REVIEW: The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson (Kindle Edition)

The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson
Publishing information: Kindle
Publisher: Tor; 18 September 2007
ISBN 10: 0765348837
ISBN 13: 978-0765348838
ASIN: B003L1ZZEQ
Series: Book six in the Malazan Book of the Fallen
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "The Bonehunters begins two months after the events of House of Chains. The Malazan Fourteenth Army has destroyed the army of the Whirlwind, and Adjunct Tavore Paran has executed Sha'ik. The Fourteenth is now pressing westward, pursuing the remnants of the Whirlwind rebellion (under Leoman of the Flails), as it seeks refuge in the fortress city of Y'Ghatan, where the Malazan Empire had previously faced its greatest defeat. Meanwhile, Onearm's Host, restored to the favour of Empress Laseen, has landed on Seven Cities' north coast to complete the task of subduing the rebellion, but a deadly plague has been unleashed. Ganoes Paran, the new Master of the Deck of Dragons, arrives from Genabackis to help deal with the chaos. Elsewhere, the balance of power is shifting in the Malazan Imperial Court, and strange black ships have been sighted in the waters surrounding Quon Tali and Seven Cities. The quest of the expeditionary force of the Letherii Empire to find warriors worthy of facing Emperor Rhulad Sengar in battle is about to be answered twice over..."

Not long ago I read and reviewed the fifth book in the series, Midnight Tides and quickly remembered why I enjoy Erikson's Malazan series. So, I quickly jumped back into the fray and started The Bonehunters. When we left off in Midnight Tides we were just really starting to get a feeling of things to come. The first four books set up most of the player and the world, Midnight Tides reads like the prequel to the remaining novels and with The Bonehunters things finally start to unravel and unfold. It is also the direct sequel to The House of Chains, the fourth book in the series.

While anyone who reads the Malazan novels know, there is a degree of catch up and a lot of fog of war when you start each novel but as you slog your way through things start to make sense and the bigger picture begins to take shape. Many of your favorite characters return in this installment and we start to understand their place in the events that are sure to come.

Many of my favorite characters make a return. Ganoes Paran for one, he is slowly coming to realize his potential as Master of the Deck. He plays a pivotal role in this book. Apsalar also returns and shows what she is capable of as well. As with all of Erikson's novels, you never know where the characters stand of what they are capable but I think quite a bit of information was brought forth in this book. Major clues as to what is unfolding are brought to the forefront and I look forward to getting to the end of the journey. There is a lot of information contained within the novel and while there is some infodumping it is part of the journey and not something that you want to skip and it certainly does not detract from the story.

As with all of the Malazan books, there is a lot of great dialogue and some dark behind the scenes plotting and magic. The big problem with The Bonehunters is that it ends without getting all the answers, of course we know that there are four more books to get those answers but the clues that he leaves us with in this novel make you want to jump right into the next novel to see if they come to pass or if he has thrown another haymaker when you were not looking. If you are fan of the previous installments in the series this one has a lot of revelations and as always, the ending leaves you at the edge of the cliff. Recommended.

Plot 8
Characters 8.5
Style 8

Overall 8/10

REVIEW: Midnight Tides (Kindle Edition) by Steven Erikson

Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson
Publishing Information: Kindle
Publisher: Tor Books; 1 April 2010
ISBN 10: 0765348829
ISBN 13: 978-0765348821
ASIN: B000UZJRH2
Series: Book 5 in the Malazan Book of the Fallen
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "After decades of warfare, the five tribes of the Tiste Edur have united under the rule of the Warlock King of Hiroth. But peace has been exacted at a terrible price - a pact made with a hidden power whose motives are at best suspect, at worst deadly."

Not long ago Andy reviewed Midnight Tide and he did an excellent job.

It has been a while since I delved into the wold of Wu. I stopped reading the Malazan Book of the Fallen series to tackle a few other books and series as the fifth book does not continue on from the previous novels. It takes place on another continent and with two new races before jumping back into more familiar places and characters.

