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The Kharkanas Trilogy #2
Fall of Light
It is a bitter winter and civil war now ravages Kurald Galain, as Urusander's Legion prepares to march upon the city of Kharkanas.The rebels' only opposition lies scattered, bereft of a leader since Anomander's departure in search of his estranged brother, Andarist. The last brother remaining, Silchas Ruin, rules in Anomander's stead. He seeks to gather the Houseblades of the Highborn Noble families and resurrect the Hust Legion in the southlands, but is fast running out of time.
The officers and leaders of Urusander's Legion, led by Hunn Raal, want the Consort, Draconus, cast aside and Vatha Urusander wedded to Mother Dark, taking his place on a throne at the side of the Living Goddess. But this union will be far more than political, as a sorcerous power has claimed those opposing Mother Dark - given form by the exiled High Priestess Syntara, the Cult of Light rises in answer to Mother Dark and her Children.
Far to the west, an unlikely army has gathered, seeking an enemy without form, in a place none can find, and commanded by a Jaghut driven mad with grief. Hood's call has been heard, and the long-abandoned city of Omtose Phellack is now home to a rabble of new arrivals. From the south have come Dog-Runners and Jheck warriors. From the Western Sea strange ships have grounded upon the harsh shore, with blue-skinned strangers arriving to offer Hood their swords. And from the North, down from mountain fastnesses and isolated valleys, Toblakai arrive, day and night, to pledge themselves to Hood's impossible war. Soon, all will set forth - or not at all - under the banners of the living. Soon, weapons will be drawn, with Death itself the enemy.
Beneath the chaos of such events, and spanning the realm and those countless other realms hidden behind its veil, magic now bleeds into the world. Unconstrained, mysterious and savage, the power that is the lifeblood of the Azathanai, K'rul, runs loose and wild. Following its scent, seeking the places of wounding where the sorcery rushes forth, entities both new and ancient are gathering. And they are eager to feed.
Comprehending the terrible risk of his gift of blood, a weakened, dying K'rul sets out, in the company of a lone guardian, to bring order to this newborn sorcery - alas, his choice of potential allies is suspect. In the name of order, K'rul seeks its greatest avowed enemy.
The officers and leaders of Urusander's Legion, led by Hunn Raal, want the Consort, Draconus, cast aside and Vatha Urusander wedded to Mother Dark, taking his place on a throne at the side of the Living Goddess. But this union will be far more than political, as a sorcerous power has claimed those opposing Mother Dark - given form by the exiled High Priestess Syntara, the Cult of Light rises in answer to Mother Dark and her Children.
Far to the west, an unlikely army has gathered, seeking an enemy without form, in a place none can find, and commanded by a Jaghut driven mad with grief. Hood's call has been heard, and the long-abandoned city of Omtose Phellack is now home to a rabble of new arrivals. From the south have come Dog-Runners and Jheck warriors. From the Western Sea strange ships have grounded upon the harsh shore, with blue-skinned strangers arriving to offer Hood their swords. And from the North, down from mountain fastnesses and isolated valleys, Toblakai arrive, day and night, to pledge themselves to Hood's impossible war. Soon, all will set forth - or not at all - under the banners of the living. Soon, weapons will be drawn, with Death itself the enemy.
Beneath the chaos of such events, and spanning the realm and those countless other realms hidden behind its veil, magic now bleeds into the world. Unconstrained, mysterious and savage, the power that is the lifeblood of the Azathanai, K'rul, runs loose and wild. Following its scent, seeking the places of wounding where the sorcery rushes forth, entities both new and ancient are gathering. And they are eager to feed.
Comprehending the terrible risk of his gift of blood, a weakened, dying K'rul sets out, in the company of a lone guardian, to bring order to this newborn sorcery - alas, his choice of potential allies is suspect. In the name of order, K'rul seeks its greatest avowed enemy.
864 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2016
448 people are currently reading
8204 people want to read
About the author
Steven Erikson
130 books15.1k followersSteven Erikson is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian novelist, who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist. His best-known work is the series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
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November 13, 2017
“Is love so paltry a thing, to be plucked and dropped to the ground at the first breath of contempt?”
In Fall of Light, second book in The Kharkanas Trilogy and sequel to Forge of Darkness, we continue exploring incredibly deep history of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series.
Besides giving information how the world we were roaming about in ten books of the previous series came to be, it also helps explaining origins of actions of certain characters – actions we were maybe too quick to judge – and it gives an effort to make us understand them.
It’s a Shakespearean tale of love, comedy and tragedy, telling both personal stories and those of an epic scale.
The story itself is divided into two bigger and myriad of lesser plots, following major and minor characters in them.
In Kurald Galain, with winter, civil war approaches when Urusander’s legions, led by a disgusting and ruthless scumbag Hunn Raal, starts marching on its capital - Kharkanas.
Their mission is to topple the Suzerain of Night, and Consort to Mother Dark, Draconus and put their own leader, Vatha Urusander, on the throne beside her, as her royal husband.
Father Light to Mother Dark.
Kharkanas itself is seemingly leaderless and defenseless, with Anomander absent and Hust legions perished, so everything falls on youngest of Purake brothers, Silchas Ruin, to prepare for inevitable confrontation.
Confrontation of the faith that will split Tiste into Andii (Dark), Liosan (Light) and those that deny both – Edur (Shadow).
Far in the West, in the land of Jaghut, Omtose Phellack, thousands, consisting of various Malazan nations, answers to Hood’s declared war on Death itself.
Gothos, after giving his speech which ended Jaghut society, still hasn’t finished writing his suicidal note, and after hundreds of years writing it, others are prone thinking he is actually stalling.
Arathan, Draconus’ bastard son, has been given the task of translating that note.
The very beginning of the book sets the tone, where right before the battle, while bystanders are anticipating the clash, a young boy grudgingly hits the woman with the rock and then she chases him down, only to brutally bludgeon him to death.
Over a rock?
But through this we can see savagery of the world in conflict, where two seemingly innocent people have taken it to an extreme, where atrocities are justified under the shelter of war.
This action foreshadows actions in this entire novel, and I believe in this entire trilogy.
As for characters themselves, again with Erikson one can expect a masterfully written characterization where seemingly insignificant characters are being elevate into something more. Characters we will despise, than love, than despise again, only to settle that we at least understand them at the very end.
Erikson simply isn’t shy of trying to bring compassion out of you for those characters you would never think they deserve one. And you would often find yourself surprised that he actually achieved that.
Yes, you still disapprove their actions, but you understand position they were in while making them.
And I love the fact that we get to experience all these major characters, such as Draconus, through the eyes of common people. It leaves a certain mysticism around them, while also feeds desire to see more of them because of that.
Commentary on religion and how people in absence of god's given word crave for guidance when all they have to do is actually what they shouldn’t do – do harm – is fascinating.
“’I could have given you a list. That this is how I want you to behave, and this must be the nature of your belief, your service and your sacrifice.
But how long before that list twisted in interpretation? How long before my simple rules to a proper life become a call to war? To the slaughter of the unbelievers?
How long, Priestess, before you begin killing in my name?’
‘Then what do you want of us?’
‘You damn well know what I want from you. Don’t hurt other people. Don’t hurt anything capable of suffering.’
‘At last!’
‘You didn’t need me for that rule, Priestess.’”
The reason why I love Mother Dark so much!
But a fair ‘warning’.
It’s really hard going through this novel, because it makes you pause, it makes you think of the problems we’re facing in the world we live in. It’s not a life-changing experience and it won’t make you reevaluate your opinion or your perception of our world, but it will make you question certain things.
And that’s why I’m torn, because I find that exhilarating, but also exhausting. Because it demands complete concentration from you, and if that concentration falters for just one page, you won’t just miss thread where this story goes, or an important easter egg or a nod to a main series, but you’ll miss the entire point of a certain characters introspective philosophy.
I needed time, in book itself, where I would catch my breath and think about those debates, so that I can approach next one, but without actually putting the book down.
I believe that the main series was better in handling and balancing important criticism of society (both in the book and the one we live in) and taking a break from it with, let’s say, comic relief characters.
Here it’s an endless cycle of philosophical debates upon philosophical debates – where even those comic relief characters are quite often conversing in one.
This isn’t much of a complaint as much of an observation.
It is still a book that has much to say about human nature, war, violence, love and faith, and you can see that it stands about something.
Also, another observation I had and thing that probably kept me from devouring this novel in two days is, what I believe, monotony of first half of the book.
Again, I have to compare it with the main series, but mind you, I'm comparing it with his own work and probably best there is in epic fantasy genre at this moment.
Steven Erikson writes exceedingly long chapters. 50 pages long chapters, divided into multiple sections, and in each section there's a different character with his own POV.
So you end up with, let's say, five characters per chapter.
And here's the thing: in main series every character was so colorful you could always distinguish which person you are following at the moment. Without Steven even naming that character, you could just hop-in into his story.
You could recognize them by mere train of thoughts because all of them had a significantly different voice from each other.
So 150 pages later when you revisit those characters again, you can instantly follow them like you never left them at all.
Here however, that distinction was harder for me to recognize.
It's not just the problem that everyone had a philosophy to share, it was a problem that everyone had the same philosophy to share.
Maybe something eluded me, maybe I'm missing the point and I hope on reread I'll be able to understand it better.
Anyhow, that doesn't lessen the overall quality of this book.
3.91/5
It’s a great book and a peak of Erikson’s writing.
Forge of Darkness 3.83/5
Walk in Shadow ~/~
In Fall of Light, second book in The Kharkanas Trilogy and sequel to Forge of Darkness, we continue exploring incredibly deep history of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series.
Besides giving information how the world we were roaming about in ten books of the previous series came to be, it also helps explaining origins of actions of certain characters – actions we were maybe too quick to judge – and it gives an effort to make us understand them.
It’s a Shakespearean tale of love, comedy and tragedy, telling both personal stories and those of an epic scale.
The story itself is divided into two bigger and myriad of lesser plots, following major and minor characters in them.
In Kurald Galain, with winter, civil war approaches when Urusander’s legions, led by a disgusting and ruthless scumbag Hunn Raal, starts marching on its capital - Kharkanas.
Their mission is to topple the Suzerain of Night, and Consort to Mother Dark, Draconus and put their own leader, Vatha Urusander, on the throne beside her, as her royal husband.
Father Light to Mother Dark.
Kharkanas itself is seemingly leaderless and defenseless, with Anomander absent and Hust legions perished, so everything falls on youngest of Purake brothers, Silchas Ruin, to prepare for inevitable confrontation.
Confrontation of the faith that will split Tiste into Andii (Dark), Liosan (Light) and those that deny both – Edur (Shadow).
Far in the West, in the land of Jaghut, Omtose Phellack, thousands, consisting of various Malazan nations, answers to Hood’s declared war on Death itself.
Gothos, after giving his speech which ended Jaghut society, still hasn’t finished writing his suicidal note, and after hundreds of years writing it, others are prone thinking he is actually stalling.
Arathan, Draconus’ bastard son, has been given the task of translating that note.
The very beginning of the book sets the tone, where right before the battle, while bystanders are anticipating the clash, a young boy grudgingly hits the woman with the rock and then she chases him down, only to brutally bludgeon him to death.
Over a rock?
But through this we can see savagery of the world in conflict, where two seemingly innocent people have taken it to an extreme, where atrocities are justified under the shelter of war.
This action foreshadows actions in this entire novel, and I believe in this entire trilogy.
As for characters themselves, again with Erikson one can expect a masterfully written characterization where seemingly insignificant characters are being elevate into something more. Characters we will despise, than love, than despise again, only to settle that we at least understand them at the very end.
Erikson simply isn’t shy of trying to bring compassion out of you for those characters you would never think they deserve one. And you would often find yourself surprised that he actually achieved that.
Yes, you still disapprove their actions, but you understand position they were in while making them.
And I love the fact that we get to experience all these major characters, such as Draconus, through the eyes of common people. It leaves a certain mysticism around them, while also feeds desire to see more of them because of that.
