House of Chains - Steven Erikson

HOUSE OF CHAINS

Book 4 of 'The Malazan Book of the Fallen'

Read about the other books HERE

ISBN - 978-0-7653-4881-4
FIRST PUBLISHED - 2002
PAGES - 1035
GENRE - Epic Fantasy
BINDING - Paperback

AUTHOR - Steven Erikson

BEST-SELLERS - Gardens of the Moon, Deadhouse Gates, Memories of Ice

SYNOPSIS - In Northern Genabackis, a raiding party of savage tribal warriors descends from the mountains into the southern flatlands. Their intention is to wreck havoc amongst the despised lowlanders, but for the one named Karsa Orlong it makes the beginning of what will prove to be an extraordinary destiny.

Some years later, it is the aftermath of the Chain of Dogs. Tavore, the Adjunct to the Empress, has arrived in the last remaining Malazan stronghold of Seven Cities. New to command, she must hone twelve thousand soldiers, mostly raw recruits but for a handful of veterans of Coltaine's legendary march, into a force capable of challenging the massed hordes of Sha'ik's Whirlwind, who lie in wait in the heart of the Holy Desert.

But waiting is never easy. The seer's warlords are locked in a power struggle that threatens the very soul of the rebellion, while Sha'ik herself suffers, haunted by the knowledge of her nemesis : her own sister, Tavore.

FL Speak - [contains spoilers]

Bear with me because this is going to be emotional. In the last book, Memories of Ice, we see one of the most beloved characters Whiskeyjack being killed. That and the last remaining squad of the Bridgeburners almost destroyed. For their unflinching bravery and service to the Empire, Dujek One-Arm disbanded and the surviving members.

House of Chains begins with the tribe of Teblor. The Teblors are a savage race of barbarians who worship their own 7 Gods. And they have no idea that they are being used by the Crippled God for his own purposes. The Teblor Gods need someone to lead all of Teblor and the pawn they've chosen is Karsa.

Yes, its the same Karsa who will one day become the protector of the Sha'ik in the very heart of Raruku. Remember the huge Toblakai the old Sha'ik had as a bodyguard in the second book? This book begins with his journey before he becomes a friend of Felisin, the Sha'ik reborn. But this book is more than that. Because Felisin's sister, Adjunct Tavore is readying herself for battle against the Whirlwind. And poor Tavore has no idea that the enemy she will face is her little sister.

Meanwhile Fiddler, previously a Bridgeburner, has re-enlisted himself in the Malazan and finds himself as the sergeant of a squad of Malazan soldiers. And when the death of Whiskeyjack and his beloved comrades reaches his ears, the scene is unbelievable. That has to be one of the most devastating moments of the book. Watching Fiddler come in terms with their deaths drove me to tears.

Elsewhere, not everything is peachy in the Sha'ik's camp. Her mages are plotting against her and Felisin cannot do much because she needs their help to defeat the Malazans. Heboric, himself is coming to terms with his God.  The Toblakai has plans of his own and Felisin's inner circle are circling like a hawk to pounce on her should the Whirlwind falter.

If you thought Steven Erikson was done introducing new characters, think again. There are 6 more books left and he has managed to kill the best of the characters while continuing to introduce a lot more. Erikson has this ability to write novels that looks like they do not continue from the next book. Only a part of the long storyline continues and a few characters are repeated and yet you can feel it in your bones that it will all come together. Soon.

The much awaited battle simply blows you away. The Malazan soldiers face a huge army and tactics might be the only thing to save them. That, and the crazy sappers who likes to blow things up. And then the surprise package comes to their aid. The Bridgeburners have Ascended. Yes, the entire Company has ascended and reached God-level. And they come back to Raraku where they were formed. With the ghosts of the Malazan dead soldiers on their sides, the tide of battle may just have turned.

Meanwhile, The Crippled God is making his own plans.

My Rating - 3.5 stars

PRICE - INR 350/-

Memories of Ice - Steven Erikson

MEMORIES OF ICE

Book 3 of 'A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen'

Read about the previous books HERE

ISBN - 978-0-553-81312-8
FIRST PUBLISHED - 2001
PAGES - 1194
BINDING - Paperback
GENRE - Fantasy

AUTHOR - Steven Erikson

BEST-SELLERS - Gardens of the Moon
 

SYNOPSIS - A terrifying force has emerged from the ravaged continent of Genabackis. Like a tide of corrupted blood, the Pannion Domin seethes across the land, devouring all who fail to heed the word of its propher, the Pannion Seer. In its path stands an uneasy alliance: Dujek Onearm's Host and Whiskeyjack's veteran Bridgeburners alongside old adversaries - the warlord Caladran Brood, Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii. Outnumbered and mistrustful, they must get word to potential allies, including the Grey Swords, a mercenary brotherhood sworn to defend the besieged city of Capustan at all costs.

But more ancient clans are gathering. In answer to some primal summons, the T'lan Imass have risen. For something malign threatens this world: the Warrens are poisoned and rumors abound of a god unchained and intent on revenge.