While the two races we meet in Midnight Tide are not new to readers of the series as they have been discussed and in some cases we have met some individuals from the respective clans, this is an in depth look at the continent and the people that inhabit it. We have the Letherii, the dominant race on the continent where it gets its name and the Tiste Edur, a once powerful race that has gone on to lose its former glory, but looking to regain it by any means necessary.

As with any Erikson novel, there are a multitude of characters some with major roles, others with smaller roles or cameos which could have implications later on down the road. I will only focus on a few. Perhaps my favorite in this book was Bug and Tehol. Aside from their plan to topple the Letherii economy, they provide plenty of laughs from their dialogue. Their discussions are fast and furious and always fun to read. Whenever one of them is in a scene it was light and entertaining. I know they are in future installments of the series and I look forward to meeting them again.

We also have the Sengar brothers: Fear, Trull, Binadas, and Rhulad. Trull, Rhulad, and Fear play much bigger roles in this novel and they are constantly evolving as the story progresses. I have nothing but empathy for Rhulad as his fate is one I would not wish upon anyone. Fear is your typical big brother, full of responsibility and holding on to it by his fingernails. Trull is a wild card as he is different from his brothers as he sees a bigger picture and must come to terms with his personal decisions. They made for a very interesting read.

Since I had taken a hiatus from the series, it took me a little while to get back all the places, people, and powers that the series has to offer. I thought that since it starts a new string of stories which finally tie back to the original story I would be fine. And to a certain extent I was, but I was lost a little while and had to jump on Malazan Wiki to find my place as there were a few things that I had forgotten and had to relearn. Once I found myself back into the world I remembered why I liked these books so much. The mystery that unravels in each of the books makes for a read that you must stay on your toes to keep up with the pace Erikson is taking you on. In these volume we learn a lot more about the magic system and the Chained God. As the Tiste Edur attempt to reclaim their once powerful empire by attacking the Letherii, we also have a old god reclaim is glory through manipulation. Midnight Tide really is the set up to the next act in the overall story arc.

While this is a favorite for a lot of Erikson's fans, I found it a decent read with some great characters, places, and of course a new bump in the road to the final confrontation, but it was not my favorite read. Fans will enjoy it but since this is as far as I have read into the series so far, I don't see its far reaching implications just yet. That said Midnight Tides a very satisfying read that will impact the rest of the series.

Plot 8
Characters 10
Style 8

Overall 8/10

REVIEW: Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson

Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson

Publishing Information: Mass-Market Paperback U.S. Edition; 960 pgs
Publisher: Tor Fantasy; 2004 (First Printing) April 2007 (First U.S. Printing)
ISBN 10: 07653-4882-1
ISBN 13: 978-07653-4882-1
Series: Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 5

Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Andy

Synopsis (from publisher): “After decades of internecine warfare, the tribes of the Tiste Edur have at last united under the Warlock King of Hiroth. There is peace, but it has been exacted at a terrible price: a pact made with a hidden power whose motives are at best suspect, at worst deadly.

To the south, the expansionist kingdom of Lether, eager to fulfill its long prophesized renaissance as an empire reborn, has enslaved with rapacious hunger all its less-civilized neighbors. All, that is, save one – the Tiste Edur. And it must only be a matter of time before they, too, fall --either beneath the suffocating weight of gold or by slaughter at the edge of a sword. Or so destiny has decreed. Yet, as the two sides gather for a pivotal treaty neither truly wants, ancient forces are awakening. For the impending struggle between these two peoples is but a pale reflection of a far more profound, primal battle – a confrontation charged with the still raw wound of an old betrayal and the craving for revenge at its seething heart.”

Just when we began to believe that the Malazan Universe could not get any larger, Steven Erikson expanded it once again. When Erikson thinks epic fantasy, Erikson thinks big. The Malazan world, already spanning three continents through the first four books, has revealed yet another – this being a continent far to the east – a continent that has been isolated from the rest of the world for seemingly thousands of years. We’ve gotten clues about this other civilization from the few characters that have been aware of these distant peoples on this remote landmass.

