The Bonehunters (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #6)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Bonehunters (The Malazan Book of the Fallen #6)

4.37 of 5 stars 4.37 · rating details · 6,842 ratings · 185 reviews

The Seven Cities Rebellion has been crushed. Sha'ik is dead. One last rebel force remains, holed up in the city of Y'Ghatan and under the fanatical command of Leoman of the Flails. The prospect of laying siege to this ancient fortress makes the battle-weary Malaz 14th Army uneasy. For it was here that the Empire's greatest champion Dassem Ultor was slain and a tide of Mala...more

Paperback, 1232 pages

Published July 1st 2008 by Tor Fantasy (first published 2006)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Trees and the Night by Daniel McHugh

The Pool and the Pedestal by Daniel McHugh

The Merchant and the Menace by Daniel McHugh

Favorite Dark Fantasy Series

18th out of 46 books — 23 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Apr 09, 2009 Lori (Hellian) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's useless. I keep intending to take a break between these and read something else that I've been eagerly anticipating, but the fact of the matter is I'm addicted to this series. And it's all I want to read. So why deny myself?

Finally finished! I haven't had much reading time this whole past month, and I have been so so frustrated, because this is such a marvelous addition that continues to satisfy and feed my obsession with this series. Also, it does meander a bit in the middle so it's not as...more

13 likes · like · see review

Jun 05, 2008 uroš rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: to every fan of Epic (with a capital E)

Shelves: fantasy

The review is originally available at Realms of Speculative Fiction

It took me the better part of the month to work -- yes, sometimes it really felt like a chore, but which ultimately paid off in the end -- my way through the sixth novel in the sprawling Malazan Book of the Fallen series. I found out that most of the things I’ve ascertained in my review of Midnight Tides (review) still hold true for its successor – The Bonehunters. Erikson is a genius epic fantasy writer, but alas, the series is...more

6 likes · like · see review

May 19, 2013 Terence rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Upon rereading The Bonehunters, I'm going to nudge up my initial rating to 5 stars. Outside of Gardens of the Moon, this is the best installment of a great series (Gardens is my first love - where I came to know "my Malazans" - so it will always hold a particularly fond place in my heart).

NOTA BENE & SPOILER ALERT: The notes below assume the reader has read the books so there's a lot of detail I skip over.

I'm going to focus on that part of the book that has made it a "5" in my mind even thou...more Upon rereading The Bonehunters, I'm going to nudge up my initial rating to 5 stars. Outside of Gardens of the Moon, this is the best installment of a great series (Gardens is my first love - where I came to know "my Malazans" - so it will always hold a particularly fond place in my heart).

NOTA BENE & SPOILER ALERT: The notes below assume the reader has read the books so there's a lot of detail I skip over.

I'm going to focus on that part of the book that has made it a "5" in my mind even though, as usual, Erikson continues to follow a variety of plotlines and introduces a few new ones (we (and the novels' characters) are finally beginning to see the scope of the coming war with the Crippled God).

The bulk of the book is taken up with the forging of the Bonehunters (aka the Malazan Fourteenth Army). It opens a few months after the events in House of Chains. Sha'ik Reborn (aka Felisin Paran) has been killed by the Adjunct, Tavore Paran, her older sister, and the remnants of the Whirlwind army are fleeing to the city-state of Y'Ghatan led by Leoman of the Flails. As an army, the Bonehunters are "shaky." Their victory at Raraku was won by ghosts of the Bridgeburners, and Sha'ik's death was anticlimactic. Morale is low and the competence of the Adjunct as a commander remains in doubt. Unfortunately, Tavore's personality does little to alleviate the problem as she remains cold and aloof even from her commanders.

Erikson anchors The Bonehunters around two defining moments in the army's evolution as a fighting force. The first is the siege of Y'Ghatan. This city is a cursed memory to the Malazans for it's here that the First Sword Dassem Ultor was (apparently) killed (actually he escaped both the swords of his Seven Cities' opponents and the Claw assassins sent by Surly (soon to be the Empress) to become the Ascendant known as Traveller). Leoman boobie traps the city with oil so that when the Fourteenth breaches the wall, they ignite a firestorm that consumes the soldiers who had entered the city with the exception of a few who escape into catacombs. Symbolic of a rebirth, these survivors wend their way through the bowels of Y'Ghatan to emerge, naked and with a new sense of identity forged by their ordeal. Meanwhile, the rest of the Fourteenth heads west to escape a plague unleashed in the east by Poliel, the Consort of High House Chains and goddess of disease, and meet up with the Imperial Fleet to return home. This is the first part of the novel.

