Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Starting November 6th. Anybody beside Jenna and I?

Apparently not, but I'll be here.

I'm assuming you won't be done with RG by the 6th?

Scott wrote: "I'm assuming you won't be done with RG by the 6th?"

I'm going to try! I'm on chapter 18 now.

Jenna wrote: "
I'm going to try! I'm on chapter 18 now."

I have to squeeze in the B&KB book to stay with the recommended order so I could give a small grace period. I still have Hyperion and Warbreaker later this month so I can't afford too large of one.

Scott wrote: "Jenna wrote: "
I'm going to try! I'm on chapter 18 now."

I have to squeeze in the B&KB book to stay with the recommended order so I could give a small grace period. I still have Hyperion and Warbr..."

Yeah, I'm also going to try to read the B&KB book in between as well. How about we start this one on the 8th? Is that alright?

That works.

Night of Knives: 86k
Return of the Crimson Guard: 275k
Stonewielder: 234k
Orb Sceptre Throne: 218k
Blood and Bone: 227k
Assail: 207k

So for context this is over 3X as long as NOK. For book of the fallen reference.

Gardens of the Moon: 204k
Deadhouse Gates: 267k
Memories of Ice: 355k
House of Chains: 302k
Midnight Tides: 267k
The Bonehunters: 358k
Reaper’s Gale: 382k
Toll the Hounds: 389k
Dust of Dreams: 370k
The Crippled God: 380k

So only a little longer than DHG and MT but the longest of the ICE books. I'll start tomorrow as planned but likely finishing Tyrant's Law will take up most of my available reading time. Thus I won't really dig in until the day after.

I'm through chapter two. I've been busy so this has been a slow go. Enjoyable but not SE enjoyable. It was nice at the end of the chapter to (view spoiler)[meet Toc the Elder (hide spoiler)]. I have to wonder about (view spoiler)[Mael's involvement. Mallick Rel still calls him his god but he's up to no good as usual a seems to suspect forces pushing him in a direction. I also wonder if the sea raiders are Mael's. (hide spoiler)]

Scott wrote: "I'm through chapter two. I've been busy so this has been a slow go. Enjoyable but not SE enjoyable. It was nice at the end of the chapter to [spoilers removed]. I have to wonder about [spoilers rem..."

I just finished chapter two and yeah, the ending of the chapter was pretty great. So far, I can't say too intrigued by any of the characters. Kyle seems alright, but Traveler's story is pretty boring.

I at page 227 of the kindle version about halfway through chapter 5 and it gets better.

Also, what kind of name is Kyle in Malazan?!

I hate the name too.

A crappy one. I don't know what they were thinking. It ruined the character for me.
Traveller is a quite interesting character. I don't remember that story line being boring.
But you need to read this one. All of it. So much is going on in the end that you need to know before continuing SE.

Lundos wrote: "A crappy one. I don't know what they were thinking. It ruined the character for me.
Traveller is a quite interesting character. I don't remember that story line being boring.
But you need to read..."

I had Traveller figured out a few books ago being (view spoiler)[both Daseem and Dessembrae. Interesting in HOC on the island that he and Cotillion both were largely suspicious of each other. (hide spoiler)]

We've been doing the recommended reading order and time after time I'm so glad we are. Things fill in so nicely.

Scott wrote: "Spoiler"
We've been doing the recommended reading order and time after time I'm so glad we are. Things fill in so nicely.

I don't comment on spoilers. ;)

When I reread it I will do it in the right order. I think more of the hints will be appreciated and there really is a lot extra fun if you know what to look for. That is the beauty of (especially SE) the Malazan world.

Through book one

(view spoiler)[
I thought the assassin in the imperial warren was going to be Kalam on a mission for Shadowthrone right up until the Kurald Galain reveal now it appears to be Rake.

The Wickens sacrificing themselves to get the children and remaining solders out was one of the first times I've felt SE empathy in an ICE book.

The Crimson Guard is quite the mess. Hood's Knight (Baudin) popping through a warren screaming about Skinner in The Bonehunteres makes more sense.
(hide spoiler)]

Scott wrote: "Through book one


The Crimson Guard is quite the mess. ."