Midnight Tides, the fifth book in the series written by Erikson (the world’s co-creator Ian C. Esslemont also contributes) is a tale about two vastly different cultures. The Letherii, from whom the continent gets its name are humans and not so different from our own Western Culture. They are a materialist society with the weakness of greed and the institution of debt deeply ingrained into their way of life. For the Letherii, its business and profit that keep the world turning. Erikson continually amazes as his character Tehol even pontificates to his manservant Bugg about the virtues of free-market societies versus more collectivist societies at one point in the book. This is one way that Erikson keeps his series fresh – he finds new themes and influences from unexpected places. In this case, its economics.

The Letherii are also an imperialist culture built on conquest, and to the north lay the one culture on the continent they have yet to conquer – the Tiste Edur, a mysterious race we’ve caught glimpses of in earlier books. The Tiste Edur are everything the Letherii are not – they are subtle in conversation, elegant in battle, and often governed by their own pride rather than their greed. Still, there is a dark taint that is infecting the Tiste Edur from the outside, as they are becoming pawns of an ancient and deadly presence.

Neither of these two factions are admirable. While the Letherii seek to subordinate their neighbors, the Tiste Edur are often motivated by bloodlust and false conceptions of glory. In Erikson’s books it often seems that all factions are corrupt, and its only to individuals we can relate – as there are no causes worth fighting for. However, this book introduces some of the most endearing individual characters yet. Tehol and his manservant Bugg are two loveable entrepreneurs whose banter and bickering is like that of a long married couple. Here Erikson showcases his ability to inject humor into what is often a stark and gloomy series. The Tiste Edur Trull is perhaps my favorite character in the series yet as he becomes a dissident amidst the corruption of his people. As far as characters go, these are some of the best in the series I’ve encountered to this point.

Erikson’s plots have often been hard to criticize because of the serialized nature of his novels. Its not clear which elements are simply extraneous and which will be resolved in later volumes. His books are so dense and filled with so many characters and plot turns, I wonder about the necessity of it all. But still, as a reader of Erikson you suspend your concern until later books, in the hope that each piece of the puzzle will play its part and at the end the entire vision will be clear. Nevertheless, this being the closest thing to a standalone in the series, and knowing that we will never see some of these characters again, Erikson may be showing some weaknesses here. There are certain characters and scenes in this book that are simply unnecessary and the book would not have been much different without them.

The writing style may not be for everyone. Erikson is often reluctant to clarify information that other authors would offer generously. Erikson makes you work as a reader for everything, which fans of the series see as a virtue rather than a vice. Those unwilling to suspend their confusion however will find Erikson’s work convoluted and obfuscated, while Erickson supporters will consider it all part of an intricately woven tapestry.

For fans of the series though, this is a worthy addition. Erickson’s ability to create two new cultures from scratch is staggering. The book offers some of the best explanations of the magic system yet, and The Crippled God, the principle antagonist of the series, is more menacing than ever. In the end, it’s all more than enough to keep me reading Malazan.

Plot……….7

Characters……9

Style………8

Overall…….8/10

REVIEW: Blood Follows by Steven Erikson

Blood Follows by Steven Erikson

Publishing information: Hardback; 125 pages

Publisher: Night Shade Books; 25 May 2005

ISBN 10: 159780004X

ISBN 13: 978-1597800044

Standalone: Part of the Malazan of the Fallen universe

Copy- out of pocket

Reviewer: Tyson

Inside the Book "All is not well in Lamentable Moll. A sinister, diabolical killer stalks the port city's narrow, barrow-humped streets, and panic grips the citizens like a fever. Emancipor Reese is no exception, and indeed, with his legendary ill luck, it's worse for him than for most. Not only was his previous employer the unknown killer's latest victim, but Emancipor is out of work. And, with his dearest wife terminally comfortable with the manner of life to which she asserts she has become accustomed (or at least to which she aspires) -- for her and their two whelps -- all other terrors grow limp and pale for poor Emancipor. But perhaps his luck has finally changed, for two strangers have come to Lamentable Moll... and they have nailed to the centre post in Fishmonger's Round a note requesting the services of a manservant. This is surely a remarkable opportunity for the hapless Emancipor Reese... no matter that the note reeks with death-warded magic; no matter that the barrow ghosts themselves howl with fear every night; and certainly no matter that Lamentable Moll itself is about to erupt in a frenzy of terror-inspired anarchy.... After all, it's work... and working is better than not working. Isn't it? First in a series of novellas taking place in the Malazan Empire."

