[WhiskeyJackDaniels]

Just a wild thought here, but did anyone, just for a second, wonder if the woman that defeated Sall was Laseen? Her description of fighting, plus being middle aged with short cropped hair, always a distinctive Laseen trait, made me think of her during that scene. Now obviously, she's dead. However, Dassem was walking that battlefield in the role of Dessembrae, and still feuding quite furiously with Hood. So perhaps removing her to a colony of his cultists on a different continent would not be totally impossible for him.



except that it is also very likely dassem hates laseen for attempting to kill him and succeeding in killing most of his sword and also i don't know why laseen would be interested in something like this when she seems to have been the most power hungry person in the old guard but hey i had a crazy theory and this is the place for that right?

[amphibian]

WhiskeyJackDaniels, on 13 February 2012 - 03:58 AM, said:

but hey i had a crazy theory and this is the place for that right?[/size]

Aaaabsolutely. That'd be a plot twist NOBODY here anticipated - despite death being a really malleable thing in the Malazan books and particularly so with the Bridgeburners as the Gods of Death.

That'd be one hell of a decision to make - to allow the Empress who basically had you all killed in service of the Empire to pass your gates and rest eternally or to deny her that and send her back to Wu, but in a way that leads her to stay in a monastery with friggin' Dassem to re-learn her way of life.

[Abyss]

H.D., on 12 February 2012 - 08:21 AM, said:

Malakai must have been inserted for the next two novels, otherwise he was a worthless inclusion story-wise.

Why?
Not every character needs to have six books worth of history behind him. He was a talented thief who wanted to make his name outdoing one of the gods and there's the end of his story.
I was happy that he didn't turn out to be yet another Claw mage-assassin like all the others.

Quote

Dassem's story-line here is very good. I like where it's going. Philosophy that the Seguleh desperately need and their leadership will have seen a desperate sacrifice.

Agreed, and an interesting point. A shift by the Seguleh towards Dassem's approach would be interesting.

Quote

Moranth about to go nuclear was awesome, but would have been nice to know why they were immune to Barunkanal's "DO OR DIE" negotiations.

I was under the impression the Tyrant never sent one of his Cabal to them because he was determined to wipe them out.

Quote

Shocked: Humble Measure not being the big bad guy.

Agreed. He wasn't very developped back in TtH but what we did see suggested something other than what we got.

Quote

Sad: Antsy and the Spawn Islands' didn't really sell me on anything. Other than B and KB being there for good fun and the end game of Oru, it seemed worthless. This storyline kept the novel from being tight enough to be a 5 star for me.

Despite it being essentially a dungeon crawl separate from the rest of the story for the most part (Mask aside), i liked it. There was a very basic element of fantasy lit to Antsy's story that just worked for me... a diverse cast exploring an interesting location and getting past obstacles in their way. Complex, no, but as a direct storyline buildling on much of the series (or at least the Moon's Spawn and Andii parts of it) i enjoyed.

Cause, on 12 February 2012 - 02:07 PM, said:

Abyss Im shocked that you have no critiscism for this book?

I did. Just no major criticisms.

Quote

Were you satisfied with the Tyrant as a character?

He was a satisfying villain in a mustache-twirling sort of way.

Quote

How did you respond to the scene when the malazans cry after the Seguleh were bombed?

A respected opponent just got reduced to red mist. Quite deep actualy. I especially liked when they try to talk one of the Seguleh down and she guts four of them. Reminds the reader just how alien and driven the Seguleh are and how much compassion the Malazans were capable of.

Quote

Mok came back broken (I read this as just a move by ICE to replace an SE character with one of his own),

Why? Mok and Jan were completely different characters.

Quote

Therule fell in love with Envy and Senu is where?

Thurule was totally in love with Envy, which was twisted nicely when he chose exile for her and she tossed him, and even better as that had him joining up with Madrun and Lazan!

Quote

BEST MYSTERY - Just what did Kruppe and Humble Measure have Barathol do when forging those crossbow bolts?

-Im pretty sure they used shards of dragnipur (Barathol seemed to have them in his ottoteral chest) to forge the bolts.

Ahah! ok, i had figured that was what was in the otataral box, but utterly failed to connect that to the bolts. Good catch!

BlissFulnite, on 12 February 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

...My biggest issue with the Moranth dropping munitions was the method they used. With all of their brilliance and engineering, they can't come up with anything better than throwing them out of a sack? Surely they could have come up with some kind of projectile device, and if they didn't have the know-how, why didn't they use that treaty with the Malazans to get THEM to build one?