Commentary on religion and how people in absence of god's given word crave for guidance when all they have to do is actually what they shouldn’t do – do harm – is fascinating.
“’I could have given you a list. That this is how I want you to behave, and this must be the nature of your belief, your service and your sacrifice.
But how long before that list twisted in interpretation? How long before my simple rules to a proper life become a call to war? To the slaughter of the unbelievers?
How long, Priestess, before you begin killing in my name?’
‘Then what do you want of us?’
‘You damn well know what I want from you. Don’t hurt other people. Don’t hurt anything capable of suffering.’
‘At last!’
‘You didn’t need me for that rule, Priestess.’”
The reason why I love Mother Dark so much!
But a fair ‘warning’.
It’s really hard going through this novel, because it makes you pause, it makes you think of the problems we’re facing in the world we live in. It’s not a life-changing experience and it won’t make you reevaluate your opinion or your perception of our world, but it will make you question certain things.
And that’s why I’m torn, because I find that exhilarating, but also exhausting. Because it demands complete concentration from you, and if that concentration falters for just one page, you won’t just miss thread where this story goes, or an important easter egg or a nod to a main series, but you’ll miss the entire point of a certain characters introspective philosophy.
I needed time, in book itself, where I would catch my breath and think about those debates, so that I can approach next one, but without actually putting the book down.
I believe that the main series was better in handling and balancing important criticism of society (both in the book and the one we live in) and taking a break from it with, let’s say, comic relief characters.
Here it’s an endless cycle of philosophical debates upon philosophical debates – where even those comic relief characters are quite often conversing in one.
This isn’t much of a complaint as much of an observation.
It is still a book that has much to say about human nature, war, violence, love and faith, and you can see that it stands about something.
Also, another observation I had and thing that probably kept me from devouring this novel in two days is, what I believe, monotony of first half of the book.
Again, I have to compare it with the main series, but mind you, I'm comparing it with his own work and probably best there is in epic fantasy genre at this moment.
Steven Erikson writes exceedingly long chapters. 50 pages long chapters, divided into multiple sections, and in each section there's a different character with his own POV.
So you end up with, let's say, five characters per chapter.
And here's the thing: in main series every character was so colorful you could always distinguish which person you are following at the moment. Without Steven even naming that character, you could just hop-in into his story.
You could recognize them by mere train of thoughts because all of them had a significantly different voice from each other.
So 150 pages later when you revisit those characters again, you can instantly follow them like you never left them at all.
Here however, that distinction was harder for me to recognize.
It's not just the problem that everyone had a philosophy to share, it was a problem that everyone had the same philosophy to share.
Maybe something eluded me, maybe I'm missing the point and I hope on reread I'll be able to understand it better.
Anyhow, that doesn't lessen the overall quality of this book.
3.91/5
It’s a great book and a peak of Erikson’s writing.
Forge of Darkness 3.83/5
Walk in Shadow ~/~
March 22, 2016
If Forge of Darkness felt like an appetiser, then this is a full meal. It's meatier.
If my review of the first book highlighted its revelations, then this compounds and extends them.
If the first showed the promise of characters, this shows the actuality.
If there was too much philosophising before, now there is action. And the humour that Erikson does so, so well.
Not only that, the Eleint are here.
I read this book filled with excitement, anticipation, and not a little trepidation. Knowledge of the future adds such a sharp edge to this story.
I leave it wondering how on earth I felt satisfied with the tales of the Fallen not knowing what I now know.
Massive thanks to Steven Erikson, Random House/Transworld, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
If my review of the first book highlighted its revelations, then this compounds and extends them.
If the first showed the promise of characters, this shows the actuality.
If there was too much philosophising before, now there is action. And the humour that Erikson does so, so well.
Not only that, the Eleint are here.
I read this book filled with excitement, anticipation, and not a little trepidation. Knowledge of the future adds such a sharp edge to this story.
I leave it wondering how on earth I felt satisfied with the tales of the Fallen not knowing what I now know.
Massive thanks to Steven Erikson, Random House/Transworld, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2025
"Non c'è mai stata un'età di eroi, né quella che i poeti cantano nei loro racconti epici. Piuttosto, assistiamo solo a un'era dopo l'altra, e un'altra, ognuna identica in ogni dettaglio tranne che per i volti e anche quei volti si confondono nell'uniformità dopo un po' di tempo."
La guerra civile è ormai giunta alla sua fase finale ed è pronta a scatenare morte. Gli Azathanai hanno giocato le loro mosse sconvolgendo la natura della civiltà Tiste. La magia è stata liberata nel mondo. Hood cerca vendetta e si prepara a sfidare la Morte.
"Fall of Light" è il secondo capitolo della trilogia di "Kharkanas" e mio venticinquesimo romanzo ambientato in questo immenso mondo-universo. Ogni volta ne rimango affascinato, ancor di più quando vengono rivelate informazioni sulla storia del passato e sull'origine dei popoli, sulle divinità, i tanti personaggi coinvolti e le innumerevoli trame. Si rimane sorpresi dalla complessità e dalla stratificazione elaborata da Erikson e si applaude alla sua indubbia abilità nel saper gestire tutto alla perfezione.
Molti dei personaggi in questo romanzo, ambientato nel lontano passato del Kurald Galain, saranno presenti nella serie principale del Libro Malazan dei Caduti e vedere seduti allo stesso tavolo Hood e Gothos a prendere un tè è stato a dir poco epico.
"Si racconta che Gothos entrò nel cuore della sua città, dove erano riuniti tutti gli Jaghut che governavano collettivamente. Tra loro, certo, c'erano grandi menti, e molti che si attenevano ancora all'ideale della civiltà. Ma poi Gothos salì sul palco centrale dell'oratore. Iniziò la sua orazione e quando, finalmente, ebbe finito, fu accolto dal silenzio. Quel giorno finì la civiltà Jaghut."
I dialoghi sono una meraviglia, fonte di riflessioni e introspezione, sviluppati in monologhi e flussi di coscienza dal sapore Shakespeariano. Tante sottotrame vengono mostrate seguendo decine di punti di vista che, come i colori in un dipinto, mostrano il risultato solo una volta terminato.
Non è un romanzo semplice. Erikson non si limita a raccontare una storia nel modo classico, non presenta i personaggi coinvolti, non riussume la situazione dei fatti introdotti in precedenza, i nomi propri di persona coinvolti e dei luoghi non hanno una spiegazione immediata nel testo e i capitoli sono lunghissimi. Le opere di Erikson richiedono al lettore lo sforzo di estrapolare le informazioni dal testo, da soli.
Di cosa parla questo "Fall of Light"? Parla di guerra ma Erikson ne analizza la sua natura attraverso gli occhi e le esperienze personali dei tanti personaggi coinvolti in ambito religioso, politico, morale e civile, vendetta, compassione, ira, angoscia, codardia, il senso della vita e della morte. Amore. Una lettura adulta che oltre ad arricchire la saga di altri elementi fondamentali, fornisce al lettore spunti di riflessione profondi come solo i migliori romanzi sanno fare.
Tuttavia... si dilunga.
Una sforbiciata agli infiniti monologhi introspettivi e filosofici e ad alcune sottotrame avrebbe giovato all'intero romanzo.
PS. Prendere appunti durante la lettura faciliterà la comprensione del testo.
"Cantaci dei veri eroi, così che possiamo piangere, per qualcosa che nessun bambino capirà mai."
----------------------------------------
“There has never been an age of heroes, nor one that poets sing about in their epic tales. Rather, we see only one age after another, and another, each identical in every detail except for faces and even those faces blend into uniformity after a while."
The civil war has now reached its final stage and is ready to unleash death. The Azathanai have played their part in disrupting the nature of the Tiste civilization. Magic has been unleashed into the world. Hood seeks revenge and prepares to defy Death.
"Fall of Light" is the second chapter of the "Kharkanas" trilogy and my twenty-fifth novel set in this immense world-universe. Every time I am fascinated by it, even more when information is revealed on the history of the past and on the origin of peoples, on the divinities, the many characters involved and the countless plots. We are amazed by the complexity and layering elaborated by Erikson and we applaud his undoubted ability to know how to manage everything perfectly.
Many of the characters in this novel, set in the distant past of Kurald Galain, will be featured in the main series of the Malazan Book of the Fallen and seeing the Hood and Gothos sitting at the same table having tea was nothing short of epic.
"It is said that Gothos entered the heart of his city, where all the Jaghuts who ruled collectively were assembled. Among them, to be sure, were great minds, and many who still held to the ideal of civilization. But then Gothos ascended the center stage of the speaker. He began his oration and when he finally finished, he was greeted by silence. That day ended the Jaghut civilization."
The dialogues are a marvel, a source of reflection and introspection, developed in monologues and streams of consciousness with a Shakespearean flavor. Many subplots are shown following dozens of points of view which, like the colors in a painting, only show the result once it is finished.
It is not a simple novel. Erikson doesn't just tell a story in the classic way, he doesn't present the characters involved, he doesn't summarize the situation of the facts introduced previously, the proper names of people involved and of the places don't have an immediate explanation in the text and the chapters are very long. Erikson's works require the reader to make an effort to extract information from the text, on their own.
What is this "Fall of Light" about? He talks about war but Erikson analyzes its nature through the eyes and personal experiences of the many characters involved in the religious, political, moral and civil spheres, revenge, compassion, anger, anguish, cowardice, the meaning of life and death. Love. An adult reading which, in addition to enriching the saga with other fundamental elements, provides the reader with profound food for thought as only the best novels can do.
However... it goes on.
A cut from the endless introspective and philosophical monologues and some subplots would have benefited the entire novel.
PS. Taking notes while reading will facilitate understanding of the text.
"Sing us about real heroes, so we can cry, for something no child will ever understand."
La guerra civile è ormai giunta alla sua fase finale ed è pronta a scatenare morte. Gli Azathanai hanno giocato le loro mosse sconvolgendo la natura della civiltà Tiste. La magia è stata liberata nel mondo. Hood cerca vendetta e si prepara a sfidare la Morte.
"Fall of Light" è il secondo capitolo della trilogia di "Kharkanas" e mio venticinquesimo romanzo ambientato in questo immenso mondo-universo. Ogni volta ne rimango affascinato, ancor di più quando vengono rivelate informazioni sulla storia del passato e sull'origine dei popoli, sulle divinità, i tanti personaggi coinvolti e le innumerevoli trame. Si rimane sorpresi dalla complessità e dalla stratificazione elaborata da Erikson e si applaude alla sua indubbia abilità nel saper gestire tutto alla perfezione.
Molti dei personaggi in questo romanzo, ambientato nel lontano passato del Kurald Galain, saranno presenti nella serie principale del Libro Malazan dei Caduti e vedere seduti allo stesso tavolo Hood e Gothos a prendere un tè è stato a dir poco epico.
"Si racconta che Gothos entrò nel cuore della sua città, dove erano riuniti tutti gli Jaghut che governavano collettivamente. Tra loro, certo, c'erano grandi menti, e molti che si attenevano ancora all'ideale della civiltà. Ma poi Gothos salì sul palco centrale dell'oratore. Iniziò la sua orazione e quando, finalmente, ebbe finito, fu accolto dal silenzio. Quel giorno finì la civiltà Jaghut."
I dialoghi sono una meraviglia, fonte di riflessioni e introspezione, sviluppati in monologhi e flussi di coscienza dal sapore Shakespeariano. Tante sottotrame vengono mostrate seguendo decine di punti di vista che, come i colori in un dipinto, mostrano il risultato solo una volta terminato.
Non è un romanzo semplice. Erikson non si limita a raccontare una storia nel modo classico, non presenta i personaggi coinvolti, non riussume la situazione dei fatti introdotti in precedenza, i nomi propri di persona coinvolti e dei luoghi non hanno una spiegazione immediata nel testo e i capitoli sono lunghissimi. Le opere di Erikson richiedono al lettore lo sforzo di estrapolare le informazioni dal testo, da soli.
