mjt2289's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
acardattack's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
4.0
Finally, even though this is the "5th" released, it is the 3rd chronological. Finally we get more of the gang, even if its 60ish%, the town they come across is interesting so I didnt mind reading about the characters with the weird names. This is what I was hoping for with these novellas, whacky adventures with evil creatures
mhedgescsus's review against another edition
5.0
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books as soon as I finish the book.
Hands down the funniest book I have ever read.
While this is the 5th book in this series, I am reading this series in chronological order so it is the 3rd book I have read. I thought the first one was rather weak, the second one was downright hysterical, and now this one is simultaneously the best novella, and funniest book I have ever read.
This book is set in the Malazan universe, and while it would be good to read those books first to get to understand the main characters here a bit more, it is absolutely not necessary and you can easily read these books without any knowledge of the other Malazan books.
This book is Terry Pratchett style humor, but is also a brutally dark horror story with wonderful prose - three concepts that I would never imagine would mesh well together but absolutely do. This is a short book and won't take you more than a day to read so I hesitate to say much about the plot as I would likely be giving away some major plot details, but instead I will just explain a few of the characters so you get a sense of why this book is so incredibly unique.
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are the main characters, two insanely powerful sorcerers who nobody thinks are powerful until they meet their demise. They are so powerful that they take no offense towards people who try to kill them, as they don't fear anyone. They are teamed up with Emancipor Reese who is their manservant who is constantly terrified of everyone and everything, and has to be constantly calmed down by the sorcerers.
Feloovil operates a brothel but does not allow her innocent daughter Felittle to be a whore, which frustrate Felittle to no end as that is her greatest dream.
Fangatooth Claw the Render is the local lord who is hilariously villainous, and he has Coingood his scribe constantly follow him around to keep a record of everything he ever says so he can keep it for posterity. But he constantly wants Coingood to rewrite the record for his over-the-top speeches because they never come out witty enough.
You have an undead grave digger who nobody thinks is actually dead, a tax collector who appointed himself who honestly believes that the money he collects is benefitting everyone, and a host of other ridiculous characters that I can't say enough positives about.
The ending is glorious and bloody and will have you somehow both wincing and laughing out loud. This book should appeal to any Malazan fan, or any Pratchett fan who has a stomach for a darker story.
Hands down the funniest book I have ever read.
While this is the 5th book in this series, I am reading this series in chronological order so it is the 3rd book I have read. I thought the first one was rather weak, the second one was downright hysterical, and now this one is simultaneously the best novella, and funniest book I have ever read.
This book is set in the Malazan universe, and while it would be good to read those books first to get to understand the main characters here a bit more, it is absolutely not necessary and you can easily read these books without any knowledge of the other Malazan books.
This book is Terry Pratchett style humor, but is also a brutally dark horror story with wonderful prose - three concepts that I would never imagine would mesh well together but absolutely do. This is a short book and won't take you more than a day to read so I hesitate to say much about the plot as I would likely be giving away some major plot details, but instead I will just explain a few of the characters so you get a sense of why this book is so incredibly unique.
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are the main characters, two insanely powerful sorcerers who nobody thinks are powerful until they meet their demise. They are so powerful that they take no offense towards people who try to kill them, as they don't fear anyone. They are teamed up with Emancipor Reese who is their manservant who is constantly terrified of everyone and everything, and has to be constantly calmed down by the sorcerers.
Feloovil operates a brothel but does not allow her innocent daughter Felittle to be a whore, which frustrate Felittle to no end as that is her greatest dream.
Fangatooth Claw the Render is the local lord who is hilariously villainous, and he has Coingood his scribe constantly follow him around to keep a record of everything he ever says so he can keep it for posterity. But he constantly wants Coingood to rewrite the record for his over-the-top speeches because they never come out witty enough.
You have an undead grave digger who nobody thinks is actually dead, a tax collector who appointed himself who honestly believes that the money he collects is benefitting everyone, and a host of other ridiculous characters that I can't say enough positives about.
The ending is glorious and bloody and will have you somehow both wincing and laughing out loud. This book should appeal to any Malazan fan, or any Pratchett fan who has a stomach for a darker story.
old_tim's review against another edition
5.0
The most hilarious grimdark novel I've ever read!
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2014/07/find-clever-things-he-said-scribe-and.html
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2014/07/find-clever-things-he-said-scribe-and.html
bdesmond's review against another edition
4.0
The absurd adventures of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and Mancy the Luckless continue in this bizarre examination of tyranny.
