I was just thinking about this. Finishing the Erikson series and first reading Esslement will be such a gear shift. His first is vastly simplistic... but I enjoyed it unlike others. Then I was impressed with how quickly he stepped up as a storyteller and how nice it was to have a smaller scale view of events I could slot into the bigger world. I know Daniel likes character driven stories, and am curious on his view of Esslemonts writing after 3 books. Don't give up after the frist.
Esslemont has grown as a writer with each book, but I liked the focus of NoK. I also liked the atmosphere. It's something I felt he sadly lost as he sharpened his other skills.
@@gudspellar3605 I read Esslemont during my first reread of Erikson, and I too really enjoyed NoK, it was a quick easy read, that felt good in between Eriksons tomes. I still have Assail in front of me, as of now, but all in all I might even have enjoyed NoK most of his novels. I definitely liked RotCG least of them, which appears to be most peoples favourite. But I do look forward to the Ascendency trilogy, since I don't wanna start the Kharkanas one before it's finished.
@@Bunny_Aoife I mean, is RotCG really a fan favorite? I feel like Esslemont only really hit his stride when he started the Ascendancy series. In retrospect, the ones before that very much feel like works of an author trying to find his place & style. So, in my opinion and from what I've read from others online, I'd say the Ascendancy books beat out the Crimson Guard stuff by quite a margin. Oh, and fuck Skinner.
It's a shame you don't have the chance to reread, for me the magic of the Malazan series is on that first reread when you realise just how much SE layered the books with info, info that means nothing on the first go but that second read you're like holy shit it was right in front of my eyes the whole time... They're special books that only get better the more you read them.
I don't know. They're decent books but a tad overhyped by it's very dedicated fandom. There are so many other amazing fantasy books I had put on hold due to the amount of time Malazan took.
I would love to see your favorite quotes from fantasy series. I fear it might not make the best video but... better to do it than to live with the fear of it.
@Maester Gryphon Hahah! It is from Joe Abercrombie’s “First Law” and indeed it is one of my favorite quotes at the moment, though Abercrombie has a lot more to offer! I definitely recommend the series. One hell of a dialogue writer that Abercrombie.
Having read the series two times now, I felt like this. 1st Read: WHAT'S HAPPENING?!?! WHAT'S A WARREN?! WHAT'S A HOLD?! 2nd Read: Holy shit! He planted this thread THIS EARLY?! Oh wow! This throw away line is going to mean so much in 6 books!
It's been fun to watch your evolution on this series since you began GotM--we knew you'd become a convert eventually! Thanks for putting a spotlight on this series for others to find and enjoy!
Your Malazan excitement is so infectious. This kind of passion and giddiness is the best kind of book endorsement. I recently bought Gardens of the Moon and I'm so pumped to start my Malazan journey!
I still remember when my buddy gave me the first book and just said "dude, you HAVE to read this". Half way through I was thinking, wtf am I reading. I stuck it through to the end of the first book and boy was I happy. What an awesome series. Happy reading 👍
I humbly suggest you checking the Ten Very Big Book Podcast. And, from a Reader to a Reader, I do suggest you finish Memories of Ice before deciding to stop reading the series. Wish you a satisfying reading experience!
@@BooksRebound complex and thematic books sound perfect for me. Of those you listed, I've only read Broken Earth too, which I loved. Thanks for the advice! So nice to hear other people's Malazan stories.
Talk about infectious i picked it up in a used book store and before i`d even finished i went back and managed to find 2-5 as well....i think that i blew through them in about 2 weeks then had to wait for 6-10 from Ebay... I don't think a series has ever gripped me the way Malazan did except LOTR(which i read in the 60s)...WOT and ASOIAF didn't because i started reading both at the start when they came out so i couldn't binge them
Congratulations on getting through the main 10. Yes some of the plotlines are not followed up in the Erikson books, but that is because they are followed up upon in his Co-creators I.C Esselmont books. And yes Malazan is definetly a rereaders series. So dwell on the books for some years before returning. I sat almost 10 years on them before rereading and it has been an amazing experience, being able to focus on the small details and the journey, when you are not all so occupied on getting to the destination.
first scene in the series- 'i want to be a soldier!' 'nah kid, the best life is unnoticed' last scene in the series' 'i want to be a soldier!' 'sure kid, the world can always use another soldier' and in between is eriksons 3.3 million word argument... it is a good argument.
