book data
881 ratings,
4.27
average rating, 47 reviews
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published
April 1st 2004
by Goldmann
(first published 2004)
details
Paperback
isbn
344224997X
(isbn13: 9783442249978)
description
After decades of warfare, the five tribes of the Tiste Edur have finally united under the implacable rule of the Warlock King of the Hiroth. But peace…more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1,262)
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avg 4.27
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in November, 2008
I'm trying to think of another book that had me laughing out loud again and again, while inbetween hovering between suspense and sorrow at the slow, inexorable unfolding of personal and world-wide tragedy... and I can't.
Interestingly, I have had experiences like this in the theater on several occasions, most often when watching Tom Stoppard plays. We recently saw Kenneth Branagh leading a stellar cast in Stoppard's new translation of Chekov's "Ivanov" during which at vario...more
Interestingly, I have had experiences like this in the theater on several occasions, most often when watching Tom Stoppard plays. We recently saw Kenneth Branagh leading a stellar cast in Stoppard's new translation of Chekov's "Ivanov" during which at vario...more
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Read in July, 2007
This book is pretty much a stand-alone from the previous four but I'm sure some characters will show up again. Two kingdoms are building up to a clash and the story flips back and forth between a set of brothers in each kingdom. This book wasn't nearly as complex as the earlier ones and would actually be a good starter book for someone who's interested in the series but intimidated by the complexity. As usual, the climax is a page-turner with gods, ascendants, undead and shapeshifters clashing a...more
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Read in January, 2009
This book also spans a huge chunk of time by starting with a story from ages past when Scabadari (leader of the Tiste Edur) and Silchas Ruin (the leader of the Tiste Andii) fought in a huge battle up to the more present day war between the Edur and the Leterii along with the ever present involvement of the Crippled God. If there is one thing you can say about Erikson it is that he isn't afraid of scope.
This story also offered me my frist glimpse of the Crimson Guard. In a world populat...more
This story also offered me my frist glimpse of the Crimson Guard. In a world populat...more
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Read in November, 2009
The greatest aspect of Erikson's writing is his ability to continually invent new characters that keep the reader interested. At this point it would be hard to name my favorite character, but Tehol Beddict would certainly make the short list. I happen to really enjoy Kruppe though as well, so he's sort of in that style but with a bit less power and more influence. Anyway, the comparison between the Malazan and Lether empires is meant to remain in the background but is clearly something Erikso...more
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Read in March, 2009
I really have no idea what's going on with this one. There are some overall arc nuggets buried in here but all I can do is hope that this side story pays off somehow.
That doesn't mean this isn't an entertaining book. Far from it. The Edur story is blah and bleh but the action in Lether is first rate, especially Tehol Beddict, who's not as irritating as Kruppe. But if you don't get into the back and forth between him and Bugg, you'll have a lot to endure as the series continues. ...more
That doesn't mean this isn't an entertaining book. Far from it. The Edur story is blah and bleh but the action in Lether is first rate, especially Tehol Beddict, who's not as irritating as Kruppe. But if you don't get into the back and forth between him and Bugg, you'll have a lot to endure as the series continues. ...more
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Read in June, 2009
I just recently finished this book. I usually only read Erikson when I'm traveling, because I get distracted easily and I'll pick up another book that's more engaging to begin with.
This one took me about the first 200 pages to get into, but after that it started going a lot faster. I enjoyed the parts with Tehol, and I liked to break from all the intrigue in the other continents.
For fans just starting this one who want to know if it's a worthwhile read, I'll tell you th...more
This one took me about the first 200 pages to get into, but after that it started going a lot faster. I enjoyed the parts with Tehol, and I liked to break from all the intrigue in the other continents.
For fans just starting this one who want to know if it's a worthwhile read, I'll tell you th...more
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Read in February, 2010
This book was remarkably... uneven. Unbalanced? Unsomething-that-doesn't-sound-bad? In a way, it was almost two books simultaneously, these remarkably different from one another.
The first of the books focuses on the only returning character from a previous book in the series (that's right, just one). He is in the midst of a people going through some changes. There are family tensions, societal tensions, and a looming war. This side of the book is dark, with lots of death, betra...more
The first of the books focuses on the only returning character from a previous book in the series (that's right, just one). He is in the midst of a people going through some changes. There are family tensions, societal tensions, and a looming war. This side of the book is dark, with lots of death, betra...more
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Read in December, 2009
recommends it for:
Malazan/Erikson fans
I had to think about this. If it were not for Gardens of the Moon, Deadhouse Gates, and Memories of Ice, this would definitely be my favorite in the series. And that's not to be a smart-ass; those three books were seriously that good. Enough to stay ahead of a 5-star book that I really enjoyed.
The thing that struck me the most with this book was the fact that it was mostly linear. That is to say, it had a beginning with its prologue that happens alotathousand years ago. It has a midd...more
The thing that struck me the most with this book was the fact that it was mostly linear. That is to say, it had a beginning with its prologue that happens alotathousand years ago. It has a midd...more
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Read in May, 2005
recommends it for:
People who quote Conan the Barbarian
I know this will sound totally weird but Steven Erikson departs to yet another continent, replete with its own storylines, for this the 5th book in the Malazan series. Crazy and so unlike him I know.
