A review by mhedgescsus
The Lees of Laughter's End: The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, Book Three by Steven Erikson
5.0
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books as soon as I finish the book.
An enormously funny Pratchett style dark horror story set in the Malazan universe - What a combo!
I am a huge Malazan fan, and think virtually all of the books in this universe - regardless of which author it is (there are two Malazan authors) are top tier books. However, reading the first book in this series I was extremely disappointed. It was trying to be a comedy and set the stage for more books to come, and ultimately failed in both regards.
However, this follow up book (I'm reading these in chronological order, no publication order) made me laugh out loud constantly, gave me a huge grin on my face at all other times, and was the best book that is under 200 pages that I have ever read.
When Steven Erikson is trying to write comedy, the only other fantasy writer that can even be compared with him is Terry Pratchett, and this book was at the top tier of Erikson humor. It's a dark, DARK book but somehow balances that by making you laugh. It's a wonderful combination that I would never think was possible. People are dying gruesome deaths at the hands of hideous abominations, and I'm sitting there loving every single moment of it. And I say this as someone who absolutely hates horror books.
I do not think you will get large enjoyment out of this book without first reading Malazan: Book of the Fallen, or at the very least the first three books of that series, but if you have and you thought the characters of Bachelain and Korbal Broach were the least bit funny, this book will likely leave you in stitches.
An enormously funny Pratchett style dark horror story set in the Malazan universe - What a combo!
I am a huge Malazan fan, and think virtually all of the books in this universe - regardless of which author it is (there are two Malazan authors) are top tier books. However, reading the first book in this series I was extremely disappointed. It was trying to be a comedy and set the stage for more books to come, and ultimately failed in both regards.
However, this follow up book (I'm reading these in chronological order, no publication order) made me laugh out loud constantly, gave me a huge grin on my face at all other times, and was the best book that is under 200 pages that I have ever read.
When Steven Erikson is trying to write comedy, the only other fantasy writer that can even be compared with him is Terry Pratchett, and this book was at the top tier of Erikson humor. It's a dark, DARK book but somehow balances that by making you laugh. It's a wonderful combination that I would never think was possible. People are dying gruesome deaths at the hands of hideous abominations, and I'm sitting there loving every single moment of it. And I say this as someone who absolutely hates horror books.
I do not think you will get large enjoyment out of this book without first reading Malazan: Book of the Fallen, or at the very least the first three books of that series, but if you have and you thought the characters of Bachelain and Korbal Broach were the least bit funny, this book will likely leave you in stitches.