I was shocked to find this first edition of Blood Follows in the used book store and even more befuddled to find it in South Korea of all places. However, when I found it I latched on to and held on to it tightly until I made it to the cash register. I am a huge fan of Erikson and have not had the pleasure of reading any of his novellas until now. 

Blood Follows is the story of Emancipor Reece and how he became employed as a manservant by Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. As the story progresses we also have a murder mystery as several people, including some close to the king of Lamentable Moll. 

The focus is on Reece and his lifestyle. It appears that Reece's former employers all meet with an untimely demise and when his despicable wife finds out he has once again become unemployed he learns that he may be able to get a job that involves lots of travel. Broach and Baucelain are still as mysterious as they were in Memories of Ice. There is a bit of irony and some humor injected into the story and it was enjoyable. As for the two employers they are as creepy and mysterious as I remember them to be. While we never learn their true mission in Moll, we do learn a few things about them, but not much.

The plot of Blood Follows is airtight which may surprise some people as many find Erikson to talk in circles before finally getting to his point. But the story goes from point to point without interruption. 

Blood Follows was a quick and entertaining read and I look forward to reading the other short stories as I find them. I know that Erikson will soon be releasing Blood Follows, The Healthy Dead, and The Lees of Laughter's End in a omnibus soon but at the time of this review the information was not available. The omnibus will cover three of the four books that detail the adventures of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and their faithful manservant Emancipor Reece.

Plot  9

Characters  9

Style  9

Overall 9/10

Reading Order of Malazan Book of the Fallen

While we wait for the last book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson, The Crippled God to arrive. I thought it would be a good idea for those of you who are considering getting into the series or just starting the adventure to know where to begin.

One of the most difficult parts of understanding the series is the timelines, which do not always add up. So, I will also attempt to simplify the timelines as well. Bear in mind this may or may not be completely accurate as I have a hard time figuring everything out myself. Of course you can read them in order of timeline or by publishing order the choice is yours.


Timeline Order:

Night of Knives (1154)

Blood Follows (c. 1154)
The Lees of Laughter's End (c. 1154)
The Healthy Dead (c. 1158)
Midnight Tides (uncertain, but possibly two years before Gardens of the Moon, c. 1161)
Gardens of the Moon (1163)
Deadhouse Gates and Memories of Ice (1163-64, these two novels occur simultaneously)
House of Chains (1164, with a lengthy prologue section that takes place some years earlier)
The Bonehunters (1164-65)
Return of the Crimson Guard (c. 1165, just after the events in The Bonehunters)
Stonewielder (1165, a few months after the events in Return of the Crimson Guard)
Reaper's Gale (c. 1165 or 1166)
Toll the Hounds (by internal evidence, c. 1169-70, but this conflicts with dates in other books)
Dust of Dreams (unknown, but after the events of Reaper's Gale)
The Crippled God (unknown)

Publishing Order:
Gardens of the Moon (1999)
Deadhouse Gates (2000)
Memories of Ice (2001)
House of Chains (2002)
Midnight Tides (2004)
The Bonehunters (2006)
Reaper's Gale (2007)
Toll the Hounds (2008)
Dust of Dreams (2009)
The Crippled God (15 FEB 2011)

Novellas:
Blood Follows (2002)
The Healthy Dead (2004)
The Lees of Laughter's End (2007)
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach (2009)
The Crack'd Pot Trail (2009)

Novels of the Malazan Empire:
Night of Knives (2005)
Return of the Crimson Guard (2008)
Stonewielder (2010)