Zachary Apr 16, 2016

it was amazing bookshelves: my-books, fantasy, malazan

's review

** spoiler alert ** *Wipes Eyes*

*Clears throat*

*Breathes Deeply*



50% of the way through this book I was wondering whether this series was worth the effort. I knew I liked the story, but my personal reading time was sporadic, and opening this book felt like a chore. I'm so glad I didn't stop then. The second half of this book grabbed me in a way so few books do. The only other books that make me feel this was on a consistent basis are Brandon Sanderson's books, "Words of Radiance", "Shadows of Self" and "Bands of Mourning" in particular, though his books make me feel the same way for very different reasons. I love them to bits, but comparing them to "Memories of Ice" is like comparing "Captain America: Winter Soldier" to "The Prestige". Both of them are great movies, but for very different reasons.



Where to even start with this book. The ending of this book made me cry (single, manly tear), laugh and smile, often all within a handful of pages. Whiskeyjack's fate came as a surprise, though in retrospect it shouldn't have, it was so heavily foreshadowed. Itkovian's embracing of the memories of the T'lan Imass was simply moving. The "ending" (I assume it's not really over) that the Bridgeburner's got was so fitting.



My favourite moment, and the one that made me cry, oddly, was the meeting between Toc/Anaster, and Gruntle at the end. I don't know why, but damn that scene really got me.



Based on the ending of Deadhouse Gates I knew we would be seeing Duiker again, but what away to have him return.

"Very well, permit me, if you will, on this night. To break your hearts once more. This is the story of the Chain of Dogs. Of Coltaine of the Crow Clan, newly come Fist to the 7th Army..."

Damn this Erikson guy knows how to write a book! If my daughter hadn't been sleeping in her crib beside me I would literally have stood up and applauded.

House of Chains, here I come!