The culmination of the book and the army's second defining moment occurs at Malaz City, where the Adjunct has brought the Bonehunters to confront Laseen. In the aftermath of the Seven Cities rebellion, Mallick Rel and Korbolo Dom - sent back in chains as traitors - have twisted the truth to make it appear that Coltaine and the Wickans conspired with the rebels. On Quon Tali, pogroms have been launched against the Wickans and a virulent xenophobia has gripped the minds of the city's citizens, abetted by sorcerous manipulations of the Mockra warren. In the course of Tavore's return, the Bonehunters have acquired new allies in the guise of the Perish - an army devoted to the new gods of war, Togg and Fanderay. She also learns that the Fourteenth is being forged to be the main army against the Crippled God's legions in the final battle.

At Malaz City, Tavore breaks with Laseen and flees the city with the Bonehunters and her new allies. Meanwhile, Korbolo Dom and Mallick Rel assume positions as Laseen's advisors (and the resolution of that will come in Esslemont's Return of the Crimson Guard).

Tavore has become one of my favorite characters, ranking up there with Trull, Duiker and Tattersail, and I find myself caring more about the fates of the Fourteenth's soldiers than I do about the characters introduced in the Letherii thread of the series. Both considerations making The Bonehunters my second favorite chapter of the series.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 13, 2007 Tiffany Shaw rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Heroes and grunts

Erikson is my fantasy savior. I was beginning to think I would need to give up on the genre as a whole until I started reading the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Well-written fantasy? Surely not.

Never-the-less, the Bonehunters was a little disappointing. The first half was great, and I couldn't put it down. But a little over halfway through, everyone starts traveling, and things get boring. One of my favorite aspects of this series is Erikson's willingness to kill off characters that the rea...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 24, 2010 Viridian5 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I enjoyed Steven Erikson's The Bonehunters more than his last book in this series, Midnight Tides, but my problem with Midnight Tides is more about my expectations when reading a series than Erikson failing as a writer. I found Midnight Tides involving enough once I really got into it, but it felt like a huge digression from the events of the previous novels and Erikson choosing to talk about this part of Trull Sengar's history after he'd already been introduced in what appeared to be the future...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 27, 2013 Evgeny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

One of the best Malazan books so far. This is the first book from the series which has a very gripping middle part. Finally no new races, places, characters in the beginning; it jumps right in the middle of action. My only minor complain: people still wander around the desert aimlessly (what is it about the holy desert Raraku that makes people do so?). Mercifully, it takes a small part of the book. My (fairly) major complain: one of the characters died an almost meaningless death almost being a...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 19, 2011 Andre rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-fantasy

NO SPOILERS

The theme of my limited review is commitment, so if anyone is uncomfortable with that, I recommend a review written by the TNT tag team over at Speculative Fiction who wrote a great one about the book. No commitment required.

At a bit over 1,200 pagers of densely packed script, it was a commitment to read The Bonehunters. In fact, since about book four, picking up an Erickson book has been about like agreeing to date exclusively. I have been reading a few other things on the side, but...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 18, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: malazan-books, 2012-read-owned

3.75 stars.

I almost dropped it to 3 stars, as there were lots of WTF moments and confusing drawn out parts. In truth, this book could have probably been half the length and been just as good (as long as it was the right half).

The Bonehunters were great. Paran, Kalam and Quick Ben, and Karsa Orlong. Oh, and I loved (view spoiler) Badass stuff.

When this book was good, it was fantastic. When not as good, it was like a big, long "...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jan 05, 2011 Brian rated it 5 of 5 stars

Series 6/30/08 - 9/10
The Malazan series is one of the better fantasy series I've read in a while. It's extremely densely plotted, in a very vast and detailed world. Each book takes a new jump that leaves you wondering. Sometimes the books can be a little tough to follow and the characters are not the most detailed, but I really enjoyed these books overall. I can't wait to reread and catch up with the newer books I haven't read yet.

