THE CRIPPLED GOD - REVIEW

[@DanielGreeneReviews]

We finally did it boys. IT’S OVER. IT’S DONE!!

[@Nasser851000]

"Dont want to turn this into a malazan series video" *Has a Malazan playlist*

[@filipzajac4104]

Well done. You can now read the next Sword of Truth books

[@harrycoleman727]

Now for Karkhanas, ICE novels of the malazan empire, Short stories, Path to Ascendancy, upcoming Witness trilogy haha

[@Xornal1]

Time for Esslemonts books....and the prequels....

[@bethanygreenwood8259]

Ooh, I love a good series that's almost designed for a reread! I'm sure you'll get to one day 😁

[@IskarJarak]

It's been fun to watch your evolution on this series since you began GotM--we knew you'd become a convert eventually! Thanks for putting a spotlight on this series for others to find and enjoy!

[@Geo07ism]

🍻

[@whiskeySe7en]

First in last out

[@seancain2216]

Having read the series two times now, I felt like this. 1st Read: WHAT'S HAPPENING?!?! WHAT'S A WARREN?! WHAT'S A HOLD?! 2nd Read: Holy shit! He planted this thread THIS EARLY?! Oh wow! This throw away line is going to mean so much in 6 books!

[@sernoddicusthegallant6986]

Daniel: "We finally did it boys ITS OVER. ITS DONE!" Esslemont: "Well yes, but actually no"

[@gudspellar3605]

I was just thinking about this. Finishing the Erikson series and first reading Esslement will be such a gear shift. His first is vastly simplistic... but I enjoyed it unlike others. Then I was impressed with how quickly he stepped up as a storyteller and how nice it was to have a smaller scale view of events I could slot into the bigger world. I know Daniel likes character driven stories, and am curious on his view of Esslemonts writing after 3 books. Don't give up after the frist.

[@osoisko1933]

Esslemont has grown as a writer with each book, but I liked the focus of NoK. I also liked the atmosphere. It's something I felt he sadly lost as he sharpened his other skills.

[@Bunny_Aoife]

@@gudspellar3605 I read Esslemont during my first reread of Erikson, and I too really enjoyed NoK, it was a quick easy read, that felt good in between Eriksons tomes. I still have Assail in front of me, as of now, but all in all I might even have enjoyed NoK most of his novels. I definitely liked RotCG least of them, which appears to be most peoples favourite. But I do look forward to the Ascendency trilogy, since I don't wanna start the Kharkanas one before it's finished.

[@Muckrackerz]

@@Bunny_Aoife I mean, is RotCG really a fan favorite? I feel like Esslemont only really hit his stride when he started the Ascendancy series. In retrospect, the ones before that very much feel like works of an author trying to find his place & style. So, in my opinion and from what I've read from others online, I'd say the Ascendancy books beat out the Crimson Guard stuff by quite a margin. Oh, and fuck Skinner.

[@garyodom6574]

Path to Ascendancy is fantastic

[@GalacticReads]

Your Malazan excitement is so infectious. This kind of passion and giddiness is the best kind of book endorsement. I recently bought Gardens of the Moon and I'm so pumped to start my Malazan journey!

[@JIGGS1]

I still remember when my buddy gave me the first book and just said "dude, you HAVE to read this". Half way through I was thinking, wtf am I reading. I stuck it through to the end of the first book and boy was I happy. What an awesome series. Happy reading 👍

[@benoitpoulin2733]

I humbly suggest you checking the Ten Very Big Book Podcast. And, from a Reader to a Reader, I do suggest you finish Memories of Ice before deciding to stop reading the series. Wish you a satisfying reading experience!

[@GalacticReads]

@@BooksRebound complex and thematic books sound perfect for me. Of those you listed, I've only read Broken Earth too, which I loved. Thanks for the advice! So nice to hear other people's Malazan stories.

[@wildfire160]

Talk about infectious i picked it up in a used book store and before i`d even finished i went back and managed to find 2-5 as well....i think that i blew through them in about 2 weeks then had to wait for 6-10 from Ebay... I don't think a series has ever gripped me the way Malazan did except LOTR(which i read in the 60s)...WOT and ASOIAF didn't because i started reading both at the start when they came out so i couldn't binge them

[@nicanorjrdelacruz6205]

Your life will never be the same...