The lobber crossbow was Fiddler and Hedge's innovation, but not otherwise used i the Malazan forces. It's entirelt possible the Moranth never even knew about it.
Plus when you can drop the munition on your opponents' heads, what more do you need?

Quote

I agree with the increase of flabby women in this book. Someone please send Richard Simmons to Darujhistan!!! Scillara was another fatty as I recall...

Her too!

tiam, on 12 February 2012 - 04:33 PM, said:

...On a reread the references to 'him' throughout point clearly to Kruppe. He has a long relationship with the Torrud Cabal. After he looks into Amans shop and accidentally awakens the jacuruku automaton Aman refers to him as an old friend who is greasy etc. There is also the reference to him escaping the Tyrant earlier in the book. Im getting the feeling Kruppe may actually be of the Torrud Cabal or possibly a demon in human form. It would explain his new longevity? I still dont like the idea of Kruppe being thousands of years old as it goes against all our background knowledge as the sharpest mortal mind.

I don't think he'sCabal but we know he's a mage, so automatically long lived. The Cabal never even knew who or what he was tho Baruk suspected as of GotM.

Remember that the Cabal was actually trying to avoid the Tyrant returning and re-enslaving them.

amphibian, on 12 February 2012 - 06:32 PM, said:

I'm surprised Abyss calls the Tyrant storyline "wrapped up".

To the extent that it's concluded. Obviously with Ebbin sitting in the Finnest House with the Tyrant's finnest inside of him there is potential for return.
I was surprised Rallick went that route rather than gutting him, tho i suppose that was the point.

As an aside, i enjoyed Rallick's segments in this book. His evolution away from cold-blooded killer was logical and when he jumped in to save Krute from Taya i had in inside cheer. Great fight too.

Pig Iron, on 12 February 2012 - 08:24 PM, said:

Think the Tyrant might be a Jaghut bodyswitcher, hint of ice there somewhere in connection with him. ...

The Miner Imass grabs the Tyrant and has a sniff and concludes he's human, not Jaghut.


As another aise, the Miner Imass' fight with Palla (the Sixth) was sort of pointless. neither character had much development so the impact was lost, altho i admit to some surprise that Miner (no, i'm never going to remember his name, why do you ask?) won that. I like the notion that with the emclava legs he's faster than he used to be.

[The Pack]

Abyss, on 13 February 2012 - 04:27 PM, said:

The Miner Imass grabs the Tyrant and has a sniff and concludes he's human, not Jaghut.


As another aise, the Miner Imass' fight with Palla (the Sixth) was sort of pointless. neither character had much development so the impact was lost, altho i admit to some surprise that Miner (no, i'm never going to remember his name, why do you ask?) won that. I like the notion that with the emclava legs he's faster than he used to be.

I was a bit like *huh?* with the sniff, then drop, after finding out the tyrant was human, anti climactic much?

[HoosierDaddy]

We also get an answer as to why Vorcan might have been okay with offing so much of the Cabal in GotM (other than just to take control of the city and ruling as High Fist). Less exceptional mages for the Tyrant to use if he returns, and they all suspect it's happening. Although Taya's "induction" into the Cabal hints that the Tyrant can always get more, I think she was more "honorary" than the others who were compelled to his service, much like being Taken in Black Company.

Really like that the Tyrant was just waiting for Rake to die to come back. How many big bads did his "presence" keep from running around wreaking havoc.

Re: Tyrant. Who's causing all the havoc in Assail? Humans. We see a magic here by the Tyrant that no human has displayed so far, perhaps it's another clue (with Fisher, the Heels, Stalker, Badlands, and Coots, Kyle) as to what exactly is going on there.

This post has been edited by H.D.: 13 February 2012 - 11:17 PM

[Pig Iron]

The Pack, on 13 February 2012 - 10:20 PM, said:

Abyss, on 13 February 2012 - 04:27 PM, said:

The Miner Imass grabs the Tyrant and has a sniff and concludes he's human, not Jaghut.


As another aise, the Miner Imass' fight with Palla (the Sixth) was sort of pointless. neither character had much development so the impact was lost, altho i admit to some surprise that Miner (no, i'm never going to remember his name, why do you ask?) won that. I like the notion that with the emclava legs he's faster than he used to be.