Agreed.

The (view spoiler)[toddler in the travois is obviously Coltaine (hide spoiler)]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please let this be the way Mallick gets knifed!!!

Mid book 2 chapter 1.

I have to say I wish these chapters weren't all so F'ing long. By the time I get to the end and go do the TOR re-read I've moved away from points I had at the start of the chapters.

Part 2 chapter 3

(view spoiler)[
So the scene that captured me the most was Kyle's dream.

Who is Resuthenal? I'm thinking Lady Envy but it could be anybody.

Kyle wished to follow the two; he certainly knew that he ought not remain. The things the two spoke of were complete mysteries to him, but he feared being left behind , becoming lost in this strange dream. If only he could have seen the man from the front – he would know then for certain that he dreamed of the patron of his tribe, the Wind King himself. Now dead, killed by Cowl. He struggled to will himself to follow the two receding figures.

I thought from earlier Osseric was going to be the wind king but Cowl killed him?

Kyle glanced back to the heap, the ‘house’. He was startled to see yet another figure now standing beside it – this one tall and slim as well , but by his silhouette quite ragged and carrying a longsword at his back.

This has to be Edgewalker and his origins. This "house" Azath or the birth of high house shadow? Both? (hide spoiler)]

I'm on part 2 as well, but I am really struggling with this one. I have to force myself to read.

For the most part I like it but there's a few story lines I don't love.

I'm on page 452/699 in my Kindle version. The last 85 pages this has gotten a lot better. There's some dynamite action scenes and some dramatic personae we haven't seen in a bit.

Scott wrote: "I'm on page 452/699 in my Kindle version. The last 85 pages this has gotten a lot better. There's some dynamite action scenes and some dramatic personae we haven't seen in a bit."

Yes I am on book 2 chapter 5 and it's FINALLY starting to pick up.

Finished part 2 chapter 5. By far the best chapter of the book to date.

(view spoiler)[
Just the scenes with Kallor and Traveller and then Traveller, Shadowthrone, Cotillion and Osserc made it worth it. Esselmont was so cryptic on certain things. Love the "long overdue for another friend" line referencing the betrayal of Whiskey. Any appearance by the Crippled God is always welcome.

Who the hell is Jan?
Who is Traveller after?

Instant thought Laseen but she has so many enemies circling the wagons. I think she's done before the end of this book. It's not Skinner who I have to believe is going to end up in league with TCG.

Ryllandaras is a fantastic character. That imagery of the soldiers fighting each other and then this jaguar hell best is awesome.

I had Rell pegged as a Seguleh and I'm wondering if he was one of the three from Lady Envy, Toc and Tool's journey?

Osserc as was speculated was the Wind Father. Interesting how TCG wanted that sword so badly and knew.

You know what the difference between SE and ICE is? Kyle and Ereko would have had us bawling and Kyle and Traveller parting would have been twice as sad. SE just grinds the empathy out of you.
(hide spoiler)]

Scott wrote: "Finished part 2 chapter 5. By far the best chapter of the book to date. "

Honestly, it was very hard for this to be the best chapter so far because all of the other ones mostly sucked....this book may or may not put me in a slump. I am just not enjoying it.

On your last point, yeah, I was not really upset at all, but if SE had written it, I'm sure I would have needed to break out the tissue box.

Sorry you aren't enjoying it. Part 2 Chapter 6 is also very good. For me the first half of the book was a 3* but the second half a 5*.

Up until part 2 chapter 5 it's been a 2 (being generous) and after that chapter, it's a 4 for me.

The second half of this book has been phenomenal. I'm up to 620/699 and the convergence has been going on for almost 200 pages with more and more entering the fray.

The second half is definitely much better. After part 2 ch5, it really started to pick up.

I'm done. Terrific second half minus two moments.

(view spoiler)[
Laseen's death and Tayschrenn being sucked into the warren of chaos sucked. Those should have been such bigger moments.

