[Abyss]

pat5150, on 11 October 2010 - 03:31 AM, said:

...The first one is about Greymane's sword. . .

pat5150, on 11 October 2010 - 06:35 PM, said:

...There is a lot more going on in Korel than we were led to believe. . .

PAT!

PAAAATTTT!!!!!


PPAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT!!!!!

[pat5150]

A little more than 400 pages into it, and it's still very good.

Patrick

[pat5150]

Okay, I'm done with Book 2.

Stonewielder features a much better pace than RotCG, which makes for a more enjoyable reading experience. Not only has Esslemont's narrative improved, but so have his characterization skills. In many aspects, this one reads more and more like an Erikson Malazan book.

And though one of the principal storylines focuses on the Malazan invasion, unlike RotCG, the author doesn't feel the need to throw yet another battle scene every ten pages or so. Although this is a multilayered tale, I feel that Esslemont keeps a tighter focus on the various plotlines.

As is usually the case with a Malazan installment, this one raises way more questions than it provides answers. And the answers usually raise yet more questions.

One thing that bugs me is the timing of this one. Why the hell, when everything in the Malazan Empire is going to shit, did the new Emperor decide to renew a military campaign that went down the crapper over a decade before? Insofar as I've read, there is no hint as to what could possibly interest him in the lands of Fist to launch such an invasion. . .

The cult of the Blessed Lady is another enigma, or the Lady is in any case. Whoever she is, Goddess or Ascendant, it feels weird that we haven't heard about her by now. Even with her ancient name, I can't find anything about her. . . And given how powerful she is, I feel that more should have been hinted at. Though, to be honest, Erikson hasn't been very forthcoming about the Korel campaign in his books. The reason why being one of the most interesting secrets about Stonewielder. . .

There is more to Kyle than meets the eye, and it has nothing to do with his blade. Get used to him because, like the Crimson Guard, I have a feeling that he will be one of the star players in every ICE Malazan books.

Can't really say more without spoiling everything. And unless everything goes to shit in the last 200 pages or so, I'd say that Esslemont has a real winner here!

More soon. . .

Patrick

[Sinisdar Toste]

heeeeyyyy zeus! i am dripping in anticipation!

the blessed lady i assume is the one from the prologue, is this the feeling you get pat? cuz if so then she really is an enigma, there are so many theories on just who she is and if you are to believed, no solid clues.

in your spoiler thread, there's been a bit of discussion concerning

Spoiler

toblakai civilizations on korel and i just had me a thought that maybe this blessed lady is a toblakai ascendant of old who never made it into any other pantheon. the giant from the prologue has attributes that implicate almost every goddess we've heard of, but why should she be someone we know about? why not a previously unknown toblakai ascendant or something?

of course if she is an unknown toblakai goddess then the next rational speculation to make is that she's icariums mother

This post has been edited by Abyss: 13 October 2010 - 06:31 PM
Reason for edit: bcs 'spoiler' thread means SPOILERS

[saint trull]

Question for Pat: has Kyle actually gotten good at the blade. Because he was never that good at it in Return, it was just so sharp that it cut everything. Also are you suggesting that he is a high mage in training or something with your last comment? (don't really think your answers to these questions are spoilers... except maybe the 2nd one, but please answer anyway. )

[pat5150]

Kyle's plotline is a bit odd. For, although he is of great importance, he doesn't get that much "air time" so to speak.

As far as I know, he isn't a High Mage in training. But there is something about him, though I have a feeling ICE will get more into that in a future Malazan book. . .

Patrick

[End of Disc One]

MOAR

[Sanctume]

This is just sweet. So a November 25 release date? That's Thanksgivng Day in the U.S. I hope it's earlier so that I will have it read over the 4 day weekend!

[Quick~]

Oh Pat, you've gone and got me all excited.

[pat5150]

Just finished it and it's the shit!

Review coming soon. . .

Patrick

[Studlock]

So is the CG in this?

[Abalieno]

What? I wanted more micro-updates!

[End of Disc One]

I'm hoping the review is up before I leave town for the weekend....

[Urizen]

Pat, So Kyle(sigh) and Greymane are important returning characters. Are there any other "returning" characters from ROTCG/NOK/any of Eriksons books or are there mostly new characters?

[Kanubis]

Urizen, on 15 October 2010 - 10:34 AM, said:

Pat, So Kyle(sigh) and Greymane are important returning characters. Are there any other "returning" characters from ROTCG/NOK/any of Eriksons books or are there mostly new characters?

I hope and pray that Iron Bars is in it. I really do. Plus it would be weird for him not be with how RotCG ended.

Iron Bars would be my favourite character if Hedge's awesomeness didn't eclipse everyone else so much.

[EvilMegaCookie]

Rawr!! I really wanna read those pages TT_TT Let me read them or...else I will turn you into a cookie and eat you whole!

[Ozymandiac]

EvilMegaCookie, on 15 October 2010 - 11:27 AM, said:

Rawr!! I really wanna read those pages TT_TT Let me read them or...else I will turn you into a cookie and eat you whole!

Wouldn't that be cannibalism?

[pat5150]

The review should go up early next week. . .

Patrick

[Abyss]

pat5150, on 15 October 2010 - 01:39 AM, said:

Just finished it and it's the shit! ...

Die.
Just die.


...Okay fine post the review, THEN die.

[pat5150]

Okay. . .

But then you wouldn't get early reports about TCG!

Patrick