Chapter 23

I can't breathe. Wtf just happened. I'm genuinely speechless phenomenal chapter maybe top 3 of the entire series "AND THE HEAVIES ROSE TO MEET THEM" ERIKSON YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN.

Also, I thought there were 23 chapters and was expecting the book to end but now a 24th? this book is utterly amazing. Hoping for some icarium in the last chapter.

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@r_malazan

That scene with the hammer...

(Trying to be as vague as possible in the title)

It was so funny readin Kruppe ragebait Caladan Brood into using his earth-shattering hammer just to show he's that guy.

This is all I could see in my head:

https://preview.redd.it/t845ftw43tbh1.png?width=488&format=png&auto=webp&s=d01bf967d609b84fb82cc10a985644ab84d81d5e



https://redd.it/1upuhfy
@r_malazan

Im wanting to do a run through baldurs gate 1 and 2 with a custom party of 6 Malazan characters. Please give me your suggestions if you think they are better than mine...

Im thinking....

Quick Ben - Sorcerer

Kalam - Assassin

Rake - fighter

Crokus - Theif

Karsa Orlong - Barbarian

Itkovian - Cleric

https://redd.it/1ups26i
@r_malazan

Worst ever Malazan experience?

I'm not talking about the content of the books, I'm talking about how your lived experience outside of the fictional impacted your reading or listening of the books.

For example, this morning I had to get emergency dental surgery and I spent 2 hours not in pain so much as extreme discomfort while re-listening to The God is Not Willing.

https://redd.it/1upv9fa
@r_malazan

One who flew too close to the sun

Having had enough time to contemplate after finishing the main 10, as much as I loved the overall ending, Icarium was a massive let down.

I really loved the concept of Icarium from the get go, as his story was unique and creative. There was also so much suspense around him and the moment he finally went on a rampage at the end of TBH was incredible.

Then so much time was spent in books 7 and 9 further developing this character, just to have his story go nowhere. Yes, he saved the KCCM, but that wasn’t even his arc - it felt a bit like Arya killing the Night King.

His arc was being a force of nature, a nuke this close to being launched, then suddenly it got Pung ex Machina’d and that’s it, with the additional bitter taste from how Mappo’s story ended. I’ve read many a comment about subverting expectations, Chekhov’s guns, themes over action etc, and they just sound like excuses. I’m not sure what happened there - perhaps he didn’t fit to where Erikson decided to bring the story, who ended up not knowing what to do with such a powerhouse; perhaps he will be revisited in the future. Unfortunately, as things stand, the books would have been better off without him.

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@r_malazan

so i just realized who malakai actually is in orb sceptre throne...

how did i read this entire book and not realize malakai is cutter?

it makes so much sense in hindsight. the insane agility, the dual knives, and then the absolute kicker at the end where he's on the terraces of moon's spawn picking flower stalks. it fulfills that whole romantic callback about the lover on the moon tending a garden, and he's grabbing it for apsalar before they reunite at the end of the crippled god.

my brain completely glossed over it while reading. please tell me i’m not the only one who had this take a while to click.

https://redd.it/1uq79hx
@r_malazan

Anything I need to know before starting The Bonehunters?

I just finished Midnight Tides for the first time and was looking at the the list of characters for the next one is there anything I need to remember before I start?

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@r_malazan

Is the series as difficult as everyone says?

Been looking for a big new series to read, I’ve heard ALOT of good when it comes to the malazan. I know the writer is an archeologist and that’s what im currently studying in college which definitely adds to me wanting to read the series. However I always see people say that this series is incredibly difficult to follow; and to enjoy, is that true or just overblown? And are thier any tips or advice or just general knowledge I should know before going in? Thank you for any help

https://redd.it/1uqhahv
@r_malazan

Just finished Chapter 19 of TtH...

Wow, never thought some of the hardest tears I'd shed reading Malazan would be from a character introduced barely half a book ago. Bainisk giving everything to save Harllo and to see the city, just to fall short at the last moment. Harllo, in his compassion, keeps the dream of a perfect world alive for him in his last moments. Combining this with Cutter finally giving in to the dark side and the beautiful passage of love and grief in a single breath... genuinely shattered my heart.

https://redd.it/1uqgouq
@r_malazan

I developed my own Ereader app, mostly because of Malazan. In-app Malazan wiki with no ads, chapter scenes in TOC, chapter and scene summeries in-app, words per minute tracking, words per page, etc.

https://redd.it/1uqj3j5
@r_malazan

Finished the Crippled God! A bunch of questions

Just finished the Crippled God! What a ride! After hearing about tCG before reading it I was afraid that tons of storylines would not get resolution or clarity but was surprised at just how much does get resolved. That being said I do have questions. If you have an answer to any of these I’d love y’all’s help.

1. Why does Cotillion kill the Crippled God? I thought this was all about compassion so that season surprised me. The ending was a little confusing, so the Otataral dragon gets chained by the crippled God’s chains? Can someone clear up that whole scene.

2. How is Hetan alive, is there an explanation?

3. Do any of the other books give us a resolution on Kallor, Leomon or Mallick Rell? Would love a little justice

4. What is Hood’s purpose in the final battle. He goes all the way across the world, climbs the spire, just to kill a Forcral Assain and seemingly doesn’t care about the heart?

