In this final installment of the Novels of the Malazan Empire series, Ian C. Esslemont explores the semi-mythical land of Assail.
Rumors of abundant gold deposits has attracted adventurers and fortune-seekers. Some of these however are not seeking wealth but have come to Assail for something else. The natives, besieged by the newcomers, could do nothing else but band together and temporarily forget their blood feuds to protect the land. The land of Assail is mostly unexplored and there are plenty of tales to scare some who have heard whispers of Elder monsters from which the name of the land must have been taken. The story is told from different points of view.
The second in command Shimmer took it upon herself to force the K'azz and the rest of the Crimson Guard to undertake the journey. The bard Fisher Kel Tath finds his steps leading him home. While Kyle carries a sword called Whiteblade which attracts trouble wherever he goes. Orman, son of Bregin, is one of the lowlanders who dreams of going to the Greathalls of the high slopes and perform great deeds. One of the fortune-hunters Jute Hernan, captain of the Silver Dawn, looks upon the obstacles he and his crew have to pass through and begins to doubt his decision to join in the hunt for gold. Meanwhile, Silverfox, the Summoner of the T'lan Imass is in a race to stop a massacre about to happen.
The title of the book alone sent chills up my spine. When I first heard of it, I anticipated that the author would come up with another book that is as entertaining as his previous books. Esslemont did not disappoint. He's one of those few authors that makes writing look so easy. Smooth: that's one word to describe his writing style.
Now I'm not gonna reveal more about what happened in the book (if you're a Malazan fan you know the only way to answer the questions is to read some more), but Assail did tie up some loose ends. Some story-lines which did not have a follow-up in the previous books were addressed here. But like all Malazan books, Assail also raised new questions. Questions which I hope will be answered in the future books planned by Esslemont and Mr. Steven Erikson. There was one character here whose true identity has plagued my brain with questions even after I finished the book.
What I love about Esslemont is the power and clarity of his descriptions. The scope of Assail is not like that of Blood and Bone (which by the way is my favorite among the six books) or Return of the Crimson Guard, but the experience is equally satisfying. I have always admired his preference for fewer POV characters and the good action scenes. You could tell this guy knows his craft well.
I've said this over and over again in my previous reviews of the Malazan books (including Steven Erikson's) that the series is intellectually and emotionally fulfilling. The authors do not insult the readers with cliche plot and characters. I do not recall ever getting bored or disappointed because I can predict what the characters will do next or the direction of the story. The Malazan world is rich and alive and you just get sucked into all the intrigues and mysteries of the mortals and the divine. And that is probably part of the reason why even a few fans of the fantasy genre cannot appreciate the Malazan series just as easily as other popular series---because they think it's a difficult read! It's worth it though. Once you get over the slightly challenging Gardens of the Moon by Erikson, you'll be hooked by the time you're into Deadhouse Gates.
If you're planning to start the series, I recommend starting with Erikson's first. Read all the books in proper order of release date. You can alternately read Esslemont's and Erikson's book if you like. Both series are meant to complement each other.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Links of my reviews of the five previous books of the Novels of the Malazan Empire:
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