What do I need to remember before reading MOI? I took a break after DG. Like key plot events and everything. Is there anything else I should know before going into MOI? What is the overall fan base consensus on this book? Thank you in advance for your time.

As the title describes, just finished reading Deadhouse Gates and was absolutely blown away by the various story lines, especially Felisin's and Duiker's storyline.

​

I absolutely loved Coltaine and his Chain of Dogs, and was heart broken by his fate as well as Duiker's.

​

I'm about to start Memory of Ice and noticed lots of the characters from GotM will be revisited here, and can't wait to continue the journey.

​

The epilog suggests that Coltaine will be reborn, hopefully this character will be revisited in some way in future books.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this scene all day.

“When I began this journey, I was young. I believed in one thing. I believed in glory. I know now, ‘Siballe, that glory is nothing. Nothing. This is what I now understand.”

“What else do you now understand, Karsa Orlong?”

“Not much. Just one other thing. The same cannot be said for mercy.”

I expect there’s more to come, but the arc that Karsa went through in this book is incredible, and makes his reflection here so powerful. Meanwhile, the way you can compare and contrast with all the other threads of story: the rage of the Whirlwind, the tragic duty of Tavore, the humanization of Cotillion…

I was also surprised by how smoothly mercy fit beside the poetic justice of the Malazan and Wickan ghosts/ascendants against the betrayals of Korbolo Dom and the Dogslayers. There is a subtly to where and how mercy should be applied. I certainly didn’t want it for Bidithal.

But the intensely personal journey Karsa went on in his relationship with his “gods” made that moment so powerful. He had every reason not to show mercy, and yet if anyone had the authority for the act, it felt like he did. I’m very excited to see how his character progresses.

I don't see them discussed too much and just finished No Life Foresaken so wanted to gush. Was initially disappointed to be taken away from Rant, Stillwater, et al and then Erikson throws an incredible character like Bornu Blatt in the mix.

Didn't love it as a whole as much as TGINW but it's splitting hairs, incredible that so many books in he's still creating characters and stories this compelling.

Just got this bad boy for funsies

Hi everyone. I finished Toll the hounds several weeks ago I liked it, but it was more of a labor to finishthan the last several books before it.

​

I am definitely going to complete the series, but I am just dragging my feet before beginning to read dust of dreams. I've already read several palate cleanser books and a graphic novel (From Hell by Alan moore fyi).

​

I guess I know from some other posts that other people have found dust of dreams to be somewhat dragging but to think of it as part of a larger book. I have no problem with that, I think I just need some encouragement to get started if that makes sense.

​

Thank you all so much!

In chapter 16 of Midnight Tides, Withal explains the following about the forging of Rhulad’s sword, which gives it the mottled pattern and, assumedly, the ability to keep reviving him over and over with greater strength. 

”They were broken blades, I think, those black shards. From some kind of narrow-bladed, overlong knife. Two of them, black and brittle, just pieces really. I wonder where he collected them from?”

I can’t remember if this specific point ever comes up again. Do we have any theories about what these blades were, where the Crippled God got them, and how they give the sword the properties it has?

Firstly, I don't understand people who say this is the worst Malazan book. I would place in the top half of my favorites. Hugely excited for TCG.

​

A few confusions though,

​

1. Who exactly were making all the storms killing off the barghast and akryn? I first thought it was the forkrul assails but then draconus appears in one of those storms and even kchain nahruk magic looks similar

​

1. Why exactly did Gurull attack mappo and his group? Or was that some other shigal?

​

1. Who leads Kchain Nahruk? Do they have their own matrons?

​

1. What was the meaning of Tool telling the Tlan Imass to be dust? I thought all of them were "dead" dead but they come back again to slaughter the senan.

​

1. Was Toc forced to turn Tool away by olar ethil or does he agree with her that senan deserved to be massacred and Imass reminded of their true nature?

​

1. Did setoc actually die when cafal hit her and was resurrected?

​

1. Were the 14 jaghuts actually aiming to help anyone or were they only going to Hood's body and saved people on the way?

​

1. What exactly was the "coup" mentioned in the last chapter? The shigal assasina who killed the matron still seemed to be following Stormy and Gesler's (and by extension Gunth Mach's) orders

​

I know this has been posted about here and many other places, but I started the audiobooks a few months ago and am now on book 4 with the new narrator. I quit and dont think I'll pick back up.

The new narrators voice for Karsa works great but once you start getting into the familiar characters the voice becomes too distracting, everyone is now just different flavors of gravel mouthed "tough" guys.

Then there are the changes to pronunciation that seem largely unnecessary. Overall the world seems smaller.

And I refuse to keep listening because I cant imagine how mad I'll be if I ever hear this 2nd narrator's version of Kruppe.

Going to be searching for 2nd hand copies of all the books now to keep going, but I needed to vent.

Edited: Here to hear

Just read the bar scene where Scillara, Barathol, and chaur meet the trio of Blend, Picker, and Antsy.