[@ryanchampion7814]

It's a shame you don't have the chance to reread, for me the magic of the Malazan series is on that first reread when you realise just how much SE layered the books with info, info that means nothing on the first go but that second read you're like holy shit it was right in front of my eyes the whole time... They're special books that only get better the more you read them.

[@nebeskisrb7765]

What level of masochistic do you need to be to go through Coltaine's, Felisin's, Tool's, Trull's and others' stories again.

[@bengough6772]

Igo a few years before I reread it again. It's like being welcomed home

[@manuelvega336]

@@nebeskisrb7765 I can’t do Felisin’s. After my second reread, I skip over a lot of that storyline now.

[@DragonZombie2000]

I don't know. They're decent books but a tad overhyped by it's very dedicated fandom. There are so many other amazing fantasy books I had put on hold due to the amount of time Malazan took.

[@theriddler2277]

first scene in the series- 'i want to be a soldier!' 'nah kid, the best life is unnoticed' last scene in the series' 'i want to be a soldier!' 'sure kid, the world can always use another soldier' and in between is eriksons 3.3 million word argument... it is a good argument.

[@calebmauer1751]

It was the perfect ending scene.

[@fidlr2904]

Congratulations on getting through the main 10. Yes some of the plotlines are not followed up in the Erikson books, but that is because they are followed up upon in his Co-creators I.C Esselmont books. And yes Malazan is definetly a rereaders series. So dwell on the books for some years before returning. I sat almost 10 years on them before rereading and it has been an amazing experience, being able to focus on the small details and the journey, when you are not all so occupied on getting to the destination.

[@tadashiuchiha9680]

I would love to see your favorite quotes from fantasy series. I fear it might not make the best video but... better to do it than to live with the fear of it.

[@berserker8884]

Heck yes!

[@michaelgilson7959]

#1 I’m a Stick!

[@tadashiuchiha9680]

@Maester Gryphon Hahah! It is from Joe Abercrombie’s “First Law” and indeed it is one of my favorite quotes at the moment, though Abercrombie has a lot more to offer! I definitely recommend the series. One hell of a dialogue writer that Abercrombie.

[@yasiraffan7804]

Ngl Daniel seems to have aged wisdomwise after finishing Malazan.

[@DanielGreeneReviews]

It’s a side effect of Malazan

[@EricMcLuen]

@@DanielGreeneReviews would that make him Danwise Greenegee?

[@PaullyRobots]

@@DanielGreeneReviews it DO BE like that.

[@muhammadhashir6136]

The point about, “Not every plot line should be answered in the sense that it should be wrapped up neatly,” is such a true point. Some things serve the theme and the story and are not just direct plot lines

[@jmass4207]

It might just be Erickson's writing style, but for me everything in this series has this weightiness to it that I think lent to my profound dissatisfaction that so little had much in the way of resolution. It might be one of his worst good problems that he can get me so invested like that but fail to let me go into the next thing, be it more of his stories or my life in general. It makes me very hesitant to get into any more of his work.

[@thestatusjoe9949]

I think the Crippled God is probably one of the best written books in the series but my favorite is still Deadhouse Gates bc that last stand of Coltaine really hit me hard (I was 13 when I read it and I cried lmao) and it was probably the most emotional experience I’ve ever had reading a book

[@j.s.173]

For me Memories of Ice is one of the best high-fantasy books ever written. I mean, ever.

[@noone36101]

You read malazan at 13!?mein gott

[@thestatusjoe9949]

@@noone36101 Yeah man, I was raised on fantasy. I started reading Raymond E Feist when I was 5 or 6, and I read The Way of Kings in 3rd grade (though admittedly I didn’t get it as much the first time). One book that I definitely read too early was the Sandman books at 10, that shit was a bit too disturbing lmao

[@holyheretic3185]

I was like 26 when I read it and cried!

[@Severian1]

The madlad did it! I know the feeling when you see "And now the page before us blurs..." for the first time. It is a feeling I have been chasing for a long time since, and sometimes I wish I could forget the entire series and read it again for the first time. It is the one series that completely changed my life, made me a better person. Malazan is the best. Thank you so much for promoting this series, I know it can be difficult but you stuck with it. Many people don't, so thanks Goblin!