What could be a really risky venture as a story teller actually works out here pretty well I think. I may be old fashioned but I typically like to stay with a particular group of characters until their story is told to completion, but Erikson manages to create new characters of intere...more
What could be a really risky venture as a story teller actually works out here pretty well I think. I may be old fashioned but I typically like to stay with a particular group of characters until their story is told to completion, but Erikson manages to create new characters of intere...more
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Holy cow!
Ok, I was thinking I was kinda getting tired of Erikson's style and the pattern his books had fallen into. I picked this one up on a whim and it took me a few days to get started into it.
And then, of course, I couldn't put it down.
This one's different. Very different. You notice it from the first few pages. It's far more intimate. Even when the massed armies stride upon the stage, they're background details, not terribly important. The focus stays...more
Ok, I was thinking I was kinda getting tired of Erikson's style and the pattern his books had fallen into. I picked this one up on a whim and it took me a few days to get started into it.
And then, of course, I couldn't put it down.
This one's different. Very different. You notice it from the first few pages. It's far more intimate. Even when the massed armies stride upon the stage, they're background details, not terribly important. The focus stays...more
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Read in February, 2008
I think of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series is sort of an overwritten Lensman. The characters are debateably less flat, but it leans heavily on spectacle setpieces that are very impressive and loud. Mages don't fling lightning bolts around, they hurl miles-wide coruscating fields of green fire that howlingly strip the flesh off the bones of tens of thousands of soldiers at a time--except the soldiers with plot protection.
The characters with plot protection simply don't die. T...more
The characters with plot protection simply don't die. T...more
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Read in January, 2009
The fifth entry in Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series is a departure from the earlier books - centering on two sets of brothers in a previously unmentioned part of the author's sprawling world, it is both sweeping epic tale and intense family drama. Even upon completing the book, I don't quite see where it fits in the overall narrative of the series, but it's clear that Erikson has plans for these characters and events.
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Read in January, 2003
Erikson takes another left turn and introduces another complete set of characters, two of which give Kruppe a run for being the best in the series.
Seriously, if you don't love Tehol Beddict and his manservant Bugg, then I just don't want to know you.
There's a bit of a slog to get to them, but again, Erikson continues to add layers and layers of backstory and motivation, while managing to be (fairly) transparent about it. Really good stuff, and there is a payoff a few b...more
Seriously, if you don't love Tehol Beddict and his manservant Bugg, then I just don't want to know you.
There's a bit of a slog to get to them, but again, Erikson continues to add layers and layers of backstory and motivation, while managing to be (fairly) transparent about it. Really good stuff, and there is a payoff a few b...more
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Read in June, 2008
Best book in the series so far. Very well written. Names are a little difficult to pronounce and the shear number of characters can be overwhelming, but do-able. If you have enjoyed other multi-volume fantasy novels like Robert Jordan, this one takes the cake. If you have a few months to read a lot, start this series.
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I really enjoyed this one, set in a completely different world than the first four that spans the timeline of the first four then joins both the world and timeline during. With the introduction of some more concepts and complexity I'm amazed this author knows what is going on let alone be able to write it!
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Malazan Book 5. Not my favorite of the books, but still very well written. I believe this is theone where you get introduced to Karsa Orlong, and I think it focuses on him too much. I don't find him that engaging until much later, say book 8.
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Read in February, 2006
recommends it for:
Malazan fans
My favourite Malazan book thus far. Although it is book 5 of a ten book series and we're introduced to a whole set of new characters (with one exception), the pace generally remains quick enoughThings don't get too over the top (ala Memories of Ice), the characterization is solid for once (especially with regards to Trull Sengar). The climax is done very well and is quite tragic in scope, making it the best since the Chain of Dogs, and the villain is both compelling and yet sympathetical. Import...more
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Read in January, 2010
The last 150 pages push this one up to 4 stars from 3. All of a sudden, things that happened thousands of pages ago in previous books are illuminated.
If you're going to tackle this series, though, do it from the start.
If you're going to tackle this series, though, do it from the start.
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okay so i finished it. it took me forever, and it was exhausting, but when i was able to get on a streak of reading, i enjoyed it. its not poorly written, i just have so much difficulty with genre fiction where everything has an unfamiliar name and theres so much dense backstory which, reading midseries, i wasnt privvy to. (fonso said i didnt need to have read any earlier ones, but a customer told me i had been done "a disservice" reading it that way) but thats his reputation - steven ...more
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Read in March, 2009
Quite a departure from the rest of the series having only one character in common with the rest of the series before this. Started out somewhat slow but by the last 100 pages I was hardly able to put the book down. Some of the characters are hilarious and quite endearing, particularly Tehol and Bugg.
The one thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was at one point I became distracted by the social commentary which felt a little heavy handed at points.
Otherwise, excellent read.
The one thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was at one point I became distracted by the social commentary which felt a little heavy handed at points.
Otherwise, excellent read.
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