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Malazan
The Fiends of Nightmaria
The Fiends of Nightmaria is a new novella from New York Times bestselling author Steven Erikson, set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
The king is dead, long live King Bauchelain the First, crowned by the Grand Bishop Korbal Broach. Both are, of course, ably assisted in the running of the Kingdom of Farrog by their slowly unravelling servant, Emancipor Reese. However, tensions are mounting between Farrog and the neighboring country of Nightmaria, the mysterious home of the Fiends. Their ambassador, Ophal D Neeth Flatroq, seeks an audience with King Bauchelain, who has thus far rebuffed his overtures. But the necromancer has some other things on his plate.
To quell potential rebellion nearly all the artists, poets, and bards in the city have been put to death. A few survivors languish in the dungeons, bemoaning their fates. Well, just moaning in general really...and maybe plotting escape and revenge.
The king is dead, long live King Bauchelain the First, crowned by the Grand Bishop Korbal Broach. Both are, of course, ably assisted in the running of the Kingdom of Farrog by their slowly unravelling servant, Emancipor Reese. However, tensions are mounting between Farrog and the neighboring country of Nightmaria, the mysterious home of the Fiends. Their ambassador, Ophal D Neeth Flatroq, seeks an audience with King Bauchelain, who has thus far rebuffed his overtures. But the necromancer has some other things on his plate.
To quell potential rebellion nearly all the artists, poets, and bards in the city have been put to death. A few survivors languish in the dungeons, bemoaning their fates. Well, just moaning in general really...and maybe plotting escape and revenge.
99 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2016
59 people are currently reading
2434 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 18, 2022
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A wonderful novella that should be read by any Erikson fan.
Novella is the 5th novella in the "Bauchelain and Korbal Broach" series, set within the greater Malazan universe. The main characters here are necromancer side characters that appear in one of the Malazan: Book of the Fallen books, but were so entertaining that Steven Erikson decided to write a series of novellas about their hilarious escapades. It's a horror comedy book, that is simultaneously ultra horror, and ultra hilarious.
Think of a Terry Pratchett book, but in my opinion ramp up the hilarity (and I say this as a Pratchett fan), and make it extremely violent. It's a mix that shouldn't work, but ultimately does.
In this book, the king of a small kingdom is murdered by Bauchelain, and he sets himself up as the new king, with his sidekick Korbal Broach acting as the Grand Bishop. He becomes a tyrant, with the ultimate goal of completely emptying the coffers and skipping town before a revolt happens. It's a fun premise that sets up another great novella.
Ultimately I give this book 4 stars because while I did highly enjoy myself, I found a couple of the other books in this series a big step up in quality from this one.
After reading all of the printed books in this series, I can confidently say that this series is the best fantasy novella series that I have ever read, as well as hands down the funniest books I have ever read. They should absolutely not be skipped by any Erikson fans.
A wonderful novella that should be read by any Erikson fan.
Novella is the 5th novella in the "Bauchelain and Korbal Broach" series, set within the greater Malazan universe. The main characters here are necromancer side characters that appear in one of the Malazan: Book of the Fallen books, but were so entertaining that Steven Erikson decided to write a series of novellas about their hilarious escapades. It's a horror comedy book, that is simultaneously ultra horror, and ultra hilarious.
Think of a Terry Pratchett book, but in my opinion ramp up the hilarity (and I say this as a Pratchett fan), and make it extremely violent. It's a mix that shouldn't work, but ultimately does.
In this book, the king of a small kingdom is murdered by Bauchelain, and he sets himself up as the new king, with his sidekick Korbal Broach acting as the Grand Bishop. He becomes a tyrant, with the ultimate goal of completely emptying the coffers and skipping town before a revolt happens. It's a fun premise that sets up another great novella.
Ultimately I give this book 4 stars because while I did highly enjoy myself, I found a couple of the other books in this series a big step up in quality from this one.
After reading all of the printed books in this series, I can confidently say that this series is the best fantasy novella series that I have ever read, as well as hands down the funniest books I have ever read. They should absolutely not be skipped by any Erikson fans.
February 1, 2021
I received a review copy of The Fiends of Nightmaria in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Steven Erikson and Tor Books.
The Fiends of Nightmaria is a 112-page novella that is set within Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont's Malazan Universe and is the sixth entry in the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series. Necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach were minor characters in Erikson's epic fantasy Malazan Book of the Fallen, only appearing in Memories of Ice, however, their performances there were memorable to many readers. The novellas featuring these necromancers are dark, humorous, and extremely fun quick reads.