[@deanryanmartin]

Yey, Daniel Greene finishes Malazan. This calls for a celebration. Give him a carrot cake.

[@marocat4749]

Chocotat carrot cake is serious yammy , he earned a chocolate carrot cake

[@deanryanmartin]

@@marocat4749 Nom nom

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Hust Swords: (no spoilers) were made in the forges of Hust Hold in the realm of Kurald Galain. According to Yedan Derryg, they were capable of shearing all other blades in two.[1] These swords were quenched in the blood of dragons;[1] being forged to be able to slay Eleint if necessary.[2] These swords were reportedly 'immortal', i.e., immune to damage, decay, or deterioration. If Hust swords did become damaged, they could heal themselves, given time.[1] Hust swords could sense anyone of Eleint blood (including the Soletaken) who might be nearby. This 'recognition' did not apply to their owners, who could be of Eleint blood and still use these weapons.[3] Hust blades protected their wielders from exhaustion, magic and mundane attacks. The swords also enhanced their owners' sword-fighting capabilities by 'fusing' with their wielders. This 'fusing', however, could result in extreme injury to the person fighting, as some extreme actions could be well beyond the physical limits of the wielder. Hust weapons were known to be possessed, laughing and shrieking with glee as they slaughtered whoever dared to face them in battle.

[@CSLWoodward]

You the real MVP, thank you 😁

[@whispersofthewind8401]

This sounds a lot like Gut's Dragonslayer, except he bathed it in the Blood of Demons, and the Berserk Armor's effects.

[@mjdaniel8710]

Hust swords are featured more in the Kharkanas series, also Hust armor

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

@@mjdaniel8710 👍🏼👍🏼. Looking forward to it!!

[@animeking62]

@@whispersofthewind8401 Hust Swords are basically the Dragonslayer, if the Guts's sword was mystically screaming in rage louder than Guts during battle, or laughing in maniacal glee, depending on it's mood.

[@zollieberdy4405]

I started this series because of you, and I'm up to the second book.

[@ariakashaylo1810]

I feel it bro.. and daniel is great at review..

[@rotcod1771]

My favorite series bc of how thorough of a world was created. Esslemont's books get better and better with each book. His Dancer and Kelenvad books are really good

[@muhammadhashir6136]

how do u like the series so far

[@Fill654]

Don't give up, the third book is one of the best and most brutal things ever in fantasy

[@tooleas]

Push through this one bro. It gets better after this one

[@snowmexican8558]

Gesler and bent towards the end gets me every damn time.

[@Finkeldinken]

I love this series. At first read-through it was despite of the emotional and other kinds of whiplash, but after the first four or five books and upon full series re-read, because of them. It's exhausting and it drains me like no other fantasy series, but no other series has my brain screaming and crying: "I can't just stand here and watch, I need to help! Somebody help, why is this a book, they're dying and I can't reach them!" I have been very invested in many wonderful and horrible fantasy characters in my life, but I have never had my heart broken and mended so often and so thoroughly as I have with Malazan. I 100% understand anyone who nopes out hard on it, but as a child of the 80s and 90s, I'm gonna have to say It's my JAM.

[@harrycoleman727]

Well done man. Seriously, this is a mega achievement. These reviews have been prepping me for starting GotM for the second time in January so thanks for that :)

[@GreeneZonee]

You getting in on the read along?

[@harrycoleman727]

@@GreeneZonee You know it!

[@melkorthegreatenemy6961]

I'm glad you got through the series! Many who begin it don't finish. Toll the Hounds is, and has been for years, my favorite book of all time.

[@lotroadventure]

I'm excited to get there. A bit into Midnight Tides now, and enjoy it like crazy!

[@Yungshamgod]

Agreed bro. Toll the Hounds was so fire.

[@reidblanchard6453]

Oh my god he did it, congratulations Daniel

[@nxsardella]

I reread the final sections of this book so frequently. Chills every time.

[@andrewbeleckis8643]

I love the writing style. I think we as modern readers have serotonin driven want to have huge pay offs. But Erickson pulls you into the world and let's you live in it. The ruminations and tangents seem so much more authentic. I'm glad to have been part of it.

