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neon_gregory_evangelion's review against another edition
4.0
More like a 9/10 but Goodreads hates half-stars for some reason.
This book has a reputation for its complex world-building, insurmountable amount of characters, and strange structure, and while the book certainly lives up to all that and more, it’s not nearly as impenetrable as I suspected. For the first few chapters, it’s easy to be lost, but not soon after you develop a rhythm that lets you easily traverse the world of Malazan until you are completely invested in each and every character.
Erickson defines the characters by their motivations first and their emotions second. This allows for the emotions to hit even harder when they peek through. Although there are but a few instances of romance and emotional tenderness, I was shocked how swooned I was by those instances. Here are characters who live beyond the pages of this book; we are invited only to glance at their lives for a brief 657 page-long journey.
If you can’t tell, I really enjoyed this book, which makes me all the more heartbroken by how long it will take me to continue the series: I simply lack the mental fortitude to study accounting AND read the stories of Malazan at the same time. But the day after I pass the CPA, I’ll be reading book 2 in this series with hungry eyes, eager to see how Erikson will continue to surprise me.
With world-building as complex as Dune and dream sequences that feel ripped from a David Lynch movie, this book almost felt tailor-made for me. Confusing, exciting, sweeping in scale and emotion. I had a good time
This book has a reputation for its complex world-building, insurmountable amount of characters, and strange structure, and while the book certainly lives up to all that and more, it’s not nearly as impenetrable as I suspected. For the first few chapters, it’s easy to be lost, but not soon after you develop a rhythm that lets you easily traverse the world of Malazan until you are completely invested in each and every character.
Erickson defines the characters by their motivations first and their emotions second. This allows for the emotions to hit even harder when they peek through. Although there are but a few instances of romance and emotional tenderness, I was shocked how swooned I was by those instances. Here are characters who live beyond the pages of this book; we are invited only to glance at their lives for a brief 657 page-long journey.
If you can’t tell, I really enjoyed this book, which makes me all the more heartbroken by how long it will take me to continue the series: I simply lack the mental fortitude to study accounting AND read the stories of Malazan at the same time. But the day after I pass the CPA, I’ll be reading book 2 in this series with hungry eyes, eager to see how Erikson will continue to surprise me.
With world-building as complex as Dune and dream sequences that feel ripped from a David Lynch movie, this book almost felt tailor-made for me. Confusing, exciting, sweeping in scale and emotion. I had a good time
jollyquaker's review against another edition
3.0
Erikson takes an unapologetic 'show don't tell' approach throughout this book. On the one hand, this makes for an exciting beginning that avoids tired fantasy clichés. The reader is thrust straight into the middle of the action. It also makes for an incredibly detailed, rich fantasy world. On the other hand, because new details of this world keep appearing throughout the book, with very little explanation beyond the glossary, the final third of the book made for an unsatisfying read. With such a huge cast of characters, and an overwhelmingly detailed world, I got tired of doing all the work. I felt I was merely watching events happen, often events I struggled to understand. I never became emotionally involved in the story or the characters, and so there was nothing at stake. At times the books RPG origins were too evident. I also struggled to visualise some of the characters, or tell them apart. However, there are enough good ideas in the book to make me want to read the next in the series.
momotaa's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this. There were times I felt a little confused, usually upon the introduction of some new being or force. Very interesting characters, a ton of them, to be sure, all intertwining in one way or another, whether as allies or opposition, but with the exception of maybe one main character (Lorn, god, there were times when I found humanity in her, mostly when she was being "Lorn" and she definitely was making an effort to leave Lorn behind and just be Adjunct, but she was just bad people), I found almost everyone likable.
Loved Paran and Kalam and Crockus, WhiskeyJack, Rake, I could go on and on. I was a bit confused by
I will be reading the next one.
I really enjoyed this. There were times I felt a little confused, usually upon the introduction of some new being or force. Very interesting characters, a ton of them, to be sure, all intertwining in one way or another, whether as allies or opposition, but with the exception of maybe one main character (Lorn, god, there were times when I found humanity in her, mostly when she was being "Lorn" and she definitely was making an effort to leave Lorn behind and just be Adjunct, but she was just bad people), I found almost everyone likable.
Loved Paran and Kalam and Crockus, WhiskeyJack, Rake, I could go on and on. I was a bit confused by
Spoiler
the ending when Rallick takes Vorcan into the house...I will be reading the next one.
karola_smd's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dianaevelin's review against another edition
5.0
And so I am pulled into the Malazan world. It was a heavy book but I loved it. All the little hints you get while reading and then getting excited when what you assumed turns out to be true. It was confusing at first with all the new terms but once I got to know them I came to appreciate the complexity. I definitely recommend this book!
jeanphilli's review against another edition
4.0
Well conceived fantasy world, with a full suite of characters, histories and cultures. Not all are human. I loved how women are integrated into this world as equals. I needed the Malazan maps and wiki to help me navigate this complex story but it was well worth it.
huntress_fainne's review against another edition
4.0
I had a lot of high hopes for this book, and it just didn't quite reach them. I was expecting 'A Song of Ice and Fire' type thing which wasn't the case. That said, it was still really good and I enjoyed it a lot.