The Fiends of Nightmaria takes place in Farooq. The king has been murdered and the throne has been taken by none other than Bauchalain, with Korbal Broach acting as the Grand Bishop. Since becoming a self-professed tyrant monarch, Bauchalain has emptied the coffees, arrested all actors and players for their crimes against humanity, and waged war against the quite peaceful, solitary lizard-people of Nightmaria. Add into the mix an escaped God, a demon prince, a gang of thieves looking to rescue their captured leader, and a horde of headless undead and you can get an idea of what to expect from this novella.
"Who knows what that insane necromancer's let loose in the crypts."
I think Bauchelain is an incredible character and that is on full display during The Fiends of Nightmaria. He's extremely intelligent, powerful, quick-witted, and somehow absurdly likeable, having the reader routing for him in whatever dastardly scheme he's decided to try his hand at. He's always the cleverest man in the room, which, with all due respect, isn't that difficult with the company he keeps in Korbal Broach. We don't see that much of Korbal Broach here, with him being the brute force to Bauchelain's suave and calculated coolness.
"It seems that on this gentle night, we must summon and unleash a veritable host of demons."
The other main character in this book and in this series of novellas is Emancipor Reese who is the necromancers' ageing manservant. He has to use drugs and alcohol to numb his mind to the acts he has witnessed whilst working for the duo. If I remember right, Reese joined the employ of these dark mages as an excuse to be away from his wife. The conversations between Bauchalain and Reese, the way they flow, and the way the two bounce off each other is an absolute joy to follow, in the Fiends of Nightmaria as much as anywhere else we see them.
For a short story, there are a lot of characters in The Fiends of Nightmaria and the majority of them have bizarre, bordering on silly names. After about 20-pages, It wasn't that difficult to remember who was who with most of the action following either the above-mentioned three, the group of thieves, or the ensemble of actors and critics awaiting their torture and eventual execution. We also have scenes following the forked-tongued lizard ambassador and an extremely enthusiastic Commander of the Royal Farrogal Army.
I had a pleasant time reading The Fiends of Nightmaria, which sounds sort of contradictory seeing as it's full of lots of gruesome horrors, brutal injuries and deaths, the undead, and a god who masturbates so hard his penis falls off. The Fiends of Nightmaria is a perfect example of Erikson showcasing his sillier side, in a similar fashion to his SF-comedy novel, Wilful Child.
The Fiends of Nightmaria is a humorous and enjoyable, ultraviolent dark horror fantasy that doesn't take itself too seriously and contains likeable yet fiendish necromancers. One of these novellas can be read comfortably in a couple of hours and it's definitely time well spent, although if I'm being critical, they aren't that memorable. I've tried to be pretty thorough in my review, possibly approaching spoiler territory, about some of the elements a reader can expect here as The Fiends of Nightmaria isn't for everyone. Some may think that some moments are sick or go too far. I'll let you be the judge of whether this sounds like your cup of tea or not.
All the novellas in this series are standalone so The Fiends of Nightmaria is as good a place as any if you are considering just trying one of them. With Erikson though, I have to recommend his Magnum Opus, starting with Gardens of the Moon. To me, Malazan Book of the Fallen is no doubt a 10/10 series, whereas I'd give The Fiends of Nightmaria an entertaining but not Earth-shattering 6.5/10.
"By the time I'm done, the audience will be cheering for the fucking necromancers."
The Fiends of Nightmaria is a 112-page novella that is set within Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont's Malazan Universe and is the sixth entry in the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series. Necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach were minor characters in Erikson's epic fantasy Malazan Book of the Fallen, only appearing in Memories of Ice, however, their performances there were memorable to many readers. The novellas featuring these necromancers are dark, humorous, and extremely fun quick reads.
The Fiends of Nightmaria takes place in Farooq. The king has been murdered and the throne has been taken by none other than Bauchalain, with Korbal Broach acting as the Grand Bishop. Since becoming a self-professed tyrant monarch, Bauchalain has emptied the coffees, arrested all actors and players for their crimes against humanity, and waged war against the quite peaceful, solitary lizard-people of Nightmaria. Add into the mix an escaped God, a demon prince, a gang of thieves looking to rescue their captured leader, and a horde of headless undead and you can get an idea of what to expect from this novella.
"Who knows what that insane necromancer's let loose in the crypts."
I think Bauchelain is an incredible character and that is on full display during The Fiends of Nightmaria. He's extremely intelligent, powerful, quick-witted, and somehow absurdly likeable, having the reader routing for him in whatever dastardly scheme he's decided to try his hand at. He's always the cleverest man in the room, which, with all due respect, isn't that difficult with the company he keeps in Korbal Broach. We don't see that much of Korbal Broach here, with him being the brute force to Bauchelain's suave and calculated coolness.
