So here we are for the eighth time and it just gets better and better. I found this book to be a bit less frenetic than The Bonehunters as it seems like Mr Erikson is getting things organised for the final push. But that is by no means a reason to believe the action slows down. I guess things just seem more in control since we don’t spend any real time with the Malazan army.
The main events center around Darujistan, and more specifically around Kruppe. There is a dialogue throughtout the story of observances and asides that all come from Kruppe’s thoughts, so while we still don’t see his true nature, we see he is much more than meets the eye since he is even commenting on events in other story lines he does not seem involved in, as well as telling stories around the fire with elder gods.
And as always the unexpected twist is right there grabbing your attention. I mean who would have ever expected Karsa Orlong to find a friend and ally worthy of his respect? We all knew who Traveller was but when Anamander Rake finally called him by name it still felt shocking. And what’s this stuff about Kallor having a heart and just being a victim of circumstance? You can’t make me feel sorry for the guy who killed millions in his power struggles with the gods. Besides, he killed Whiskeyjack, and it will take more than 6 books in between for me to forget that.
Which brings me into what keeps me coming back to this series, its strength and boldness. It seems like everything I knew about magic and heroes has been redefined. It’s like the whole fantasy genre has been given a shake and put back down a bit to the left. And as has been shown again and again since that fateful day when Whiskeyjack left us, beloved and seemingly irreplaceable characters die here. But I never dreamed the list of characters we lose this time and can’t wait to see where it takes us.
Review by George Roesch
3 positive reader review(s) for Toll the Hounds
150 positive reader review(s) in total for the A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series
Steven Erikson's ongoing fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen has brought new life and originality into the fantasy genre. Steven Erikson kindly spoke to Fantasy Book Review in September 2009, shortly after the [...]
Dave from Michigan
Best book I've ever read, well, there's nothing to add, and beside of George rr M and the bible its a literary wonder. Steven Erikson is THE BEST fantasy author of the 20th and 21st century. And those, who don't give this book more than eight points are blind.
Dave Kuhn from USA
Interesting the bimodal distribution of reviews for this series. I found it to be the most compelling fantasy I've read in many years. I've finished the series and am going through it again... and I'm doing it for reasons that some complained about - there's a LOT going on. There are a lot of characters, the plot's are vast... and it's often a challenge to stay oriented (especially if you're reading the novels over some period of time). Having said that... there are VERY few authors who can keep a story coherent over so many books. Some authors (Like the excellent Jim Butcher) create series that are connected individual stories... and some (Jordan) try to create an expansive story spanning the series... and inevitably fail to some extent (Jordan could have skipped 4 or 5 mid-story novels and not lost anything). Erikson IMO had a mix of the two approaches and looking back from the final novel I felt he was hugely successful at telling the story of the Bridgeburners, neat and clean it is not... but the story arc is there and it's compelling.
Robin from Nepal
First of all thanks to Steven Erikson for these books. What a gripping tale. Perhaps only A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE comes close to this epic series. I have to say it is a very difficult book to come in terms with. The patience required by the readers to continue reading is appalling. The philosophies projected, the change of heart of immortals... why ideas in every paragraph can be debated... contested. Fantastic book sir! A toast to you!
9.8/10 from 4 reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen written by Steven Erikson
Set in the awe-inspiring world of the Malazan Empire, three tales of the enigmatic and eccentric necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach collected in a single, readily av [...]
Published: 0000
Our rating: 8.5 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen written by Steven Erikson
Tyranny comes in many guises, and tyrants thrive in palaces and one-room hovels, in back alleys and playgrounds. Tyrants abound on the verges of civilization, where disorde [...]
Published: 2014
Our rating: 8.0 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen written by Steven Erikson
The necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach - scourges of civilization, raisers of the dead, reapers of the souls of the living, devourers of hope, betrayers of faith, sl [...]
Published: 2018
Our rating: 7.0 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 1 written by Steven Erikson
Bled dry by interminable warfare, infighting and bloody confrontations with Lord Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii, the vast, sprawling Malazan empire simmers with discont [...]
Published: 1999
Our rating: 9.2 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 10 written by Steven Erikson
The Bonehunters march for Kolanse, led by Adjunct Tavore. This woman with no gifts of magic, deemed plain, unprepossessing, displaying nothing to instill loyalty or confide [...]
