Excellent second attempt by the author. Night of Knives was a well written action book, but did not further the Malazan story. This one did. Familiar characters such as Traveler, Lasseen and Possum were made much more human, or inhuman, depending. The new characters, especially the Crimson Guard, rival the bridgeburners for showing a passion and vitality rarely seen in modern fantasy.
As always, the battle scenes were my favorite. It's as if you are reading historical fiction. Tactics, strategy, blood, honor, courage, it has it all. The only other author who comes close is Patrick O'Brian in the Aubrey/Maturin series. Once again we are reminded of what the overused word "epic" really means. Once again we are reminded that the name of this series is the "Malazan Book of the Fallen", not the book of the survivors.
From this point on, it must be surely be denouement, as, really, what else can happen to these people?