On the Verge of Lunacy

This second installment of the Kharkanas Trilogy explores the effects of Draconus’s gift to Mother Dark. In particular, it delves further into the emotional torture brought about by war, a war that began because of one man’s love. Kurald Galain is in the throes of a civil war. Anomander Rake leaves Kharkanas to seek for his brother Andarist who is still mourning the brutal murder of his betrothed. Silchas Ruin tries to shoulder the responsibility left by his older brothers by gathering the Houseblades of the noble families and recreate the Hust Legion. But will this be enough to stop Vatha Urusander’s Legion led by Hunn Raal? Rall wants Urusander to marry Mother Dark to depose Draconus. Moreover, those opposing Mother Dark’s power found an ally in the former high priestess Syntara who is forming the Cult of Light. Meanwhile, Hood gathers an army to fight Death. The Jaghut, Jheck, Dog-Runners, and Toblakai and those seeking for answers join Hood. Magic is also bleeding u...

This first installment of the Kharkanas Trilogy introduces the realm of Kurald Galain as it was long before the advent of the Malazan Empire. Told from various characters' points of view, it relates the events leading to the schism of its old and recent inhabitants, particularly the Tiste. Readers will be able to deduce how the Tiste broke up into what are now known as the Andii, Liosan, and Edur. There are familiar characters from the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, notably a younger and more emotional Anomander, as well as new characters including those that are mentioned only in passing in the other books. Readers will be reintroduced to the Vitr, Azath, Shake, Hust Swords,  and the Warrens or Houses. Several clues are given to the origins and functions of those mentioned, but new questions will come to mind. Unlike the Malazan series however, the story is told in a direct manner, seldom steering away from the main story; that's if the long character ramblings a...

Below is the link to my deviantArt. It's a drawing of Fiddler, a character from the Malazan series. http://fav.me/d42glms

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...

In Dust of the Dreams, the story of the Bonehunters continue. Tavore and her army march across the Wastelands to Kolanse after staying in King Tehol's Letheras. Their allies, the Perish and the Khundryl, will join them along the way. At first it was not clear what Tavore's intentions were but after the reading, done by Fiddler at the beginning of the book, they found out that they were marching to the lands occupied by the Forkrul Assail. For the first time too, the readers will be given a chance to experience the events through the K'Chain Che'malle's point-of-view. When the Errant heard about the unleashing the Deck of Dragons, he decided that the Elder gods should take action. The Errant, threatened by the upstart gods and the Master of the Deck, wanted to take everything he has lost. And so he gathered the Elders and discussed his plans. Somewhere within the same continent, the Barghast were having problems of their own. Beset by internal strife, some ...

My latest drawing. I also posted this at deviantArt. http://fav.me/d3kr2ei Materials I used: graphite and color pencils. Scanned. From left: Silchas Ruin, Anomander Rake and Andarist. Characters from the Malazan Book of the Fallen series.

Steven Erikson's masterpiece series continues with Toll the Hounds. Characters from the first and third book reappear in this eighth installment, which tells stories of inner struggles, triumphs and sacrifices. There are two main stories in this book. One is centered in Darujhistan and the other in Black Coral. Although this can be read as a stand-alone novel, some of the events leading to the convergence might be a bit confusing for anyone who has not read the previous books in this series. It's heavy on character introspection and most of the action can be found in the later chapters. Overall, the mood is dark and most of the characters contemplate about past failures. However, they are all talking about many variations of one theme - freedom. For some characters, freedom means privileges. These people believe they should have the things they want simply because they deserve it. For them it's freedom. They try to take advantage of every opportunity given to them and...

Instead of reviewing the sixth and seventh books of the Malazan Book of the Fallen separately, I'm going to discuss both in this entry. My previous reviews focused mainly on the themes for each book, but this time I'm going to take out my hammer and look more closely at Steven Erikson's delivery. Although both books have explored two themes, they focused mainly on intergrating the two major story lines of the series. This time the Malazan Empire meets the Letherii and the Tiste Edur. The Bonehunters Erikson's sixth book sought to question the fate of the characters who followed or were forced to follow their gods. Are the faithful, or in most cases here, those who had been chosen by the gods, doomed to become tools forever? This subject is fully explored through the four characters: Apsalar, Heboric, Kalam, and Icarium. Ganoes Paran's interpretation of ascendancy was also shown in this book. The nature of the younger gods' path to godhood may have been...