For more info, check out:

Malazan on wikipedia
Malazan Site
Malazan ...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 16, 2009 Guy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction-and-fantasy, have-read-more-than-once

The stories that are interwoven in each book of this epic series keep on flowing, and my appreciation grows apace. I have just ordered hardcover copies of each of the books... something I almost never do if I have the bought a paperback copy first... because, as with the Lord of the Rings, they deserve it. I'll be reading these books again. Several times.

And what about "The Bonehunters"? It is less of jewel than its predecessor, "Midnight Tides" and it does not build up to a crescendo as many of...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 19, 2012 Onefinemess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh. This was good. Very good.

An interesting kind of good… if only in contrast to the rest of the series. The kind of good that can only happen in a series. I mean, I suppose it could happen with enough build up in one book BUT this book is 1200 pages. Sixth book in, and 1200 pages. So I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it’s probably not like the kind of thing you would ever see in a stand-alone. Or even in a trilogy. Things have finally started coming together. Violently. Duh, right?

We h...more

like · see review

Mar 24, 2012 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: spec-fic

C2006: I could not quite remember why I had taken so long to order this book as I have lovely lingering memories of really enjoying the other 5 books. Then it arrived- and I remembered. The sheer size of it – 1203 pages in the edition I have – makes it slightly overwhelming and awkward to read. This probably would have been a better candidate for the Kindle. Then, as I started to read it, the furious flicking of pages backwards to the Glossary and forwards to the Dramatis Personae, reminded me o...more C2006: I could not quite remember why I had taken so long to order this book as I have lovely lingering memories of really enjoying the other 5 books. Then it arrived- and I remembered. The sheer size of it – 1203 pages in the edition I have – makes it slightly overwhelming and awkward to read. This probably would have been a better candidate for the Kindle. Then, as I started to read it, the furious flicking of pages backwards to the Glossary and forwards to the Dramatis Personae, reminded me of the author’s particular idiosyncrasy of having the same character bear several different names throughout the book so some internet help was required as well. I was using http://encyclopediamalazica.pbworks.com which also seemed to require a bit of updating but was of great assistance. There is a lot to like; for example I am always impressed that the female characters in the stories are just as gung ho, brave, and idiotic as the male characters. The multiple POVs keep the tempo up but it does mean that you have to focus because else you will miss which character is doing what. Old characters and new characters abound and I particularly liked Curdle and Telorast who act almost as a chorus in a Greek tragedy. Lovely humour in many of the chapters which, of course, does help in lightening the load. There are some beautifully written passages eg “The blackened scorch-marks had long since bleached away as the desert sun burned its unceasing light upon the worm-riven wood. Swaths of bark had peeled back and now lay heaped over the bared roots that were wrapped about the hill’s summit like a vast net.” And how about this – “Wayward winds had stirred the dust into the air earlier that day, and all who came into Ehrlitan’s eastern inland gate were coated, clothes and skin, with the colour of the red sandstone hills. Merchants, pilgrims, drovers and travellers appeared before the guards as if conjured, one after another, from the swirling haze, heads bent as they trudged into the gate’s lee, eyes slitted behind folds of stained linen. Rust-sheathed goats stumbled after the drovers, horses and oxen arrived with drooped heads and rings of gritty crust around their nostrils and eyes, wagons hissed as sand sifted down between weathered boards in the beds.” I defy anybody not to be able to close their eyes and vividly picture this scene. Sometimes, I found myself reading aloud just for the joy of hearing the beautiful phrases. But...I didn’t even try with the names of most of the places and it seems like most of the characters as well – becoming more like a mumble of consonants than words. FWFTB: Y’Ghatan, fortress, pantheon, schism, battle-weary. FCN: Apsalar, Corabb Bhilan Thenu’las, Leoman of the Flails, Cutter, Greyfrog. (less)

like · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Zane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Review of the series rather than individual works. Check my star ratings to gauge how the books themselves stack-up. No spoilers. Summary: difficult to get into, post-modern style, well worth the effort, jam-packed with action and complexity and one of my all-time favourite authors.

Erikson writes in a post-modern style. You are catapulted right into the action and exposed to character names, lore references, magical concepts and even fantastical races with no descriptions or explanation provided...more Review of the series rather than individual works. Check my star ratings to gauge how the books themselves stack-up. No spoilers. Summary: difficult to get into, post-modern style, well worth the effort, jam-packed with action and complexity and one of my all-time favourite authors.

