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vivectelvanni's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Erikson has dazzled me again and for different reasons this time.
This book was the hardest book to get into in the entire series for me so far. Maybe tied with book 2, Deadhouse Gates. You’re thrown into a sort of prequel setting with all new characters (except for ONE person who was only very lightly written about in book 4) and new locations.
The tone shifting in this book between the Letheras cohort and the Tiste Edur society was absolutely jarring and I didn’t like it at first. I would get so wrapped up in the Edur plot and then it would shift back to Tehol & co., and that upset me at first. Later on I got used to it and the Letherii chapters were a short relief from the dramatic Edur war.
The middle of the book is when shit really hit the fan. I started to get some inklings of just how devastating the series of events coming would be when the first battle took place between the Edur and the Letherii. Absolutely devastating, I don’t think there has been another story I’ve read (outside of this Malazan series) where the war or battles were so outrageously brutal and final. Your warriors are lined up to fight? Ok. One sorcerer has now gestured with his left toe and 1,000 of them immediately imploded into a mist. That’s the Edur vibe.
I grew very attached to Trull Sengar who I did not particularly enjoy in the previous installment. He may even be one of my favorite characters so far. I also grew very fond of Bugg and had my suspicions throughout the book that he was not who he appeared to be—so I was very satisfied with his plot.
All in all, I’ve been dazzled again. A short break before I’m back for book 6.
This book was the hardest book to get into in the entire series for me so far. Maybe tied with book 2, Deadhouse Gates. You’re thrown into a sort of prequel setting with all new characters (except for ONE person who was only very lightly written about in book 4) and new locations.
The tone shifting in this book between the Letheras cohort and the Tiste Edur society was absolutely jarring and I didn’t like it at first. I would get so wrapped up in the Edur plot and then it would shift back to Tehol & co., and that upset me at first. Later on I got used to it and the Letherii chapters were a short relief from the dramatic Edur war.
The middle of the book is when shit really hit the fan. I started to get some inklings of just how devastating the series of events coming would be when the first battle took place between the Edur and the Letherii. Absolutely devastating, I don’t think there has been another story I’ve read (outside of this Malazan series) where the war or battles were so outrageously brutal and final. Your warriors are lined up to fight? Ok. One sorcerer has now gestured with his left toe and 1,000 of them immediately imploded into a mist. That’s the Edur vibe.
I grew very attached to Trull Sengar who I did not particularly enjoy in the previous installment. He may even be one of my favorite characters so far. I also grew very fond of Bugg and had my suspicions throughout the book that he was not who he appeared to be—so I was very satisfied with his plot.
All in all, I’ve been dazzled again. A short break before I’m back for book 6.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
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