Published: 2011
Our rating: 10.0 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 2 written by Steven Erikson
In the vast dominion of Seven Cities, in the Holy Desert Raraku, the seer Sha’ik and her followers prepare for the long-prophesied uprising known as the Whirlwind. Un [...]
Published: 2000
Our rating: 9.2 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 3 written by Steven Erikson
The ravaged continent of Genabackis is a terrifying new empire, the Pannion Domin, that devours all. An uneasy allliance resists: Onearm's army, Whiskeyjack's Bridg [...]
Published: 2001
Our rating: 9.8 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 4 written by Steven Erikson
In Northern Genabackis, tribal mountain warriors raid southern flatlands. Years later, Tavore, Adjunct to the Empress, enters the last Malazan stronghold. New to command, s [...]
Published: 2002
Our rating: 9.2 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 5 written by Steven Erikson
After decades of warfare, the five tribes of the Tiste Edur are united under the implacable rule of the Warlock King of the Hiroth. But the price of peace is a pact with a [...]
Published: 2004
Our rating: 10.0 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 6 written by Steven Erikson
The Seven Cities Rebellion has been crushed. Sha'ik is dead. One last rebel force remains, holed up in the city of Y'Ghatan and under the fanatical command of Leoma [...]
Published: 2006
Our rating: 10.0 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 7 written by Steven Erikson
All is not well in the Letherii Empire. Rhulad Sengar, the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths, spirals into madness, surrounded by sycophants and agents of his Machiavellian chan [...]
Published: 2007
Our rating: 10.0 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 8 written by Steven Erikson
In Darujhistan, the city of blue fire, it is said that love and death shall arrive dancing. It is summer and the heat is oppressive, but for the small round man in the fade [...]
Published: 2008
Our rating: 10.0 | positive reader reviews
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 9 written by Steven Erikson
In war everyone loses. This brutal truth can be seen in the eyes of every soldier in every world… In Letherii, the exiled Malazan army commanded by Adjunct Tavore be [...]
Published: 2009
Our rating: 10.0 | positive reader reviews
by Steven Erikson
These are the voyages of the starship, A.S.F. Willful Child. Its ongoing mission: to seek out strange new worlds on which to plant the Terran flag, to subjugate and if nece [...]
Series: NA
Published: 0000
Score: 78
Our rating: 7.8 | 0 positive reader reviews
by Steven Erikson
An alien AI has been sent to the solar system as representative of three advanced species. Its mission is to save the Earth's ecosystem - and the biggest threat to that [...]
Series: NA
Published: 2018
Score: 0
Our rating: 7.0 | 0 positive reader reviews
by Steven Erikson
It is the Age of Darkness and the realm called Kuruld Galain - home of the Tiste Andii and ruled over by Mother Dark from her citadel in Kharkanas - is in a perilous state. [...]
Series: The Kharkanas Trilogy: Book 1
Published: 0000
Score: 83
Our rating: 8.3 | 0 positive reader reviews
by R Scott Bakker
The Three Seas are on the march under the leadership of Anasûrimbor Khellus. Khellus has spent these last twenty years conquering the various nations and forming the [...]
Series: The Aspect Emperor: Book 1
Published: 2009
Score: 101
Our rating: 10.0 | 1 positive reader reviews
by James Barclay
The elves have fled to Calius, seeking to escape the overwhelming power of the demonic Garonin. A desperate last stand in their own dimension saved the race, at the cost of [...]
Series: Elves Trilogy: Book 1
Published: 2010
Score: 97
Our rating: 9.7 | 0 positive reader reviews
by Myke Cole
The Great Reawakening has left Latent people with a stark choice: either use their newfound magical powers in the service of the government, or choose the path of the Selfe [...]
Series: Shadow Ops series: Book 3
Published: 2014
Score: 95
Our rating: 9.5 | 0 positive reader reviews
by Robert Jackson Bennett
A special omnibus edition, collecting all three books of Robert Jackson Bennett’s acclaimed Divine Cities trilogy in a single volume. &nbs [...]
Series: The Divine Cities trilogy #1 - #3
Published: 2018
Score: 95
Our rating: 9.5 | 0 positive reader reviews