"It seems that on this gentle night, we must summon and unleash a veritable host of demons."
The other main character in this book and in this series of novellas is Emancipor Reese who is the necromancers' ageing manservant. He has to use drugs and alcohol to numb his mind to the acts he has witnessed whilst working for the duo. If I remember right, Reese joined the employ of these dark mages as an excuse to be away from his wife. The conversations between Bauchalain and Reese, the way they flow, and the way the two bounce off each other is an absolute joy to follow, in the Fiends of Nightmaria as much as anywhere else we see them.
For a short story, there are a lot of characters in The Fiends of Nightmaria and the majority of them have bizarre, bordering on silly names. After about 20-pages, It wasn't that difficult to remember who was who with most of the action following either the above-mentioned three, the group of thieves, or the ensemble of actors and critics awaiting their torture and eventual execution. We also have scenes following the forked-tongued lizard ambassador and an extremely enthusiastic Commander of the Royal Farrogal Army.
I had a pleasant time reading The Fiends of Nightmaria, which sounds sort of contradictory seeing as it's full of lots of gruesome horrors, brutal injuries and deaths, the undead, and a god who masturbates so hard his penis falls off. The Fiends of Nightmaria is a perfect example of Erikson showcasing his sillier side, in a similar fashion to his SF-comedy novel, Wilful Child.
The Fiends of Nightmaria is a humorous and enjoyable, ultraviolent dark horror fantasy that doesn't take itself too seriously and contains likeable yet fiendish necromancers. One of these novellas can be read comfortably in a couple of hours and it's definitely time well spent, although if I'm being critical, they aren't that memorable. I've tried to be pretty thorough in my review, possibly approaching spoiler territory, about some of the elements a reader can expect here as The Fiends of Nightmaria isn't for everyone. Some may think that some moments are sick or go too far. I'll let you be the judge of whether this sounds like your cup of tea or not.
All the novellas in this series are standalone so The Fiends of Nightmaria is as good a place as any if you are considering just trying one of them. With Erikson though, I have to recommend his Magnum Opus, starting with Gardens of the Moon. To me, Malazan Book of the Fallen is no doubt a 10/10 series, whereas I'd give The Fiends of Nightmaria an entertaining but not Earth-shattering 6.5/10.
"By the time I'm done, the audience will be cheering for the fucking necromancers."
September 10, 2017
The 6th and I believe what is supposed to be final chapter in our antiheroes exploits. If you haven't read this series it is in the Malazan world but it's not BotF by anyone's definition. This is Monty Python meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Erikson's usual social reforms flowing in the eddy currents of the story.
I enjoy these farces but I must confess I was hoping over time they would grow into something more. I rated all of these books 3*'s. They are enjoyable but when doing the inevitable comparison to BotF they're just another series.
One thing that frustrates me much like BotF is you always want more Rake. In these books the best parts are with Bauchelain and yet it's built around the peripheral characters. After Kharkanas I know SE has a new series in the works in the Malazan world. I won't ruin who the center piece is for those who don't know but I fear is he'll take this character out of play and give them no page time.
Another thing occurred to me reading this book. For all the social topics SE takes on I'm surprised he's never included Denul and the health care system. It seems like a no brainer. While the left and right might disagree on reform I doubt anybody thinks it's fine as it is. With so many different guilds taking on different aspects of corruption in his world a Denul guild would be a great topic for the new series.
Finally for this last book there's 20 or so pages of artwork included. It's all done in a black and white semi-surrealist gothic style. It's interesting enough but not to my tastes. Others may like it a lot more if that's your thing.
I enjoy these farces but I must confess I was hoping over time they would grow into something more. I rated all of these books 3*'s. They are enjoyable but when doing the inevitable comparison to BotF they're just another series.
One thing that frustrates me much like BotF is you always want more Rake. In these books the best parts are with Bauchelain and yet it's built around the peripheral characters. After Kharkanas I know SE has a new series in the works in the Malazan world. I won't ruin who the center piece is for those who don't know but I fear is he'll take this character out of play and give them no page time.
Another thing occurred to me reading this book. For all the social topics SE takes on I'm surprised he's never included Denul and the health care system. It seems like a no brainer. While the left and right might disagree on reform I doubt anybody thinks it's fine as it is. With so many different guilds taking on different aspects of corruption in his world a Denul guild would be a great topic for the new series.
Finally for this last book there's 20 or so pages of artwork included. It's all done in a black and white semi-surrealist gothic style. It's interesting enough but not to my tastes. Others may like it a lot more if that's your thing.
June 8, 2017
In this the latest installment of The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach "The Fiends of Nightmaria", I thought Steven Erikson tried just a bit too hard to be funny. As I am a proponent of humor in books, I like mine a bit more subtle than what was offered here.