[@MsNikeNike]

Daniel: I didn't finish the entire series as fast as would be optimal Me: Has been reading Reaper's Gale alone for well over a year

[@ariakashaylo1810]

Its been too long.. but i did it bro.. nice review.. you done it and finished all the malazan book of the fallen.. thank you for your review..

[@andrewmmbogori8339]

Yes, Yedan Derryg was definitely the best part of Crippled God. That whole lightfall scene was insanely intense !!

[@andrewmmbogori8339]

@@calebmauer1751 my favourite part came from Tovis. That scene where she goes "brother are you there? I can't see you, all I can see is what you did".

[@sophidina34]

I knew if you made it to TCG you would understand why Malazan is so special. That being said, Fiddler is such an underrated character. It's so easy to get swept up in your Anomanders, Shadowthrones, Kruppes, Whiskeyjacks, Quick Bens, and Kalams and forget that Fiddler is kind of the heart of the Malazan series.

[@eekwibble]

"Quick Ben, tell me, who was the toughest Bridgeburner you ever knew? Think back, and think carefully. Get your ego out of the way. Ignore your favorites and the ones who spent all their time looking mean. Not the callous shits, not the back-stabbers, none of the posers. The toughest, Quick Ben. Day in, day out, good times, bad. Tell me. Who?" The High Mage squinted, glanced down at the ground at his feet, and then he sighed and nodded, looking up as he said, "I didn't need that list, Ganoes. I knew my answer right from the start. We all knew." "Who?" "Fiddler. There's no tougher man alive."

[@THX-bz8bi]

Trull was cool

[@viridityone3106]

I have to admit that is probably the coolest book title I've ever heard

[@Nemo37K]

Im so happy that you got through this, and I'm so glad to hear your thoughts on this. This has been a real journey and I've been following it eagerly. Welcome to the club.

[@gordonpyper2941]

Thematically, The Crippled God is probably the most satisfying ending in fantasy.

[@kevinpilch7848]

I've been waiting for this one. Malazan is a long one, but so worth it. Loved to see your journey. An old quote I love from SE about the series is that it's "a 3 million word plea for compassion." Perfect description.

[@thehonestshakespearian7936]

Watching your review, as I started reading the Malazan Empire books. :) Thanks Daniel Greene for your insight !

[@strictlyfantasy]

I'm currently on Midnight Tides. Loving it. Malazan is criminally underrated. The twists and turns in this series have left me with my jaw dropped several times in shock by what I was reading.

[@JohanHerrenberg]

I'm in Midnight Tides, too, and loving it.

[@chrishaughey648]

Im on my 4th series re-read, midnight tides might be the best one

[@JohanHerrenberg]

@@chrishaughey648 Wow! 300 pages in, I think it's terrific.

[@chrishaughey648]

Yeah i read other stuff but always come back to Malazan. Cant get into Esselmonts books though

[@JohanHerrenberg]

@@chrishaughey648 Pity that Erikson has spoiled Esslemont for you... It seems the Path to Ascendancy is okay. But first I have to do those 10!

[@dhjanssens]

Congrats, sir. It’s certainly an achievement worth being proud of.

[@DLuxPackage]

Man, watching you journey has been a absolute treat.

[@astraestus8828]

I'm nervously excited to start the series in January.😁

[@CatrionaReads]

Beginning the series in January with the Mike's Book Reviews readalong and I'm very excited!

[@andrewohara8920]

Congrats on the finish, Daniel! I do HIGHLY recommend the books of the malazan empire by esslemont. It gives a lot of great perspective on some of the better smaller characters and also finishes up some major secondary plotlines as well

[@StefanDimitrovBG]

I am so happy for you that you finally managed to finish the series and that you enjoyed it.

[@Ashencrowe]

The levels of individual sacrifices for the Greater Good in Crippled God will always haunt me, and challenge me in my day to day life. It is difficult to not come out of this story a changed, and better, person.

[@melleklaver8021]

Sounds awesome man, yeah my new years resolution will be going through malazan

[@alexisdumas84]

Likewise.

[@lotroadventure]

I'm on my way as well :)

[@mdon10000]

It took me 5 years and starting over 3 times. You did good.