I was a bit like *huh?* with the sniff, then drop, after finding out the tyrant was human, anti climactic much?

Read that as a "seemed like Jaghut, but wait human body so can't be" reaction. Whereas the reader knows that's probably not the Tyrant's original body. Could have been a Jaghut body in the crypt, or was that just a demon? BTW I take it the whole cabal was demonic in origin?

This post has been edited by Pig Iron: 13 February 2012 - 11:34 PM

[WhiskeyJackDaniels]

Speaking of the crypt, what was that one body that Ebbin discovered in a sealed tomb and then stayed there the whole time. Topper went down to have a look as well and it was still there and he seemed to have no idea why that was or who/what it was.


I wonder if perhaps it is Kruppe? Since Vorcan and apparently Baruk and the whole Cabal were demons, it makes some sense that the Tyrant at some point was able to trap a bunch of demons and chain them to his service/will.

Kruppe could have been one of the original ones that was somehow able to break his bonds/slither away from the hold of the Tyrant, and that is why his demonic body remained in the crypt.

It may also explain Kruppe's affinity for going through wards. Once he was able to shed the power that the Tyrant held over him magically, no other magic's were able to take hold either.

Since he shed his original form, and his role as a mage, it could explain how Baruk didn't know who he was.

[tiam]

WhiskeyJackDaniels, on 14 February 2012 - 02:43 AM, said:

Speaking of the crypt, what was that one body that Ebbin discovered in a sealed tomb and then stayed there the whole time. Topper went down to have a look as well and it was still there and he seemed to have no idea why that was or who/what it was.


I wonder if perhaps it is Kruppe? Since Vorcan and apparently Baruk and the whole Cabal were demons, it makes some sense that the Tyrant at some point was able to trap a bunch of demons and chain them to his service/will.

Kruppe could have been one of the original ones that was somehow able to break his bonds/slither away from the hold of the Tyrant, and that is why his demonic body remained in the crypt.

It may also explain Kruppe's affinity for going through wards. Once he was able to shed the power that the Tyrant held over him magically, no other magic's were able to take hold either.

Since he shed his original form, and his role as a mage, it could explain how Baruk didn't know who he was.

Yes thats what I was getting at I forgot to mention the tomb. It seems plausible enough to me atleast.

Still annoyed that Kruppes not mortal

[Silk]

but even the gods are mortal in the Malazan world..... especially when they step onto the mortal field... .just ask Fener about that ;o)

[The Pack]

WhiskeyJackDaniels, on 14 February 2012 - 02:43 AM, said:

Speaking of the crypt, what was that one body that Ebbin discovered in a sealed tomb and then stayed there the whole time. Topper went down to have a look as well and it was still there and he seemed to have no idea why that was or who/what it was.


I wonder if perhaps it is Kruppe? Since Vorcan and apparently Baruk and the whole Cabal were demons, it makes some sense that the Tyrant at some point was able to trap a bunch of demons and chain them to his service/will.

Kruppe could have been one of the original ones that was somehow able to break his bonds/slither away from the hold of the Tyrant, and that is why his demonic body remained in the crypt.

It may also explain Kruppe's affinity for going through wards. Once he was able to shed the power that the Tyrant held over him magically, no other magic's were able to take hold either.

Since he shed his original form, and his role as a mage, it could explain how Baruk didn't know who he was.

I always presumed that the chamber the tyrant was found in was his prison, with the echos of wards and magic Ebbin mentions going down, and each sealed door was the body of one of his slave demons. The idea that Kruppes body is the one left there makes good sense to me!

[tiam]

It was his prison. We see Mammot designed the place not be found or entered by any of the others ro tyrant faction. Aman states that perhpas only a like minded individual, who doesnt want it for power or glory, a scholar would be the only one able to find it.

[Abyss]

H.D., on 13 February 2012 - 11:14 PM, said:

We also get an answer as to why Vorcan might have been okay with offing so much of the Cabal in GotM (other than just to take control of the city and ruling as High Fist). Less exceptional mages for the Tyrant to use if he returns, and they all suspect it's happening. Although Taya's "induction" into the Cabal hints that the Tyrant can always get more, I think she was more "honorary" than the others who were compelled to his service, much like being Taken in Black Company.

Yep, as well as the point that the Cabal was far from one big happy Tyrant prevention family.

