I liked the book overall. New characters are interesting. Would be nice to see the titular character more. The world feels different with more Warren users instead of just grunt soldiers who are badasses. Not sure I like it as much.
Malazan Book Of The Fallen
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Valorath
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Just finished. Enjoyed it well enough. Like most, disappointed by the absence of our boy, among other characters from TGINW.
Regarding power level and magery. I think Elder Gods are on a different level, but since Draconus was mentioned, I don't see how we 'leave K'rul out, considering his blood is the font of power for the likes of Quick Ben and Tayschrenn.
Without getting too spoilery I'd say the Runts and their appearance/creation might be part of why the marines are able to fill the ranks with mages the way they have. Definitely a fair criticism that all the marine squads seem to be on par with the Bridgeburners at this point.
Who are we talking about here? Corporal Hasten Thenu? Is he Ruthan Gudd? Where was this character in TGINW - the marine that gave Rant the knife? Pretty confused by what he's doing with these characters, but I guess that the idea. Calling Mael Azathanai, and then Mael even reiterating it in case the reader is dense, just raises questions.
I know Tavore told the Bonehunters they'd be unwitnessed.. but if you've survived the ordeal, and tattooed your forehead with a symbol representing the unwitnessed, why be cagey about it when asked? Thought that was kinda weird.
Looking forward to both Rant, and now Kanyn Thrall's, first encounters with Karsa. Looking forward to anything with Karsa, damnit. Come on Erikson!
Regarding power level and magery. I think Elder Gods are on a different level, but since Draconus was mentioned, I don't see how we 'leave K'rul out, considering his blood is the font of power for the likes of Quick Ben and Tayschrenn.
Without getting too spoilery I'd say the Runts and their appearance/creation might be part of why the marines are able to fill the ranks with mages the way they have. Definitely a fair criticism that all the marine squads seem to be on par with the Bridgeburners at this point.
Who are we talking about here? Corporal Hasten Thenu? Is he Ruthan Gudd? Where was this character in TGINW - the marine that gave Rant the knife? Pretty confused by what he's doing with these characters, but I guess that the idea. Calling Mael Azathanai, and then Mael even reiterating it in case the reader is dense, just raises questions.
I know Tavore told the Bonehunters they'd be unwitnessed.. but if you've survived the ordeal, and tattooed your forehead with a symbol representing the unwitnessed, why be cagey about it when asked? Thought that was kinda weird.
Looking forward to both Rant, and now Kanyn Thrall's, first encounters with Karsa. Looking forward to anything with Karsa, damnit. Come on Erikson!
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I'm halfway, and honestly I cannot believe I'm tying this from how hyped I was about this coming out but I'm having to force myself to finish. The lack of the main character probably has a lot to do with it.
Wombat
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Unless I am forgetting someone, the only repeating character
is the living statue Damisk frees
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Hatorade
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I was gonna wait until I was finished but I am 75% in and I am more confused and hating it more than ever. SOOOOO many threads and just little tidbits of info thrown at you. He is even starting to use multiple names/titles for the same fucking people.
-Heboric the no handed ex priest guy who is also blind is pretty cool, following his stuff mostly.
-The Fist AKA Coltaine? punches a guy shattering his hand is supposed to be a huge deal...but why...who are these people...I should care but I don't give a shit because he immediately moves on to pikeman and archers on a raft slaughtering people.
-Felisin...who apparently was in book 1 has some interesting stuff but she is such a cunt I don't give a fuck.
-Soletaken are a big deal. Are they? No idea..who cares..
-Sha'ik is dead..but she is back and talking with ex priest guy to start the whirlwind...which is already happening, but maybe not?
-Everything with Fiddler, Mappo etc can just fuck right off, they just keep giving me endless questions.
Hateyou
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Hand shattering - it’s a big deal because the person that was punched has become more than a mortal human.
Felisin is a bitter cunt. Has a satisfying ending.
Sole’Taken are a big deal just because they’re scary, powerful, and drawn to power. Shapeshifters that are converging on a point of power, killing each other trying to get at the power. People in the way can get easily fucked up so it’s a big deal to them.