5. Can someone am break down exactly what Shadwonthrones plan was as simply as possible?

6. Lots of hints that there would be a QuickBen reveal and then there never was. Is there anything more about QuickBen in the other books or perhaps a reveal I missed? Literally anything about QuickBen is appreciated as he is one of my faves.

7. Lastly, is there any big fan theories out there I should be aware of? Seems like the kinda series that would have a few popular theories.

https://redd.it/1uqr77o
@r_malazan

I'm scared... DHG was the most taxing and devastating novel I've ever read. I finished it in Oct 2025. I've been afraid to continue but I'm hearing the call...

I have zero clue what’s coming.

https://redd.it/1uqw7ps
@r_malazan

Subterranean Press - Reaper’s Gale & Toll the Hounds Exclusive Preorders up

Just a PSA for anyone watching this set. The preorder period for anyone with priority rights (from buying The Bonehunters) was just announced for the Subterranean Press 2nd editions of Reaper’s Gale and Toll the Hounds.

Looks like they’re up for preorder for exclusivity rights holders until July 22. They will then have individual exclusive preorders, and finally after that the remainder went out for general preorder.

From the email:

The second printings of Reaper’s Gale and Toll the Hounds:
 
Contain all of the illustrations from the original numbered edition;
Are printed on 60# Lynx paper (instead of 80# due to the length of the books);
The images on the front boards of the books will be stamped in two colors rather than embossed;
The books’ edges are not gilded.
 
We’ve continued to work with marbling artist Jemma Lewis for the endsheet art. We licensed a custom piece for each book she created based on the cover art. Continuing with the trend of mixing classic patterns to create a modern style, the endsheets for Reaper's Gale uses stormont spots upon swirled veins of teal and orange to reflect the cover art. For Toll the Hounds, the emphasis is on a larger blue base that emphasizes the ripple effect, and is framed by darker blue veins with a pop of yellow.
 
Jemma Lewis’s marbling art is considered to be some of the best around the world. Subterranean Press has previously used her sheets for our lettered edition of Full Throttle. 
 
**Signed Second Printing:**
Approximately 1000 hardcover copies signed by the author: $450

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@r_malazan

Questions about Fiddler

Hi, I just read the End where Fiddler is fishing.

First Question: For what is he fishing again? I think I missed something

Second: Why is it so great:)

https://redd.it/1uqygc5
@r_malazan

Is this canon?
https://redd.it/1ur6m9k
@r_malazan

Is it worth continuing with Memories of Ice if I liked Gardens of the Moon but didn't care for Deadhouse Gates?

Finished Deadhouse yesterday. There were a few brief pages I liked, although nowhere near as many in such a long book that I would have liked, and the final 10% had a charm to it I could have enjoyed it if I were more invested. The other 90% I found mostly a slog, full of characters I didn't find interesting or compelling wandering around while a lot of grimdark stuff happened every page. I found it impossible to get invested. If everything is grim and dark and miserable and horrible then nothing is. I'd prefer some level of contrast to make the dark really dark. The only character I found interesting was Felisin.

I won't say Gardens of the Moon is my favorite book, out of every book I read last year it made the smallest impression on me, but I generally enjoyed it enough. The characters were alright, the story was interesting enough, I liked Kruppe, it picked up around the 40-50% mark. It was enjoyable enough to read for a few weeks while I got a little closer to the grave and that's all I'm really asking for. For as much as people talk about Gardens as the bad book new readers need to pinch their nose and take their medicine so they can get to Deadhouse, I ended up liking it a lot more.

Is it worth continuing? I don't believe I dislike Malazan, I think I just didn't care for Deadhouse Gates. No matter if I I decide to continue on, I'd like to take a break from fantasy as a whole for a while, it would be nice to know if I should plan for it.

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@r_malazan

When does the battle of the siege of Pale start?

Title

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@r_malazan

What’s the conclusions on these characters

I’ve just finished the main 10 and I have a lot of other series I’d like to give some attention to. Additionally I’m impatient and have a lot of work so I just need some answers. Here are a few characters I’d love to know what happens to them.

1. Mallick Rell. Plz tell me someone killed this guy??

2. Tayschrenn. What happened to my boy? Actually started to like him!

3. Ironbars! He was great, anything cool happen with him in RotCG?

4. Topper. He just disappears, where did he go?

5. Dassem Ultor. He was so cool, what happened?

6. Kallor… again, plz tell me someone kills this guy?

7. Leomen.. finally.. plz tell me someone kills this guy?

https://redd.it/1urc95v
@r_malazan

Back to Genabackis!!
https://redd.it/1ure9pn
@r_malazan

Just about done with Chapter 7, TcG….

Just got the big reveal that the jade spears are followers of the crippled god and Tavore means to sacrifice themselves for feint attack so the rest can take the heart of the crippled god down.

I’m sorry but that’s the big reveal? That’s this massive thing I’ve been hearing about for 2K+ pages about marching through the desert? Like anyone could’ve seen this coming, this is a suicide mission to stop the crippled god by some scheme. I’m just flabbergasted that it’s had this amount of build up and tension, “what’s she planning” etc etc…. Only for what is going to be the most obvious of answers?

Someone give me some hope that there’s way more to be told because right now this is infuriating.

I’m sure more mysteries and tie ins are coming but if that’s all this boils down to I’m still wildly confused as to the absolute insane amount of build up to this.

https://redd.it/1urhufx
@r_malazan