The "Shtick" seemed to alternate between Abbot and Costello , the Hardy Boys and Monty Python, none of their best efforts, or the authors. What seemed to irritate me the most was the character with the speech impediment, it's been done once too often and just was not funny.
With that set aside, I was happy to see another chapter in the adventures of the two evil Necromancers even though the overall plot was only moved forward a short distance. What took up most of the wordage in this book was a group of bungling thieves sneaking into the castle dungeons in order to find the imprisoned head of their guild.
What I enjoyed most of all were the twenty-plus pieces of artwork from David Gentry, full page illustrations at that. Mr. Gentry also painted the fine cover to the book.
This book would be recommended to fans of the series, and for new experimenters. Begin with the earlier books to appreciate what the author can do.
The "Shtick" seemed to alternate between Abbot and Costello , the Hardy Boys and Monty Python, none of their best efforts, or the authors. What seemed to irritate me the most was the character with the speech impediment, it's been done once too often and just was not funny.
With that set aside, I was happy to see another chapter in the adventures of the two evil Necromancers even though the overall plot was only moved forward a short distance. What took up most of the wordage in this book was a group of bungling thieves sneaking into the castle dungeons in order to find the imprisoned head of their guild.
What I enjoyed most of all were the twenty-plus pieces of artwork from David Gentry, full page illustrations at that. Mr. Gentry also painted the fine cover to the book.
This book would be recommended to fans of the series, and for new experimenters. Begin with the earlier books to appreciate what the author can do.
January 4, 2018
Sharp, witty and absurd. With slightly exaggerated sense of humor.
All these tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, although are indeed in Malazan world, seem nothing like it. They seem outwardly, so to speak.
I wish Erikson was a little less subtle in them, with all of his satires of the genre, while criticizing critics and readers themselves, and perhaps was, maybe, more prone to break the 4th wall and speak more directly?
But, that would maybe spoil the fun. Or would it...
All these tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, although are indeed in Malazan world, seem nothing like it. They seem outwardly, so to speak.
I wish Erikson was a little less subtle in them, with all of his satires of the genre, while criticizing critics and readers themselves, and perhaps was, maybe, more prone to break the 4th wall and speak more directly?
But, that would maybe spoil the fun. Or would it...
December 19, 2023
Believe it or not, reading Bauchelain and Korbal Broach's stories are as delightful as reading the book of the fallen for me.
Ps, Classic
Ps, Classic
March 12, 2021
Make no mistake, I love Steven Erikson's works. The Mazalan series is fiendishly great. As a subset I really enjoy the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. As far as I'm concerned all are a five star read.
So I'm unsure as to what happened with the 'Fiends' but Nightmaria-ish is a great description.
Disappointingly this title that I started out to read with high expectations (read 'breathless with anticipation') just didn't endear itself to me.
A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
So I'm unsure as to what happened with the 'Fiends' but Nightmaria-ish is a great description.
Disappointingly this title that I started out to read with high expectations (read 'breathless with anticipation') just didn't endear itself to me.
A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
May 5, 2023
The shortest of the novellas, it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t that good, either. Some funny moments, but more of Bauchelain as king would’ve been pretty great.
March 24, 2018
The funniest Bauchelain and Korbal Broach until now.
August 19, 2016
well. short review: the first 3 Bauchelain & Korbal Broach titles drop a mountain of cussers on these last 3. OK, individually they are not that dreadful, but like the gradual distinction of day dwindling to night, their slow deterioration of excellence and excitement and non-excrement is most painful to the point I'd rather had the mountain of cussers dropped.
Bauchelain and Mancy deliver the goods. Even does Korbal, though he is probably better taken in small doses, as the longer or more often he exposes what churns inside him the less appealing it is to know him. Keep him mysteriously evil, an Uncle-Fester-inhabited-by-Wednesday type figure.
For about 1 page each of the other characters are entertaining. after that, insanity rules, and it ain't no fun in that fun-house. I find no joy in reading the inane exploits and idiocies of a dozen+ bumbling morons. Especially two groups of them. Especially every other page. For the same reason the 3 Stooges don't just poke each other in the eyes for 23 minutes straight. Moments of inanity should range from laughable to tolerable, all accepted as parts of the whole; not be the whole. This seemed like an exercise in blazing past all boundaries in defiant assault to the senses. Really, neither author nor editor(s) recognize when enough is enough.
And that is disappointing, for behind all the penis/shit/stupidity there remains the nucleus of cleverness, the insightfulness of erudite equivocalness, the philosophical meandering of necromancer and drunk. Once more disappointed, this novella really wasn't so much about B&KB, but about the stumbling, bumbling fools around/after/against them.