I knew Skinner was headed to team TCG. This certainly makes things interesting.
(hide spoiler)]

Scott wrote: "I'm done. Terrific second half minus two moments. "

I think I will finish tomorrow. AND I JUST RUINED IT. I clicked reply and in the reply, the spoiler opened!!!! So I just saw the beginning of your comment....
WHAAAAAAAAAT!?

So sorry. It has the brackets I'm not sure why it wouldn't come up with spoilers removed.

Scott wrote: "So sorry. It has the brackets I'm not sure why it wouldn't come up with spoilers removed."

It's not your fault; I don't know why it happened either.

Luckily I didn't reveal a few other big things that I'll now wait on.

Scott wrote: "I'm done. Terrific second half minus two moments.


[spoiler]"

(view spoiler)[ The deaths were just so anti-climactic. Mallick as the ruler is a scary idea.... (hide spoiler)]

Jenna wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
First as K'azz speculated I doubt Tayschrenn is actually dead but regardless yes I hate those scenes.

Mallick being in charge and betraying Dom was a political statement in line with SE's own especially in the novels revolving around Letheras previously.

I held off posting this but this clarifying what I had gleaned from past books, Traveller, Dassem and Dessembrae are the same person. Remember Daseem was Hood's mortal sword at one point.

His long black hair blew about his scarred dark face. ‘Greetings, Dessembrae,’ spoke a nearby gnawed skull, once buried but since dug up by scavengers. ‘And I say Dessembrae for I see you are here now in that aspect.’

The man let go a long breath, rolled his neck to ease its tension. ‘A long time, Hood.’

‘Indeed. Dare I say how just like those old times?’

The man’s face twisted in loathing. ‘No, you may not.’

‘Yet here you are – why are you here?’

‘I am bearing witness to a death. A soldier’s death.’ ‘How… commonplace.’ ‘He was no common soldier, though he knew it not. Had the Seti remained he would have out-generalled the Imperial forces, and had his bodyguard been a fraction of an instant faster, would have proven victorious over the Guard as well. He would have made High Fist and risen to become one of the greatest commanders ever thrown up by the Empire. But all that potential died here today, unrealized. Known to none.’

‘I know, Dessembrae. I took him.’
(hide spoiler)]

I bought gardens of the moon and night of knives. Both are Malayan. Which one I should read first?

http://malazan.wikia.com/wiki/Malazan... This is the "new readers" zone on the malazan wiki and there is a link to the suggested reading order page near the top. It suggests reading gardens of moon as the first book.

Quinn wrote: "I bought gardens of the moon and night of knives. Both are Malayan. Which one I should read first?"

https://www.goodreads.com/series/1739...

This is a very clear list of what Eric posted. Gardens of the Moon should be read first and Night of Knives comes much later in the recommended order.

As a huge Malazan fan I cannot stress enough how using the recommended reading list has made the experience that much better. There's little things in the other books which make a lot more sense having read the other series.

There's a page here for GOTM. If you post we'll all reply to it and I believe there's a DHG read starting soon as well.

Thank you guys! whew that is a long list! just out of curious why start reading two different malazan by two different authors at the same time? According to the list these two books are far apart.

There is a lot of cross over of characters and the timeline of the stories. Half the main characters in Night of Knives which is the first book in Empire have been long introduced before you get to that book. The you flip back to book #6 The Bonehunters in Fallen and there's a few characters introduced in Night of Knives. Return of the Crimson Guard tells the story of a lot of characters previously held almost in myth but then they cross over again in Toll the Hounds.

The recommended reading order is the way to go.

Buddy Read starts 14th April.

Buddy Read now starts 1st March.

Angela wrote: "Buddy Read now starts 1st March."

Yay!

Miche I probably won't get to this until around the 5th.

I'm gonna skip the Esselmont books and read through the Erikson books first. I'll keep an eye on this list as it progresses.

Other commitments and all that. I certainly wish everyone here a very enjoyable read as I scoot off to the Servant of the Empire on another thread...

Enjoy Servant of the Empire Graeme. I love that series.

Miche, I'll be starting this one tomorrow :-).

Just started and I see this one has a couple of characters we've seen in Erikson's books. I wonder how Esselmont will write them.