Erikson writes in a post-modern style. You are catapulted right into the action and exposed to character names, lore references, magical concepts and even fantastical races with no descriptions or explanation provided. This makes his work very inaccessible to new readers, who may not be as captivated by his world or characters and therefore not see the merit in finishing the books.

This also means that the books are not necessarily in chronological order. Books 2 and 3 take place simultaneously, the first part of book 4 occurs at the same time as events in book 1, book 5 occurs before book 1 etc. While this may seem confusing, and nothing described above is encouraging for someone wanting to start this series, this is actually one of the joys of Erikson's writing.

Fantasy, unlike any other genre, encourages epic plots of unparalleled complexity and intrigue with multiple point-of-view characters engaged in complementary quests. Erikson's style, though not accessible, complements the genre's central themes. Each novel increases your understanding of the world, the magic and races. Rather than bog you down with back-story and exposition, your eyes are opened as the story unfolds without any delays to the narrative.

The jumping around chronologically also allows for increased complexity in the plot, with so many subtle links that you miss. What Erikson has wrought is admirable in scope, as well as how internally consistent it is. Try write a ten book epic that isn't in chronological order, keeping each book as engaging as its predecessors while never once accidentally contradicting yourself - I dare you.

Erikson is also the only writer apart from Robert Jordan who manages to pack action of a cinematic quality into his novels. And unlike Jordan, he maintains the same quality throughout all his novels, never once disappointing.(less)

like · see review

Mar 24, 2013 Davit Abuladze rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

5/5 will reread in future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjIu6Z... პო წემე, იაგატნის სიჯზეა კაკრაზ )

spoilers below:

კარსა და იკარიუმი ნერვებზე თამაშობენ უკვე, დახოცონ ერთმანეთი და ნორმალურს ხალხს მოეშვან, კოტილიონი ეპიკია, დარჩენილი BB-ებიც თავისთავად, ეს ბოთლი ვერ გავიგე საერთოდ რა მოვლენაა, ქალი ჩარაქტერები ჯერ კიდევ არ ვარგა, ერთადერთი აპსალარი იყო კარგი, 300 კაცი რომ მოკლა და შემდეგ სცენაში ქათერი მის ცეკვას რომ იხსენებდა ძალიან მაგარი იყო... კოტილიონის სცენაზე გული მომიკვდა... მაპოც მეცოდე...more 5/5 will reread in future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjIu6Z... პო წემე, იაგატნის სიჯზეა კაკრაზ )

spoilers below:

კარსა და იკარიუმი ნერვებზე თამაშობენ უკვე, დახოცონ ერთმანეთი და ნორმალურს ხალხს მოეშვან, კოტილიონი ეპიკია, დარჩენილი BB-ებიც თავისთავად, ეს ბოთლი ვერ გავიგე საერთოდ რა მოვლენაა, ქალი ჩარაქტერები ჯერ კიდევ არ ვარგა, ერთადერთი აპსალარი იყო კარგი, 300 კაცი რომ მოკლა და შემდეგ სცენაში ქათერი მის ცეკვას რომ იხსენებდა ძალიან მაგარი იყო... კოტილიონის სცენაზე გული მომიკვდა... მაპოც მეცოდებოდა... გოსტ ჰენდსის სიკვდილი გამიხარდა... ბათელ სცენები იყო ისეთი, უბრალოდ საცოდაობაა ამ წიგნის არანაირი ეკრანიზაცია რომ არ არსებობს, კალამი ვს ყველაფერი, იკარიუმის რეიჯი, იაგატანის სიჯი მთლიანად... ჩარაქტერების არჩევა მგონი პირველად გამიჭირდა, აშკარად 5-ზე მეტი კარგი ჩარაქტერი იყო...