SYNOPSIS - Torches lit the area, feeble in their battling the unnatural darkness that shrouded the city. The air stank of smoke and mortar dust. Distant cries of pain rose every now and then, like haunting memories.

We were brittle. Destroyed months ago, outside Pale, it's just taken this long for the few of us left to realize it. Hedge, Trotts, Detoran. Corpses who keep saluting -

Blend spoke beside her. 'I told the Rhivi on our wagon to wait inside the north gate.'

Our wagon. The wagon carrying the dead Bridgeburners.
First in.
Last out.
For the last time.

FL Speak - [contains spoilers]

Just when I thought the Bridgeburners were fading away, out brings them to the fore by Steven Erikson. To say that I missed the Bridgeburners a lot....will be an understatement!

Whiskeyjack and Dujek Onearm meet with Anomander Rake, Caladan Brood and the rest of the Tiste Andii to prepare an alliance for a much bigger threat in a distant continent. The land of Pannion Domin is waiting to erupt. Elsewhere, the Crippled God who was struck down to the mortal realm plays his hand as he poisons the very warrens used by the mages and Ascendants.

Changes come into Paran as he is slowly pushed into a role he never wanted to be. With only 38 Bridgeburners remaining Paran and his squad marches alongside Caladan Brood and Kallor to fight the new threat. But old enmity is hard to forget as secrets threaten to fling the alliance into chaos. And this is when Silverfox comes to the scene. Nightchill and Tattersail reborn, Silverfox announces that she has summoned the T'lan Imass for reasons she won't divulge.

The defenders of Capustan, the Grey Swords, receive word from Quick Ben that the Malazans and allies are on their way. Given an impossible task of surviving the seige of Capustan for 6 days, the Grey Swords give their all to save the city from the scores of attackers. And just when they were about to be run over, the Bridgeburners announce themselves to the enemy.

Capustan is liberated but the enemy is not defeated. And from here, the secrets of the two ally armies threaten to separate them. What follows in the final battle is the end of the Bridgeburners. First in, Last out....for the last time. The ultimate betrayal by Callor results in the death of one of the most amazing and loved characters of the series, Whiskeyjack! The final battle takes them to horrors unseen as Anonmander Rake strikes a fatal blow to the enemy but a very deep cost. The home of the Tiste Andii, the flying fortress is sacrificed to bring down the Pannion Seer.

With Whiskeyjack, Hedge, Trotts, Detoran dead, only a handful of the legendary Bridgeburners survive. And Dujek finally disbands them giving them their much deserved respite. With the death of Whiskeyjack and the betrayal of Kallor, the Malazans and Brood and Rake form a friendship that may yet survive the madness to come. Because Empress Larseen has ordered Dujek back to the Seven Cities to assist Adjunct Tavore against the uprising called the Whirlwind.

I hate to admit but I choked when they fell. When Silverfox/Tattersail failed, when Whiskeyjack fell, when the Bridgeburners died one by one, I felt like shooting Steven Erikson. No more, please I pray the rest survive till the end of the series.

Memories of Ice is by far the best book of the lot till now. Steven Erikson is a master story-weaver.

My Rating - 4.5 stars

PRICE - INR 339/- [Flipkart Price]

Deadhouse Gates - Steven Erikson

DEADHOUSE GATES

Book 2 of 'the Malazan Book of the Fallen'

Read about Book 1 HERE

ISBN - 978-0-553-81311-1
FIRST PRINTED - 2000
PAGES - 960
BINDING - Paperback
GENRE - Fantasy

AUTHOR - Steven Erikson

BEST-SELLERS - Gardens of the Moon

SYNOPSIS - In the Holy Desert Raraku, the seer Sha'ik and her followers prepare for the long prophesied uprising named the Whirlwind. Enslaved in the Ottaral mines, Felisin, youngest scion of the disgraced House of Paran, dreams of freedom and vows revenge, while the outlawed Bridgeburners Fiddler and Kalam conspire to rid the world of Empress Larseen (although it seems the gods would, as always, have it otherwise).

And as two ancient warriors - bearers of a devastating secret - enter this blighted land. so an untried commander of the Malaz 7th Army leads his war-weary troops in a last, valiant running battle to save the lives of thirty thousand refugees.

EXCERPT - Fiddler found himself starting out of a vague, floating trance. He shook his head, rubbed his face and glanced at the others, only to see they were reacting in similar ways - as if they had all been pulled into a subtle, seductive sorcery. Fiddler released a shaky breath. 'Can there be magic in mere words?' he asked to no-one in particular.

Icarium answered. 'Magic powerful enough to drive gods to their needs, soldier.'

'We have to get out of here,' Crokus muttered.

This time everyone nodded agreement.

FL SPEAK - [contains spoilers]

The Bridgeburners are back! Though not everyone that I wanted to see. Only Fiddler and Kalam, together with the Crokus and Apsalar have returned in this sequel. And the tale takes a whole new direction. You won't find Anomander Rake or any of the Ascendants except for Cotillion and Shadowthrone. Yet, Steven Erikson creates a gripping continuation with a whole new set of characters.