The plot was a little slow in the beginning, but it built up nicely and all came together well in the end. The characters were all pretty good; I liked most of them. The world was really interesting. I loved the different races and the history of everything. I wish we got more of that.
That said, I didn't like the writing itself so much. It was always so vague. There were very few visual descriptions. I did not like that. I would've preferred more of an image to be painted, because the little bits we got make it seem like there were supposed to be some really neat images in mind. The action sequences were also handled badly. At the end when everything was supposed to be happening I had NO idea what was going on. I still don't. It was all to jumbled to make sense of. I ended up just moving on and trying to make sense of the events from the aftermath.
Other than the writing, I really enjoyed the book. I want to read the next book, so the writing style didn't put me off that much. Over all it was a good book.
The plot was a little slow in the beginning, but it built up nicely and all came together well in the end. The characters were all pretty good; I liked most of them. The world was really interesting. I loved the different races and the history of everything. I wish we got more of that.
That said, I didn't like the writing itself so much. It was always so vague. There were very few visual descriptions. I did not like that. I would've preferred more of an image to be painted, because the little bits we got make it seem like there were supposed to be some really neat images in mind. The action sequences were also handled badly. At the end when everything was supposed to be happening I had NO idea what was going on. I still don't. It was all to jumbled to make sense of. I ended up just moving on and trying to make sense of the events from the aftermath.
Other than the writing, I really enjoyed the book. I want to read the next book, so the writing style didn't put me off that much. Over all it was a good book.
solseit's review against another edition
5.0
This essay just came naturally to me and it rekindled the love for this series (and the willingness to explore the larger scope and next books!)
https://www.solseit.com/blog-2/why-read-the-malazan-book-of-the-fallen-by-steven-erikson
I never realized I would be able to read a book twice, let alone three times. Yet this is the first book I read for 4 times. And each time is a blast. It is also starting to feel like a new year resolution to try to get to the rest of the Malazan series reads. Let's see if this is the Malazan year for me!
https://solseit.wordpress.com/2019/01/13/gardens-of-the-moon-by-steven-erikson-the-malazan-book-of-the-fallen-1-gush-review/
- - - - - - - - - -
The third read confirms 5 stars. This is one of the best fantasy series; not only the complexity and the world building awards this rating but also the characters' development and empathy is uncanny.
I am looking forward to a lot of comments to sparkle the conversation!
- - -
This is a re-read of the Gardens of the Moon (GotM). Originally I gave this book 4 stars but this re-read made me love the series again, the details I noticed this time around were just more spectacular than ever.
Where to start? I would say that this is a series born out of a game that was developed by Erikson and Esslemont. This means really that the world was fully developed and the understanding of the same is clear in Erikson's head and it shows.
Now, this is a book that requires the reader to make an effort to genuinely understand this book. This is a complicated fantasy series yet a genuine gem. A high fantasy lover will appreciate this book and the series itself - I would go as far as to say that reading the first book of GotM will really determine whether you love the series or not. I felt in love with it, the details, the interaction among the characters, the plain(s) of interaction is all I was looking for in a fantasy book.
The characters are so likeable - they have depth and development. Magic is there - possibly the only flaw of the book is that the magic is not really explained so you have to take it at face value, which is not a bad thing to do here. There are new races - Tiste Andii blew my mind and I am in love with Anomander Rake, like with half of the great characters here. There are gods - Cotillion is my other favorite of all times - who interact in the human world to achieve their goals; there are several levels of interaction that will open a brand new world for you.
I am having a hard time to determine what to start with in discussing this book. All the elements I described above are essential to the success of this book.
Let's start from how much I get involved in the GotM. When I really like a book, I have always created a brand new character which would be me and I would insert her in the story to be able to interact with the world I am experiencing in the book. And what would l love to be in this book is actually a Bridgeburner ("... a bridge of stone, lit by ruby flames") working with Whiskeyjack and his team. Quick Ben and Kalam just are the almost inseparable added value, those who run the risks associated with the god plain and successfully bring the crew out alive. And I would love an interaction with Cotillion. Captain Paran has an incredible story .
Sorry is just incredibly scary throughout the book and she will be essential to so many elements of the story you should keep an eye on her, if you can.
The story is a story about conquest, an empire expanding its territory where it is not welcome, a military conquest; a story about political intrigue that goes way beyond the human plain, gods interact and love to interaction; this is a story about revenge and how to carry it with the most devastating consequences for the men and/or women responsible for the grief (in this specific detail, the series reminds me of the Count of Montecristo by Alexander Dumas; but only for this specific detail).
