The Crippled God

The Malazan series ends with unexpected twists, surprising revelations and heartbreaking deaths. The Crippled God picks up from where the stories in Dust of Dreams left off.

It has two main stories: one, the mission to free the Crippled God, and the fight to save Kharkanas. It also included points-of-view from the Forkrul Assail, Tiste Liosan, Korabas, and Kaminsod - the Crippled God.

The Bonehunters continue their march through the Glass Desert and eventually met the Snake, which until after the meeting was a mysterious player in the overall story.

Meanwhile, the Shake fight on for Kharkanas. Their determination humbled the Tiste Andii, who have at last come home. Although at first it seems that this has no connection to the Crippled God, it was later revealed that there was some of of alliance between the K'Chain Nah'ruk, Liosan and Assail.

Paran and the rest of Paran's Host also appear in this book. Recall that in Toll the Hounds Picker tried to contact Ganoes but he was too busy to engage in a long conversation.

Mappo continued his search fo Icarium and Tool's role, and the significance of the events in the previous book, wasn't clear at first.

The physical description of the Forkrul Assail is much detailed here than in previous books. Kalyth also narrated the events that occurred during the occupation of the Forkrul Assail of Kolanse.

Although in the previous book it was mentioned that several gods would be involved and possibly fight over something, only the usual participants appeared in the book. There was a scene however where gods and goddesses were gathered at the Fall of Coltaine where they seem trapped or were unable to take any action. I don't know what to make of that. Draconus' grand entrance was also overrated but I'm glad he didn't interfere with the later events.

Some casualties might shock the readers but it was foreshadowed that Stormy, Gessler, Gruntle, Yedan Derryg and Mappo would all die. As for Tool's happy ending, it still didn't make sense why he didn't take any actions when he was still leading the Barghast. He could have left  earlier or prepared his family better. I still think it was selfish and irresponsible and that he doesn't deserve a second chance with Hetan.

There was one scene involving Quick Ben that intrigued me. He was talking to someone he called Mother and Father and I can't make sense of it. It somehow implies that he has some connections with Mother Dark and someone he called Father. But Quick Ben is one mystery that I don't want to be solved.

I also wondered how the release of Korabas will affect the other events. I was pleasantly surprised that it had a connection to the Crippled God after all. Not all books nowadays are hard to predict.

I love how Erikson wrapped up the main series by ending with the reunion of Apsalar and Crokus, and Fiddler talking to a boy when he was fishing, which mirrors the events in the first book.

There was only one character in this book that truly broke my heart and that was Kaminsod. I wish he was given more time to narrate the events in his point-of-view. There was no mention of him later too. It seemed that everyone was so quick to forget that he existed.

The book also discussed the many aspects of human nature. Humans are by nature destructive and that is why the Assail wanted to rid the world of this vermin to impose order. The Perish have their own version of imposing balance and that's letting the Wild flourish. Unlike humans, beasts don't try to destroy everything they see. But for Kilava, humans and the wild are the same and that reconciliation is possible.

Throughout most of the journey of the Bonehunters, those surrounding Tavore spent most of their time speculating about her real motivations and the source of her determination to fight a hopeless battle. During the conversations, several interesting insights can be gleaned and these in turn can best describe the overall theme of the book. The theme can summarized in three words: faith, compassion and despair. Tavore has faith in their mission because to not believe is to invite despair and contemplation that everything they have done so far is meaningless. Compassion too is what has driven her to free the heart of the Crippled God. Although in the previous books it seemed that Kaminsod was only driven by need for vengeance, he was not evil. Gods and people have been feeding on his suffering. He therefore has no choice but to despair and it's not surprising that he's been plotting for revenge. What Tavore sought to do was to balance the scales by freeing someone who did not deserve to suffer. Korabas too was a victim. She did not choose to be that way but instead of giving in to despair, knowing that she was not wanted, she still chose to live.

It was touching to know that part of the reason why Tavore has done all those things is because she felt responsible for her sister.

This is a great conclusion to the series although the part about Kaminsod was a bit lacking.

Rating: 9 out of 10

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Here is the list of the 10 books in order:
1. Gardens of the Moon
2. Deadhouse Gates
3. Memories of Ice
4. House of Chains 
5. Midnight Tides
6. The Bonehunters
7. Reaper's Gale
8. Toll the Hounds
9. Dust of Dreams
10. The Crippled God