I'm going to say, read it only if you are a completest or a glutton for punishment. I think I'll be passing on blowing $40 on any new limited editions if this series continues. I rue the day Willful Child whispered to Erikson's muse. Now that's where those cussers should have been dropped.
Bauchelain and Mancy deliver the goods. Even does Korbal, though he is probably better taken in small doses, as the longer or more often he exposes what churns inside him the less appealing it is to know him. Keep him mysteriously evil, an Uncle-Fester-inhabited-by-Wednesday type figure.
For about 1 page each of the other characters are entertaining. after that, insanity rules, and it ain't no fun in that fun-house. I find no joy in reading the inane exploits and idiocies of a dozen+ bumbling morons. Especially two groups of them. Especially every other page. For the same reason the 3 Stooges don't just poke each other in the eyes for 23 minutes straight. Moments of inanity should range from laughable to tolerable, all accepted as parts of the whole; not be the whole. This seemed like an exercise in blazing past all boundaries in defiant assault to the senses. Really, neither author nor editor(s) recognize when enough is enough.
And that is disappointing, for behind all the penis/shit/stupidity there remains the nucleus of cleverness, the insightfulness of erudite equivocalness, the philosophical meandering of necromancer and drunk. Once more disappointed, this novella really wasn't so much about B&KB, but about the stumbling, bumbling fools around/after/against them.
I'm going to say, read it only if you are a completest or a glutton for punishment. I think I'll be passing on blowing $40 on any new limited editions if this series continues. I rue the day Willful Child whispered to Erikson's muse. Now that's where those cussers should have been dropped.
September 25, 2016
...There is the usual banter in The Fiends of Nightmaria, but looking at it thematically, this one is definitely the darkest of the bunch. As such, I didn't come away from it with the same amused feeling I had after reading
The Healthy Dead
or
Crack'd Pot Trail
, probably my favourites in the series. It is nevertheless an interesting addition to the series. Since it, typically for the necromancers, ends with our heroes on the run, I'll keep an eye out for the next novella to see what sorts of trouble they will find themselves in next.
Full Random Comments review
Full Random Comments review
November 14, 2018
I don’t really understand the point of this book or the whole novella series anymore.
It used to follow Korbal Broach, Bauchemain, and Emancipor Reese around as they did their wacky (and dark) journeys.
Now they hardly get any “screen” time or adventure.
The last book in this series followed people who weren’t any of the title characters for the whole length of the book. This entry, on the other hand, at least gives us a few pages dedicated to them, and that’s why it got two stars instead of the one star I gave to the last book.
But the question remains: what is the point of this series now?
This book has Bauchemain be the tyrant of a very small state. But it’s not even about him becoming tyrant. There is a change in his fortunes part-way through the story... but so what? It’s not like we cared at all about any of this.
It used to follow Korbal Broach, Bauchemain, and Emancipor Reese around as they did their wacky (and dark) journeys.
Now they hardly get any “screen” time or adventure.
The last book in this series followed people who weren’t any of the title characters for the whole length of the book. This entry, on the other hand, at least gives us a few pages dedicated to them, and that’s why it got two stars instead of the one star I gave to the last book.
But the question remains: what is the point of this series now?
This book has Bauchemain be the tyrant of a very small state. But it’s not even about him becoming tyrant. There is a change in his fortunes part-way through the story... but so what? It’s not like we cared at all about any of this.
December 28, 2022
Monty Python-esque humour. Very silly and very good.
March 13, 2021
3/10 stars
Exceedingly crass but thankfully short, funny in places, and utterly unnecessary. I didn't suffer while reading, but this is a far cry from either Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen novels or even previous Bauchelain and Korbal Broach short stories/novellas.
There was a curious dearth of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, who appear only for a few moments amidst masturbating demons, farting barbarians, unbelievably dumb thugs, egotistic failed artists and mean, cowardly critics. Oh, I almost forgot to mention a very late-hour-way-too-much-beer attempt at a satirical portrayal of a D&D campaign that, while initially funny, soon became tiresome and overstayed its welcome.
There were a few cool moments of the usual Erikson's snark and irony, particularly in the dungeons, where all artists and critics from a recent festival have been imprisoned and sentenced to torture and death by Bauchelain the tyrant king - just in case, because as every self-respecting tyrant king knows, artists and critics are the most dangerous of all. But that was a tiny ray of light in otherwise boring murky bog of unfunny physiological jokes and a general feeling of superfluity.
All in all, this novella seems like a perfect example of an exercise in futility. Hopefully, Erikson will find his writing legs again and delight us with something worthwhile.
