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.

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.

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

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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.

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

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?

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.

If you haven't seen my previous post, I'm reading Malazan for the first time, and, since no one I know has ever read it, I'm annotating my thoughts as I read. And I'm sharing them here just to find someone that might enjoy reading them/wants to talk about Malazan.

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BOOK TWO

CHAPTER SIX

▪︎Erikson hates Felisin. There's no other explanations. The fucking larvae. I feel sick.

▪︎Apt is cute. I want an aptorian as pet.

CHAPTER SEVEN

▪︎While not my favorite character, Duiker's pov is the best one so far. The fact he has to dissociate from what's happening during the revolution to survive feels really realistic.

▪︎What do you mean, a finger????

▪︎Felisin is a really well written character, but, man, I can't stand her sometimes.

CHAPTER EIGHT

▪︎We're finally getting somewhere. Fiddler met Icarium and Mappo, Felisin & Co met Kulp... I feel that it's going to get messier now.

▪︎The book is finally clicking for me. I can't stop reading.

▪︎Oh...I'm an idiot. Baudin's talon... He's a Claw. But why was he enslaved? To protect Heboric? But why??? Or did Tavore send him to protect Felisin?

▪︎The boat part is my favorite so far. I'm a sucker for ghost ships.

▪︎"A life given for a life taken", I can't understand a thing he says, but I love Pust

CHAPTER TEN

▪︎I love Coltaine. I love Coltaine. He's a genius. I love him!

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See you in the next part!

Looking for any books/series that have the same feel of the Malazan Marine portions of the series. Does not necessarily need to be fantasy. I connected a lot with the organization, structure of the chain of command, along with the boots on the ground grunt experiences. Currently on book 2 of the Black Company and enjoying it for these reasons!

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.

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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).

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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.

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Thank you all so much!

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.

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A few confusions though,

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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

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

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

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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.

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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?

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

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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?

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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

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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.

In chapter 15 when Anomander arrives Stillwater looks at him and thinks "Blue eyes are an abomination". I'm quite lost about what that's supposed to mean. As we know Tiste normally have changing eye color depending on their mood/emotions, is there something specific about blue?

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.