Today I reread a novella of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. The book tells how the manservant Emancipor Reese met his masters Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. Readers will recognize the three characters if they read the series. The tale began when Mancy's employer dies and he was forced to look for a job. The city he lived in at that time, Lamentable Moll, was agitated because of a rumoured killer who disembowels his noble victims. Sergeant Guld began an investigation. The King's daughter was also involved when she was found in the crime scene of the killer's latest victim. The Mortal sword of the Sisters was also involved when he vowed he would deliver justice himself. The readers who are already familiar with Bauchelain and Korbal already know who the culprit is so it sort of takes away the anticipation of the things to happen. Mancy's personality however is interesting to make me continue reading. Their past was not also mentioned in the series, so this is a sor...

Title : Midnight Tides 5th book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series Author : Steven Erikson For the first time in the series, no Malazan was involved in the fifth installment although Erikson leaves enough names and places that will be familiar to the reader. The story focuses on the Tiste Edur and the Letherii. Two nations that are so different from one another. The book also shows the Crippled God's direct involvement with other beings providing the readers a glimpse of his plans and the extent of his madness. Although the focus of the story shifted, the book's theme is related to the fourth book, House of Chains. Midnight Tides highlights the relationship between leaders or gods and their followers and the identity of nations. The Letherii and Tiste Edur viewed each other as different people yet they both believed in destiny - that they are both destined for greatness. The Letherii sees conquest as an opportunity to expand and to expel outdated a...

Title : House of Chains 4th book of the Malaza Book of the Fallen series Author : Steven Erikson This book begins with the story of Karsa Orlong. Those who have read the first three books in the series know him by the name of Toblakai. A quarter of the book is spent relating his journey to discover the place of their people in the world. The book spans all the previous three books so readers have to take note of some events that were mentioned earlier in the series so they do not miss the significance of said events. The readers also encounter the elder races here for the first time. These include: a Forkrul Assail, Tiste Edur, the Eres, and Tiste Liosan. Half of the story is also told from the point of view of a Tiste Edur and a T'lan Imass for the first time. The nature of the Tellann Ritual is examined here as well. The story focuses on the two important things that makes up this series. Readers will be presented with Korbolo Dom's long-term plans for the Malazan Empire...

Title : Memories of Ice 3rd book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series Author : Steven Erikson This book is more related to the first in this series. Several characters are introduced for the first time including new players. Familiar character present in Gardens of the Moon are also reintroduced. The plot of the series is finally presented here. The Crippled god shows up in the first part of the book. Whiskeyjack also returns, as well as Paran. This book serves as a turning-point to the story. It's filled with revelations about important characters, including the introduction of some of the young gods, elder gods and elder races. The book begins with a flashback of an important event that took place sometime in the past. At this point in the series, the reader must have a sharp memory of the previous books and pay attention to the events that will take place thereafter. References to other characters and events are scattered throughout the series and the significance might b...

Title: Deadhouse Gates 2nd book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen Series Author: Steven Erikson Unlike Erikson's first book in this series, this book gives the readers a more intimate view of the Malazan Empire. The story is told through the point of view of a few selected characters. Erikson still lapses with his habit in the first book of switching to one point of view to another in the same paragraph or chapter. Deadhouse Gates is more compact, more personal and more emotional than Gardens of the Moon. The book foreshadows what is to become of the empire. Here we meet new players along with familiar characters from the first book. It focuses on five main stories, although they are only a small part that makes up the plot of the series. Each story is told in one unique perspective, the most notable of which is Duiker's narrative of Coltaine's march. The other narratives revolve around the following characters: Icarium, who the readers will meet for the first time. His...

Steven Erikson's debut is one step ahead of most fantasy series today. By creating a world that does not borrow concepts from Tolkien, he was still able to mold memorable characters and a unique universe in this first book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. When I first read the book not more than two years ago, I was amazed at how he was able to develop not just one but a dozen characters in a few pages without sacrificing the need for pace and action. His experience as an anthropologist and archaeologist served him well. Though not obvious, some of the concepts have similarities in several myths, but he was able to twist them and make them unique to create the book. The first few chapters might be confusing because his point of view is not consistent. But as the story progresses, the reader will soon get used to his style. The characters themselves are fascinating. However, the reader is not forced to follow just one main character in the series. I thought at first t...