I have received a copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks.
Exceedingly crass but thankfully short, funny in places, and utterly unnecessary. I didn't suffer while reading, but this is a far cry from either Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen novels or even previous Bauchelain and Korbal Broach short stories/novellas.
There was a curious dearth of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, who appear only for a few moments amidst masturbating demons, farting barbarians, unbelievably dumb thugs, egotistic failed artists and mean, cowardly critics. Oh, I almost forgot to mention a very late-hour-way-too-much-beer attempt at a satirical portrayal of a D&D campaign that, while initially funny, soon became tiresome and overstayed its welcome.
There were a few cool moments of the usual Erikson's snark and irony, particularly in the dungeons, where all artists and critics from a recent festival have been imprisoned and sentenced to torture and death by Bauchelain the tyrant king - just in case, because as every self-respecting tyrant king knows, artists and critics are the most dangerous of all. But that was a tiny ray of light in otherwise boring murky bog of unfunny physiological jokes and a general feeling of superfluity.
All in all, this novella seems like a perfect example of an exercise in futility. Hopefully, Erikson will find his writing legs again and delight us with something worthwhile.
I have received a copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks.
April 5, 2021
This is the fourth novella starring Bauchelain and Korbal Broach accompanied by Emancipor Rees in the Malazan universe. Bauchelain and company have taken over a city as rulers. They may have overreached themselves however. They have a pissed off neighboring country called the Fiends of Nightmaria that is getting ready for war (B & KB hope to get in a first strike), the Gang of Five coming back together to get the head of the Thieves Guild out of palace prison, and a member of the guards planning on liberating a particular actor from the same prison. Add in the missing Indifferent God and several demons wandering loose and you have mayhem, chaos, and a plan good time just waiting to happen! Will the boys be able to get out of town this time or have they finally met heir sundry dooms? Read and find out!
November 12, 2025
Bauchelain, along with his companion Korbal Broach, had usurped the Kingdom of Farrogal and quickly began imprisoning artists while stirring up trouble with the neighboring Kingdom of Nightmaria—so named in the hope that others would leave it alone. Steven Erikson, author of the brilliant yet dense Malazan Book of the Fallen series, has penned a set of novellas about this pair of minor characters, who bring a touch of humor to the otherwise extremely serious saga.
November 6, 2020
Erikson is one of my favorite authors, but I can't help but feel like he missed the mark on this one. Definitely the weakest in the series so far.
March 10, 2021
Wanted a lot more of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach in this Tale of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach.
March 16, 2021
Overall I enjoyed this book, though it wasn't to the heights of the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series for me.
Full video review: https://youtu.be/8vEMDcYcZO8
Full video review: https://youtu.be/8vEMDcYcZO8
November 21, 2024
Excellent and with that I have now read 28 of the 29 published Malazan books. Assail soon.
October 5, 2025
3.5 stars
January 25, 2024
Without much spoiler, I can only share there is at least one hilarious scene by Bauchelain and/or Korbal Broach. As usual, don't be too lazy when reading SE's fiction.
August 11, 2025
Fun for what it is, but the least satisfying novella so far and much too short to accomplish many of these otherwise great ideas
July 3, 2021
Funny, cynical, dark, weird, creepy, horrify, sarcastic, bizarre...
Really humorous but gruesome, dark horror fantasy.
If you like all this, then this book (whole series) is for you.
That's all i can say it's another iconic and different part of Malazan universe
Really humorous but gruesome, dark horror fantasy.
If you like all this, then this book (whole series) is for you.
That's all i can say it's another iconic and different part of Malazan universe
February 23, 2021
Confusing yet funny LOL
August 3, 2021
I swear, half of the reason that Erikson writes books is to provide an excuse for him to come up with outlandishly ridiculous character names and descriptions.
In this latest novella, Erikson's maniacal and power-mad necromancers, the ever-pontificating Bauchelain and the ever-tittering Korbal Broach, return in rare form with their manservant, the ever-sauced-lest-he-begin-screaming-and-never-stop Emancipor Reese, to wreak havoc upon yet more unfortunate bystanders. This time they've taken over a small kingdom via regicide and declared holy war on the "fiends" what live in the neighboring mountain kingdom of Nighmaria. Oh, they've also imprisoned all the artists and musicians because creativity and free thinking tends to loosen the iron grip of authoritarian rule. Into this steaming milieu are thrust The Party of Five, six of the most unaccomplished thieves ever to crawl out of the septic underbelly of the kingdom, a gaggle of returning detritus that all somehow managed to survive prior tales in the series, and one put-upon reptilian ambassador from Nightmaria.
