SFF Readalongs led by Kitty G discussion

This is for the discussion of House of Chains (book 4 of Malazan). Let us know if you're excited about moving into book 4! I know I am!
I'm very much looking forward to seeing what characters we will be meeting in this book as I know it won't necessarily be the ones we've been reading about before and I also how that the writing quality stays on par or gets better than it was in MoI as that's been by far my favourite of the books thus far.
I can't believe we're already approaching the halfway point of this series and I am very glad there's still so many people willing to join in and take part as that's always super fun!
Let me know any theories or ideas you guys have and BRING ON THE READALONG! :)

One thing I always liked doing before starting a new Malazan novel was to NOT read the Dramatis Personae before every book. Especially when starting to get pretty deep in the series like on this book, I liked every character returning to be a big surprise for me.

I also really enjoyed through this series, particularly in these first five books, is that Erikson seems to try to write a different kind of novel every time. House of Chains is a GLARINGY different kind of novel, you'll see what I mean when you start reading it. It's something pretty commendable about Erikson's writing, and it bucks what you guys are used to so far.

There's a character "introduced" in this novel, and by those quotations, I mean you actually met him in Deadhouse Gates, but you probably didn't think about him very much. He's something else, let me say that, you'll just have to witness for yourself what he's about.

Also, an arc is set up in this book that will take till pretty late in the series to pay off. And to put it mildly, it is earth shattering. I almost hate to mention it, because I doubt you'll notice it, I sure didn't.

And that cover, with the dogs and stuff? That scene is pretty rockin.

I'm very excited for this next book. I'm also very scared. These books are amazing and they are amazingly draining (for me anyway).

I need to just knock down one fluffy nonsense book and then I am ready to dive into this bad boy.

Michael wrote: "I'm very excited for this next book. I'm also very scared. These books are amazing and they are amazingly draining (for me anyway).

I need to just knock down one fluffy nonsense book and then I am..."

I know exactly what you mean Michael. They drain me as well.. Both the violence and emotional powerhouse that these books pack in them.

I had no idea that this book would be so hard to find in LA. At home our Books-A-Million has the entire series available but travel out here and I cannot find a bookstore than had House of Chains. I finally found it in the most amazing and unique bookstore I have ever been to The Last Bookstore.

I know Erikson and this series is awesome, so I am ready to strap in and enjoy the ride.

I've added all the Malazan books to the group now and set the start dates for each as there's the Esslemont books to include in specific intervals, and so if we continue at this rate then April next year we'll finish the whole of the Malazan Empire and Malazan Book of the Fallen!
Strap yourselves in for the ride :-)

James wrote: "Looks like Night of Knives is shorter than the Erikson books so hopefully I'll be caught up by July :D"

Awesome :D