I think the Crippled God is probably one of the best written books in the series but my favorite is still Deadhouse Gates bc that last stand of Coltaine really hit me hard (I was 13 when I read it and I cried lmao) and it was probably the most emotional experience I’ve ever had reading a book
@@noone36101 Yeah man, I was raised on fantasy. I started reading Raymond E Feist when I was 5 or 6, and I read The Way of Kings in 3rd grade (though admittedly I didn’t get it as much the first time). One book that I definitely read too early was the Sandman books at 10, that shit was a bit too disturbing lmao
My favorite series bc of how thorough of a world was created. Esslemont's books get better and better with each book. His Dancer and Kelenvad books are really good
The point about, “Not every plot line should be answered in the sense that it should be wrapped up neatly,” is such a true point. Some things serve the theme and the story and are not just direct plot lines
It might just be Erickson's writing style, but for me everything in this series has this weightiness to it that I think lent to my profound dissatisfaction that so little had much in the way of resolution. It might be one of his worst good problems that he can get me so invested like that but fail to let me go into the next thing, be it more of his stories or my life in general. It makes me very hesitant to get into any more of his work.
I knew if you made it to TCG you would understand why Malazan is so special. That being said, Fiddler is such an underrated character. It's so easy to get swept up in your Anomanders, Shadowthrones, Kruppes, Whiskeyjacks, Quick Bens, and Kalams and forget that Fiddler is kind of the heart of the Malazan series.
"Quick Ben, tell me, who was the toughest Bridgeburner you ever knew? Think back, and think carefully. Get your ego out of the way. Ignore your favorites and the ones who spent all their time looking mean. Not the callous shits, not the back-stabbers, none of the posers. The toughest, Quick Ben. Day in, day out, good times, bad. Tell me. Who?" The High Mage squinted, glanced down at the ground at his feet, and then he sighed and nodded, looking up as he said, "I didn't need that list, Ganoes. I knew my answer right from the start. We all knew." "Who?" "Fiddler. There's no tougher man alive."
Hust Swords: (no spoilers) were made in the forges of Hust Hold in the realm of Kurald Galain. According to Yedan Derryg, they were capable of shearing all other blades in two.[1] These swords were quenched in the blood of dragons;[1] being forged to be able to slay Eleint if necessary.[2] These swords were reportedly 'immortal', i.e., immune to damage, decay, or deterioration. If Hust swords did become damaged, they could heal themselves, given time.[1] Hust swords could sense anyone of Eleint blood (including the Soletaken) who might be nearby. This 'recognition' did not apply to their owners, who could be of Eleint blood and still use these weapons.[3] Hust blades protected their wielders from exhaustion, magic and mundane attacks. The swords also enhanced their owners' sword-fighting capabilities by 'fusing' with their wielders. This 'fusing', however, could result in extreme injury to the person fighting, as some extreme actions could be well beyond the physical limits of the wielder. Hust weapons were known to be possessed, laughing and shrieking with glee as they slaughtered whoever dared to face them in battle.
@@whispersofthewind8401 Hust Swords are basically the Dragonslayer, if the Guts's sword was mystically screaming in rage louder than Guts during battle, or laughing in maniacal glee, depending on it's mood.
The madlad did it! I know the feeling when you see "And now the page before us blurs..." for the first time. It is a feeling I have been chasing for a long time since, and sometimes I wish I could forget the entire series and read it again for the first time. It is the one series that completely changed my life, made me a better person. Malazan is the best. Thank you so much for promoting this series, I know it can be difficult but you stuck with it. Many people don't, so thanks Goblin!
I've been waiting for this one. Malazan is a long one, but so worth it. Loved to see your journey. An old quote I love from SE about the series is that it's "a 3 million word plea for compassion." Perfect description.
I love this series. At first read-through it was despite of the emotional and other kinds of whiplash, but after the first four or five books and upon full series re-read, because of them. It's exhausting and it drains me like no other fantasy series, but no other series has my brain screaming and crying: "I can't just stand here and watch, I need to help! Somebody help, why is this a book, they're dying and I can't reach them!" I have been very invested in many wonderful and horrible fantasy characters in my life, but I have never had my heart broken and mended so often and so thoroughly as I have with Malazan. I 100% understand anyone who nopes out hard on it, but as a child of the 80s and 90s, I'm gonna have to say It's my JAM.