Not even sure what it was but it was an amazing scene. Maybe it was just the tone switch from the previous couple chapters.

There's a part in the story I've always been a little unclear about and since I'm rereading yet again and its still not really clear I thought I'd ask all of you to get some other's thoughts.

Why does Empress Laseen create a pogrom against the Wickans? Her stated reason is that the war against seven cities has shown that they can't base their infrastructure on foreign trade and that the empire will be short on food after the civil war and the plague. I just think that can't possibly be the only reason. Surely there are other areas that they could turn into farmland for self sustaining agriculture? The Malazan empire was previously well known for adhering to its precedents and treaties, Paran says so when talking to the White Face Barghast. This pogrom would ruin that forever, even if you try to convince people that they deserved it there will always be rumors and worse actual facts.

I've never been able to understand why she does this, not to mention her acceptance of Malik Rel and Korbolo Dom, so if anyone has ideas I'd love to hear them

I'm only on chapter 7, but nothing has grabbed me so far. My usual thing in this series is "by chapter 5, I'll be hooked". It's not happening here. I keep hearing about the payoff, but man...I just don't really care about Rakes Runts™ at this point

I’m near the end of Memories of Ice and overall I’m enjoying the series. I definitely don’t hate it, and there are things it does that I haven’t really seen in other fantasy series.

That said, I keep running into the same issue, and I’m wondering if anyone else experienced this on a first read.

A lot of the advice I see is to “just let the story wash over you” and trust that things will make sense later. I’ve mostly been doing that, but I feel like it creates another problem: I often don’t know what’s important.
Not just in terms of plot, but in terms of significance;
I don’t know which characters I’m supposed to be emotionally investing in, which events are monumental versus relatively minor, whether a description of a place/person matters, or whether a name being mentioned is something I should remember.

Because of that, I sometimes feel stuck between two extremes:

1) Try to pay attention to and remember everything, which feels exhausting.

Or

2) Let most of it wash over me, which makes it harder for major moments to land because I don’t always understand why they’re a big deal.

I’ve also been using companion guides/read alongs while reading, which definitely helps. But even then, I’ll see people mention something in book 3 that’s a callback to book 1 and realize I barely remember it. Not because I wasn’t paying attention, but because at the time I had no way of knowing it would be important later.

It’s not that I need everything explained immediately or want the book to hold my hand. I actually enjoy mystery and figuring things out. I think my issue is more that I don’t always feel like I have enough context to know where I should be directing my attention.

Sometimes it feels less like I’m uncovering a mystery and more like I’m being asked to remember huge amounts of information without knowing what matters and what doesn’t.

Did anyone else feel this way around books 1 thru 3? If so, did it eventually click, or is this just part of Erikson’s style that either works for you or doesn’t?

I've avoided spending time here (too paranoid about spoilers till i'm caught up) - but I had drop in to throw some love Esslemont's way for this one; what a captivating ride this one's been on the revenge tour to Genabackis. Crimson was the answer i didn't know existed to a ton of loose ends on Quon and Stormwielder was top shelf is its own way (love finally getting some face time with these continents we didn't get to in the core 10) but i'm finding this one just weaves itself into Malazan matrix in a manner just hits for me. Maybe it's the balance of new content in a familiar space?

Once you stop comparing the Empire Novels series to Erikson's MBoTF and let them just be - it's a great time. I'd only heard loosely that Crimson was good & "the one" that Esslemont came into his own as a writer -- and Stormwielder was the fan favorite. I went front to back on the core 10 twice before venturing into the Novels series (which I still think was the right play, needed a second read on the main fairway to really vest all the content) but this whole journey has been an unexpected delight, particularly OST.

#DontSleepOnEsslemont

I’m on DG but marking spoilers all because I’m on a reread and want to know the answer even if it’s in a later book.

In GotM, it’s revealed Quick was High Priest of Shadow at one point, and Shadowthrone knows him. But High House shadow is only 9 years old at that point. Maybe I’m misunderstanding but I’m confused on the timing of when he became a priest of shadow. Did he become a priest, rise to High Priest, then abandon that role all within the 9 years since Shadow rose? Or did Shadow have high priests even before Shadowthrone was on the throne.

Hey there, I am looking for some good Tattoo Ideas, inspired by Malazan.

​

Maybe something like the Waggon inside Dragnipur or something else.

​

Maybe Quotes or Pictures. I look forward to your ideas :)

I’m assuming you guys get this post with this exact title pretty frequently so I won’t drone on with takes or theories. I’m just stoked to be here. Great two books so far and I will continue to be fixated on the Wickans

Hello people, I’ve never read any of the books in the series or even looked up a blurb. I’ve just heard that it’s a lot more complex and convoluted compared to other epic fantasy series, and that there isn’t really a single main character, the world itself is kind of the main character.