As with the previous 5 novellas in this series, THE FIENDS OF NIGHTMARIA is a dark and sardonic comedy brimming with overwrought soliloquies and the most ridiculously asinine conversations one will ever have the pleasure to rest one's eyes upon. It is a quick and enjoyable read, but one's time with the book will be greatly heightened by having consumed the previous 5 novellas. Having more than a passing familiarity with the world of the MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN, from whence these characters began, will add a pleasing patina to the proceedings as well. If, however, one does not wish to wade into that veritable sea of words and its fathoms-deep lore, there is still enough enjoyment to be squeezed from the blighted fruit of the adventure contained within this tale's slim covers. But always remember, that when one looks too long into the abyss, the abyss may gibber and give you a playful slap on the face before dragging you down to the unspeakable horrors contained within its unending depths - at least until Korbal Broach sews your soul and limbs to a bunch of other corpse parts stored in his dripping trunk.
In this latest novella, Erikson's maniacal and power-mad necromancers, the ever-pontificating Bauchelain and the ever-tittering Korbal Broach, return in rare form with their manservant, the ever-sauced-lest-he-begin-screaming-and-never-stop Emancipor Reese, to wreak havoc upon yet more unfortunate bystanders. This time they've taken over a small kingdom via regicide and declared holy war on the "fiends" what live in the neighboring mountain kingdom of Nighmaria. Oh, they've also imprisoned all the artists and musicians because creativity and free thinking tends to loosen the iron grip of authoritarian rule. Into this steaming milieu are thrust The Party of Five, six of the most unaccomplished thieves ever to crawl out of the septic underbelly of the kingdom, a gaggle of returning detritus that all somehow managed to survive prior tales in the series, and one put-upon reptilian ambassador from Nightmaria.
As with the previous 5 novellas in this series, THE FIENDS OF NIGHTMARIA is a dark and sardonic comedy brimming with overwrought soliloquies and the most ridiculously asinine conversations one will ever have the pleasure to rest one's eyes upon. It is a quick and enjoyable read, but one's time with the book will be greatly heightened by having consumed the previous 5 novellas. Having more than a passing familiarity with the world of the MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN, from whence these characters began, will add a pleasing patina to the proceedings as well. If, however, one does not wish to wade into that veritable sea of words and its fathoms-deep lore, there is still enough enjoyment to be squeezed from the blighted fruit of the adventure contained within this tale's slim covers. But always remember, that when one looks too long into the abyss, the abyss may gibber and give you a playful slap on the face before dragging you down to the unspeakable horrors contained within its unending depths - at least until Korbal Broach sews your soul and limbs to a bunch of other corpse parts stored in his dripping trunk.
March 28, 2021
Incohesive, tasteless, and unworthy of Erickson's Brilliance
The short story (very short about an hour and a half read) follows the enigmatic sorcerer's known as Korbal and Broach. The characters see very little development and are bungling caricatures within themselves. Bauchalain, Broach and Reese find themselves in control of a strange kingdom in which they want to spread their necromatic chaos to no defined end. In fact, motivation is one of the most problematic aspects in the story when it is finally touched upon between Bauchelain and Reese. It proves to be an uncharacteristic veneer of wealth hoarding that is completely inconsistent with Bauchelain's actions and a major missed opportunity toward character development. Additionally, Erikson shrirks the laws he established within the Malazan series such as power draws power; perhaps the most persistent themes in the entire Malazan world. Bauchelain seems to operate in a completely isolated vacuum where he is able to summon demons, posseses a mysterious sword that summons demons, and access an undefined warden for trapping his ill gotten gains (which he never shows any attachment whatsoever toward). The remainder of the cast can be summed up as bumbling simpletons who quite literally knock into one another in an attempt at humour that lacks th irony or nuance of previous Bauchelain and Broach tales such as The Healthy Dead . There is even one overly juvenile and crass scene where a demon's seed is shot at a character's face for no discenerable effect other than to make the reader cringe. The book also lacks any competent combat, exposure to the actual Fiends of Nightmaria that the book is ironically named after, and any sense of progression or legacy. The horse that dies in the beginning of the novel feels like the embodiment of the novel itself; beaten, dead, and lacking any literal dignity.