[@philistine3141]

I started this series August last year and was reading a book a month during work as a courier waiting for mailboxes to open, until shit hit the fan with covid. Only on book 8 in the final quarter. Since then, I've taken up a roll as a rural postie,(I spend a good 9hours a working day in the van) so I've acquired the audio books to listen to for this series, within 2 months, I'm already in book 5 (going to stop and listen to something else before I overtake my reading). I have to say, a second time around, there is so much more you pick up on. I had been dying to re-read gardens of the moon because of so much that probably just went over my head the 1st time. Going through the series again, it really hits you at how well tied together the series is. Reading toll the hounds whilst listening to gardens of the moon, despite them being book eight and book one, TTH feels like a close sequel to it because of the setting. One thing I have noticed, there is a fair bit of title dropping in previous books, nods to future titles i.e midnight tides being mentioned in chain of dogs and dust of dreams being mentioned in tth

[@zacharysammartino8037]

I'm so glad you enjoyed Malazan. I, like many others, started my first read and only got until around page 250 of Deadhouse Gates when I put it down a few years ago. On my second time, I was determined to read the main ten books so from January until September I read the main series. It took me a bit of time after finishing it to fully digest what I read but wow was it good! If your open to suggestions, I'd recommend that you do a series review from your first read and then when you eventually re-read the series do another video on the series as a whole. It would be a great comparison to see how your thoughts of the series, events, and characters evolve over further examination. Additionally, I'm curious about what your daily reading schedule is like since you mentioned wanting to get through the series I a month or two on re-read. I've always wanted to read more but for instance a series like Malazan took me about a month per book. Anyway, thanks for all the Malazan content.

[@OneMoreMeme_INeedYou]

This video is proof that the real character arc in Malazan is the one the reader has haha. On a serious note, I love your enthusiasm here. Malazan certainly takes us on a journey doesn’t it? I love the point you made about the thematic through line being more important than every little plot detail coming back together for the finale. I would deeply appreciate a spoiler discussion on TCG, I would love to see your reactions to the insanity that went down, and to characters like Tavore.

[@andrju3916]

That's so true.

[@stevenl.5490]

Congrats and welcome to the club Daniel! Can we look forward to spoiler-filled Malazan videos in the future?

[@trullsengar9382]

Nice review. Glad you liked it. I'd recommend you to read the Kharkanas trilogy too which is also written by Erikson, because there are pretty much all of the most powerful beings of the Malazan world involved and there's a shit ton of great drama and reveals. It it the backstory of the Tiste after all. Also, it's much more compact.

[@riakm921]

Man, I've been waiting a long time for this! Fantastic review, I'm very happy that you were able to draw so much enjoyment out of one of my favorite fantasy series.

[@thomasdevenish865]

I'm so glad you liked it! I honestly had the same experience of having it completely reframe the whole series. I generally don't cry from reading fiction but after that ending poem I was almost blubbering in public.

[@andrju3916]

What a journey. So glad you made it to the end and could fully experience that amazing story.

[@BudderChezMC]

Lol Daniel's direct eye contact with the camera makes me feel like he's looking into my soul 😂 anyways, definitely going to give this whole series a go! Congrats on finishing!!!

[@diobre]

Daniel I started in March reading this series because of your reviews. I'm still in Reapers Gale. But I'm loving it and I thank you for introducing me to this awesome series. The fact that you liked so much the last book makes me really excited and motivated to finish the series and see this through and how it all plays out. Once again. Thank you.

[@muhammadhashir6136]

Why am I getting so much malazan content by book tube, it’s like everyone is screaming, “GO READ IT,” at me

[@muhammadhashir6136]

@@BooksRebound I am getting my phd in fantasy by reading wheel of time first. Then I will get my doctorate by reading malazan. But before all that I have to complete Rythm of war, and it’s a tome and kinda dull at the beginning, so it will take a while. I have completed eye of the world though

[@lotroadventure]

GO READ IT!

[@cyberdan42]

Your feelings at the end of this series very closely matched mine. I love that Erikson presented a truly epic series in a fashion where it was thematically and narratively consistent and yet did not insist on "finishing" every plot and story thread, in a series of such proportions a task of near impossibility. Truly loved this series.

[@aneweliseonlife]

Love me a grimdark that sometimes shows the hopelight

[@overnightgrowth]

It's been very interesting seeing your opinion change throughout the reading of the series. It's such a fascinating series that sparks so much discussion. I love it.