Di cosa parla questo "Fall of Light"? Parla di guerra ma Erikson ne analizza la sua natura attraverso gli occhi e le esperienze personali dei tanti personaggi coinvolti in ambito religioso, politico, morale e civile, vendetta, compassione, ira, angoscia, codardia, il senso della vita e della morte. Amore. Una lettura adulta che oltre ad arricchire la saga di altri elementi fondamentali, fornisce al lettore spunti di riflessione profondi come solo i migliori romanzi sanno fare.
Tuttavia... si dilunga.
Una sforbiciata agli infiniti monologhi introspettivi e filosofici e ad alcune sottotrame avrebbe giovato all'intero romanzo.
PS. Prendere appunti durante la lettura faciliterà la comprensione del testo.
"Cantaci dei veri eroi, così che possiamo piangere, per qualcosa che nessun bambino capirà mai."
----------------------------------------
“There has never been an age of heroes, nor one that poets sing about in their epic tales. Rather, we see only one age after another, and another, each identical in every detail except for faces and even those faces blend into uniformity after a while."
The civil war has now reached its final stage and is ready to unleash death. The Azathanai have played their part in disrupting the nature of the Tiste civilization. Magic has been unleashed into the world. Hood seeks revenge and prepares to defy Death.
"Fall of Light" is the second chapter of the "Kharkanas" trilogy and my twenty-fifth novel set in this immense world-universe. Every time I am fascinated by it, even more when information is revealed on the history of the past and on the origin of peoples, on the divinities, the many characters involved and the countless plots. We are amazed by the complexity and layering elaborated by Erikson and we applaud his undoubted ability to know how to manage everything perfectly.
Many of the characters in this novel, set in the distant past of Kurald Galain, will be featured in the main series of the Malazan Book of the Fallen and seeing the Hood and Gothos sitting at the same table having tea was nothing short of epic.
"It is said that Gothos entered the heart of his city, where all the Jaghuts who ruled collectively were assembled. Among them, to be sure, were great minds, and many who still held to the ideal of civilization. But then Gothos ascended the center stage of the speaker. He began his oration and when he finally finished, he was greeted by silence. That day ended the Jaghut civilization."
The dialogues are a marvel, a source of reflection and introspection, developed in monologues and streams of consciousness with a Shakespearean flavor. Many subplots are shown following dozens of points of view which, like the colors in a painting, only show the result once it is finished.
It is not a simple novel. Erikson doesn't just tell a story in the classic way, he doesn't present the characters involved, he doesn't summarize the situation of the facts introduced previously, the proper names of people involved and of the places don't have an immediate explanation in the text and the chapters are very long. Erikson's works require the reader to make an effort to extract information from the text, on their own.
What is this "Fall of Light" about? He talks about war but Erikson analyzes its nature through the eyes and personal experiences of the many characters involved in the religious, political, moral and civil spheres, revenge, compassion, anger, anguish, cowardice, the meaning of life and death. Love. An adult reading which, in addition to enriching the saga with other fundamental elements, provides the reader with profound food for thought as only the best novels can do.
However... it goes on.
A cut from the endless introspective and philosophical monologues and some subplots would have benefited the entire novel.
PS. Taking notes while reading will facilitate understanding of the text.
"Sing us about real heroes, so we can cry, for something no child will ever understand."
July 17, 2016
In the last 6 or so years I have read the Malazan Fallen series twice, all of the Esslemonts and now the Kharkanos trilogy. So my reading world really hasn't had many large gaps without me being immersed in this wonderful world.
I wanted to outline the above, because reading Fall of Light is a little bit like doing a Genealogy project. I know all these people, I know what they end up doing and I kind of know where they are from. But the reality is, you really just don't comprehend how much you know about the Tiste people until you start reading this. Suddenly you are given all these characters and their early lives and you know loads of them and even the characters that had slim roles in MbotF suddenly come to life, like Spinnock Dev (a dashing young man most women are trying to bed), the old codger Endest Silann, Scara Badandis, what about the story behind Sandalath Dukorlat? She played a big part in the final war against the Liosen in the CG. Speaking of which, how did the Liosen become? why did the Andii form and where does the Edur fit in that?
There are Dog Runners with Tribes like Logros and they have bonecasters and you read things like this:
The Dog-Runners will speak of their goddess of the earth. They name her Burn, and they have held that she sleeps and eternal sleep. in her dreams, she makes a world of men. but Olar Ethil stands near, sometimes beside the Sleeping Goddess, sometimes barring the way to her.
What about Draconus and Drgnpor and the big bloody wagon? Mother Dark? The Azathani? What about the Azath houses and the Finnests? There is a Azath house in this, where the Jaghut haven't been able to tread, remember those 4 laughing Jaghut in the end of CG, yup, they are here. Hanging out at Gothos, whilst he write that short history. Oh Hood is here too, building an army to war with Death........
I could go on, but you get the point, all these words and I didn't mention Anomander, Silchas Ruin and Andarist.
It is a really absorbing read, as it isn't like reading fantasy, it is like reading history, it honestly feels that this actually happened and not something Erikson made up after the series. I was nervous about taking on Kharkanos, I was never a bog fan of the Andii. I found them a dour, unimaginative lot, with a bent for using long flowery sentences. Well, this book is full of long winded prose between the characters, but you know what, I can really now understand why there are Andii, Liosen and Edur and the types of people they are and become. I have absolutely loved being back in this world and cannot wait for the last in the series.
Yeah.....see now, aren't you curious to see how it all started?
I wanted to outline the above, because reading Fall of Light is a little bit like doing a Genealogy project. I know all these people, I know what they end up doing and I kind of know where they are from. But the reality is, you really just don't comprehend how much you know about the Tiste people until you start reading this. Suddenly you are given all these characters and their early lives and you know loads of them and even the characters that had slim roles in MbotF suddenly come to life, like Spinnock Dev (a dashing young man most women are trying to bed), the old codger Endest Silann, Scara Badandis, what about the story behind Sandalath Dukorlat? She played a big part in the final war against the Liosen in the CG. Speaking of which, how did the Liosen become? why did the Andii form and where does the Edur fit in that?
There are Dog Runners with Tribes like Logros and they have bonecasters and you read things like this:
The Dog-Runners will speak of their goddess of the earth. They name her Burn, and they have held that she sleeps and eternal sleep. in her dreams, she makes a world of men. but Olar Ethil stands near, sometimes beside the Sleeping Goddess, sometimes barring the way to her.
What about Draconus and Drgnpor and the big bloody wagon? Mother Dark? The Azathani? What about the Azath houses and the Finnests? There is a Azath house in this, where the Jaghut haven't been able to tread, remember those 4 laughing Jaghut in the end of CG, yup, they are here. Hanging out at Gothos, whilst he write that short history. Oh Hood is here too, building an army to war with Death........
I could go on, but you get the point, all these words and I didn't mention Anomander, Silchas Ruin and Andarist.
It is a really absorbing read, as it isn't like reading fantasy, it is like reading history, it honestly feels that this actually happened and not something Erikson made up after the series. I was nervous about taking on Kharkanos, I was never a bog fan of the Andii. I found them a dour, unimaginative lot, with a bent for using long flowery sentences. Well, this book is full of long winded prose between the characters, but you know what, I can really now understand why there are Andii, Liosen and Edur and the types of people they are and become. I have absolutely loved being back in this world and cannot wait for the last in the series.
Yeah.....see now, aren't you curious to see how it all started?
July 6, 2017
Reading Malazan I always feel like I need to hibernate for a season to recover from the after effects created by the philosophy and empathetic storytelling.
If you thought Book of the Fallen was heavy on philosophy, social-economic, religious and political musing it's a mere tributary to the rushing river of Kharkanas. While I love that aspect it seems SE is making a conscious effort to avoid the action and keep it more in that thought provoking realm. It is brilliant, as always, from that aspect but I missed the massive convergence. There was one but it didn't leave me breathless or with my eyes brimming at the tragedy. So many directions I wanted to see the story move in that it could have it didn't. So many story lines such as Gothos and Hood I wanted more of were neglected for ones I could have done without or one that even had me scratching my head.
In the Malazan realm I'd put this in the bottom three above House of Chains and Toll the Hounds which were my bottom two books from BotF. I liked book one Forge of Darkness a lot more.
That said it was still amazing and still a 5* book. SE did take a lot of chances in this book with how he told the story and from the perspectives. Some of them fell slightly flat for me but I have to give him credit for not pumping out a formula book like some authors do. He definitely didn't rest on his laurels.
Looking forward to book three.......I do not see how he can sew everything up on one book.
If you thought Book of the Fallen was heavy on philosophy, social-economic, religious and political musing it's a mere tributary to the rushing river of Kharkanas. While I love that aspect it seems SE is making a conscious effort to avoid the action and keep it more in that thought provoking realm. It is brilliant, as always, from that aspect but I missed the massive convergence. There was one but it didn't leave me breathless or with my eyes brimming at the tragedy. So many directions I wanted to see the story move in that it could have it didn't. So many story lines such as Gothos and Hood I wanted more of were neglected for ones I could have done without or one that even had me scratching my head.
In the Malazan realm I'd put this in the bottom three above House of Chains and Toll the Hounds which were my bottom two books from BotF. I liked book one Forge of Darkness a lot more.
That said it was still amazing and still a 5* book. SE did take a lot of chances in this book with how he told the story and from the perspectives. Some of them fell slightly flat for me but I have to give him credit for not pumping out a formula book like some authors do. He definitely didn't rest on his laurels.
Looking forward to book three.......I do not see how he can sew everything up on one book.
October 3, 2016
Fall of Light is a rather disappointing book from one of my favorite authors. To begin with, it focuses on the part of the backstory that I never found particularly interesting. With a few exceptions the Tiste are my least favorite major players in the Malazan universe. The side plots with Azathanai and Hood's war on death certainly felt much more compelling to me than anything that dealt with the Tiste themselves.
Erikson's writing has always been heavy on introspection and philosophy but Fall of Light takes this to ridiculous levels. This really detracts from the story itself and the otherwise excellent worldbuilding. The book is also spread across way too many POVs, many of which feel rather pointless so far.
My biggest disappointment was the ending, however. Instead of a proper convergence at the end of the book as expected from an Erikson novel, we are simply given a rather poor summary of the final conflict. This felt like a really strange decision to me.
Perhaps this is all building up to the final book in trilogy and it has all been worth it at the end. Unfortunately, on it's own Fall of Light is a disappointing book with a lot of extremely tedious material mixed in with just a few brilliant sections.
Erikson's writing has always been heavy on introspection and philosophy but Fall of Light takes this to ridiculous levels. This really detracts from the story itself and the otherwise excellent worldbuilding. The book is also spread across way too many POVs, many of which feel rather pointless so far.
My biggest disappointment was the ending, however. Instead of a proper convergence at the end of the book as expected from an Erikson novel, we are simply given a rather poor summary of the final conflict. This felt like a really strange decision to me.
Perhaps this is all building up to the final book in trilogy and it has all been worth it at the end. Unfortunately, on it's own Fall of Light is a disappointing book with a lot of extremely tedious material mixed in with just a few brilliant sections.
May 12, 2016
Oh what a world what a world. Words to describe: epic, mythic, Shakespearean. Days later I'm still in a mood from it. What a mess the Tiste have made for themselves, all because of love.
The only thing dragging this down from a 5 is much of it is internalized, philosophical, and intellectual, so my emotional state wasn't in full gear. Altho the latter part doesn't change tone, something shifted in me when I realized this is really a love story that the world is fighting against. Or maybe it was other things, but my emotional connection hooked on and bit me deeply. And I'm still reeling.
For you Malazan fans, wow do we get some mysteries answered! The warrens, the Eleint, holy moly Draconus, the Shake, Mother Dark remains shrouded til the end, and of course the Tiste as they become ever more divided. Malazan people, you will love this.
The only thing dragging this down from a 5 is much of it is internalized, philosophical, and intellectual, so my emotional state wasn't in full gear. Altho the latter part doesn't change tone, something shifted in me when I realized this is really a love story that the world is fighting against. Or maybe it was other things, but my emotional connection hooked on and bit me deeply. And I'm still reeling.