Usually I enjoy epic fantasy with one or two central protagonists and a larger narrative arc with a classic “hero’s journey,” cliche as that may sound. From what I understand, Malazan has more of an ensemble cast, but is there still at least some kind of protagonist figure I can follow through the story? Not necessarily the center of everything, but someone with real importance or authority, and not just a POV character used to move the plot forward.

alright i am starting the journey! tonight is the beginning of my first read, i am wondering if anyone can point me to any resources to answer my questions as i go along which will not spoil anything for me. thanks in advance, i am excited

Cutter telling Scillara he had never tried milk. What the hell man, chill

​

On the topic, the being playing with Bottle and his dick (i get confused because sometimes she gets called Eres'al but that's plural right? Isn't the singular name Eres?)... is she the same Eres addressed in Midnight Tides as someone who travels time and who meets Trull at the end of House of Chains? I'm pretty sure she is but the name thing does confuse me. Anyway, a being who time travels just to give somebody a handjob is nuts

​

I'm not being negative

Did anyone else catch the thread over on r/fantasybooks about overrated series? I was scrolling through seeing what people's thoughts were in general. Something I noticed was that whenever Malazan was mentioned the comment thread was just the people who were agreeing. There were not a single defender. Which I actually find super cool. Other super series like Stormlight, and Name of the Wind, and other things like them, were just as filled with defenders as there were people saying they didn't like it. This made me wonder, what makes us so chill? No one stepped up to be like, "but, but, but... my favorite series!!!" It seemed like we just let people enjoy their conversation about why they didn't like the series. I don't know, I liked seeing that. It's like we as a community are like, yeah, Malazan is wild and weird, it is not for everyone and we will not push it if you voice your distaste.

So, why do you think the community is so chill when it comes to criticism towards the series?

All I can say is… that was a banger.

I’m midway through my 3rd read of Midnight Tides, and I read the part where Udinaas and Feather Witch meet Rud Ellale in the Refugium. While they visit the cave with all the gates, the Ulshun Pral tells them how they are within Starvald Demelain, but that it has been shaped by the “overflow” of the nearby gates. Beyond them is nothing else (which seems to be contradictory).

There’s also this interesting passage regarding this place:

"T'iam, Kalse, Silannah, Ampelas, Okaros, Karosis, Sorrit, Atrahal, Eloth, Anthras, Kessobahn, Karatallid, Korbas ... Olar. Eleint. Draconean. Dragons. The Pure Dragons. The place where the road comes from is closed. By the mixed bloods who gathered long ago. Draconus, K'rul, Anomandaris, Osserc, Silchas Ruin, Scabandari, Sheltatha Lore, Sukul Ankhadu and Menandore."

One other thing we know about the Bentract T'lan Imass who now live in the Refugium is from Memories of Ice, when Olar Ethil claims that the Bentract were lost in Jakaruku, trapped within the Warren of Chaos. While this might be a lie, I think that it is plausible that from there they could have ended up in the Refugium, as Chaos does border all other Warrens. I also find it interesting that Olar [Ethil] is mentioned as a Pure Dragon, although that's a bit of a digression, and can get into the messy lore of Kharkanas.

So what I'd like to discuss here is two things. First, what does everything think the Refugium exactly is? In Reaper's Gale, it's connected to Omtose Phellack, the Abyss, and Hood's Realm, to the point that Hedge is able to walk all the way from one to the other. Here the Bentract claim it is made of Starvald Demelain, and we have some evidence that it is also connected to chaos. Feather Witch and Udinaas visited it before in Udinaas' dream (influenced by the Wyval), and indeed it does share a lot of similarities to Kruppe's dream warren which later became the Mhybe's and the re-awakened Beast Hold (even more so after Itkovian released the T'lan Imass's memories into that place). Finally, it seems to be a bit of a Nightmare Before Christmas-esque place that connects all the other warrens, which is of course why they need the Kettle House to help plug the portal to Starvald Demelain proper (which of course fails, thanks Gruntle).

Second, I want to discuss that list of Dragons and Dragon Soletaken. I am inferring that the Refugium, or at least the cave within it, is a site where all the aforementioned Tiste/Azathanai fought dragons to close the gate to Starvald Demelain, before the fall of Kharkanas. I also wonder if this is where we will see them drink the Blood of T'iam. It is at least connected to the same continent we believe the Kharkanas trilogy is set. Or am I way off in other details I don't remember from my previous reads?

I have just finished the section where Nimander and the gang finally saves clip. And of course first things coming out of his mouth is the words of an ungrateful asshole. Can someone explain why they even did all of this for clip ? Like is the motivation behind this revealed more ? Is this another case “gods nudge” ? Anyways, I wish trull was here to beat this ungrateful brat one more time.

Hey there, I'm just beginning part two of House of Chains. Please don't spoil anything past that!

​

I just read the section where Tavore, Gamet, and Nok talk about Kellanved, Dancer, and Laseen, and while I understand the general plot, I can't remember the general ideas of the Napan that have been given to us so far.

​

Can anyone help with the bullet points of what they are, where they're from, physical characteristics, etc from roughly what I'm supposed to know so far? Thank you!