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kmacha's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
avocadochicken's review against another edition
4.0
alexanderp's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
harry365's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
far1s_'s review against another edition
5.0
From the get go I was immediately hooked, with the returning characters from Book 1. An unlikely alliance between once enemies, the dynamics involved thrived on this nuance.
Every Pov a puzzle piece that slowly unfolded ambitiously towards a much bigger overarching narrative-
Whiskeyjack ➰ Rake ➰ Brood ➰ Kallor ➰ Korlat. Multi faceted personalities clashing throughout the whole book made each Pov hold tension and subterfuge which kept the reader vastly interested into the convergence of plotlines.
The series also begins to define a major plot line (The crippled god), very excited to know more
There was a lot of different sub plots happening within this book that are intricately woven together in the climax, a testament to Erikson and his ability to close a book so well.
A core theme that runs through the backbone of this book is Compassion & Humanity.
And who else to mention when talking about compassion other than Itkovian, Shield Anvil.
Absolutely masterful character, his inner dialogue so beautifully written -My favourite character in the series so far and definitely an all time favourite in general.
The whole siege of Coral, one of the best battles I’ve read.
If Gotm hooked me and DhG shocked me then Moi definitely made me fall in love with the series. Gonna take a very small break then straight into House of Chains
darylpuppy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
birch182's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
sarazeen95's review against another edition
5.0
This book series turned to be a lot more than I’d bargained for. It’s true, I was definitely searching for something big and engrossing to keep my mind occupied during these uncertain times. However, what I’d not anticipated was just how much I would get sucked into this world.
My statement has not changed: these are not the easiest books to read. I have taken long breaks in between reading. 1000 pages does not normally take me more than three or four days to finish, yet each of these books are consuming nearly a month of my time. And that is not, in any way, a bad thing. I’m enjoying the density, the weight, the sheer power behind every word. Erikson knows how to pack a punch, and he delivers with every blow.
Just like Duiker, Coltaine and company from Deadhouse Gates, we’re introduced to a whole bucketful of new characters, something that I, once again, was hesitant about. However, I think I’m beginning to understand Erikson’s pattern of showing you new people, making you fall in love with them, and then cruelly stamping on your broken heart and dancing around the funeral pyre. As you can probably tell, my heart is shattered — destroyed — annihilated — scattered to the eight corners of the world, never to be whole again. God damn it, Erikson, you heartless, magnificent genius!
That’s not to say that we don’t encounter old comrades. I was delighted to reacquaint myself with my beloved Bridgeburners, and it was a pleasure to watch them banter and tease each other halfway to tears, and then rip apart any outsider who upsets one of them. It was particularly exciting to read as some of the major characters from the previous books level up (so to speak) in power. Paran, in particular. Speaking of Paran, that man is quickly becoming one of the most interesting characters in MBOF — so far, at least. Right up there with Rake, Brood, Icarium and Itkovian. Itkovian. Oh my god, if I had a quarter of the talent Erikson has in creating in fantastic characters, I’d probably be a bestselling author by now.
What a book. What a journey. The best part was, you’re a close participant in what these large-as-life characters experience. You cheer at their victories, grieve at their losses, groan at their pain and wipe away a proud tear as they rise again and again from impossible circumstances to prove themselves. Every blast of fire, every chilly wind, I felt all of it as if I were standing there myself.
However, there are parts of the book that I did not enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, this is one of the finest pieces of literature I’ve encountered so far, but that is not to say it is flawless. Without giving away too many spoilers, one of the most important pairings in the book (a certain grizzled human and a badass Tiste Andii) felt a little rushed. I find it difficult to believe that a member of a species as long-lived as the Andii can fall that deeply in love so quickly. Maybe I’m a sceptic when it comes to love. Who am I to judge? I certainly shipped them hard enough to be a melted puddle of sobbing, sniffing mess at the last chapter. It was very sweet, but my personal opinion is that it happened too fast.
The other thing I did not enjoy in Memories of Ice was the story of the Mhybe. Hers is a tale of complete and utter devastation, and while I can empathize with her pain, she seemed one-dimensional. I understand that the entire point of her story was the fact that she was used and discarded, but she barely did anything to make things better for herself. Her story seemed to drag the entire plot to a crawl, and I found myself itching to just skip those pages and get to the part where Gruntle becomes — well. You’ll just have to read to find out.
Aside from these two points, Memories of Ice is proving to be an excellent, excellent addition to a series that appears to be UNDER-hyped — and that’s not a phenomenon I ever thought I’d witness. MBOF needs to be adapted into an anime or a graphic novel. Something. Anything to help more people discover this masterpiece. I’m now beginning to understand why people say Gardens of the Moon is the weakest of the ten.
4.9 out of 5, and well-deserved. I hold that 0.1 for the Mhybe in whom I just couldn’t muster interest. Or was that the point?
On the whole, I’m looking forward to reading Book 4, House of Chains. I’m dying to find out what happened after the conclusion of the Chain of Dogs.
erickibler4's review against another edition
5.0
A lot of the elements reminded me of various comics I’ve read — in a good way! The “spit in the eye of death”, but jokey camaraderie among the Bridgeburners reminds me of the old Sgt. Fury & his Howling Commandos comics of the 60s. The sudden, silent appearances of Blend, which never failed to startle Picker, reminded me of the similar interplay between Batman and Commissioner Gordon. The magic of the this world, which often involves characters entering each other’s consciousness and achieving a sort of empathetic mind-meld, reminds me of the writerly tricks often used by Chris Claremont in his old X-Men comics. And the long finale of the book, in which some characters meet, and others make farewells, while all the while all that has gone before is remembered and deeply felt, reminds me of “The Wake”, the last book of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series. The Malazan universe, by book three, contains many characters with disparate personalities and power sets, which seem to correspond with what you might see in a superhero universe.
I wonder if Erikson was ever a reader of these comics, as the use of these tropes seem to be influenced by them.
pegasusjones's review against another edition
4.0