For you Malazan fans, wow do we get some mysteries answered! The warrens, the Eleint, holy moly Draconus, the Shake, Mother Dark remains shrouded til the end, and of course the Tiste as they become ever more divided. Malazan people, you will love this.
January 18, 2020
The way Erikson wrote the final battle scene, was pretty incredible. He's never done anything like that before - he's honestly on a completely different level to any other fantasy writer ever.
I see some say this is his weakest book, but I think it's on par with anything else he's written before apart from my personal favourites. It's just heavy on the philosophy but beautifully written (albeit tough to breakdown at times - but that's not new for Erikson fans haha). But there is so so so so so much to learn about Malazan from these books.
You have to read these books if you consider yourself a Malazan fan.
I see some say this is his weakest book, but I think it's on par with anything else he's written before apart from my personal favourites. It's just heavy on the philosophy but beautifully written (albeit tough to breakdown at times - but that's not new for Erikson fans haha). But there is so so so so so much to learn about Malazan from these books.
You have to read these books if you consider yourself a Malazan fan.
January 13, 2019
I found the book a bit of a slog without some of the answers I was seeking. That being said there were some fascinating insights into Anomander, Draconus and the origins of other characters. It was also clearer to see some of the implications for events in Book of the Fallen.
July 23, 2025
Third read reconsideration: Alright, Mr Erikson, I see you. I see that everything you write is the stuff of many rereads. And always something new to discover and to appreciate each time. I took my time with this re-read and instead of being angry at the Tiste war story... I focused on the lore. So many characters from the main series make their debut here. So much awakening magic too, seeing the beginnings and making the connections and knowing what it all evolves and extrapolates into, ages down the road... is an absolute priviledge.
So, from the initial disappointment of my first read when the book came out and now... we have moved to the full five stars. But for a five star experience of this trilogy, you have to be a Malazan veteran and scholar of decades.
Special mention to Dathenar and Prazek. I had no time for them before but upon this re-read, I'm sold. I'm a fan. Everyone in the book loves them or at least respects the hell out of them, for all they make people cross-eyed with their prattle. But then, they are cut from the same stuff the best of Steven Erikson's heroes are. Straight edges that always get the job done.
I read this and will traverse the entire Malazan bookverse by both authors again, in anticipation of new books and in the hope that Walk in Shadow will be written and published in the foreseeable future.
Second read review: Alright, I changed my mind. This is not the complete let down I thought it was the first time I read it. Maybe because I learned my lesson and made some 'editorial' choices such as:
- SKIP: anything when a Jaghut is on the page. Seriously, I don't get Jaghut, I don't want to get them, I could care less about the crap they spout. I'm sorry to lump Hood in the same trash bin, but screw that entire race, what is even the point of it? Don't know, don't care. There are many other races that are quasi-immortal, but they don't come across as such self-important assholes.
- SKIP: Any page where Dathenar and Prazek prattle at each other. They're not even remotely entertaining in their nonsensical verbosity. They might be awesome warriors but they need to keep their traps shut.
- SKIP: Any conversation between priests, priestesses, historians, etc. Pointless, irritating philosophical masturbation that makes this book heavier than a brick for no good reason. I'm not dumb, I can do a bit of high thinking, me. But what Erikson does with most of his poetical mumbo-jumbo is just that... a challenge to see how much nothing he can say in the most convoluted and wordy ways. This was done with moderation in Forge of Darkness, but Fall of Light is simply flooded with pretentious rambling that is often more disjointed than not.
- SKIM: Anything in italics (unless used as mindspeech or if it belongs to someone interesting) and every uninterrupted block of text that is more than likely a disgorging of fatalistic inner monologue. Everyone in this book is a fucking philosopher with acute depression and an urgent need for a boot up their asses to get the fuck over themselves.
Buuut, if I did all that, I found myself actually enjoying this book. It had its moments of action and high drama and unleashing of power, though some of the storytelling choices still leave me unconvinced. It also had such beautiful romances budding everywhere, like the first blossoms of spring unfurling... before being utterly destroyed by blizards and ice. I have the deepest appreciation for how Mr. Erikson writes love in the most natural and understated way. And the sex, which does pop up quite a bit, is written very realistically, with no bullshit embellishments and pretense at decorum. I'm especially pleased how the Tiste (and all the other peoples in the Malazan world) are perfectly gender-equal and any sexual orientation is as natural as breathing.
These two books in the Karkanas trilogy are very interesting to read when they show the reader all the races which populate the Malazan world, but thousands of years before they interract with humans. And how they came into being, by the inspiration of various Azathenai. These books also show us many known characters when they were much younger or even children. There is a wealth of knowledge to be drawn from all these appearances.
Speaking of which... I'm still on the fence about Anomander... who was my hero in MBotF (at least until Silchas crawled back into the world in Letheras). I had expected the Karkanas books to be about him but ... eh. He comes across as very undecisive and not all that inspiring, at least until the end of this second book when he makes a very difficult choice and he chooses right, even though it doesn't feel like it until we learn his whole world might have been in the balance. But yeah, Anomander is not the larger than life superpower we meet in Gardens of the Moon. Which brings me to my other great love of these books, Silchas Ruin. I swear my heart hurt for him every step of the way. He tries so hard, he's the only one of his people who seems animated and willing to get things done. He would probably turn out to be an angsty mess if he ever got any PoV time, but viewed from the outside, he's the only Tiste Andii not smothered by fatalism and just trudging through each day like it's a chore. And even when he mucks up, it's because he was actually trying to do something other than sit on his hands and let the other side walk all over him.
But the true MVP of this series is Draconus. Now there is a complex creature of high passion but also incredible restraint. I loved him in his relationship with the woman he loves, with his son, with his household, with others among his peers. With Anomander and Silchas especially, they have such respect and admiration for him and it shows in all their interactions (I daresay he makes a perfect father figure for them). Draconus is the most intriguing and multifaceted character, also the most relatable one and the one my heart broke for the most. I have a feeling next book will complete the shattering of my heart in this respect, whenever it comes out.
I'm crazy mad in love with the Hust weapons and that whole story arc, all the characters in it, all the horror and the drama and the creepiness. Ah, to have a sword that I can cackle madly along with... *dreamy sigh*
Also among the high points of the story... K'rull and the emergence of warrens. Or else just the inundation of the world in magic now available to everyone. In a sense, it is the birth of the MBotF magic system and watching the first labor pains was fascinating.
Low points... did I mention the fucking Jaghut? Damn. I hate them. Both Arathan and Korya were lost in the detritus of Jaghut redundance and urrgh... I hope we're good and shed of that crap for the next book. Also, the slutty woman and her three husbands? Damn, the book could have done without all that unfunny rubbish, because I don't see what the point of those characters was.
And the Liosan? Heh. The only good Tiste Liosan is a dead Tiste Liosan, forever and always, in any Malazan book of whatsoever kind.
Now, I am keeping everything crossed that Mr. Erikson finds the motivation to write Walk In Shadow because there is SO much I want to know and I will wait however long it takes to get my answers. (Mostly, tho... I just want to see how all my favorite characters get to become soletaken dragons. I NEED that!)
First read: I put this book down with a heavy heart. I had different expentations from it. Far different. In fact, I was beset by trepidation and anticipation when I finally had the book and could continue reading the tale. I blitzed through Forge of Darkness for the third time, loving every page and building up the anticipation to learn what befell all the characters I have been made to care about.
Instead, I found a morass of tiresome diatribes and ornate dialogue that says nothing of value, a bog of pointless philosophy and a myriad of random characters with random, barely touched upon plot threats. All of this slowed the main plot movement to a crawl. Pages were filled with word detritus that an editor should have set fire to.
I lost my patience with this book. I stopped caring about the characters that Erikson made me fall in love with. He wasted too much book space on forgettable people and speeches instead of staying with the characters that mattered (to me,anyway).
The ending was a cop-out. The sacrifices of life and the burden of choice upon those who made the choices were rendered banal. I felt nothing. And it breaks my heart that the author has done this to me.
The saddest part is... I don't even feel the need for a third book. Of course, there are things that need to be clarified, backstory for the Malazan series to be written. But as to what plot Forge of Darkness constructed and Fall of Light pretends to have advanced, it's finished. It sputtered out in a sad and aimless way that not even the would-be cliffhanger ending can save.
So, from the initial disappointment of my first read when the book came out and now... we have moved to the full five stars. But for a five star experience of this trilogy, you have to be a Malazan veteran and scholar of decades.
Special mention to Dathenar and Prazek. I had no time for them before but upon this re-read, I'm sold. I'm a fan. Everyone in the book loves them or at least respects the hell out of them, for all they make people cross-eyed with their prattle. But then, they are cut from the same stuff the best of Steven Erikson's heroes are. Straight edges that always get the job done.
I read this and will traverse the entire Malazan bookverse by both authors again, in anticipation of new books and in the hope that Walk in Shadow will be written and published in the foreseeable future.
Second read review: Alright, I changed my mind. This is not the complete let down I thought it was the first time I read it. Maybe because I learned my lesson and made some 'editorial' choices such as:
- SKIP: anything when a Jaghut is on the page. Seriously, I don't get Jaghut, I don't want to get them, I could care less about the crap they spout. I'm sorry to lump Hood in the same trash bin, but screw that entire race, what is even the point of it? Don't know, don't care. There are many other races that are quasi-immortal, but they don't come across as such self-important assholes.
- SKIP: Any page where Dathenar and Prazek prattle at each other. They're not even remotely entertaining in their nonsensical verbosity. They might be awesome warriors but they need to keep their traps shut.
- SKIP: Any conversation between priests, priestesses, historians, etc. Pointless, irritating philosophical masturbation that makes this book heavier than a brick for no good reason. I'm not dumb, I can do a bit of high thinking, me. But what Erikson does with most of his poetical mumbo-jumbo is just that... a challenge to see how much nothing he can say in the most convoluted and wordy ways. This was done with moderation in Forge of Darkness, but Fall of Light is simply flooded with pretentious rambling that is often more disjointed than not.
- SKIM: Anything in italics (unless used as mindspeech or if it belongs to someone interesting) and every uninterrupted block of text that is more than likely a disgorging of fatalistic inner monologue. Everyone in this book is a fucking philosopher with acute depression and an urgent need for a boot up their asses to get the fuck over themselves.
Buuut, if I did all that, I found myself actually enjoying this book. It had its moments of action and high drama and unleashing of power, though some of the storytelling choices still leave me unconvinced. It also had such beautiful romances budding everywhere, like the first blossoms of spring unfurling... before being utterly destroyed by blizards and ice. I have the deepest appreciation for how Mr. Erikson writes love in the most natural and understated way. And the sex, which does pop up quite a bit, is written very realistically, with no bullshit embellishments and pretense at decorum. I'm especially pleased how the Tiste (and all the other peoples in the Malazan world) are perfectly gender-equal and any sexual orientation is as natural as breathing.
These two books in the Karkanas trilogy are very interesting to read when they show the reader all the races which populate the Malazan world, but thousands of years before they interract with humans. And how they came into being, by the inspiration of various Azathenai. These books also show us many known characters when they were much younger or even children. There is a wealth of knowledge to be drawn from all these appearances.
Speaking of which... I'm still on the fence about Anomander... who was my hero in MBotF (at least until Silchas crawled back into the world in Letheras). I had expected the Karkanas books to be about him but ... eh. He comes across as very undecisive and not all that inspiring, at least until the end of this second book when he makes a very difficult choice and he chooses right, even though it doesn't feel like it until we learn his whole world might have been in the balance. But yeah, Anomander is not the larger than life superpower we meet in Gardens of the Moon. Which brings me to my other great love of these books, Silchas Ruin. I swear my heart hurt for him every step of the way. He tries so hard, he's the only one of his people who seems animated and willing to get things done. He would probably turn out to be an angsty mess if he ever got any PoV time, but viewed from the outside, he's the only Tiste Andii not smothered by fatalism and just trudging through each day like it's a chore. And even when he mucks up, it's because he was actually trying to do something other than sit on his hands and let the other side walk all over him.