[@SolarLabyrinth]

I'm really glad you seemed to enjoy the Malazan experience. I was worried since it definitely contrasts with WoT in a lot of ways but I do think Erikson accomplishes what he set out to do thematically. The Crippled God is really just the end of one small chapter in the universe's history and some of the other plotlines are continued in the other books. And I will attest that the series is even better on a reread and after you read some of the other Malazan books that build out the world even more (the Hust weapons are given more time in Erikson's prequel books). I'll be interested to get your entire series take.

[@JoffJk]

I love that you, came round eventually and understand why the fans love it so much. The best series for rereads!

[@schevevoeten8952]

Daniel, thank you so much for your content. You and Merphy reignited my love for fantasy and reading in general.

[@cfosburg]

Congratulations! Well done. I have really enjoyed watching you evolve in your craft (knowledge, presentation, equipment, delivery, etc..). I definitely see you as a premier KZbinr on Fantasy Fiction. Keep up the great work. You earned my follower-ship. Chris

[@DesolateSage]

It's always a pleasure finding someone who finished the whole series.

[@TheMovingEye]

Good point about the magic system. Ericson is indeed the only author I know to break Sanderson's first law of magic ( "The better the reader understands a magic system, the more it can be used to resolve conflict." ) and get away with it. Ericson already did it with the first book where a major villain seemingly gets defeated by what looks like an arbitrary deus ex machina (but in fact is one of the core elements of the magic system as explained later in the series).

[@kdnelson1888]

When you started this series i was pretty nervous as a big fan of the series that it wouldnt click for you so seeing that you liked the ending as much as I did made my day. And yes there really is no better reread experience then Malazan if you liked the series the first time around. Its like constant chills from all the amazing foreshadowing

[@andrewhanson405]

Glad it left you with such a positive taste. You seemed pretty mixed on the series up to this point, which had me temper my expectations going into reading it. Your getting me excited to finish out the series now.

[@Velsero]

@Daniel Greene your comment at 11:17, if you are talking about the battle on the hilltop over the Heart, that was actually explained in GotM with Quick and Hairlock, if you are talking about Fenner and the Imass, that was partially explained in House of Chains with Dryjhna and spelled out the rest of the way in Dust of Dreams with "Turn this wagon around", and with the power of the Nascent in the Bonehunters. Also, consider exactly what the relationship between Elder Gods and blood is.

[@kreehomel]

So glad you enjoyed the conclusion. "The Crippled God" is definitely in my top 3 Malazan books. Like you said, the theme coalescing really completes the series and sends it out on a high note. Also the final battle/s are absolutely jaw dropping.

[@YashPatel-ez4um]

Love to see a video of top fantasy book series that every fantasy fan should read

[@shawngillogly6873]

Congrats on finishing the series. And I'm glad TCG resonated with you. Hope you find time for the re-read soon(ish). And yes, it is definitely more rewarding on re-read. Or even re-reread.

[@cipriansirbu3699]

Can't wait for a complete series review,hope is at least 30 min long😀.

[@owenpearson3247]

Daniel - So glad you've made it to the end. Don't worry about reading it over the course of a year: I started the series just after the release of Memories of Ice . . . In the UK. At the time my wife was heading to Europe about once a year and I would have her find an english language bookstore wherever she went to get me the next book. They wouldn't publish them in the US because they were too complex for US audiences to enjoy, apparently. They weren't published in the US simultaneously with the UK until Toll the Hounds. I haven't read through the series since just before book nine came out, and now I'm feeling a need to reread. I agree, Gardens of the Moon is a little clunky, but it does a good job of setting up expectations for how the books are going to go in the future. One of the things I love about Malazan is that it's a very Modernist take on high fantasy. Yes, Emperors and Gods have a ton of power, but the real agents of change are the normal, everyday people, often represented by the soldiers in the Malazan army. It's a refutation of the chosen one trope in fantasy, and the Great Man view of history.

[@nh8513]

Daniel please make a tier ranking video for this series and maybe your fav characters of this series.