5. Fiddler
4. Trull Sengar
3. Quick Ben
2. Cotillion
1. Kalam MOTHERFUCKING Mekhar

შემდეგი ისევ ის ღვთისგან მივიწყებულ ლეთერასშია :/ იმედია ბოლო წიგნია მაქაურობაზე... (less)

like · see review

T3h Bonky არადა მე დამევასა კარსა & იკარიუმ vs რჰულადი სიტუაცია :D ქალი პერსონაჟებიდან ძირითადად ბბს და ბჰს სასტავში ვინც არიან ეგენი მევასებიან. ამ წიგნიდა...more
Mar 25, 2013 03:03am

Davit Abuladze რა იყო დასავასებელი? არაფერი არ უქნიათ, აი საერთოდ არაფერი, 1.2კ გვერდი დადიოდნენ და გზაში ვინც ხვდებოდათ ან კლავდნენ ან ტვინს უბურღავდნენ... კორაბიც...more
Mar 25, 2013 03:30am

T3h Bonky ნუ იკარიუმს წინა წიგნებშიც არ უკეთებია არაფერი. კორაბი ერთერტი ყველაზე ეპიკური პერსონაჟია წიგნში და ამაზე ნუღა ვიკამათებთ აზრი არააქ :D
Mar 25, 2013 05:40am

Nov 18, 2011 Rob rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: random-comments-review

...After this reread I still consider The Bonehunters something of a bridge between two stages of the story. As a novel, it is not quite as successful as the neighbouring volumes. That being said, it still contains the complex narrative, the huge cast, military heroics and tragedy, a overarching story of divine conflict and many more elements that makes the Malazan Book of the Fallen series stand out among epic fantasy. As with previous parts I've reread, I discovered a lot of detail I missed th...more

like · see review

Mar 06, 2013 Poe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Aug 29, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Much better than Midnight Tides. Far less drag, and interesting things happened before reaching the half way point. In fact, chapter seven has got to be one of the most harrowing chapters of any book I have ever read, and deserves five stars all on its own.

Some annoyances. A woman taking moral lessons off a murdering rapist about the evils of progress probably isn't the best way to start a book, but at least it didn't keep up like the anti-capitalist screeds from the last book. And the ending w...more

like · see review

Apr 12, 2010 Jesse Whitehead rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The meaning of the word epic is changing. The word is derived from the Greek epikus meaning 'word song.' To the greeks an epic was a ballad or poem of great length that centered on the heroic actions of one or a group of characters. The elevated style of the series of fantastical events that the hero(es) went through was one key element of an epic. The Illiad, Aeneid, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, are all great epics.

In recent years epic has grown to mean anything that is “heroic, majestic, or impressivel...more

1 like · like · see review

May 07, 2013 Antonio rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first part of this book deserved 5 stars imo, especially for a fan of this series (otherwise I really see no reason for picking it up here since it would be very confusing). After that there were good things deserving a 4 and some ok things deserving a 3. I think the problem this book had was that it didn't know when to end, it just kept going and going like the energizer bunny. The part of the story involving Heboric seems to have come to a conclusion that didn't necessarily explain anythin...more

like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 Brad rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, fantasy, favorites

Alright, so I'm seeing why we needed Midnight Tides, and I'm sure it will be better on re-read than it was the first time through. Many of the disparate threads of the series seem to be slowly weaving together.

It was great to be back with some of the characters I've come to love, particularly certain soldiers of the Malazan army. I think one of the reasons I didn't like MT as well was due to the lack of Malazan army grunts--they're probably one of my favorite things about the series.

Looking forw...more Alright, so I'm seeing why we needed Midnight Tides, and I'm sure it will be better on re-read than it was the first time through. Many of the disparate threads of the series seem to be slowly weaving together.

It was great to be back with some of the characters I've come to love, particularly certain soldiers of the Malazan army. I think one of the reasons I didn't like MT as well was due to the lack of Malazan army grunts--they're probably one of my favorite things about the series.

Looking forward to continuing the series after a brief palate cleanse / chance to catch up on my yearly goal progress.

Rating: R, for violence, language, and some sensuality

***SPOILERY THOUGHTS***
(view spoiler)(less)

like · see review

Dec 10, 2012 Nev Percy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

A day and a bit and I'm on page 105 (if you accepted that the first numbered page is p.23, after all the maps and Dramatic Personae) and loving this. It's relentlessly stretching the brain cells to recall what's gone before in the c. 6,000 pages of Malazan books 1-5, but it's also starting to get into the cosmic biggie that's been underlying everything all along. Come on!

* * *

Omigod that was awesome. Now, what exactly happened, and why is the next Big Thing going to be a lot bigger and a lot wo...more

like · see review

Jun 20, 2011 Tim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Bonehunters is my favorite Malazan novel so far. The sixth novel in the series brought together almost all my favorite characters, while telling a captivating story from beginning to end.