But the true MVP of this series is Draconus. Now there is a complex creature of high passion but also incredible restraint. I loved him in his relationship with the woman he loves, with his son, with his household, with others among his peers. With Anomander and Silchas especially, they have such respect and admiration for him and it shows in all their interactions (I daresay he makes a perfect father figure for them). Draconus is the most intriguing and multifaceted character, also the most relatable one and the one my heart broke for the most. I have a feeling next book will complete the shattering of my heart in this respect, whenever it comes out.
I'm crazy mad in love with the Hust weapons and that whole story arc, all the characters in it, all the horror and the drama and the creepiness. Ah, to have a sword that I can cackle madly along with... *dreamy sigh*
Also among the high points of the story... K'rull and the emergence of warrens. Or else just the inundation of the world in magic now available to everyone. In a sense, it is the birth of the MBotF magic system and watching the first labor pains was fascinating.
Low points... did I mention the fucking Jaghut? Damn. I hate them. Both Arathan and Korya were lost in the detritus of Jaghut redundance and urrgh... I hope we're good and shed of that crap for the next book. Also, the slutty woman and her three husbands? Damn, the book could have done without all that unfunny rubbish, because I don't see what the point of those characters was.
And the Liosan? Heh. The only good Tiste Liosan is a dead Tiste Liosan, forever and always, in any Malazan book of whatsoever kind.
Now, I am keeping everything crossed that Mr. Erikson finds the motivation to write Walk In Shadow because there is SO much I want to know and I will wait however long it takes to get my answers. (Mostly, tho... I just want to see how all my favorite characters get to become soletaken dragons. I NEED that!)
First read: I put this book down with a heavy heart. I had different expentations from it. Far different. In fact, I was beset by trepidation and anticipation when I finally had the book and could continue reading the tale. I blitzed through Forge of Darkness for the third time, loving every page and building up the anticipation to learn what befell all the characters I have been made to care about.
Instead, I found a morass of tiresome diatribes and ornate dialogue that says nothing of value, a bog of pointless philosophy and a myriad of random characters with random, barely touched upon plot threats. All of this slowed the main plot movement to a crawl. Pages were filled with word detritus that an editor should have set fire to.
I lost my patience with this book. I stopped caring about the characters that Erikson made me fall in love with. He wasted too much book space on forgettable people and speeches instead of staying with the characters that mattered (to me,anyway).
The ending was a cop-out. The sacrifices of life and the burden of choice upon those who made the choices were rendered banal. I felt nothing. And it breaks my heart that the author has done this to me.
The saddest part is... I don't even feel the need for a third book. Of course, there are things that need to be clarified, backstory for the Malazan series to be written. But as to what plot Forge of Darkness constructed and Fall of Light pretends to have advanced, it's finished. It sputtered out in a sad and aimless way that not even the would-be cliffhanger ending can save.
July 5, 2024
10/10 incredible book. very excited to reread this so i can understand it.
June 22, 2016
This is a 4,5 stars. Why? Because I did not care much for the last two chapters, and Erikson did something that I still don't know how to feel about it.
The first thing to realize reading this book is that you have to forget about TMBotF. As simple as that. Otherwise your expectations will not be met. And you will say this book is lame.
It's not. It's great. It's one of the best books Erikson wrote so far, actually. I read it in a month, which is a lot, considering how avid I become reading Erikson, but that's just because I was busy. I already fell like grieving. The next book will take a while and I need to see Shadow rising...
The first thing to realize reading this book is that you have to forget about TMBotF. As simple as that. Otherwise your expectations will not be met. And you will say this book is lame.
It's not. It's great. It's one of the best books Erikson wrote so far, actually. I read it in a month, which is a lot, considering how avid I become reading Erikson, but that's just because I was busy. I already fell like grieving. The next book will take a while and I need to see Shadow rising...
April 18, 2018
Christ, I don’t even know what to say…. But here I go again for old time’s sake!
This is different… the The Kharkanas Trilogy is different from what I’m used from Erikson… is more crude I don’t think that’s the word I’m looking for but bare with me! You will not find characters that feel like your best friends or that you connect like you do with The Malazan series. But everything feels primordial (still not sure that that’s the word I’m looking for) like you walking with gods from the malazan world gah! Curse mah inability to articulate a lineal thought!!! What I think I’m trying to say is that this is the beginning of a lot of mah favorite Malazan mythos… some of my preconceptions were shattered some I was right on…
You know how I’m always talking about how epic battles are mah favorite part of fantasy reading? Something amazing happened here… I’ve had a boner to see a Hust Legion do what they do after the shore in Christ I can’t remember which book! You know the one where the prince from the Shake is standing guard at the gate and slays dragon after dragon that keeps trying to come out of the gate to take the shore? When in the other side you see the Eleint (?) chick breaking some dude by telling him that there is no a fucking legion of hust warriors in the other side but one crazy mother fucker with a sword that screams madness and he just keep cutting his dragons to fucking pieces? Yeah! That… and then finally comes the hour to see a fucking Hust legion with their mad swords and armor fight… and the way it was told… I… Christ I don’t wanna spoil anything to anybody but that’s one of the most amazing epic battles I’ve ever read.
Gah! I’ma stop here before I spoil some shit! Just read Malazan goodness for Christ sake! As usual you will not be disappointed! Except for the humor… yeah there is some funny shit but don’t feel the same! I’m not complaining is just different!
This is different… the The Kharkanas Trilogy is different from what I’m used from Erikson… is more crude I don’t think that’s the word I’m looking for but bare with me! You will not find characters that feel like your best friends or that you connect like you do with The Malazan series. But everything feels primordial (still not sure that that’s the word I’m looking for) like you walking with gods from the malazan world gah! Curse mah inability to articulate a lineal thought!!! What I think I’m trying to say is that this is the beginning of a lot of mah favorite Malazan mythos… some of my preconceptions were shattered some I was right on…
You know how I’m always talking about how epic battles are mah favorite part of fantasy reading? Something amazing happened here… I’ve had a boner to see a Hust Legion do what they do after the shore in Christ I can’t remember which book! You know the one where the prince from the Shake is standing guard at the gate and slays dragon after dragon that keeps trying to come out of the gate to take the shore? When in the other side you see the Eleint (?) chick breaking some dude by telling him that there is no a fucking legion of hust warriors in the other side but one crazy mother fucker with a sword that screams madness and he just keep cutting his dragons to fucking pieces? Yeah! That… and then finally comes the hour to see a fucking Hust legion with their mad swords and armor fight… and the way it was told… I… Christ I don’t wanna spoil anything to anybody but that’s one of the most amazing epic battles I’ve ever read.
Gah! I’ma stop here before I spoil some shit! Just read Malazan goodness for Christ sake! As usual you will not be disappointed! Except for the humor… yeah there is some funny shit but don’t feel the same! I’m not complaining is just different!
March 25, 2023
Masterpiece!
April 29, 2025
I'm conflicted about this book. It's a much different writing style and structure than the Malazan books. It is almost completely concerned with characters' thoughts and interactions, to the point where major plot action is often happening off-page. It makes for a frustrating read, further complicated by the fact that Erikson drops in cameos of just about every character from Malazan who could be around in this time frame; some of whom are big plot drivers, but again we are forced to observe this all at a distance. Very frustrating and slow to read.
It's a weird way to tell the story, and I think maybe I have a beginning of an understanding of what Erikson is getting at. There are some absolutely beautiful passages in here, quite possibly some of his best writing. I think I, as a reader, am to blame for some of my issues with this book (and Forge of Darkness). The story I was given is decidedly not what I expected it to be coming from MBotF. Characters and events I "knew" are... different or at times even outright contradictory to the story we had been told before. It is jarring and difficult to come to terms with at times, but I acknowledge it's my own issue, not necessarily a fault of the book. As I think on it more, and there is a lot to think about, Erikson is likely a genius storyteller, and I expect I'll be rereading this at some point
If you like Malazan mostly for the insane action and all the fantasy elements, maybe skip this. But if you dig on the meandering philosophizing, character interactions, and top tier prose, then certainly pick these up.
(I really wonder if anyone has read these before reading MBotF, and what that experience would be like.)
It's a weird way to tell the story, and I think maybe I have a beginning of an understanding of what Erikson is getting at. There are some absolutely beautiful passages in here, quite possibly some of his best writing. I think I, as a reader, am to blame for some of my issues with this book (and Forge of Darkness). The story I was given is decidedly not what I expected it to be coming from MBotF. Characters and events I "knew" are... different or at times even outright contradictory to the story we had been told before. It is jarring and difficult to come to terms with at times, but I acknowledge it's my own issue, not necessarily a fault of the book. As I think on it more, and there is a lot to think about, Erikson is likely a genius storyteller, and I expect I'll be rereading this at some point
If you like Malazan mostly for the insane action and all the fantasy elements, maybe skip this. But if you dig on the meandering philosophizing, character interactions, and top tier prose, then certainly pick these up.
(I really wonder if anyone has read these before reading MBotF, and what that experience would be like.)
October 11, 2023
Lots of ruminating, and not a lot of action in this one.
May 21, 2016
I imagine that many fans of this series, like myself, have been looking forward to the origin story of many of these characters. Unfortunately rather than deliver on this promise, we are given a disappointing cop-out that simply revisits tired old themes. We have 46 hours of philosophical meanderings, an entire book's build-up of a massive battle that is only summarized and not shown (a huge mistake), and still no idea how this story ties into the main Malazan world. There is no sign of how these characters became soletaken dragons, how Hood became lord of death, the origin of Dragnipur and how Anomander slew Draconis, the origin of the Tiste Edur, how the Tiste Andii and Liosan actually changed into what they are, who the Azathanai really are, or many other key historical events. In fact, this book actually raises more questions and uncertainties about all of these things than it answers. I can only assume this is purposeful on the parts of the author, but as a reader I am very unsatisfied and disappointed.
It's kind of like if the Star Wars prequels never shows how Anakin became Darth Vader, and instead has him marry someone else and have adventures in another corner of the universe where he never met Obi-Wan. In fact, I have to wonder if this is even part of the same world we had visited before, or whether this is an entirely alternate universe. It may be in the office prerogative to rewrite the story, but it certainly is a disservice to fans who have waited so long for events that apparently are not coming. Promises are made that momentous things that come in the third and concluding volume, but I think we should all have a healthy dose of skepticism about that at this point
Finally, a note about the narration. It's unbelievable to me that whoever is producing these books cannot keep standardized pronunciation of words. It has changed from all the different narrators and different books. This time they have completely changed the pronunciation of Tiste Andii. Very unprofessional and I'm surprised that the publisher has allowed slips such as this.
It's kind of like if the Star Wars prequels never shows how Anakin became Darth Vader, and instead has him marry someone else and have adventures in another corner of the universe where he never met Obi-Wan. In fact, I have to wonder if this is even part of the same world we had visited before, or whether this is an entirely alternate universe. It may be in the office prerogative to rewrite the story, but it certainly is a disservice to fans who have waited so long for events that apparently are not coming. Promises are made that momentous things that come in the third and concluding volume, but I think we should all have a healthy dose of skepticism about that at this point
Finally, a note about the narration. It's unbelievable to me that whoever is producing these books cannot keep standardized pronunciation of words. It has changed from all the different narrators and different books. This time they have completely changed the pronunciation of Tiste Andii. Very unprofessional and I'm surprised that the publisher has allowed slips such as this.
May 11, 2016
Its a great book. I will not say it is Erikson's best, but it is definitely a great book. Actually I am having some trouble comparing these books to the original ten. Since the Kharkanas books are written in a different narrative register, it often feels odd to see a familiar SE trope and then see it turn out differently.
Overall I would say there is a more meta feel to this book as SE infodumps a lot.. which again is unusual, but also the way he slides in references to MBotF feels like he is having a lot of fun doing it.
So this book...
I would say it has many extremely strong portions - Jaghut, Thel Akai, Dragon, Denier etc
The Liosan portions were a bit boring to be honest.