@@BooksRebound I am getting my phd in fantasy by reading wheel of time first. Then I will get my doctorate by reading malazan. But before all that I have to complete Rythm of war, and it’s a tome and kinda dull at the beginning, so it will take a while. I have completed eye of the world though
I love the writing style. I think we as modern readers have serotonin driven want to have huge pay offs. But Erickson pulls you into the world and let's you live in it. The ruminations and tangents seem so much more authentic. I'm glad to have been part of it.
Daniel I started in March reading this series because of your reviews. I'm still in Reapers Gale. But I'm loving it and I thank you for introducing me to this awesome series. The fact that you liked so much the last book makes me really excited and motivated to finish the series and see this through and how it all plays out. Once again. Thank you.
Congratulations! Well done. I have really enjoyed watching you evolve in your craft (knowledge, presentation, equipment, delivery, etc..). I definitely see you as a premier RU-vidr on Fantasy Fiction. Keep up the great work. You earned my follower-ship. Chris
Well done man. Seriously, this is a mega achievement. These reviews have been prepping me for starting GotM for the second time in January so thanks for that :)
I'm currently on Midnight Tides. Loving it. Malazan is criminally underrated. The twists and turns in this series have left me with my jaw dropped several times in shock by what I was reading.
I'm really glad you seemed to enjoy the Malazan experience. I was worried since it definitely contrasts with WoT in a lot of ways but I do think Erikson accomplishes what he set out to do thematically. The Crippled God is really just the end of one small chapter in the universe's history and some of the other plotlines are continued in the other books. And I will attest that the series is even better on a reread and after you read some of the other Malazan books that build out the world even more (the Hust weapons are given more time in Erikson's prequel books). I'll be interested to get your entire series take.
Good point about the magic system. Ericson is indeed the only author I know to break Sanderson's first law of magic ( "The better the reader understands a magic system, the more it can be used to resolve conflict." ) and get away with it. Ericson already did it with the first book where a major villain seemingly gets defeated by what looks like an arbitrary deus ex machina (but in fact is one of the core elements of the magic system as explained later in the series).
I'm so glad you enjoyed Malazan. I, like many others, started my first read and only got until around page 250 of Deadhouse Gates when I put it down a few years ago. On my second time, I was determined to read the main ten books so from January until September I read the main series. It took me a bit of time after finishing it to fully digest what I read but wow was it good! If your open to suggestions, I'd recommend that you do a series review from your first read and then when you eventually re-read the series do another video on the series as a whole. It would be a great comparison to see how your thoughts of the series, events, and characters evolve over further examination. Additionally, I'm curious about what your daily reading schedule is like since you mentioned wanting to get through the series I a month or two on re-read. I've always wanted to read more but for instance a series like Malazan took me about a month per book. Anyway, thanks for all the Malazan content.
Nice review, Daniel! Appreciated you breaking down the book and how it worked as a series conclusion, especially since wrapping up stories this massive in scope is never a simple affair. I flamed out on Malazan a couple years back after blitzing through Gardens and the brutal millstone that was Deadhouse Gates-- started Memories of Ice but between life getting in the way and general darkness fatigue I never got back on the horse. It's good to know that the series ends with some amount of general optimism, but sadly I don't know when I'll have the time to get through all of the books (especially since I feel like I'd have to re-read the first two at this point, and I'd rather drag myself over broken glass in a hailstorm than re-read the end of Deadhouse Gates).
I Found your videos recently on a Malazan buddy read page, and love your reviews. I finished Malazan in February of this year -- and cant get it out of my head. I've read all the other big boy series you've mentioned, but cant shake the feeling that Malazan Book of the Fallen is the greatest epic fantasy series of all time, and likely will be, for a long time (though I'm very excited to see what Sanderson achieves with Stormlight)
I also go back and forth between Memories of Ice and Crippled God being my favourite. The siege of Capustan was the best fantasy battle I've ever read.
Still working my way through Toll the Hounds. I read one chapter a day, because while I love the story, there's just something about Erikson's writing style that makes reading it feel like a chore - can't exactly put my finger on it.
It's probably the heavy introspection that's bothering you. Toll the Hounds is kind of extreme in that regard (hence it's so divisive). But it's my personal favorite book in the series.
@@t.hussain921 I didn't mean Toll the Hounds specifically - I meant Malazan. I blew through Gardens of the Moon pretty quickly, bogged down a little in books 2 and 3,and in book 4 I just kind of stopped reading it for months. The "one chapter a day" pledge is how I progressed. Been reading a book every 24 days ever since, as every time I read the last chapter, I read the Epilogue(s) and Prologue for the next book that same day.