Unlike most of the Malazan novels, I did not find The Bonehunters to have a slow start. Most likely, this is due to the fact that it did not focus on a new location with a multitude of new characters. This allowed me to breeze through the novel much quicker than I had the previous ones (I would have finishe...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 08, 2008 Eric rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This might be my least favorite in the series. It meanders for quite a while. It's like an entire volume of set-ups and exposition. There is some great stuff in the last 1/4 of the book though. Erikson really knows how to end strong.

1 like · like · see review

Feb 06, 2011 Christopher H. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Christopher by: lonebearimages@gmail.com

Shelves: adventure, canadian-authors-translators, fantasy-scifi, modern-literature, malazan-book-of-the-fallen, favorites, read-in-2011, favorite-rereads

Well, we've officially turned the corner in this series--there is a dim light ahead that is the end of the tunnel. The pieces are all on the chess-board now, and 'The Game' has begun. The Bonehunters is Steven Erikson's sixth book in his multi-layered epic high fantasy series, "The Malazan Book of the Fallen." I've actually moved far beyond just recommending this series for folks who love fantasy fiction. This is a complex tale that breathes life into Erikson's fictional world; a world comprised...more Well, we've officially turned the corner in this series--there is a dim light ahead that is the end of the tunnel. The pieces are all on the chess-board now, and 'The Game' has begun. The Bonehunters is Steven Erikson's sixth book in his multi-layered epic high fantasy series, "The Malazan Book of the Fallen." I've actually moved far beyond just recommending this series for folks who love fantasy fiction. This is a complex tale that breathes life into Erikson's fictional world; a world comprised of a uniquely awesome mythology, philosophical examinations, geo-politics, archaeology, anthropology, military tactics, a truly fascinating magical scheme, and character development and world-building that is beyond amazing.

The first five novels in the series (i.e., Gardens of the Moon, Deadhouse Gates, Memories of Ice, House of Chains, and Midnight Tides) carefully, and quite originally, place the reader in the world of the Malazan Empire. It is an ambiguous and grey world, where sometimes right is wrong, or where wrong is actually right. Where what occurs, what you see and what you hear is not always precisely is as it ought to be interpreted. The Bonehunters only reinforces this notion.

A couple of 'rules' to keep in mind as you read these novels--The First Eriksonian Law--Pay very close attention to every word written; and the Second Eriksonian Law--Not everything can be interpreted correctly initially. I also cannot stress enough the reliance the reader must place on the maps, 'Dramatis Personae' and the Glossary included in each novel. I would also encourage the reader to carefully read and think about each of the epigraphs that Eerikson leads each chapter off with. There are always valuable little 'nuggets' that can be gleaned from these bits of prose or poetry. It is my experience that to fully experience all that Erikson offers, the reader must simply and unhesitatingly yield and immerse themselves in the Malazan world. And trust me, it ain't hard to do with this series!

The Bonehunters is largely the story of the Malazan 14th Army, under the command of Adjunct Tavore Paran, and its pursuit of the remnants of 'Sha'ik's' The Whirlwind' rebellion on the continent of 'Seven Cities.' The siege and battle at the city of Y'Ghatan is not only some of the most riveting military fiction you'll ever read, but the reception the Malazan 14th Army receives after the battle from the Malazan Empress Laseen in Malaz City is jaw-droppingly suspenseful. The geo-political events/conundrums and mysteries that Erikson introduces in this novel are really nothing short of amazing and mind-boggling. There are truly mysteries layered upon mysteries nested in this novel, and I can only look forward to the remaining novels to answer the new batch of questions that I now have.

Erikson, it now seems, has now developed and cleverly woven into the story-line all of the major and minor characters into this massive and clever plot. While there are very, very many characters, not only in this novel, but each of the previous books; we are now reaching the stage in the series that we can see that convergences are beginning to form. For this novel, the reader is treated to approximately 700 pages of character and plot development/build-up, and then the novel's pacing kicks into an afterburner and you simply can't put it down (I dare you!). Fortunately, I had a long (very long) day-trip flight from Burbank, California to Denver, Colorado (and return) for a meeting yesterday, and I was able to plow through the remaining 500 pages virtually non-stop! It bears repeating, but this series really is some of the most clever and smartest fiction that I've ever encountered.