But then in the last part of the book I found a comment about Tiste navel gazing which made me realize the philosophical bloat was intentional and just SE having fun
Overall I would say there is a more meta feel to this book as SE infodumps a lot.. which again is unusual, but also the way he slides in references to MBotF feels like he is having a lot of fun doing it.
So this book...
I would say it has many extremely strong portions - Jaghut, Thel Akai, Dragon, Denier etc
The Liosan portions were a bit boring to be honest.
But then in the last part of the book I found a comment about Tiste navel gazing which made me realize the philosophical bloat was intentional and just SE having fun
February 26, 2016
The first book may not have been amazing, but I'll still read this, just because
A: Steven doesn't have the best history with first books
B: Malazan Book of the Fallen is the best thing I've ever read.
A: Steven doesn't have the best history with first books
B: Malazan Book of the Fallen is the best thing I've ever read.
September 23, 2024
Мога да напиша много за разочарованието си, но не мисля да се хабя, за разлика от Ериксън, който е напълно готов да буксува 1100 страници без никаква причина, освен тази, че иска да напише трилогия, но явно няма идеите за три цели книгиа.
Fall of Light не е роман втора част от трилогия, а филър. Събрани в тези страници са най-лошите елементи от стила на Ериксън, безкрайни монолози, безкрайно философстване, "slow burn", който не само е непоносимо бавен, а никога не е бил запален първоначално, защото този роман няма кулминация. В бъдеще, когато евентуално излезе Walk in Shadow, някой някъде ще напише едни 10 страници обобщение (може би няма да успее 10 страници да запълни, толкова малко е реалният сюжет в тази тухла) и Карканас трилогията ще си е една добра дуология, стига, разбира се, Walk in Shadow да не се окаже същото, може би потенциално по-голямо разочарование...
Fall of Light не е роман втора част от трилогия, а филър. Събрани в тези страници са най-лошите елементи от стила на Ериксън, безкрайни монолози, безкрайно философстване, "slow burn", който не само е непоносимо бавен, а никога не е бил запален първоначално, защото този роман няма кулминация. В бъдеще, когато евентуално излезе Walk in Shadow, някой някъде ще напише едни 10 страници обобщение (може би няма да успее 10 страници да запълни, толкова малко е реалният сюжет в тази тухла) и Карканас трилогията ще си е една добра дуология, стига, разбира се, Walk in Shadow да не се окаже същото, може би потенциално по-голямо разочарование...
July 13, 2024
erikson's ambition and brain....
June 28, 2016
Fans of Malazan Empire, rejoice! Erikson is back with another entry in The Kharkanas Trilogy, the prequel, if you will, to both The Malazan Book of the Fallen and Ian Esslemont's Malazan Empire. You can find y review for the first book here.
Let's get the down side out of the way first. Fall of Light suffers from the same thing its predecessor did – it is not really an independent book with the beginning, middle and end, but rather a part of a larger book. In addition, it is the middle book and, while some things do get a resolution, it is not the resolution. The convergence at the end of the book does not bring us the big bang, but rather a sigh, taking of breath before the final reckoning. Some readers might not be fine with the lack of overwhelming, kickass action. But, I bet that cliffhanger will get you.
That being said, this is still Steven Erikson’s book, which means it’s exquisitely written, has philosophical bent, heartbreaking events and dark, dark humor. If you are like me – up-to-date with your Malazan reading – then you know that after 12 Erikson’s and 19 books in total there is no easy way to summarize this novel. There are a lot of firsts in this novel as well as a lot of origin stories, some of whom will blow you away (Shake! Tiste Edur!). There are moments of shattering violence that explain some characters’ futures (Sandalath Drukorlat, for example) and moments of hilarity (Jughut being the primary source for me, especially Hood’s officers meeting with Gothos). Erikson is filling in the foundations of his and Esslemont’s world – the birth of new magic from K’rul’s blood and opening of gates to new Warrens, reappearance of Dragons and their deal with K’rul, forging of friendships (and enmities) that reach into the era of Malazan Empire and many, many other things that are impossible to mention in the simple review. Loyal Malazan readers will feel as if on a treasure hunt.
This is also a very personal story as many of the most important moments don’t take place during some epic conflict or battle, but in conversation between two (or more) characters. Erikson’s usual themes (of civilization, history, environmental destruction, heroism, etc.) are still present, but brought down to the personal, to the core at which lies the heart and self-sacrifice. Even Gallan, who is recounting this story to Fisher, acknowledges this.
I wished we got at least one chapter from Draconus’s point of view, but that can change in the last book though I have a feeling we will not get everything we wanted from this story (forging of Dragnipur, for example).
One thing is for sure, I am suffering from serious Malazan withdrawal and now I am contemplating re-reading the series again. I am curious to see how the novels read after all these revelations. Maybe I will wait for the entire trilogy to be completed. For now, I’ll be content with Malazan Re-read of the Fallen.
A must read for every Malazan fan. I cannot wait for the final book, Walk in Shadow.
Let's get the down side out of the way first. Fall of Light suffers from the same thing its predecessor did – it is not really an independent book with the beginning, middle and end, but rather a part of a larger book. In addition, it is the middle book and, while some things do get a resolution, it is not the resolution. The convergence at the end of the book does not bring us the big bang, but rather a sigh, taking of breath before the final reckoning. Some readers might not be fine with the lack of overwhelming, kickass action. But, I bet that cliffhanger will get you.
That being said, this is still Steven Erikson’s book, which means it’s exquisitely written, has philosophical bent, heartbreaking events and dark, dark humor. If you are like me – up-to-date with your Malazan reading – then you know that after 12 Erikson’s and 19 books in total there is no easy way to summarize this novel. There are a lot of firsts in this novel as well as a lot of origin stories, some of whom will blow you away (Shake! Tiste Edur!). There are moments of shattering violence that explain some characters’ futures (Sandalath Drukorlat, for example) and moments of hilarity (Jughut being the primary source for me, especially Hood’s officers meeting with Gothos). Erikson is filling in the foundations of his and Esslemont’s world – the birth of new magic from K’rul’s blood and opening of gates to new Warrens, reappearance of Dragons and their deal with K’rul, forging of friendships (and enmities) that reach into the era of Malazan Empire and many, many other things that are impossible to mention in the simple review. Loyal Malazan readers will feel as if on a treasure hunt.
This is also a very personal story as many of the most important moments don’t take place during some epic conflict or battle, but in conversation between two (or more) characters. Erikson’s usual themes (of civilization, history, environmental destruction, heroism, etc.) are still present, but brought down to the personal, to the core at which lies the heart and self-sacrifice. Even Gallan, who is recounting this story to Fisher, acknowledges this.
Now, poet, I see the shock writ deep upon your lined face, and yet it must be clear to you, even in this moment of despair, that love was at the heart of this tale, and now we must once more settle back and take breath, steadying ourselves for what is still to come.
I wished we got at least one chapter from Draconus’s point of view, but that can change in the last book though I have a feeling we will not get everything we wanted from this story (forging of Dragnipur, for example).
One thing is for sure, I am suffering from serious Malazan withdrawal and now I am contemplating re-reading the series again. I am curious to see how the novels read after all these revelations. Maybe I will wait for the entire trilogy to be completed. For now, I’ll be content with Malazan Re-read of the Fallen.
A must read for every Malazan fan. I cannot wait for the final book, Walk in Shadow.
What comes next, my friend, is entirely another kind of glory.
What is the secret of sorcery? It is potential. Now then, on the dawn of magic’s burgeoning, let us see what they make of it.
July 26, 2016
review in portuguese
Tragédia e Comédia. Estes são os gêneros do teatro dos gregos antigos. Na Tragédia, o herói sofre sem ter culpa, ele é destinado a esse sofrimento, é destinado a tragédia em seu futuro. Fall of Light é uma tragédia no sentido grego – ou melhor Tiste – da palavra. Comédia e Tragédia. Tragédia...
As tragédias desse livro – e da Trilogia Kharkanas – podem ser traçadas de volta para um único conceito; amor. É o amor de Dracconus por Mother Dark que inicia a guerra civil e a cisão dos Tiste. É o amor de Hood por sua falecida esposa que põe em movimento a guerra dos Jaghut contra a morte. É o amor de Andarist por sua falecida esposa que faz com que Anomander se ausente durante tanto tempo de Kharkanas e que abre o caminho para as maquinações dos nobres. Amor, um sentimento tão lindo, mas que pode levar às maiores tragédias.
Não estou dizendo que esse livro é um poço sem fim de sofrimento (apesar de chegar perto disso), existem momentos cômicos e de camaradagem protagonizados pelos Soldados Poetas Dathenar e Prazek e pelos Thel Akai, mas esses momentos de alivio cômico só realçam a inevitável tragédia que cairá sobre os Tiste (e pior, a tragédia que somos levados a crer repetidamente cai sobre eles).
Uma das coisas que diferenciam Fall of Light de Forge of Darkness é o motim do livro. No primeiro livro, uma frase é repetida diversas vezes por vários personagens: Haverá Paz. Essa busca dos personagens pela paz é o que desencadeia a guerra civil. Em Fall of Light, por sua vez, o motim é Haverá Justiça! Acontece que a justiça que é conquistada pelo fio da espada é fria e assim voltamos ao primeiro parágrafo dessa resenha; tragédia...
Deixando momentaneamente de lado a tragédia dos Tiste, é preciso dizer que neste livro há também a tragédia de Hood e dos Jaghut em sua Guerra contra a Morte. Aqui são reveladas algumas das informações mais importantes e alguns dos pilares fundamentais do Mundo de Malaz.
Nessa plotline fica evidente, que se os Jaghuts não fossem tão absurdamente insanos (e se eles efetivamente tivessem a vontade de fazer isso) eles teriam destruído os Imass muito antes do fatídico Ritual de Tellan e da tragédia (novamente ela) que viria a se abater sobre àquele povo.
Por fim, a terceira das grandes plotlines de Fall of Light é a de K’rul em sua busca por ordenar o seu presente para o mundo e impedir que Errastas (maldito seja Errastas! *Shakes Fist*) tomo o controle dele. Aqui são reveladas as origens do Warrens, e um pouco da própria origem do Mundo de Malaz.
O final do livro pode ser decepcionante para alguns, mas não para mim, eu entendo perfeitamente o porquê de Steven Erikson ter feito o que fez. Para ele, aquilo não era importante, o importante são as tragédias – tanto as pequenas quanto as colossais – que se abatem sobre Kurald Galain. Comédia e Tragédia...
Tragédia e Comédia. Estes são os gêneros do teatro dos gregos antigos. Na Tragédia, o herói sofre sem ter culpa, ele é destinado a esse sofrimento, é destinado a tragédia em seu futuro. Fall of Light é uma tragédia no sentido grego – ou melhor Tiste – da palavra. Comédia e Tragédia. Tragédia...
As tragédias desse livro – e da Trilogia Kharkanas – podem ser traçadas de volta para um único conceito; amor. É o amor de Dracconus por Mother Dark que inicia a guerra civil e a cisão dos Tiste. É o amor de Hood por sua falecida esposa que põe em movimento a guerra dos Jaghut contra a morte. É o amor de Andarist por sua falecida esposa que faz com que Anomander se ausente durante tanto tempo de Kharkanas e que abre o caminho para as maquinações dos nobres. Amor, um sentimento tão lindo, mas que pode levar às maiores tragédias.
Não estou dizendo que esse livro é um poço sem fim de sofrimento (apesar de chegar perto disso), existem momentos cômicos e de camaradagem protagonizados pelos Soldados Poetas Dathenar e Prazek e pelos Thel Akai, mas esses momentos de alivio cômico só realçam a inevitável tragédia que cairá sobre os Tiste (e pior, a tragédia que somos levados a crer repetidamente cai sobre eles).
Uma das coisas que diferenciam Fall of Light de Forge of Darkness é o motim do livro. No primeiro livro, uma frase é repetida diversas vezes por vários personagens: Haverá Paz. Essa busca dos personagens pela paz é o que desencadeia a guerra civil. Em Fall of Light, por sua vez, o motim é Haverá Justiça! Acontece que a justiça que é conquistada pelo fio da espada é fria e assim voltamos ao primeiro parágrafo dessa resenha; tragédia...
