Thoughts Before We Start...

[Kitty G Books]

This is the thread for us to discuss any and all the thoughts we have heading into this book. I now Esslemont isn't the group's favourite of the two Malazan writers so far, any hope for this one to be better than the previous two in your minds?

I am intrigued about how this storyline will fit into the overall events, and seeing as we have two Esslemont books in a row (this one and then Orb Sceptre Throne next month0 before we finish up the final two Erikson's in the two months after that. I am pretty excited for the final two Erikson's, but always a bit dubious when going into Esslemont's books.

Let me know what you all think below!

[Jmlima]

Out of curiosity and for anyone that read both, how does this series compares to The Black Company ?

[Krazyaboutbooks]

I am eager to discover what happened to Tayschrenn and to see how the new emperor's rule will differ from Laseen's.

[Evan]

This is the most recent Esslemont that I've read. And while it's fine, I think it's really scattered. There's one plot in the book that feels really arbitrary. But then again, the same thing happened in Reaper's Gale (with Redmask) and it actually ended up being important later. So maybe Esslemont will do the same thing here. Another thing that bugs me about this book as that for a book called Stonewielder, being in reference to Greymane, he sure isn't in it as much as he should be.

But all the same it's an okay book, but I don't think it's as good as Crimson Guard.

[Kitty G Books]

I'm hoping to start this on Tuesday (for some reason the post has been terrible the last few days and keeps missing me so I have some packages coming Tuesday - one of which I believe is this one!)

I've heard that these do get better as they go, but I am also not overly 'excited' as the reading experience doesn't feel as immersive for me when reading Esslemont. We shall see though, I am determined to at least read this and the next one so I can then finish up the Erikson's!

[TS]

I think I might skip the Esslemont books for now actually, and wait for March to start the beginning of the end of The Malazan Book of the Fallen.

[Kitty G Books]

TS wrote: "I think I might skip the Esslemont books for now actually, and wait for March to start the beginning of the end of The Malazan Book of the Fallen."

I've had a lot of deadlines and work recently so I am extending this book into February (as I've not read any of it yet, really) and then the next Erikson will be in April but I hope these ones get better!