The short story (very short about an hour and a half read) follows the enigmatic sorcerer's known as Korbal and Broach. The characters see very little development and are bungling caricatures within themselves. Bauchalain, Broach and Reese find themselves in control of a strange kingdom in which they want to spread their necromatic chaos to no defined end. In fact, motivation is one of the most problematic aspects in the story when it is finally touched upon between Bauchelain and Reese. It proves to be an uncharacteristic veneer of wealth hoarding that is completely inconsistent with Bauchelain's actions and a major missed opportunity toward character development. Additionally, Erikson shrirks the laws he established within the Malazan series such as power draws power; perhaps the most persistent themes in the entire Malazan world. Bauchelain seems to operate in a completely isolated vacuum where he is able to summon demons, posseses a mysterious sword that summons demons, and access an undefined warden for trapping his ill gotten gains (which he never shows any attachment whatsoever toward). The remainder of the cast can be summed up as bumbling simpletons who quite literally knock into one another in an attempt at humour that lacks th irony or nuance of previous Bauchelain and Broach tales such as The Healthy Dead . There is even one overly juvenile and crass scene where a demon's seed is shot at a character's face for no discenerable effect other than to make the reader cringe. The book also lacks any competent combat, exposure to the actual Fiends of Nightmaria that the book is ironically named after, and any sense of progression or legacy. The horse that dies in the beginning of the novel feels like the embodiment of the novel itself; beaten, dead, and lacking any literal dignity.
April 6, 2021
The Fiends of Nightmaria is the sixth and most recent novella in Steven Erikson's Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series, and it is the furthest along in the timeline chronologically. It is also the only entry other than The Healthy Dead earning the full five stars from me. I contemplated a four-star rating but decided that it made me laugh too many times to miss full marks, especially being the shortest installment thus far.
This takes places almost entirely in the span of one night in Farrog, where King Bauchelain the First has recently achieved the tyranny he has so eagerly sought. Grand Bishop Korbal Broach is free to... experiment... to his heart's delight, and everyone's favorite manservant Emancipor Reese is, as usual, along for the ride. The novella features the famous Party of Five, the most insanely incompetent group of burglars I've ever read about. I couldn't decide if I needed frequent breaks from their ridiculousness or if I wanted them on every page, but I certainly couldn't stop laughing. Characters from the Crack'd Pot Trail crew are also featured, and engage in their own twisted hijinks. Erikson is just an expert in shenanigans, I don't know how else to put it.
It struck me while reading this one that the novellas are the perfect foil for the main series. Whereas the main series encompasses themes of compassion, the novellas cover themes of greed and ruthlessness, like some dark mirror-image. Which, of course, is fun to indulge in from a satirical point of view.
“Convenient, wouldn’t you say, that our kingdom borders a xenophobic but wealthy mountain empire of unhuman lizard people?”
This takes places almost entirely in the span of one night in Farrog, where King Bauchelain the First has recently achieved the tyranny he has so eagerly sought. Grand Bishop Korbal Broach is free to... experiment... to his heart's delight, and everyone's favorite manservant Emancipor Reese is, as usual, along for the ride. The novella features the famous Party of Five, the most insanely incompetent group of burglars I've ever read about. I couldn't decide if I needed frequent breaks from their ridiculousness or if I wanted them on every page, but I certainly couldn't stop laughing. Characters from the Crack'd Pot Trail crew are also featured, and engage in their own twisted hijinks. Erikson is just an expert in shenanigans, I don't know how else to put it.
It struck me while reading this one that the novellas are the perfect foil for the main series. Whereas the main series encompasses themes of compassion, the novellas cover themes of greed and ruthlessness, like some dark mirror-image. Which, of course, is fun to indulge in from a satirical point of view.
“Convenient, wouldn’t you say, that our kingdom borders a xenophobic but wealthy mountain empire of unhuman lizard people?”
December 11, 2022
Another macabre comedy following two necromancers and their unlucky manservant. After the events of Crack'd Pot Trail, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach have taken control of a kingdom and thrown their enemies from the last story (and the surviving poets) into a dungeon. A god and demons are loose, the torturer is philosophical, and an incompetent band of thieves attempt a jail break.
4/5 I'd read this again
Memorable Characters: Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, Emancipor Reese, Barunko, Binfun, Brash Phluster, The Mouse, Prince Flail Their Limbs, the Chanters, Indifferent God, Ophal D'Neeth Flatroq
4/5 I'd read this again
Memorable Characters: Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, Emancipor Reese, Barunko, Binfun, Brash Phluster, The Mouse, Prince Flail Their Limbs, the Chanters, Indifferent God, Ophal D'Neeth Flatroq
"There was a previous concern, you see. Mice."
"Mice?"
"Many mice, Mister Reese. Possessing slithery tails, a common trait among mice specifically, and indeed, all rodents. A mouse that happens to find itself within or athwart a pentagram at the moment of conjuration, will often suffer the fate of possession. In fact, there are one or two mice still at large, somewhere in this chamber, that are in fact demonic."
"Demonic mice?"
"Yes, alas. Which is why the cats are all up on that high shelf."
"Oh."
"Leaving me confident that no cat hairs mar the line of the outer circle."
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