Deixando momentaneamente de lado a tragédia dos Tiste, é preciso dizer que neste livro há também a tragédia de Hood e dos Jaghut em sua Guerra contra a Morte. Aqui são reveladas algumas das informações mais importantes e alguns dos pilares fundamentais do Mundo de Malaz.
Nessa plotline fica evidente, que se os Jaghuts não fossem tão absurdamente insanos (e se eles efetivamente tivessem a vontade de fazer isso) eles teriam destruído os Imass muito antes do fatídico Ritual de Tellan e da tragédia (novamente ela) que viria a se abater sobre àquele povo.
Por fim, a terceira das grandes plotlines de Fall of Light é a de K’rul em sua busca por ordenar o seu presente para o mundo e impedir que Errastas (maldito seja Errastas! *Shakes Fist*) tomo o controle dele. Aqui são reveladas as origens do Warrens, e um pouco da própria origem do Mundo de Malaz.
O final do livro pode ser decepcionante para alguns, mas não para mim, eu entendo perfeitamente o porquê de Steven Erikson ter feito o que fez. Para ele, aquilo não era importante, o importante são as tragédias – tanto as pequenas quanto as colossais – que se abatem sobre Kurald Galain. Comédia e Tragédia...
June 16, 2016
I had a really hard time getting into the first half of this book. Having read the 10 MBotF pretty much back to back, reading ICE's first 5 books after that, and FoD relatively soon after that it was always a pretty smooth transition from book to book.
But waiting over a year for FoL I felt like I spent 50% of my time googling who the characters were from FoD and 50% reading... combine that with the philosophical inner musings of all the characters I was really having to push through at some point. I've never had any issue with philosophy from Erikson as I usually tend to enjoy it, but I guess trying to recall past plot/characters + the philosophical tendencies was tough to push through.
That being said - once I got back into the swing of the things and felt caught up with the Malazan world I couldn't put this down. There are so many characters that have so much more depth now after FoL. You glean so much info/understanding about Draconus, the Eleint, Orfantal, Silchas, Urusander, the Azathanai, Tiste Edur/Shake, etc. and just adds depth to the whole series. I really wish there was a book or two solely from Draconus' point of view... but somehow I don't think that's happening. The second half has much more action than FoD and per usual the convergence at the end is pretty spectacular. At any rate, even with a slow start, this is a must read for any Malazan fan.
Maybe if I had waited and read this straight through with all the other books or even on a re-read maybe this will turn into 5 stars.
But waiting over a year for FoL I felt like I spent 50% of my time googling who the characters were from FoD and 50% reading... combine that with the philosophical inner musings of all the characters I was really having to push through at some point. I've never had any issue with philosophy from Erikson as I usually tend to enjoy it, but I guess trying to recall past plot/characters + the philosophical tendencies was tough to push through.
That being said - once I got back into the swing of the things and felt caught up with the Malazan world I couldn't put this down. There are so many characters that have so much more depth now after FoL. You glean so much info/understanding about Draconus, the Eleint, Orfantal, Silchas, Urusander, the Azathanai, Tiste Edur/Shake, etc. and just adds depth to the whole series. I really wish there was a book or two solely from Draconus' point of view... but somehow I don't think that's happening. The second half has much more action than FoD and per usual the convergence at the end is pretty spectacular. At any rate, even with a slow start, this is a must read for any Malazan fan.
Maybe if I had waited and read this straight through with all the other books or even on a re-read maybe this will turn into 5 stars.
November 10, 2016
Erikson's books always have a dose of inner dialog that's sometimes distracting, usually confusing, and mostly boring. But he has always more than made up for it with characters that DO things. I don't feel everything I read has to be explicitly explained - sometimes the confusion adds a sense of depth and reality to the setting, but only if the balance is right.
Not so in this book. For example, this tome largely builds up to a climactic battle that, somewhat shockingly, happens in the *background* of the last section of the book. Instead, we are treated to interminable inner dialogs, mostly about heart-breaking despair and sadness. Same with a presumably quixotic quest to conquer death, or an extended attempt to rebuild a dead legion. Lots and lots and LOTS of anguished inner dialog, knowing banter, and glacially slow action.
I'm willing to treat Shakespeare as literature, invest the time it takes to analyze, draw connections, and link to profound musings. Erikson is not Shakespeare, so I'm not willing to make the same investment because the payoff is highly uncertain.
Not so in this book. For example, this tome largely builds up to a climactic battle that, somewhat shockingly, happens in the *background* of the last section of the book. Instead, we are treated to interminable inner dialogs, mostly about heart-breaking despair and sadness. Same with a presumably quixotic quest to conquer death, or an extended attempt to rebuild a dead legion. Lots and lots and LOTS of anguished inner dialog, knowing banter, and glacially slow action.
I'm willing to treat Shakespeare as literature, invest the time it takes to analyze, draw connections, and link to profound musings. Erikson is not Shakespeare, so I'm not willing to make the same investment because the payoff is highly uncertain.
August 30, 2017
This book is so very excellent if you have read the main storyline before. Even though this is a prequel, it benefits from having read the later books first, because it provides so many "wait, he's THAT GUY?"-reveals that are just great every single time.
While I was slightly underwhelmed by the finale, the whole of the book is an easy five stars for the number of epic reveals alone. The worst thing about the book is that the third book in the series is so far away that I will likely have forgotten most of the characters by the time it comes around. :(
While I was slightly underwhelmed by the finale, the whole of the book is an easy five stars for the number of epic reveals alone. The worst thing about the book is that the third book in the series is so far away that I will likely have forgotten most of the characters by the time it comes around. :(
November 18, 2025
gonna need another read, but I will time that for the finales announcement
June 23, 2016
Never before have we had to wait this long for a new novel by Steven Erikson. Four years is a long time between installments for the author, which made Fall of Light the most eagerly anticipated fantasy novel of 2016. In this house at least.
And although Forge of Darkness differed in style and tone and did not feature the sort of convergence that always allowed Erikson to cap all of his novels off with style, there was more than enough secrets, questions, and revelations within its covers to satisfy even the most demanding Malazan fans. I was expecting nothing less of this second volume, which is probably why it turned out to be such a disappointment.
Fall of Light was the most difficult Malazan book to get into since Toll the Hounds. Yet unlike that novel, whose ending featured a mind-blowing convergence that totally saved it, the second installment in the Kharkanas trilogy doesn't have that kind of pay-off at the end. Unfortunately, the first part of Fall of Light moves so slowly that I had to pause reading it twice, first to read R. Scott Bakker's The Great Ordeal and then Mark Lawrence's The Wheel of Osheim. Things get better in the second portion of the novel, true, but it's not enough. I'm sad to report that Fall of Light is Erikson's most disappointing Malazan work to date.
Here's the blurb:
It is a bitter winter and civil war is ravaging Kurald Galain. Urusander’s Legion prepares to march on the city of Kharkanas. The rebels’ only opposition lies scattered and weakened - bereft of a leader since Anomander’s departure in search of his estranged brother. The remaining brother, Silchas Ruin, rules in his stead. He seeks to gather the Houseblades of the Highborn families to him and resurrect the Hust Legion in the southlands, but he is fast running out of time.
The officers and leaders of Urusander’s Legion, led by the ruthless Hunn Raal, want the Consort, Draconus, cast aside and their commander to marry Mother Dark and take his place at the side of the Living Goddess. But this union will be far more than simply political. A sorcerous power has claimed those opposing Mother Dark: given form by the exiled High Priestess Syntara, the Cult of Light rises in answer to Mother Dark and her Children.
Far to the west, an unlikely army has gathered, seeking an enemy without form, in a place none can find, and commanded by a Jaghut driven mad with grief. It seems Hood’s call has been heard, and the long-abandoned city of Omtose Phellack is now home to a rabble of new arrivals: Dog-Runners from the south, and Jheck warriors. From the Western Sea strange ships have grounded upon the harsh shore bearing blue-skinned strangers to offer Hood their swords. And from mountain fastnesses and isolated valleys of the North, Toblakai arrive to pledge themselves to Hood’s seemingly impossible war. Soon, they will set forth – or not at all – under the banners of the living. Soon, weapons will be drawn, with Death itself the enemy.
Beneath the chaos of such events, and spanning the realm and those countless other realms hidden behind its veil, magic now bleeds into the world. Unconstrained, mysterious and savage, the power that is the lifeblood of the Azathanai, K’rul, runs loose and wild - and following its scent, seeking the places of wounding and hurt where the sorcery rushes forth, entities both new and ancient are gathering . . . and they are eager to feed.
Once more, Steven Erikson's worldbuilding remains top notch and was by far my favorite aspect of this book. As was the case with Forge of Darkness, even though this second volume raises a panoply of new questions and provides very few answers, discovering more and more regarding that distant and mysterious past is utterly fascinating. Revelations concerning the Thel Akai, the Jaghut, the Dog-Runners, the Eleint, K'rul and the new Warrens, Draconus, and much, much more, prove yet again that the Malazan universe resounds with more depth than any other SFF environment ever created.
On the other hand, the characterization is the facet that leaves the most to be desired. I felt that Forge of Darkness unfolded through the eyes of a great many disparate characters, a lot more than I felt was necessary. Only time would tell, I opined, if such a high number of POV protagonists was indeed required in order to convey the story in full. Fall of Light demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that this tale suffers from so many different perspectives. This enormous amount of points of view bogs down the narrative and often brings little to the overall story arc. Moreover, every single character goes through unending bouts of introspection, and it appears that they all have their own thoughts on the rise and fall of civilization as we know it. There is so much introspection in this book that it makes R. Scott Bakker's The Darkness That Comes Before feel like a page-turning thriller. Yes, it is that bad. The Thel Akai plotline and the one focusing on Prazek and Dathenar are meant to provide comic relief from the dark and depressing undertones that imbue the entire novel, but they fall short and come across as a bit silly, all things considered.
If you can see beyond all that self-examination, philosophical meanderings, and soul-searching, there are a number of storylines that stand out from the rest of the pack. Chief among them would be the Jaghut and Hood's war on death, K'rul's revelations regarding what spilling his blood has engendered, the Hust Legion, the Shake, Anomander Rake's quest, as well as Draconus' apparent love for Mother Dark and its repercussions. But in the end, Fall of Light suffers from way too much contemplation and from its Shakespearean style and tone.
The pace is atrocious. There is no other way to put it, and its a world away from the sort of rhythm Erikson has accustomed us to in the past. The author usually starts slow, gradually building up the plotlines, and then going all out for a mind-blowing finale. Virtually all the Malazan installments were like that, so fans have come to expect such structure from Erikson. With Forge of Darkness, it was the complete opposite. The book featured a strong beginning, and then an even stronger middle portion. Yet instead of the exciting ending that we have come to love, Erikson came up with a somewhat weaker and anticlimactic ending. Fall of Light follows a different pattern. This one features an interesting but slow-moving beginning, a so-so middle portion that gets better as we get closer to the end, and a decidedly lackluster ending that fails to save the book.
This mostly has to do with the fact that the long-awaited civil war showdown against Urusander's Legion doesn't take place per se. Instead of making the great battle a part of the narrative and thus ensuring a grand and rousing finale, Erikson elected to briefly summarize it. Given the fact that the majority of the plotlines from the last two installments all led to this confrontation, failing to make this engagement a part of the narrative pretty much killed the story and robbed the ending of any emotional impact it was meant to convey. Hard to believe that Steven Erikson made such a decision, as few speculative fiction writers can come up with such amazing action sequences and battl scenes.
In the end, Fall of Light features too much introspection and too little action. The tale moves forward at a snail's pace and offers too little in terms of pay-off at the end. As such, it is Erikson's weakest Malazan book to date and a major disappointment. Let's hope that the final volume will be a return to form for the author. . .