[@OwenJWall]

this kind of makes me want to get back to the series haha. I kind of got into a bad slump around the time I was reading book two (about half way through) and unfortunately haven't gone back. I'm kind of craving it now! Great review (as usual). I love how much respect you have for Erikson - I do too, I think he's a very ballsy writer with the risks he takes. Also congrats on finishing the series

[@joekelsey5008]

Tool's ending was such a drop of pure joy in the midst of trauma that i wept

[@JazzAK6969]

I love this book and completely agree with everything in this review. After 9 books of being confused and barely getting it, it kind of comes together nicely and all you want to do is restart the series. My second read of this series is what made me put this in my top spot for Fantasy. I love this series. So great and awesome review!

[@usedchicken4510]

Really glad you ended up liking the series this much. I was definitely in the 'Daniel won't like the crippled god' camp and it's nice to be wrong.

[@parcaleste]

I have to say, in my language the series are translated literally "Malazan Book of the Dead". Along with the ending as it was (for me one of the best endings, perhaps THE best ending of such huge series of books), realizing why the series was called like that just blew me away even further. It was literally a dazing experience for me and the thing that dethroned the Tolkien's story of Middle Earth, from Silmarilion through LotR, as my favorite ever built.

[@markrickert6592]

I'm a new subscriber and my respect for you grows by the day. I thought I was alone in my tastes. Neal Stephenson's Anathem. Steven Erikson's Malazan series. These are books that are not for the masses. I have a master's in literature, and I have struggled with three complexities of some of these titles. But you seem to digest them at a higher level than most people I think. And I'm glad that you enjoy these books too! All that's to say: I'm a big fan.

[@rcp7]

So glad you liked it. I may have to reread the series at some point.

[@benlonghair]

YOU MADE IT! YAY! I haven't reread the whole series, but I tell you what, Gardens of the Moon is a completely different book on second go.

[@danielr5154]

You have done the impossible... how... why... the power must be contained...

[@HighHouseDark_]

So glad you finished the series. Malazan ranks #1 to me in all fiction I've ever come across

[@the_Nameless_One99]

Congrats on finishing the series. It would be great though if you could provide a spoiler review of the novel while it is still fresh in your mind. Similarly, for the series review, it would be awesome if you could have a spoiler-free video and then a spoiler review where maybe you could dwell on the best moments or character arcs of each novel( or quotes or duos). I mean there is really no dearth of material to talk about when it comes to this opus. Finally, the moment when we realize that those things that are being carried by a child in the Snake are actually toys hit me so hard.

[@spudnerkyART]

Because you appreciated the unity within the last book, I would LOVE to see your take on the Heroines Journey vs the Hero’s Journey.

[@h0ll0way]

Do a re-read at some point! It's an absolute game changer reading the first books and understanding so much more in them, see foreshadowing and hints etc .. it's absolutely fantastic!

[@johnpetrila4823]

Nice review, Daniel! Appreciated you breaking down the book and how it worked as a series conclusion, especially since wrapping up stories this massive in scope is never a simple affair. I flamed out on Malazan a couple years back after blitzing through Gardens and the brutal millstone that was Deadhouse Gates-- started Memories of Ice but between life getting in the way and general darkness fatigue I never got back on the horse. It's good to know that the series ends with some amount of general optimism, but sadly I don't know when I'll have the time to get through all of the books (especially since I feel like I'd have to re-read the first two at this point, and I'd rather drag myself over broken glass in a hailstorm than re-read the end of Deadhouse Gates).

[@molol44]

My favorite fantasy series by far. Once I got past GotM it was one book after the other. Fantastic books!

[@brettmurray2473]

Excited to pick this up in the new year! Good to know the foreshadowing is strong..... I love me some good foreshadowing for later books!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Great review! Hust swords get even cooler when you read The Kharkanas Trilogy. I agree that a reread is necessary to truly experience the series- certainly true in my case.

[@ritviktaneja9596]

I started reading Malazan cuz I saw your videos. On book 6 now. It’s a journey like none other.

[@smuckfuzzer]

I would like to reread it at some point too. My mind was blown when I found out Olar Ethil made an appearance way back in Deadhouse Gates.

[@Anonymous-mg8bu]

Yedan derryg might be on the level of Karsa orlong and anomander rake in terms of aura

[@holyheretic3185]

I have finished them too! it feels soooooo good to have this behemoth off my shoulder... Now I the two trilogies, the esslemont books, and probably the korbal broach novels.... God I'm no where near done Edit: I've been listening to them on audible at work it's really fun to put stuff together and be like oooh! My CO workers find it weird but.. They just don't know!