Felisin, the youngest scion of the House of Paran, is sent to the Ottaral mines as a slave by her elder sister, Tavore who is now the Adjunct to Empress Larseen. This was an act to show the Empress that the House of Paran was behind the Empress even though their eldest son joined the outlawed Bridgeburners. Kalam and Fiddler plan their way back to the Malazan empire to assassinate her for crimes against the now-dead Emperor. Little do they realize that they are mere tools in a game of much higher consequences.

Felisin, Duiker and Baudin escape from the mines before the Seven Cities rise up in an uprising against the Malazan. As the Sha'ik raises the whirlwind, which Kalam helped knowingly, one new Fist of the Empire, Coltaine, led his troops into battles that no one thought would survive. As the Malazan refugees throng into Coltaine's camp and they make their way across the entire desert to the city of Aren, six out of the seven cities rise up against him. Dogged and chased by enemies four times their number, the Malazan army led by Coltaine fights every battle with cunning wits and defiance.

In the end, treachery among their own leads to their downfall as Coltaine and his troops fall to the enemy five hundred paces before the protected city of Aren after saving thirty thousand refugees.

This has to be one of the most heart-wrenching moments of the tale when Coltaine falls for the final time as his superiors watch from nearby without sending a single help. As Kalam makes his way to the Empress and Fiddler and Co. travel with Icarium and Mappo to the ancient house of Azath through the warrens, Felisin finds herself reborn and ready to deliver vengeance on her sister Tavore and the Malazans. What follows is war, magic and betrayal at the highest levels.

A stunning continuation. I hope Whiskeyjack and the Bridgeburners return in the next book. I am also dying to see the reborn mage, Tattersail back.

My Rating - 4 stars

PRICE -  INR 319/- [Flipkart Price]

Gardens of the Moon - Steven Erikson

GARDENS OF THE MOON

(Book One of 'The Malazan Book of the Fallen')

ISBN : 9780553819571
FIRST PRINTED : 1999

AUTHOR - Steven Erikson

BEST-SELLERS - The Malazan Book of the Fallen series

SYNOPSIS - Bled dry by interminable warfare, infighting and bloody confrontations with Lord Anomander Rake, the Malazan Empire simmers with discontent. Its legions yearn for some respite.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his Bridgeburners, and Tattersail, surviving sorceress of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the seige of Pale should have been a time to mourn the dead. But Empress Larseen's gaze has fallen upon Darujhistan. For this ancient citadel, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, still holds out against her.

However, the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand....

EXCERPT - The man leaned on the railing, 'All this is just begging for some kind of conversation, friendly-like,'he said. 'So, how about you and me go back to the alley. You lay down your sword and I'll be gentle. Otherwise, things would get rough, and what would be the fun of ----?'

Sorry's left hand darted out. A dagger flashed between them. The blade entered the man's right eye and then his brain.He jerked back over the rail and fell, landing with a heavy thud beside the steps. Sorry walked up to him and retrieved the dagger.

FL Speak - Astounding debut. And might i add, an impossible piece of work. This has to be one of the most complicated beginnings to a fantasy series. The book starts with war and ends with war, with more war in between.


It starts with a young noble boy wishing to join the vast army of the Malazan under the Emperor when he meets one of the generals and the Empress in a dusty road. Few years later, the Empress kills the Emperor and everyone else who was once loyal to him. Its the story of the Bridgeburners, the most feared squadron of the 2nd Legion under the command of Sergeant Whiskeyjack and their struggle to stay alive since the Empress is determined to disband those who belonged to the Emperor. Its the story of Tattersail, a sorceress, who was betrayed by her High Mage during the fall of Pale and upon whom came the responsibility of keeping the Bridgeburners alive.


Its the story of that young boy who grew up to be a captain and sent to lead the diminshed Bridgeburners to search for a killer in disguise while the Empress uses him as a pawn for higher purposes. Its the tale of the City of Darujhistan, where the Guild of Assassins and the sorcerers search for a way to save the last free city. This is the story of a young thief who unknowingly becomes a pawn for the Gods when Chance decides to favour him as the coming war threatens to spill even immortal blood. This is the tale of Lord Aromander Rake and his fragile allies who fight against the Malazan Empire.


As the writer said in the preface, you will either love the book or completely hate it. As for me, it was the former. This is one of the best adult fantasy books i have read. Full of magic and full of violence, with plots within plots within plots. All the characters assemble in Darujhistan and this is where the plot thickens. No allies are allies, everyone has their own agenda. The Moon Spawn ally with the High Alchemist of Darujhistan to thwart the Empress' progress while the Bridgeburners try to pull themselves out of certain death by changing all the rules. Plans go haywire when the Gods themselves decides to join in.


This is a must read book for serious fantasy lovers. You might hate it. But its worth a try. This is one gem of a series that is sure to keep giving me goosebumps.


My Rating - 4.4 out of 5.

PRICE - INR 350/- from Bantam Books (Paperback - 2009)