A story where magic loses to gods but magic uses gods powers and ability, where mad puppets can interact with the world and become your new nightmare; a story in which fat harmless men are the best mages and spies you will ever encounter.
The writing is also pleasant and you will find yourself vested in the lives and stories of all the characters, irrespective of which side you pick in the series. I can only wish for each and every fantasy lover to start the series and, hopefully, fall in love with it the way I did. This is a very high point of the fantasy community. I am also looking forward to when this series will become a TV show. I think it is time for this to happen (not a movie though I believe a movie would not be able to capture all the amazing details) and I wonder if there is a petition that can be signed.
I am actually already mentally tripping into actors who could portray the characters - oh my. Yes, I will elaborate on my blog about this!
What are your thoughts about the book? Did you love it? If not, what were your concerns about the series? I am genuinely interested in understanding why this book would not appeal!
https://www.solseit.com/blog-2/why-read-the-malazan-book-of-the-fallen-by-steven-erikson
I never realized I would be able to read a book twice, let alone three times. Yet this is the first book I read for 4 times. And each time is a blast. It is also starting to feel like a new year resolution to try to get to the rest of the Malazan series reads. Let's see if this is the Malazan year for me!
https://solseit.wordpress.com/2019/01/13/gardens-of-the-moon-by-steven-erikson-the-malazan-book-of-the-fallen-1-gush-review/
- - - - - - - - - -
The third read confirms 5 stars. This is one of the best fantasy series; not only the complexity and the world building awards this rating but also the characters' development and empathy is uncanny.
I am looking forward to a lot of comments to sparkle the conversation!
- - -
This is a re-read of the Gardens of the Moon (GotM). Originally I gave this book 4 stars but this re-read made me love the series again, the details I noticed this time around were just more spectacular than ever.
Where to start? I would say that this is a series born out of a game that was developed by Erikson and Esslemont. This means really that the world was fully developed and the understanding of the same is clear in Erikson's head and it shows.
Now, this is a book that requires the reader to make an effort to genuinely understand this book. This is a complicated fantasy series yet a genuine gem. A high fantasy lover will appreciate this book and the series itself - I would go as far as to say that reading the first book of GotM will really determine whether you love the series or not. I felt in love with it, the details, the interaction among the characters, the plain(s) of interaction is all I was looking for in a fantasy book.
The characters are so likeable - they have depth and development. Magic is there - possibly the only flaw of the book is that the magic is not really explained so you have to take it at face value, which is not a bad thing to do here. There are new races - Tiste Andii blew my mind and I am in love with Anomander Rake, like with half of the great characters here. There are gods - Cotillion is my other favorite of all times - who interact in the human world to achieve their goals; there are several levels of interaction that will open a brand new world for you.
I am having a hard time to determine what to start with in discussing this book. All the elements I described above are essential to the success of this book.
Let's start from how much I get involved in the GotM. When I really like a book, I have always created a brand new character which would be me and I would insert her in the story to be able to interact with the world I am experiencing in the book. And what would l love to be in this book is actually a Bridgeburner ("... a bridge of stone, lit by ruby flames") working with Whiskeyjack and his team. Quick Ben and Kalam just are the almost inseparable added value, those who run the risks associated with the god plain and successfully bring the crew out alive. And I would love an interaction with Cotillion
Spoiler
although not the way Sorry/Apsalar had it; a more interactive relationship let's saySpoiler
a tool of the gods, freeing himself and interacting with Anomander Rake, surviving the encounter with the Hounds and creating a bond with some of them. Ah I get the chills just thinking about itSorry is just incredibly scary throughout the book and she will be essential to so many elements of the story you should keep an eye on her, if you can.
The story is a story about conquest, an empire expanding its territory where it is not welcome, a military conquest; a story about political intrigue that goes way beyond the human plain, gods interact and love to interaction; this is a story about revenge and how to carry it with the most devastating consequences for the men and/or women responsible for the grief (in this specific detail, the series reminds me of the Count of Montecristo by Alexander Dumas; but only for this specific detail).
A story where magic loses to gods but magic uses gods powers and ability
Spoiler
and I felt in love with the warrens, I thought it was a genius idea by EriksonThe writing is also pleasant and you will find yourself vested in the lives and stories of all the characters, irrespective of which side you pick in the series. I can only wish for each and every fantasy lover to start the series and, hopefully, fall in love with it the way I did. This is a very high point of the fantasy community. I am also looking forward to when this series will become a TV show. I think it is time for this to happen (not a movie though I believe a movie would not be able to capture all the amazing details) and I wonder if there is a petition that can be signed.
I am actually already mentally tripping into actors who could portray the characters - oh my. Yes, I will elaborate on my blog about this!
What are your thoughts about the book? Did you love it? If not, what were your concerns about the series? I am genuinely interested in understanding why this book would not appeal!