[@CincyAirshipPirate]

My ranking (probably). Team Beak for life. 1. Midnight Tides 2. Deadhouse Gates 3. Reaper’s Gale 4. Memories of Ice 5. Toll the Hounds 6. House of Chains (Karsa’s extended intro raises this one above #7 for me) 7. The Crippled God 8. The Bonehunters 9. Dust of Dreams 10. Gardens of the Moon

[@maxassasin911]

Everyone talks about themes in Malazan. It should be interesting to note that Erikson doesn't actively try and write certain themes. He writes his story and his themes become evident when you read the books. I think that's why his themes feel so natural.

[@berserker8884]

I actually really enjoyed Gardens, despite the criticism it gets. People paint it as this impossible thing to read, but it is far far from it. I definitely immediately saw the flaws and ruff edges around the book, don't get me wrong, but I am trying to say that I was into the world and story and some characters immediately. Deadhouse Gates BLEW me away. Chain of Dogs is just...just... damn. The best sequence of war events I've probably ever read. There is also the foreshadowing that you KNOW is there but you just can't grasp it well. It feels like trying to hold sand, but it just slips through the cracks and I LOVE it. I love it how Erikson writes history too and you see this semi realistic account on previous events that is pretty rare in fantasy, only ever done on the same level by Jordan himself IMO. This is most probably due to his experience as an archeologist. For example, there is a scene with Fiddler stadning on top of a burried city long forgotten and you just can't help but think this was Erikson not being able to resist his love for digging the ground and uncovering the forgotten secrets! Finally, the exploration of ideas and themes was my favorite thing as well, easily. Im a sucker for philosophy and I love it when authors go a long way into exploring difficult and interesting ideas. Now I'm 100 pages into Memories of Ice and I'm loving it already. The prologue and the first chapter are an overdose of epicness that just makes you put the book down and needing to take a breath for a few minutes, because WAU. Can't wait to get deeper and further into the book!

[@Xialbon]

I Found your videos recently on a Malazan buddy read page, and love your reviews. I finished Malazan in February of this year -- and cant get it out of my head. I've read all the other big boy series you've mentioned, but cant shake the feeling that Malazan Book of the Fallen is the greatest epic fantasy series of all time, and likely will be, for a long time (though I'm very excited to see what Sanderson achieves with Stormlight)

[@Xialbon]

I also go back and forth between Memories of Ice and Crippled God being my favourite. The siege of Capustan was the best fantasy battle I've ever read.

[@Etherealhorn]

I've finished the series at the start of summer. Malazan is like a collection of second hand historical tales. Yes there were really interesting and influental characters at some point of the whole story, but in a universe as big as Malazan I think it is highly realistic that we do not know what happened to some of them in these series(I really wanted know more about Silverfox for example). I'm looking forward for your series review, good job finishing the series:D

[@mckenzie1086]

Although I personally found Esslemonts book less fun to read, Silverfox's story gets resolved in Assail if u wanted to know about it

[@Etherealhorn]

@@mckenzie1086 As I said I'm ok with the things as they are, but thanks for the info. I might read it some other time 👍

[@biswassoumik1988]

Time for a reread!!

[@wellendowedplatypus9024]

I enjoy re-reading finished series at least once, and I read a LOT, and mostly sci-fi and fantasy, so I've amassed a lot of experience. Malazan was by far the most rewarding re-read I've had by an order of magnitude. That said, even if you had the time, I wouldn't recommend doing it immediately. I'm sure you'll find the time eventually, no need to force anything. The series is so expansive that it doesn't feel like a re-read if there's been a year from your last re-read (at least for the first couple of times), it feels like you are improving your experience. Oh, and I think you would do a better review after a re-read but it would only be applicable to people who are also going to re-read. So I think you're fine just throwing one out soon :)

[@lolkittensnya3717]

though if we want to talk favorite characters, Karsa Orlong remains my favorite, he has what i find to have the change as a character, and to exemplify the best and worst of humanity during that course. while also trying to avoid spoilers, his stubborn streak against whoever and whatever stands in his way

[@kennethadderley6897]

Karsa, or Quick for me.