The demon thing also explains why Taya is part demon... it comes from Vorcan's side, not the unknown father.
Which raises the icky question of whether Rallick would still be all cuddly if he saw Vorcan in her original form, cause 'ew', spiny hairy armoured demon assassin lady ew.

Quote

Really like that the Tyrant was just waiting for Rake to die to come back. How many big bads did his "presence" keep from running around wreaking havoc.

Interesting point. Also shows that while Rake tried to have Draconus and Hood step into the breach, so to speak, they won't, or at least don't yet, have the same influence.

Quote

Re: Tyrant. Who's causing all the havoc in Assail? Humans. We see a magic here by the Tyrant that no human has displayed so far, perhaps it's another clue (with Fisher, the Heels, Stalker, Badlands, and Coots, Kyle) as to what exactly is going on there.

I think your point re the Assail link is damn likely valid. The little we know of Assail refers to human 'Tyrants' and hordes of screaming suicidal humans (and the ongoing conflict between the Jaghut and the Forkrul Assail but we'll just conveniently ignore that for a minute). Considering what the Tyrant was trying to accomplish in OST, multiply that by many Tyrants who have managed to take over an entire continent, can bodyshift at will and we may just have something there.

Pig Iron, on 13 February 2012 - 11:32 PM, said:

The Pack, on 13 February 2012 - 10:20 PM, said:

Abyss, on 13 February 2012 - 04:27 PM, said:

The Miner Imass grabs the Tyrant and has a sniff and concludes he's human, not Jaghut.


As another aise, the Miner Imass' fight with Palla (the Sixth) was sort of pointless. neither character had much development so the impact was lost, altho i admit to some surprise that Miner (no, i'm never going to remember his name, why do you ask?) won that. I like the notion that with the emclava legs he's faster than he used to be.

I was a bit like *huh?* with the sniff, then drop, after finding out the tyrant was human, anti climactic much?

Read that as a "seemed like Jaghut, but wait human body so can't be" reaction. Whereas the reader knows that's probably not the Tyrant's original body. Could have been a Jaghut body in the crypt, or was that just a demon? BTW I take it the whole cabal was demonic in origin?

Iirc the Tyrant's body before it got the first guard was human. The side room body was a demon and yes, probably all of the Cabal were there at some point and some escaped and set up shop in D'stan while others, essentially Aman and Hinter, waited for the Tyrant to return.

It certainly seemed like they were all demonic, altho Derudan was a bit unclear... she dodged the summoning, but went from an allegedly attractive priestess to an old hag. Which was never explained.

tiam, on 14 February 2012 - 11:43 AM, said:

WhiskeyJackDaniels, on 14 February 2012 - 02:43 AM, said:

Speaking of the crypt, what was that one body that Ebbin discovered in a sealed tomb and then stayed there the whole time. Topper went down to have a look as well and it was still there and he seemed to have no idea why that was or who/what it was.

I wonder if perhaps it is Kruppe? Since Vorcan and apparently Baruk and the whole Cabal were demons, it makes some sense that the Tyrant at some point was able to trap a bunch of demons and chain them to his service/will.

Kruppe could have been one of the original ones that was somehow able to break his bonds/slither away from the hold of the Tyrant, and that is why his demonic body remained in the crypt.

It may also explain Kruppe's affinity for going through wards. Once he was able to shed the power that the Tyrant held over him magically, no other magic's were able to take hold either.

Since he shed his original form, and his role as a mage, it could explain how Baruk didn't know who he was.

Yes thats what I was getting at I forgot to mention the tomb. It seems plausible enough to me atleast.

Still annoyed that Kruppes not mortal

It's a valid theory but i prefer the notion that Kruppe is just a brilliant Mage whom Krul or other gods have relied on at various times as an agent.



Am on the reread now and realizing that while it contains a few interesting bits - notably the idea that summoned demons may be thrown into the Vitr when their summoners are done with them, and the suggestion of a link between the Maker and Gothos' Builder from TtH - the Kiska/Leoman/Tayshrenn subplot is probably my least favorite of the story. It lacked... suspence. Yath showing up didn't do much for suspense, and Leoman deciding he'd rather sit around and chill out didn't line up with my take on the character (for what that's worth) from what we've seen of him in the past. The moustache thing was funny tho'.

[Khellendros]

Well, I'm glad you enjoyed the book, Abyss. I have to disagree that there are no major criticisms, but each to his own opinion I suppose.


By the way, what did happen to Hinter???? I either missed this, or forgot about it, or....nothing happened?