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
And although Forge of Darkness differed in style and tone and did not feature the sort of convergence that always allowed Erikson to cap all of his novels off with style, there was more than enough secrets, questions, and revelations within its covers to satisfy even the most demanding Malazan fans. I was expecting nothing less of this second volume, which is probably why it turned out to be such a disappointment.
Fall of Light was the most difficult Malazan book to get into since Toll the Hounds. Yet unlike that novel, whose ending featured a mind-blowing convergence that totally saved it, the second installment in the Kharkanas trilogy doesn't have that kind of pay-off at the end. Unfortunately, the first part of Fall of Light moves so slowly that I had to pause reading it twice, first to read R. Scott Bakker's The Great Ordeal and then Mark Lawrence's The Wheel of Osheim. Things get better in the second portion of the novel, true, but it's not enough. I'm sad to report that Fall of Light is Erikson's most disappointing Malazan work to date.
Here's the blurb:
It is a bitter winter and civil war is ravaging Kurald Galain. Urusander’s Legion prepares to march on the city of Kharkanas. The rebels’ only opposition lies scattered and weakened - bereft of a leader since Anomander’s departure in search of his estranged brother. The remaining brother, Silchas Ruin, rules in his stead. He seeks to gather the Houseblades of the Highborn families to him and resurrect the Hust Legion in the southlands, but he is fast running out of time.
The officers and leaders of Urusander’s Legion, led by the ruthless Hunn Raal, want the Consort, Draconus, cast aside and their commander to marry Mother Dark and take his place at the side of the Living Goddess. But this union will be far more than simply political. A sorcerous power has claimed those opposing Mother Dark: given form by the exiled High Priestess Syntara, the Cult of Light rises in answer to Mother Dark and her Children.
Far to the west, an unlikely army has gathered, seeking an enemy without form, in a place none can find, and commanded by a Jaghut driven mad with grief. It seems Hood’s call has been heard, and the long-abandoned city of Omtose Phellack is now home to a rabble of new arrivals: Dog-Runners from the south, and Jheck warriors. From the Western Sea strange ships have grounded upon the harsh shore bearing blue-skinned strangers to offer Hood their swords. And from mountain fastnesses and isolated valleys of the North, Toblakai arrive to pledge themselves to Hood’s seemingly impossible war. Soon, they will set forth – or not at all – under the banners of the living. Soon, weapons will be drawn, with Death itself the enemy.
Beneath the chaos of such events, and spanning the realm and those countless other realms hidden behind its veil, magic now bleeds into the world. Unconstrained, mysterious and savage, the power that is the lifeblood of the Azathanai, K’rul, runs loose and wild - and following its scent, seeking the places of wounding and hurt where the sorcery rushes forth, entities both new and ancient are gathering . . . and they are eager to feed.
Once more, Steven Erikson's worldbuilding remains top notch and was by far my favorite aspect of this book. As was the case with Forge of Darkness, even though this second volume raises a panoply of new questions and provides very few answers, discovering more and more regarding that distant and mysterious past is utterly fascinating. Revelations concerning the Thel Akai, the Jaghut, the Dog-Runners, the Eleint, K'rul and the new Warrens, Draconus, and much, much more, prove yet again that the Malazan universe resounds with more depth than any other SFF environment ever created.
On the other hand, the characterization is the facet that leaves the most to be desired. I felt that Forge of Darkness unfolded through the eyes of a great many disparate characters, a lot more than I felt was necessary. Only time would tell, I opined, if such a high number of POV protagonists was indeed required in order to convey the story in full. Fall of Light demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that this tale suffers from so many different perspectives. This enormous amount of points of view bogs down the narrative and often brings little to the overall story arc. Moreover, every single character goes through unending bouts of introspection, and it appears that they all have their own thoughts on the rise and fall of civilization as we know it. There is so much introspection in this book that it makes R. Scott Bakker's The Darkness That Comes Before feel like a page-turning thriller. Yes, it is that bad. The Thel Akai plotline and the one focusing on Prazek and Dathenar are meant to provide comic relief from the dark and depressing undertones that imbue the entire novel, but they fall short and come across as a bit silly, all things considered.
If you can see beyond all that self-examination, philosophical meanderings, and soul-searching, there are a number of storylines that stand out from the rest of the pack. Chief among them would be the Jaghut and Hood's war on death, K'rul's revelations regarding what spilling his blood has engendered, the Hust Legion, the Shake, Anomander Rake's quest, as well as Draconus' apparent love for Mother Dark and its repercussions. But in the end, Fall of Light suffers from way too much contemplation and from its Shakespearean style and tone.
The pace is atrocious. There is no other way to put it, and its a world away from the sort of rhythm Erikson has accustomed us to in the past. The author usually starts slow, gradually building up the plotlines, and then going all out for a mind-blowing finale. Virtually all the Malazan installments were like that, so fans have come to expect such structure from Erikson. With Forge of Darkness, it was the complete opposite. The book featured a strong beginning, and then an even stronger middle portion. Yet instead of the exciting ending that we have come to love, Erikson came up with a somewhat weaker and anticlimactic ending. Fall of Light follows a different pattern. This one features an interesting but slow-moving beginning, a so-so middle portion that gets better as we get closer to the end, and a decidedly lackluster ending that fails to save the book.
This mostly has to do with the fact that the long-awaited civil war showdown against Urusander's Legion doesn't take place per se. Instead of making the great battle a part of the narrative and thus ensuring a grand and rousing finale, Erikson elected to briefly summarize it. Given the fact that the majority of the plotlines from the last two installments all led to this confrontation, failing to make this engagement a part of the narrative pretty much killed the story and robbed the ending of any emotional impact it was meant to convey. Hard to believe that Steven Erikson made such a decision, as few speculative fiction writers can come up with such amazing action sequences and battl scenes.
In the end, Fall of Light features too much introspection and too little action. The tale moves forward at a snail's pace and offers too little in terms of pay-off at the end. As such, it is Erikson's weakest Malazan book to date and a major disappointment. Let's hope that the final volume will be a return to form for the author. . .
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
October 9, 2018
Decent book, with some excellent chapters and inventive story telling. But don't expect an Erikson brand climax at the end.
It is the second book of the series, and continues the story from the previous book, with scope of development for the next one. For an average author, this automatically sets a reasonably timid expectation, but this is Erikson who has produced 10 books with each of those wonderful pieces on their own. In that comparison, this book falls short.
One of the reasons for that might be seemingly excessive time devoted to some characters who end up not contributing to the story, while not even acting as a clear distraction from the overall grim tone of the story. There is a battle coming with Tiste fighting Tiste since the start of the first book. So the overall mood was going to be serious. Maybe Erikson tried to lighten that up by distracting us towards other stuff - and succeeded through Prazek and Dathenar. But other such efforts fell short and seemed like a waste at the end.
On the other hand, there were some great reveals in the book linking up a lot of unexplained points from the main series. From K'rul and his warrens, to the main dragons we saw in the main series, to Rake's character development, to Draconus' involvement, to the powers of Azathanai, to Hood, to Shake and Hust, to various Gates.. a lot of the loose ends were tied well, with some still left open (I guess to be covered in the next book).
There is of course usual Erikson stuff in the book - unexpected turns, nicely done reveals, creative form of story telling, known characters dying, cryptic references to other books, almost good characterisations, carrying a lot of different segments of the story in parallel to converge at the end. It's a good read and a must-read for fans of the Book of The Fallen.
It is the second book of the series, and continues the story from the previous book, with scope of development for the next one. For an average author, this automatically sets a reasonably timid expectation, but this is Erikson who has produced 10 books with each of those wonderful pieces on their own. In that comparison, this book falls short.
One of the reasons for that might be seemingly excessive time devoted to some characters who end up not contributing to the story, while not even acting as a clear distraction from the overall grim tone of the story. There is a battle coming with Tiste fighting Tiste since the start of the first book. So the overall mood was going to be serious. Maybe Erikson tried to lighten that up by distracting us towards other stuff - and succeeded through Prazek and Dathenar. But other such efforts fell short and seemed like a waste at the end.
On the other hand, there were some great reveals in the book linking up a lot of unexplained points from the main series. From K'rul and his warrens, to the main dragons we saw in the main series, to Rake's character development, to Draconus' involvement, to the powers of Azathanai, to Hood, to Shake and Hust, to various Gates.. a lot of the loose ends were tied well, with some still left open (I guess to be covered in the next book).
There is of course usual Erikson stuff in the book - unexpected turns, nicely done reveals, creative form of story telling, known characters dying, cryptic references to other books, almost good characterisations, carrying a lot of different segments of the story in parallel to converge at the end. It's a good read and a must-read for fans of the Book of The Fallen.
June 9, 2016
Hmm the words somber Pathos with under pining's of logos spring to mind. Erikson is without a doubt one of the best writers I have ever had the delight of reading. And this books does indeed reflect his talent, and depths as a writer, and in this book, perhaps more than any other he has written, his philosophical musings. And while there were many an occasion that I loved the articulation of various points, it didn't have the same humor that a lot of his other works have as a counter point to what at times, some readers might find over indulgent and overly long. As it seems almost every character is a philosopher with long internal monologues and deep dark currents. Even the, shall we say one example of his usual trope of a buddy comedic character set, still was surprisingly heavy, and not as witty as some of his other creations. Those familiar with his work, will already know how somber the Tiste people can get, well this is the Tiste format in all their pomp and introverted character flaws. This expands and explores this idea to the Nth degree. While still missing out on what a lot of people will be hoping to know more of namely Annomander, and his siblings.
I was also surprised how little of the story actually progressed for the size of the book, due in the main to the before hinted at soliloquies of most of the characters. Which is slightly frustrating, and in some ways surprising and a depart from Erikson's usual more momentum focused writing. Other slight odd omissions are some of the lack of detailing around Hood, and the war on death and indeed Gothos, and his eternal suicide note that was his folly. It seemed odd that there was not Erikson's usual cyclic notions intertwining the two concepts with what would have been the dissolution and decay effectively of the Tiste civilisation. On one hand you had Gothos, who had effectively argued his peoples, and every other civillisation out of existence, mirrored with the break up of the Tiste, mirrored with war on death. A selective triumvirate of disparate, but interlinked ideas and concepts, almost like the eternal battle of light, dark, and shadow .
No doubt the next book will help address some of the other issues that people didn't get to see resolved, either because the idea was only hinted at, or the story arc moved away to other areas. Or maybe they just won't be there as Erikson delights in not spoon feeding his reader with every detail. Regardless, I will eagerly await the next book, with the hope for more answer, and more hints! I guess in conclusion I can say I liked the book, but this early origin stories isn't as accessible as his other Malzan books, and would be a poor place to start your foray in to his world. I suspect that this book, and what will be the entire triology will be more a slow burner and will take several rereads to truly appreciate what is within it
I was also surprised how little of the story actually progressed for the size of the book, due in the main to the before hinted at soliloquies of most of the characters. Which is slightly frustrating, and in some ways surprising and a depart from Erikson's usual more momentum focused writing. Other slight odd omissions are some of the lack of detailing around Hood, and the war on death and indeed Gothos, and his eternal suicide note that was his folly. It seemed odd that there was not Erikson's usual cyclic notions intertwining the two concepts with what would have been the dissolution and decay effectively of the Tiste civilisation. On one hand you had Gothos, who had effectively argued his peoples, and every other civillisation out of existence, mirrored with the break up of the Tiste, mirrored with war on death. A selective triumvirate of disparate, but interlinked ideas and concepts, almost like the eternal battle of light, dark, and shadow .
No doubt the next book will help address some of the other issues that people didn't get to see resolved, either because the idea was only hinted at, or the story arc moved away to other areas. Or maybe they just won't be there as Erikson delights in not spoon feeding his reader with every detail. Regardless, I will eagerly await the next book, with the hope for more answer, and more hints! I guess in conclusion I can say I liked the book, but this early origin stories isn't as accessible as his other Malzan books, and would be a poor place to start your foray in to his world. I suspect that this book, and what will be the entire triology will be more a slow burner and will take several rereads to truly appreciate what is within it
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