lowclasshifi reviewed Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #3)
Review of 'Memories of Ice' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
a story about love, grief, loss, redemption, and humanity. What a goddamn book.
Hardcover, 784 pages
English language
Published Nov. 1, 2005 by Tor Books.
The ravaged continent of Genabackis has given birth to a terrifying new empire: the Pannion Domin. Like a tide of corrupted blood, it seethes across the land, devouring all. In its path stands an uneasy alliance: Onearm's army and Whiskeyjack's Bridgeburners alongside their enemies of old--the forces of the Warlord Caladan Brood, Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii mages, and the Rhivi people of the plains. But ancient undead clans are also gathering; the T'lan Imass have risen. For it would seem something altogether darker and more malign threatens this world. Rumors abound that the Crippled God is now unchained and intent on a terrible revenge. Marking the return of many characters from "Gardens of the Moon" and introducing a host of remarkable new players, "Memories of Ice" is both a momentous new chapter in Steven Erikson's magnificent epic fantasy and a triumph of storytelling.
a story about love, grief, loss, redemption, and humanity. What a goddamn book.
2011:
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is huge full of plot and characters and sometimes just a bit confusing but less so than the first book in the series. This is the third. Finally some of the intrigue that is going on in the background is explained. I hope that unlike the Cylons the author has a plan.
I still get confused by the amount of characters that keep appearing.
I was bit disappointed that some of my favorite characters from the second book never showed up. But the plot of this one is mostly happening at the same time as the second book I think.
I'll definitely keep reading the series, I just need a break. This is not an easily digested quick-read.
Something I noted is the lack of romance in the books. There is romantic involvement between characters but not in the romance novel style. …
2011:
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is huge full of plot and characters and sometimes just a bit confusing but less so than the first book in the series. This is the third. Finally some of the intrigue that is going on in the background is explained. I hope that unlike the Cylons the author has a plan.
I still get confused by the amount of characters that keep appearing.
I was bit disappointed that some of my favorite characters from the second book never showed up. But the plot of this one is mostly happening at the same time as the second book I think.
I'll definitely keep reading the series, I just need a break. This is not an easily digested quick-read.
Something I noted is the lack of romance in the books. There is romantic involvement between characters but not in the romance novel style. In this third installment there is a bit more than in the first two but still very little. Even Wheel of Time has more romance. Anyway what I noted was: I didn't miss it and I love me the romance of Black Jewels or Kushiel.
Fascinating series, it just takes a lot of time to read and that is saying something from someone who just read all seven Outlander novels in about 2 months time.
2017:
Six years later, I never ever noticed the lack of romance I complained about up there. I just noticed how terrible fate treated some of my favorite characters and how heartbreaking the ending was. My rating remains the same.
It took three long books, but I'm finally starting to give a crap about some of these characters. Unfortunately, quite a few of them got killed off in this book. However, I've come to expect that nobody - NOBODY - ever really dies in this series, so they'll probably all be back as gods or something.
I enjoyed Book 3 because of the ground work laid in the previous books. The appearance of familiar characters, a quick pace to the story and K’Chain Che’Malle made this a more enjoyable read, but anything involving the K’Chain Che’Malle held me captive. The battles in this story were numerous but very gruesome. I enjoy the internal monologue that discusses the consequences of battle and how people change because of it, this adds a human touch to an otherwise violent act.
I am not fully on board with the series but will stick with it because the stories are progressively improving and leaving me left in the dark for what is happening.
Another satisfying book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen. I am really liking this series and will try my best to finish it.
What can I say about this book? Superb characters, the same detailed setting we know and love, and an intricate plot as we have come to expect from Steven Erikson.
Minor quibbles are that it felt like two books (until the conclusion) due to the two big climaxes at Capustan and Cora and minor typographic errors in my Kindle version.
I've written a much more detailed review here: strakul.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-memories-of-ice-by-steven.html