Take a photo of a barcode or cover
incarnationblues 's review for:
Return of the Crimson Guard
by Ian C. Esslemont
First things first: this was definitely an improvement over Night of Knives. There was a ton going on (it was like 2.5x as long) and it even got to use some of the more familiar characters. In fact… I’m amazed that what happened with the Empire happened here instead of in the “main” books. Wow, I’m just… really interested to see how the “main” books deal with the kind of huge upheaval that happened at the end of this one.
OK, improvements being noted, I have a couple complaints:
Names: This is a general … concern with all the Malazan books. BUT. In this book, someone thinks something like “Traveller – that’s a strange name.” This someone happens to be traveling with people named Coots and Stalker and Badlands and used to work with people named things like Cowl and Shimmer! Oh, and this someone’s name is KYLE. KYLE. The first “normal” (ie American style) name I can recall seeing so far. And I’m pretty sure I’ve seen over 500 names by now.What I do know is that NO ONE, ANYWHERE in this series should be allowed to say that someone has a strange name. EVER. For serioustrue.
Elsewhere, someone goes to pieces when they find someone named “Sorrow” like… like it fucking means something!?!? It doesn’t. Trust me, it doesn’t. And, even if the author intends it to it still means absolutely nothing, given the context of all the other names in this series.
There was a scene that I found to be the most poorly written scene out of all the Malazan books thus far: the scene with the dude buried in the cask where Erecko [SPOILER]. If he was an Avowed he’d probably still be alive you don’t even check what the fuck? SERIOUSLY. Also, it totally wasn’t even clear WHY they were going to that continent until they got their anyway. Maybe I missed a clued somewhere? Possible, much of the reading was done with kids striking and climbing on me.
Other things of note:
Laseen the cipher: Incompetent ruler or insanely intelligent one? General comment on the Malazan books. I think you can interpret it pretty clearly either way, at least with the information I have available from books 1-6 & ICE 1-2.
What is up with people unleashing ancient imprisoned things that will bite them in the ass? I mean, is that like a standard method of dealing with things in this world??? See: Ganoes & the Deragoth, the Nameless and the thing that Ganoes needs the Deragoth to kill….
Didn’t Osric’s son just free him back in book 4? First major continuity fail of the series. Confusion. Are there two?
OH. And was “Temp” supposed to be “Temper” from NoN? Because. What? Isn’t he bound to the Deadhouse area?
I’m kind of annoyed that Reaper’s Gale (next up) is set back in Edurland… reallllly want to see how Erikson follows/ties in what happened here.
Also, that last, what, 200 page fight scene… that was pretty epic. Especially in the sense that it was just one thing after another after another careening around and into things. The whole “power draws power” bit seems to almost be a law of physics in this world.
I totally didn’t realize that Ullen died until I spent a good 10 minutes trying to figure out who the hell Dissembrae was talking about in the epilogue. I’m assuming it was Ullen?
THREE AND A QUARTER STARS
Because it was better than NoN, but still had some noticeable issues with the writing. It’s like ICE is trying to write in the same style as Erikson – it mostly works but still feels really, really odd.
Also because Iron Bars is awesome and I want to see more of him. Poor dude.
OK, improvements being noted, I have a couple complaints:
Names: This is a general … concern with all the Malazan books. BUT. In this book, someone thinks something like “Traveller – that’s a strange name.” This someone happens to be traveling with people named Coots and Stalker and Badlands and used to work with people named things like Cowl and Shimmer! Oh, and this someone’s name is KYLE. KYLE. The first “normal” (ie American style) name I can recall seeing so far. And I’m pretty sure I’ve seen over 500 names by now.What I do know is that NO ONE, ANYWHERE in this series should be allowed to say that someone has a strange name. EVER. For serioustrue.
Elsewhere, someone goes to pieces when they find someone named “Sorrow” like… like it fucking means something!?!? It doesn’t. Trust me, it doesn’t. And, even if the author intends it to it still means absolutely nothing, given the context of all the other names in this series.
There was a scene that I found to be the most poorly written scene out of all the Malazan books thus far: the scene with the dude buried in the cask where Erecko [SPOILER]. If he was an Avowed he’d probably still be alive you don’t even check what the fuck? SERIOUSLY. Also, it totally wasn’t even clear WHY they were going to that continent until they got their anyway. Maybe I missed a clued somewhere? Possible, much of the reading was done with kids striking and climbing on me.
Other things of note:
Laseen the cipher: Incompetent ruler or insanely intelligent one? General comment on the Malazan books. I think you can interpret it pretty clearly either way, at least with the information I have available from books 1-6 & ICE 1-2.
What is up with people unleashing ancient imprisoned things that will bite them in the ass? I mean, is that like a standard method of dealing with things in this world??? See: Ganoes & the Deragoth, the Nameless and the thing that Ganoes needs the Deragoth to kill….
Didn’t Osric’s son just free him back in book 4? First major continuity fail of the series. Confusion. Are there two?
OH. And was “Temp” supposed to be “Temper” from NoN? Because. What? Isn’t he bound to the Deadhouse area?
I’m kind of annoyed that Reaper’s Gale (next up) is set back in Edurland… reallllly want to see how Erikson follows/ties in what happened here.
Also, that last, what, 200 page fight scene… that was pretty epic. Especially in the sense that it was just one thing after another after another careening around and into things. The whole “power draws power” bit seems to almost be a law of physics in this world.
I totally didn’t realize that Ullen died until I spent a good 10 minutes trying to figure out who the hell Dissembrae was talking about in the epilogue. I’m assuming it was Ullen?
THREE AND A QUARTER STARS
Because it was better than NoN, but still had some noticeable issues with the writing. It’s like ICE is trying to write in the same style as Erikson – it mostly works but still feels really, really odd.
Also because Iron Bars is awesome and I want to see more of him. Poor dude.