All I can say is that if you are with the series this far; well, there is then absolutely nothing that I need tell you. Frankly, for anyone who has read the first five novels in this series, the only question I have is--How could you quit now? Yeah, I know, you can't. And I completely agree. I couldn't stop reading these books even if I wanted to--I must see how it ends, and so should you! The plot of The Bonehunters is an eye-opener, it answers a ton of questions, and it raises a million more. Oh, how Eriksonian is that?

Happy Reading!(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 15, 2008 The Crimson Fucker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

War, assassins, treason, mages on crack, psychopathic alcoholics, maniac depressive gods, retarded magi, horny spirits from the past, and a stubborn mo fo warrior!! You name this book got it!!! Pure gold!!!

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 13, 2011 Peter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Sep 07, 2010 Susanne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sff

After Memories of Ice, this is my favourite book in the series so far. A LOT of stuff happens here, and we're introduced to a great many characters, solely, in the words of my friend Jana, so we know what order they die in. But not everyone dies, and those who live continue to amuse me greatly. Erikson is a master of soldier-ly dialogue. And of knowing how to press emotional buttons not only when it comes to death, but even more so when it comes to reunions. If I read one more Bridgeburner reuni...more

like · see review

Jun 04, 2013 Fadi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 Stars.

Another great book in the Malazan series, unfortunately, it is in this book that I felt some sort of backing off, as if Erikson had finally begun feeling a bit stretched. The book started off as awesome as ever. Action packed and gruesome with the whole siege of Leoman at Yghatan. But after that, all the suspense sort of fizzles away as we follow various characters on their journey. It gets extremely exciting towards the end, but nothing as epic as say, Deadhouse Gates. This book basic...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 03, 2009 John rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to John by: I actually found these myself

I don't know how he does it. Every book gets better (with the possible exception of book 2 - Deadhouse Gates - which was the best in my opinion). Thousands of years of history is baked into these novels. I've never seen such a fully realized world (worlds?). He must have done an incredible amount of work on it before he even started writing.
The action is exceptional. The sense of humor marvelous and with excellent timing. And when the story gets down and dirty, Erikson shows no mercy.
And in th...more

like · see review

Dec 14, 2012 Bill rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Better than the last book, but I still had some quibbles with it. Too many new characters, at times it felt like I was following a new point of view every 10 pages. When things did settle down there were a good number of very enjoyable parts, especially the end action scenes. The characters in the army the majority of the book have grown on me somewhat, although I still wish he hadn't tried to introduce and follow them. As with past book some of the characters just annoyed me as well (especially...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Icarium	2	42	Feb 07, 2012 09:44pm
Icarium	3	31	Jan 24, 2012 06:31am

combine
Other Editions (12)

More editions...

Genres

Fantasy

651 users

Fantasy > Epic Fantasy

72 users

Epic

21 users

Science Fiction Fantasy

18 users

Fantasy > High Fantasy

11 users

Fantasy > Dark Fantasy

9 users

War

9 users

Adventure

4 users

War > Military

4 users

Cultural > Canada

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Steven Erikson

Steven Erikson is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian novelist, who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist. His best-known work is the on-going series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...

More about Steven Erikson...

Books by Steven Erikson

Gardens of the Moon (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1)

Deadhouse Gates (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, #2)

Memories of Ice (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #3)

House of Chains (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #4)

Midnight Tides (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #5)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Bonehunters

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Bonehunters

“There is something profoundly cynical, my friends, in the notion of paradise after death. The lure is evasion. The promise is excusative. One need not accept responsibility for the world as it is, and by extension, one need do nothing about it. To strive for change, for true goodness in this mortal world, one must acknowledge and accept, within one's own soul, that this mortal reality has purpose in itself, that its greatest value is not for us, but for our children and their children. To view life as but a quick passage alone a foul, tortured path...is to excuse all manner of misery and depravity, and to exact cruel punishment upon the innocent lives to come.” — 49 people liked it

“Show me a god that does not demand mortal suffering.
Show me a god that celebrates diversity, a celebration that embraces even non-believers, and is not threatened by them.
Show me a god that understands the meaning of peace. In life, not in death.” — 33 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Bonehunters
avg rating	preview: The Bonehunters Goodreads rating: 4.37 (6842 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2183113.The_Bonehunters?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316125983l/2183113.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2183113.The_Bonehunters?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson[/url]

The Bonehunters (The Malazan Book of the Fallen #6)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website