Book 3 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
It's only his third book of a planned ten-part Malazan Book of the Fallen series but Steven Erikson is redefining the word 'epic'. One can only begin to realize that this is really only the proverbial "tip of the iceberg" that the readers are seeing at this point of the story. It's a marvel to witness the uncovering of his imagination and realize the depth of what he has created. Erikson has created a world that probably surpasses any other fantasy world that ever existed and he has yet seven more books in which he can allow his readers to explore.
In Memories of Ice, he returns to the continent of Genebackis, the setting of his first book, Gardens of the Moon. The Malazan army of Genebackis have now gone renegade under the leadership of Dujek Onearm and Whiskeyjack are trying forge an alliance with their former enemies led by Caladan Brood and Anomander Rake. They would need to find a way to come across a common ground and forget their differences because a new enemy is coming from another direction. The new empire of the Pannion Domin is flexing its muscle and it is a threat more terrible and horrifying than anything they have ever seen before. The first target of the Domin's armies would be the free city of Capustan, and it seems nothing can stop its hordes from overrunning the it. Armies are being formed. Armies that would include the undead, cannibals and beasts. They would however soon realize that this would only be a part of an even larger war. A war that has been going on for hundreds of thousands of years. A war between gods and demi-gods and everybody is being sucked in towards it.
There would be new players in the scene. There will be the caravan bodyguard captain, Gruntle, who escorts his client towards the beleaguered city and finds himself trapped in a desperate siege unknowing of the large part he is going to play in the whole war. There will be Itkovian, one of the leaders of the army hired by Capustan's leaders to defend the city, as he and his group of paladin-knights prepare themselves on what they think what would be their last act in life. There will be Silverfox of the Rhivi, a girl who is much more than she seems growing into adulthood in days instead of years.
Of course, there would be the returning characters from Gardens of the Moon like the aforementioned four war leaders, the irrepresible and enigmatic Kruppe, and Ganoes Paran, Quick Ben and the Bridgeburners (Malazan's own version of Special Forces) with the part they are going to play in these War of the Gods.
As with his previous books, Erikson has a huge cast and a huge plot, and he handles them well. In fact, a distinct improvement from his previous work can be noticed. As before, Erikson structures his plot with having separate story threads, but this time the threads are more cohesive and doesn't make the reader feel like being tossed from one place or another. Each plot thread is now handled smoothly as they ease their way towards the end of the book.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
It's only his third book of a planned ten-part Malazan Book of the Fallen series but Steven Erikson is redefining the word 'epic'. One can only begin to realize that this is really only the proverbial "tip of the iceberg" that the readers are seeing at this point of the story. It's a marvel to witness the uncovering of his imagination and realize the depth of what he has created. Erikson has created a world that probably surpasses any other fantasy world that ever existed and he has yet seven more books in which he can allow his readers to explore.
In Memories of Ice, he returns to the continent of Genebackis, the setting of his first book, Gardens of the Moon. The Malazan army of Genebackis have now gone renegade under the leadership of Dujek Onearm and Whiskeyjack are trying forge an alliance with their former enemies led by Caladan Brood and Anomander Rake. They would need to find a way to come across a common ground and forget their differences because a new enemy is coming from another direction. The new empire of the Pannion Domin is flexing its muscle and it is a threat more terrible and horrifying than anything they have ever seen before. The first target of the Domin's armies would be the free city of Capustan, and it seems nothing can stop its hordes from overrunning the it. Armies are being formed. Armies that would include the undead, cannibals and beasts. They would however soon realize that this would only be a part of an even larger war. A war that has been going on for hundreds of thousands of years. A war between gods and demi-gods and everybody is being sucked in towards it.
There would be new players in the scene. There will be the caravan bodyguard captain, Gruntle, who escorts his client towards the beleaguered city and finds himself trapped in a desperate siege unknowing of the large part he is going to play in the whole war. There will be Itkovian, one of the leaders of the army hired by Capustan's leaders to defend the city, as he and his group of paladin-knights prepare themselves on what they think what would be their last act in life. There will be Silverfox of the Rhivi, a girl who is much more than she seems growing into adulthood in days instead of years.
Of course, there would be the returning characters from Gardens of the Moon like the aforementioned four war leaders, the irrepresible and enigmatic Kruppe, and Ganoes Paran, Quick Ben and the Bridgeburners (Malazan's own version of Special Forces) with the part they are going to play in these War of the Gods.
As with his previous books, Erikson has a huge cast and a huge plot, and he handles them well. In fact, a distinct improvement from his previous work can be noticed. As before, Erikson structures his plot with having separate story threads, but this time the threads are more cohesive and doesn't make the reader feel like being tossed from one place or another. Each plot thread is now handled smoothly as they ease their way towards the end of the book.
Also, here in Memories of Ice, Erikson's characters become more alive now. They become personalities. Maybe because the readers have already gotten to know them through the first book, but one can now feel being able to identify with each character, even the minor ones. So real have they become, that some readers might find themselves shedding a tear for some of them by the end of the book.
That is not to say that Erikson has already found the perfect formula for his style. Old flaws from the first two books still emerge every now and then. The story starts out slow and doesn't pick up until the second third of the book. It is also still possible for the reader to get confused at the happenings of the plot. And Erikson still doesn't take time to explain things. But these problems become less of a hindrance here in the third book than it was in the first two.
There is one area, though, where Steven Erikson has established himself in the top echelon, probably more any other fantasy writer before him. He has become a master in writing military fantasy. His battle scenes are glorious, exciting, viceral, terrifying and tragic. He doesn't shy away from the gore. However, at the same time, he emphasizes the dreadful emotions one feels on having to fight for one's life and having to take the life of another. He doesn't glorify battle. In fact, he presents it in all its tragedy for what it really is: that despite the circumstances that sometimes make it a necessity, it is still an act of mass murder. That's what makes his battle scenes compelling, and in this book he gifts his readers with not one, but two extraordinary scenes of battle that is heart-pounding and edge-of-your-seat, and one of the best-written. It even includes a sort of "covert ops insertion mission" that would probably make techno-thriller author Tom Clancy sit up and take notice.
With Memories of Ice, Steven Erikson has come to stay. His imagination is boundless and the world-building he executed to bring to life this Malazan world is nothing short of genius on par of J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a vast amazing world that is full of amazing beings that would surely become imprinted in the minds of those fortunate enough to read their story.