I have finished them too! it feels soooooo good to have this behemoth off my shoulder... Now I the two trilogies, the esslemont books, and probably the korbal broach novels.... God I'm no where near done Edit: I've been listening to them on audible at work it's really fun to put stuff together and be like oooh! My CO workers find it weird but.. They just don't know!
I actually really enjoyed Gardens, despite the criticism it gets. People paint it as this impossible thing to read, but it is far far from it. I definitely immediately saw the flaws and ruff edges around the book, don't get me wrong, but I am trying to say that I was into the world and story and some characters immediately. Deadhouse Gates BLEW me away. Chain of Dogs is just...just... damn. The best sequence of war events I've probably ever read. There is also the foreshadowing that you KNOW is there but you just can't grasp it well. It feels like trying to hold sand, but it just slips through the cracks and I LOVE it. I love it how Erikson writes history too and you see this semi realistic account on previous events that is pretty rare in fantasy, only ever done on the same level by Jordan himself IMO. This is most probably due to his experience as an archeologist. For example, there is a scene with Fiddler stadning on top of a burried city long forgotten and you just can't help but think this was Erikson not being able to resist his love for digging the ground and uncovering the forgotten secrets! Finally, the exploration of ideas and themes was my favorite thing as well, easily. Im a sucker for philosophy and I love it when authors go a long way into exploring difficult and interesting ideas. Now I'm 100 pages into Memories of Ice and I'm loving it already. The prologue and the first chapter are an overdose of epicness that just makes you put the book down and needing to take a breath for a few minutes, because WAU. Can't wait to get deeper and further into the book!
I finished Malazan a few months ago and immediately wanted to re read. I think I might. It has been on my mind a lot and I would really love to re live the series while I still have plenty of time to.
Congrats on the finish, Daniel! I do HIGHLY recommend the books of the malazan empire by esslemont. It gives a lot of great perspective on some of the better smaller characters and also finishes up some major secondary plotlines as well
Everyone talks about themes in Malazan. It should be interesting to note that Erikson doesn't actively try and write certain themes. He writes his story and his themes become evident when you read the books. I think that's why his themes feel so natural.
My ranking (probably). Team Beak for life. 1. Midnight Tides 2. Deadhouse Gates 3. Reaper’s Gale 4. Memories of Ice 5. Toll the Hounds 6. House of Chains (Karsa’s extended intro raises this one above #7 for me) 7. The Crippled God 8. The Bonehunters 9. Dust of Dreams 10. Gardens of the Moon
Nice review. Glad you liked it. I'd recommend you to read the Kharkanas trilogy too which is also written by Erikson, because there are pretty much all of the most powerful beings of the Malazan world involved and there's a shit ton of great drama and reveals. It it the backstory of the Tiste after all. Also, it's much more compact.
@@DanielGreeneReviews For all the character criticisms there are certain ones that just rip your heart out. You don't need an entire life story to become emotionally invested. A certain mage comes to mind and while a minor character in the grand scheme his story is one of the most profound.
Im so happy that you got through this, and I'm so glad to hear your thoughts on this. This has been a real journey and I've been following it eagerly. Welcome to the club.
This video is proof that the real character arc in Malazan is the one the reader has haha. On a serious note, I love your enthusiasm here. Malazan certainly takes us on a journey doesn’t it? I love the point you made about the thematic through line being more important than every little plot detail coming back together for the finale. I would deeply appreciate a spoiler discussion on TCG, I would love to see your reactions to the insanity that went down, and to characters like Tavore.
The levels of individual sacrifices for the Greater Good in Crippled God will always haunt me, and challenge me in my day to day life. It is difficult to not come out of this story a changed, and better, person.
Daniel Greene: it's been 84 years.... (months maybe?) I will say, whatever my unread critique/excuse for not getting into his world, that Steve Erickson's titleing of his books is probably the BOLDEST and most ambitious there is! Something to be said about the wan and meh series titles that otherwise fantastic series authors put in almost as tacked on last minute afterthought almost. Publisher: wow, whatcha gonna call the whole amazing epic series? Author: uh ..The uh..ancestor trilogy! Publisher: oh. um ok sounds..good.
Do a re-read at some point! It's an absolute game changer reading the first books and understanding so much more in them, see foreshadowing and hints etc .. it's absolutely fantastic!