Yeah Mappo can be confusing, takes a while to reveal things with his story line. Fiddler and the boys are great, not sure what your issue is there other than slow reveals with some of the things they’ve done or experienced. There’s a lot of things that don’t fully get laid out in these books, like how a person ascends. Like with the bridge burners, they basically just went through a harrowing situation in the desert and that did something to the whole troop, making them more than a normal mortal. What exact process happened that led to it never gets spelled out, it’s just something that happened. There’s multiple ways people end up ascending but it’s never laid out like Sanderson does with his rules and magic systems.
Hatorade
A nice asshole.
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That's a shame but based on your earlier reply I guess I can see why. It's not for everyone but the ride is WILD.
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Hatorade
A nice asshole.
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Book two finished, not gonna say bad writing or anything so insane but will leave it as his style is not for me. I am also the guy that was like who the fuck is Ned when reading Game of thrones for the first time.
Never going to pick this series up so if yall want to throw out cool shit/spoilers at me that is welcome.
Never going to pick this series up so if yall want to throw out cool shit/spoilers at me that is welcome.
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Intrinsic
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It is a polarizing series but I'm always disappointed when someone else can't get into it just because of how awesome I think it is.
If you like the world / setting you could give Ian Esslemont a try. He writes side novels with some of the same characters but isn't nearly the same writing style as Erikson. Esslemont's novels are kind of all over the place quality wise though and probably does require an understanding of the main line, there's some crossover. For instance he has a whole series devoted to the backstory of Kellenved and Dancer and their ascension to Shadow. Some other backstory on Tayschrenn.
He even has a character named Kyle if you don't prefer random nouns as names.
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Valorath
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This. 100%. I’ve got a buddy at work reading them, and I think he’s going to bounce off the second book, much the same way Hatorade appears to have done.
Good ol’ Kyle. I think Return of the Crimson Guard is my favorite of Esslemont’s. I’m not sure what reading ICE without first having completed MBoTF would be like - might be worth a try though.
Stonewielder and Assail are also pretty good, I thought.
The best thing about ICE books for me is that he expands on things that Erikson didn’t deep dive into. The Crimson Guard, Seguleh, the founding of the empire, etc. I think they’re worth reading if you’ve read the whole MBoTF, might fall flat for someone who isn’t as invested in the world.
Thinking about picking a couple of these up, found them a couple weeks ago when I started looking at the art in the SubPress books. Malazan book of the fallen (Marc Simonetti artwork)
I like them all, but thinking about about the Gardens and the Midnight Tides ones for the office. Really like the Reaper’s Gale one with Silchas Ruin flying in, Quick Ben up there… but, where’s Fid with his cusser? One of my favorite moments in the series, Slichas flying in, full of unassailable confidence and superiority, then boom, cusser to the face. “Fucking dragons!”
Wish I had gotten in on the SubPress editions from the get go, because now I really want them.
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Jovec
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The lore is never clearly defined and timelined, because it (is supposed) to reflect real ancient history where the actual truth is never quite known. Same with names of people (and places) changing and evolving - Rake, Annomander Rake, Annomander Purake, Annomandaris, Annomandaris Dragin'purake, etc. Some events hint at taking place 10 or 20 years ago, other references put them at 50, 100, or even 1000. The world lore goes back 300,000+ years.
I also think Erikson ret-conned a bit from Book 1 to the other books but it doesn't matter to the overall story. The main "bad guy" probably needed some more chapters, instead we get (IIRC) 3-4 pages in 3 books before book 9. Books 2, 3, 4, and 5 take place at roughly the same time. It becomes a more linear after that. Everything doesn't need to be perfectly understood if you enjoy the two main arcs of Bridgeburners/BoneHunters and Tehol/Bugg.
Intrinsic
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Man, wish I knew you wanted SubPress versions, I would have cut you a deal on the reprints of 1 - 3 that I was sitting on. Sold them to someone on Facebook but would have happily cut you a discount.