unexplored, so don't even bother trying. The cast of characters is vast, each with their own story. Don't grow too attached, as you might not encounter them again until a book or two later.
As the narrative unfolds, new characters arrive, different continents come into play, more bad guys show up than you can count, and a bunch of gods decide to join the party. Don’t pick up a favorite character because they might end up dead lol. And when it comes to trusting those gods – nah, better not take that bet. Luckily, the pieces start falling into place from this point onward. It’s a nice feelling, knowing that the effort you put was worthwile. Gotta admit, you'll probably spend a lot of time lurking in online forums for some enlightenment and coming up with your own theories (that will prove to be more or less right). Some might find Erickson’s style quite overwhelming, something I agree with. Though it might be draining, you can't deny it's got its own special kind of uniqueness.
But enough about the "Kablesalat", let's shift focus. The series as a whole is written in such a manner that I felt as though I was being part of it, a member of the Bridgeburners. They're not saints nor villains, each character's got their own flaws. Yet they're all humans, and I mean not just average humans, but individuals with compassion, courage and loyalty to their companions. The banter and humor they share offers a breath of fresh air in the midst of all that chaos. Through them, I've gained profound insights about this society and life in general, granting me a fresh new view on the world around me.
I've gotta admit, this series truly deserves its spot as a pillar in fantasy books. This level of complexity is beyond what even a mere fantasy book could handle. In fact, it might even be sitting among the ranks of iconic works such as LOTR.
In a nutshell, I highly recommend this book to any fantasy fan, who is looking for a challenge and has a lot of free time :)) . May Oponn favour you!
I’m gonna drop some images (not spoilers) down bellow from MBofF.
Lizards vs Jaghut
Our Lord and Savior Anomander Rake
The gentle giant Karsa and his poney
Lizards with helms and knives
Let's kick things off with the very first book, "Gardens of the Moon." Back then, I was truly clueless about what I had gotten myself into. The entire narrative felt like a a cable clutter, and it was up to me to unravel it. You're tossed right into the middle of all this action – falling islands, people dying, dragons popping up left and right, and demons showing up out of nowhere. The author is refusing to provide any hints to follow, leaving you to piece together the puzzle on your own. By the end of this book, you are lost and frustrated. The rules of the magic system are a maze best left unexplored, so don't even bother trying. The cast of characters is vast, each with their own story. Don't grow too attached, as you might not encounter them again until a book or two later.
As the narrative unfolds, new characters arrive, different continents come into play, more bad guys show up than you can count, and a bunch of gods decide to join the party. Don’t pick up a favorite character because they might end up dead lol. And when it comes to trusting those gods – nah, better not take that bet. Luckily, the pieces start falling into place from this point onward. It’s a nice feelling, knowing that the effort you put was worthwile. Gotta admit, you'll probably spend a lot of time lurking in online forums for some enlightenment and coming up with your own theories (that will prove to be more or less right). Some might find Erickson’s style quite overwhelming, something I agree with. Though it might be draining, you can't deny it's got its own special kind of uniqueness.
But enough about the "Kablesalat", let's shift focus. The series as a whole is written in such a manner that I felt as though I was being part of it, a member of the Bridgeburners. They're not saints nor villains, each character's got their own flaws. Yet they're all humans, and I mean not just average humans, but individuals with compassion, courage and loyalty to their companions. The banter and humor they share offers a breath of fresh air in the midst of all that chaos. Through them, I've gained profound insights about this society and life in general, granting me a fresh new view on the world around me.
I've gotta admit, this series truly deserves its spot as a pillar in fantasy books. This level of complexity is beyond what even a mere fantasy book could handle. In fact, it might even be sitting among the ranks of iconic works such as LOTR.
In a nutshell, I highly recommend this book to any fantasy fan, who is looking for a challenge and has a lot of free time :)) . May Oponn favour you!
I’m gonna drop some images (not spoilers) down bellow from MBofF.
Lizards vs Jaghut
Our Lord and Savior Anomander Rake
The gentle giant Karsa and his poney
Lizards with helms and knives