Jurjen > Recent Status Updates

Insane how efficiently Martin sets up the characters with very determinable personalities, character conflicts and dynamics, the setting of a location, and the plot itself within just a few pages with some of these early chapters. The introduction of kings landing and the wall, back to back, was a particularly good example of that.

Also hes the master of dialogue in the genre, matched by maybe Abercrombie and Lynch?

George is so efficient in his character work. Jon II works as well as it does (saying goodbye to Bran/Cat telling Jon it should have been him, the goodbye with Robb, and Jon giving Arya Needle--all of that within 6 pages!!) because of the extremely efficient and believable character writing in the first few chapters.

And the plotting, pacing and worldbuilding is just as efficient. Such an impressive book

Kevin R. Free is such a good narrator

Somewhat of a mixed bag--not as good as I was expecting it to be, and the narrative voice annoys me--but I am enjoying it a fair amount.

Mostly liking it, but the narration being so self-indulgent is obnoxious at times

Interesting setup and framing of the story

Lilac da goat

What's a polar bear (crimson guard soldier) doing in arlington texas (lethar)

Slowly starting to become my favourite Malazan book. The narrative is muuuuch more tight than the previous four books, greatly to its benefit.

At times the tone feels almost like a nights watch discworld book, which is wild, but Erikson pulls it off.

Definitely the most consistently good Malazan book thus far. Not sure if it will heat the highs of Deadhouse Gates or Memories of Ice though

Really enjoyed the opening of the book! Also def the most Zan ive read in a day

Is going from passive interest to active annoyance an improvement? At least I care: I care that this is nearly fucking impossible to read