[Abyss]

Khellendros, on 14 February 2012 - 03:51 PM, said:

...By the way, what did happen to Hinter???? I either missed this, or forgot about it, or....nothing happened?

Wasn't he zapped by K'rul'ina in the Cabal attack on the Bar?

[champ]

Abyss, on 14 February 2012 - 04:44 PM, said:

Khellendros, on 14 February 2012 - 03:51 PM, said:

...By the way, what did happen to Hinter???? I either missed this, or forgot about it, or....nothing happened?

Wasn't he zapped by K'rul'ina in the Cabal attack on the Bar?

Aye she did, guessing she banished his shade..?

[Abyss]

Something like that since we don't see him again.

Relatedly, someone remind me - did we (and if so where) ever see Hinter before OST?

[champ]

Abyss, on 14 February 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

Something like that since we don't see him again.

Relatedly, someone remind me - did we (and if so where) ever see Hinter before OST?

We hear of him in GoTM, iirc doesn't Rallick and Murillio meet near his tower and they talk about it been haunted and you can still hear his victims or something, I know someone met near there to do with the assassins guild!

I cannot recall if we hear from him in TtH!

edit...

ebook search = win!

Murillio off to Krute's

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The many tales of death and madness surrounding Hinter's Tower and its environs kept it empty and, uppermost in the minds of the goldsmiths, an unlikely approach to their precious stores

Quote

Before him rose Hinter's Tower, its mould-ridden stone walls glistening in the dying light. An overgrown cobbled pathway led up to the arched entrace bereft of a door and heavy with shadows. Of the chamber within Murillio saw only darkness.

Quote

Murillio remained standing, his gaze on the tower. 'What of Hinter himself? Does his wraith number among them?
'No. The madman sleeps within, or so it's said. The wraiths are trapped in the sorcerer's nightmares - he holds on to them, and even Hood cannot draw them to his cold bosom. Do you wish to know where those wraiths have come from, Murillio?' Rallick grinned. 'Enter the tower, and you'll discover it first hand.' Murillio had been about to go into the tower when Rallick had suprised him.

edit edit

Also gets a mention in TtH...

With Harllo and Baruk...

Theres an interesting passage about the Tyrant between Hinter and Baruk from what I found...

Quote

'Never bargain with the dead. They want what you have and will give you what they have to get it. Your life for their death. Being dead, of course, whatever life they grab hold of just ends up slipping through their bony fingers. So you both lose.

'That is rather generous of you, Hinter,' said Baruk. 'In fact, I do not recall you being so loquacious the last time we spoke.'

The apparition stood within the door frame of the tower. 'The struggle I face is between my desire to close my ghostly fingers about your throat High Alchemist, and providing whatever service I can to this fair city. It must also be noted, the return of the Tyrant would also mark the end of the freedom I possess, for I would be quickly enslaved. And so, self-interest and altruism prove unlikely allies, yet sufficient to overwhelm my natural murderous urges.

That last quote pretty much continues on, Baruk and Hinter discussing the forces at play and also about the Cabal etc - very info laden for OST!

This post has been edited by champ: 14 February 2012 - 08:04 PM

[tiam]

Thats the advantage of having the books in fancy format. I will say that Hinter describes himselfas a middling Necromancer so I think Baruk may have been pre eminent or atleast joint top with Vorcan amongst the Cabal.

This post has been edited by tiam: 14 February 2012 - 09:02 PM

[Tapper]

Well, read it, finished it, and despite consuming OST on Valentine's Day, I'm not in love.
Tapper's verdict of his Valentine date with Orb, Sceptre, Throne:
It was like making out with a nice girl who smokes unfiltered cigarillo's: plenty of fun to be had, awakens the appetite but leaves an aftertaste you'd rather not have.



WINGMAN OF CHOICE (most improved): I had a hard time deciding between Antsy as a character and ICE as a writer, but I'll give it to ICE, because he handled multiple storylines very well and also provided good characters, including writing people who went 10 volumes of MBotF before he touched them.

STILL PULLS PUSSY LIKE A PIMP (best returning character) A three-way tie between Dassem, Antsy and Topper. Of the three of them, Topper is much more ICE's creation than the other two, Antsy being more SE even than Dassem, who is perhaps more ICE than SE except for the brilliance that is TtH. While ICE Antsy wasn't SE Antsy, he was a good read and well handled. Torvald Nom was fun but I had a sense ICE tried a bit too much to copy SE's way of banter and bewilderment between him and his wife and the world in general, and didn't quite get there. Kruppe was well-handled although at times, ICE's less flowery prose gets stuck here.

