A review by jamjimham
The Wurms of Blearmouth, by Steven Erikson
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.