In West Elingarth's Forgotten Holding winter makes the seas surrounding the town of Spendrugle a virtual death trap, and a sorcerer named Fangatooth Claw has recently seized power at Wurm's Keep. So when strangers begin to shipwreck on the island, one boat after another, a host of classically-zany characters in true Erikson fashion begin to converge.
The Wurms of Blearmouth is the first of these novellas that actually made me realize (or maybe just remember?) that the published order of the stories is not the same as the chronological sequence of events. That being the case, this one takes place before the last, Crack'd Pot Trail. It also felt more like the earlier novellas than the last one, which I enjoyed. Bauchelain and Korbal Broach were featured more heavily, and it was a return to a more traditional storytelling style, which was welcome. Erikson displays effortless characterization, hints at his larger world, and summons hilariously ridiculous situations; all the things I've come to expect from these novellas.
“When you’re dead, it pays to remain optimistic, or so I have found.”
In West Elingarth's Forgotten Holding winter makes the seas surrounding the town of Spendrugle a virtual death trap, and a sorcerer named Fangatooth Claw has recently seized power at Wurm's Keep. So when strangers begin to shipwreck on the island, one boat after another, a host of classically-zany characters in true Erikson fashion begin to converge.
The Wurms of Blearmouth is the first of these novellas that actually made me realize (or maybe just remember?) that the published order of the stories is not the same as the chronological sequence of events. That being the case, this one takes place before the last, Crack'd Pot Trail. It also felt more like the earlier novellas than the last one, which I enjoyed. Bauchelain and Korbal Broach were featured more heavily, and it was a return to a more traditional storytelling style, which was welcome. Erikson displays effortless characterization, hints at his larger world, and summons hilariously ridiculous situations; all the things I've come to expect from these novellas.
“When you’re dead, it pays to remain optimistic, or so I have found.”
mirrormind's review against another edition
4.0
A very funny clash of sorcerers, odd locals and other nefarious characters. Erikson is a master of blending dark fantasy and humor. A very enjoyable read on a dreary winter day. Here, have a cookie.
sade's review against another edition
3.0
welcome to spendrugle, where the motto should be 
so even though i liked this book, it's definitely my least favourite so far of all the Korbal & Bauchelain novellas i've read so far. In this instance i don't think the supporting cast worked as well as it did in the other books. Probably, the other books in the novella will shed more light on this story but alone while okay, it just didn't cut it like i hoped it would.
jamjimham's review against another edition
4.0
The Wurms of Blearmouth is by far my favorite of the Bauchelian and Korbal series so far. I though Bood Follows was a bit short and none of the characters really clicked with me. The Laughter at Lee’s End was entertaining with a bit of action and good humor throughout. But had a scene in the story that left me uncomfortable and brought down my enjoyment of the story a little.
But I feel Erikson really hit his stride with The Wurms of Blearmouth. From the man living on the beach waiting for shipwrecks, filling his walls with his beard/hair clippings. To the scribe tending to the tyrant in the keep. To a D’iver living as a vengeful house cat. This novel had me chuckling in spots. A certain scene in which a tax collector and a gravedigger discuss taxes and borrowing shovels comes to mind. I hope to see some of these characters pop up in the main series (I’ve heard rumors of Bauchelian, Korbal, and Reese do).
I will say that the Bauchelian and Korbal series doesn’t always feel like it’s in the same world as the other Malazan novels I’ve read so far. Due to their lighter tone and smaller scope. But for me it’s a nice break from the sometimes bleak and heartbreaking Malazan novels. As this is my first time going through the Malazan series, I gotta say I am really enjoying everything I’ve read so far. This is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite series. Even if whole plot points fly over my head. Now on to Memories of Ice.
But I feel Erikson really hit his stride with The Wurms of Blearmouth. From the man living on the beach waiting for shipwrecks, filling his walls with his beard/hair clippings. To the scribe tending to the tyrant in the keep. To a D’iver living as a vengeful house cat. This novel had me chuckling in spots. A certain scene in which a tax collector and a gravedigger discuss taxes and borrowing shovels comes to mind. I hope to see some of these characters pop up in the main series (I’ve heard rumors of Bauchelian, Korbal, and Reese do).
I will say that the Bauchelian and Korbal series doesn’t always feel like it’s in the same world as the other Malazan novels I’ve read so far. Due to their lighter tone and smaller scope. But for me it’s a nice break from the sometimes bleak and heartbreaking Malazan novels. As this is my first time going through the Malazan series, I gotta say I am really enjoying everything I’ve read so far. This is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite series. Even if whole plot points fly over my head. Now on to Memories of Ice.
robert_bose's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it, but not as much as the previous stories. The huge cast was good but I was really hoping for a lot more of Bauchelain and Korbal.