Malazan might not be exactly to my tastes, but there is no argument imo that it definitely is one of the best fantasy series of all time. It provides a different kind of enjoyment for me, not quite fun but a kind of appreciation and especially strong emotional introspection for the themes Erikson conveys, though I don't personally like some his execution in narrative and action style.
Glad it left you with such a positive taste. You seemed pretty mixed on the series up to this point, which had me temper my expectations going into reading it. Your getting me excited to finish out the series now.
This kind of review is always a bit funny, from a recommendation perspective. Like, is there someone who has read all the previous books except for this one and is undecided on reading the last? Of course, reviews are not just recommendations. It's nice to hear your thoughts in general!
If you do a reread, you should really add in the Ian Esslemont books with the cycle. They address lots of those open ended plots. Not quite as well written but rather good as a side piece during a reread.
Lol Daniel's direct eye contact with the camera makes me feel like he's looking into my soul 😂 anyways, definitely going to give this whole series a go! Congrats on finishing!!!
I'm so glad you liked it! I honestly had the same experience of having it completely reframe the whole series. I generally don't cry from reading fiction but after that ending poem I was almost blubbering in public.
Man, I've been waiting a long time for this! Fantastic review, I'm very happy that you were able to draw so much enjoyment out of one of my favorite fantasy series.
I read Malazan for the first time back in 2013 and was like...meh. I didn't truly appreciate the series until I reread in 2017, and it has since been my favorite fantasy series (aside from LOTR I suppose). I'm glad that you read through and enjoyed it, and appreciate it for the complex masterpiece that it is!
It was such a mess - pulling stuff in from all over and just throwing as much as possible at a wall and hoping it sticks. Characters and story lines went nowhere, random characters that you were somehow meant to know about turning up with no introduction. Hundreds of 2D characters. No real cohesion. It was such an anti-climax. Phenominal world building and creation however.
WARNING SPOILERS . . . . . . When you reread Gardens of the Moon you’ll see and insane amount of foreshadowing. For example Dasem is mentioned in several critical points but I didn’t notice it the first read through.
Wheel of Time and Game of Thrones suck… really suck. Lord of the Rings is the best. Chronicles of Narnia, The Dark is Rising, and I also include Watership Down as amazing children/ fantasy books. Malazan is also great.
You should go check out my new gothic novel '40,000 Words'. It follows Adelaide Parabellum as the arrival of poems from beyond the grave cause her to recollect how she had met a quiet and austere poet at a pond eight years prior. '40,000 Words' is on Kindle and Amazon for both ebook and paperback formats. I hope that this little synopsis has captured your interest.
Is the forge of darkness and fall of light describe the crippled god? Like for example the crippled god is the forge of darkness and causes trouble and start of arkhanas trilogy and start of Ian c esslmont books?
wait till the Kharkanas Trilogy. Hust swords get A LOT more "screen time" it gets wild I feel like they're even more intricate. I'll either be a genius or my brain will brick itself by the end of the 3rd book (when that day comes)
Esslemont's series and other books in the world are great as well... but man, just wait till you get to Kharkanas Trilogy... without getting into major spoilers territory, it just shattered so many ideas/ presumptions I had about so many characters and situations from the main series... since it takes place thousands of years before the main series, many characters behave in a totally different manner and as the events unfold you can see them slowly progressing toward what they are in the main series... and the thing is, you think you know how it all ends and such, but then, you dont :D ... and you can see how sometimes even small, petty things can lead to major stuff... also, Hust swords and such, this is where they get a much deserved spotlight, and man, it will haunt you for a long time :)
Malazan is a series I would like to get into, but I just can't. I finally managed to finish the third book and... Boy it's hard. You get almost intersted in a plot and suddenly you get another group of random people you don't care about. The biggest problem? There's not a single character I like or I am looking forward to read more about. Reading shouldn't be painful. I give up
Great review! Hust swords get even cooler when you read The Kharkanas Trilogy. I agree that a reread is necessary to truly experience the series- certainly true in my case.
Listening to it on an audiobook is a great way to make it through the series without burning out. The narrator switch is hard in the first half of the series though.
I would love a TV show about malazan world, series and all books but let be real technology is years away to be capable to do it justice. But they should and could make a ass kicking anime with it.
I’m re reading the series now, I read it 9 years ago. My favorite characters were fiddler, Karsa, that undead dragon, and one thing of the grey Tiste’s (can’t remember name).