ALL THE GIRLS THINK HE'S CUTE AND FRESH (best new character): I was rather charmed by young master Lim. Malakai was also a very nice touch, his desire to go to the Spawn to do better than Apsalar was a really nice motivation.

TWICE IS ONCE TOO MANY (deja vu in Darujhistan): Jan intentionally losing to Gall. Felt like TtH all over and with only a shred of the poignancy.

KISS MY ALABASTER ORBS (most defying moment): Aragan's speech to the Malazans after having 40% losses against 400 Seguleh.

I HAVE THE BIGGEST SCEPTRE IN TOWN (for being downright bad-ass): Baruk and his inner struggle, as well as Vorcan locking herself up while the entire world thought she was with the Tyrant. I thought that was done very, very well.

HONEYBUNNY (most overused word) pannier.

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE DAGGER AWARD for character assassination: Lady Envy. I'm sorry, I'm a massive Envy fanboy and that will colour my perception, but only two sentences in the entire book captured Envy, and that was the one where she comments on getting three 'new' Seguleh and the one where she walks out on the Tyrant. Other than that, this wasn't Envy at all, just a pretty woman in a dress. Thurule's dismissal was just cruelty (and why would she have stuck with him up until then?) unless it was Envy's plan all along to dismiss him and thereby exclude him from the Seguleh hierarchy and allowing him to act, but I don't think ICE went to that kind of depth with her.

JUST WHEN IT GETS ROMANTIC, HER EX WALKS IN (needless cameos): may I please welcome Ardata, Bennam Nom, Stonny, Harrlo, Coll, Thurule, Studlock, Caladan Brood, Leoman and Maker to the stage? Really, there was no need for them to be mentioned as SE did a good job of ending the stories of the Daru amongst them (apartfrom Coll). In the end, Brood could have stayed in Black Coral and the unguent prepared by Baruk could just have worked, Leoman was filler - didn't the QoD have a plan with him, and Ardata was just there for some foreshadowing and making clear she opposed the Queen of Dreams.

CROSSDRESSERS ARE PEOPLE (AND GODS) TOO, BUT I DON'T WANT TO KISS THEM: And the winners are... The Barghast Nation. K'rul was well and funnily handled, I'd say. But please, how often can one mistake a woman for a man, even in bulky armor? You know, they tend to be shorter, different physical traits, different way of walking, lighter voice...

MATCHMAKER OF CHOICE Rallick was definately 100% Rallick and while in the end he had less to do than I had anticipated, he was great to tie bits of the story together by walking from one place to the next.

SHE IS SO SPECIAL HER EYES CHANGE COLOUR DEPENDANT ON HER MOOD (and other bad poetry): Taya proved... less spectacular than expected, because I really liked her in Return. Also, when Vorcan shackles her in that last scene, meh. Didn't Misses V pull the chains out of the walls when she freed herself? Much tying up that was, then.

A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS Orchid a daughter of Tiam... wow. I figured she was Topper's child, really. Although the best flower award goes to Malakai.

WARDROBE MALFUNCTION (loose threads): I thought a book featuring the Seguleh would have been awesome to tell us more about Madrun and Door, and Studlock. Mok, anyone? Seguleh culture? Caladan Brood? Leoman? Karsa? Kallor? Or so loose she didn't even make it to a mention: Dunsparrow?

ONE AND ONE IS ONE (inconsistency): Seguleh fighting style. I am still disgusted with that even though the battles and duels were in general awesome. ICE can write a very decent action scene.

THE LEO DI CAPRIO DAUPHINE AWARD for uninspired villain: really, the only thing I cared about with the Tyrant was how he went down. Sadly, I thought "the Tyrant is the mask" in the first scene we see the mask and thus, the predictability of all Tyrants being one was unavoidable and a give-away rather than a surprise, which it ought to have been. Also, with magic being what it is in the Malazan world, namely very visible and physical and warren-based and aspected, the Tyrant doing all that mind-control demon summoning from a distance left me with a bit of a sour taste in the mouth.

[tiam]

Im half way through my reread and I think the Antsy as a character and as a plotline is probably the best.

You got it wrong though. Most overused word was 'hunh'. Still not as bad as everyone in SW who had a nap waking as though they had no rest at all