[benelori]

Yay for this thread! I somehow missed the Forge of Darkness one, but now I'm looking forward to following this

Such a great novel, best, let's say, execution from ICE yet....but Blood and Bone is still best :3

Go Abyss! \o/

[Abyss]

Holy icefuck, SisCold just took out four Nightblades just by looking at them.


Wow Dorin is making no friends at all.

Ryllandaras in play... A little more coherent than RCG. This may be before he splits. That chat w Shala was deeeeep.
Can always rely on ICE for a solid battle scene.
Wtf did Kellanved just do?

[Andorion]

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 03:50 AM, said:

Holy icefuck, SisCold just took out four Nightblades just by looking at them.


Wow Dorin is making no friends at all.

Ryllandaras in play... A little more coherent than RCG. This may be before he splits. That chat w Shala was deeeeep.
Can always rely on ICE for a solid battle scene.
Wtf did Kellanved just do?

About half of my read was me asking Wtf did Kellanved just do?

[Abyss]

Dassem, Dorin and Wu just met collectively for the first time.

And it was ridiculous, in a totally great way.

Have to say, while ICE has generally tightened up his writing with this book, when any combination of these three are <on screen< together he really nails it.

And I can practically picture him giggling as he writes.

[Andorion]

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 04:41 PM, said:

Dassem, Dorin and Wu just met collectively for the first time.

And it was ridiculous, in a totally great way.

Have to say, while ICE has generally tightened up his writing with this book, when any combination of these three are <on screen< together he really nails it.

And I can practically picture him giggling as he writes.

Dassem is so earnest, Kellanved is so Kellanved and poor old Dancer stuck in the middle trying to make sense of it all

[Abyss]

Andorion, on 01 March 2016 - 04:47 PM, said:

Dassem is so earnest, Kellanved is so Kellanved and poor old Dancer stuck in the middle trying to make sense of it all

Seriously, Dorin's reactions to Das and Wu are great. So much eye rolling and exasperation, yet underneath it all theres if not respect, then thought.

[Nevyn]

I think I enjoyed this more than other ICE books in large part due to featuring Wu so heavily (and from the POV of Dorin). Previously, SE always did a better job of including characters and absurd situations that introduced a little levity.

Having that element mixed in here makes the whole adventure a lot more fun. Heck, he also has some more fun with Silk than I remember him having in RotCG.

[Abyss]

Nevyn, on 01 March 2016 - 05:26 PM, said:

... he also has some more fun with Silk than I remember him having in RotCG.

Silk was a lot more grim/serious in RCG, tho given events here that actually makes a lot of sense.

The way ICE is giving us backstory on a lot of the minor supporting characters from his other books is very malazan.

[benelori]

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 03:50 AM, said:

Wtf did Kellanved just do?

What are you referring to here?

[Abyss]

benelori, on 01 March 2016 - 09:23 PM, said:

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 03:50 AM, said:

Wtf did Kellanved just do?

What are you referring to here?

The earthquake, citywide growling, Hounds of Shadow thing around the 40% point.

[polishgenius]

One thing I noticed, right from the start: Kellanved - sorry, Wu- is already pretty much the same person we meet later in the series, just less experienced, but Dancer is really very different and has a lot of developing and changing to do before he's the seemingly composed master of all situations that we know and love.

I haven't re-read any Malazan for too long, a lot of the characters I know I know but I'm not quite sure where from. It's irritating. And my books are in another country.

[benelori]

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 09:43 PM, said:

benelori, on 01 March 2016 - 09:23 PM, said:

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 03:50 AM, said:

Wtf did Kellanved just do?

What are you referring to here?

The earthquake, citywide growling, Hounds of Shadow thing around the 40% point.

Ah I see....that was probably the first Hound summoning, and it was just right under the tunnels of Pung's place

[Nevyn]

polishgenius, on 01 March 2016 - 09:46 PM, said:

One thing I noticed, right from the start: Kellanved - sorry, Wu- is already pretty much the same person we meet later in the series, just less experienced, but Dancer is really very different and has a lot of developing and changing to do before he's the seemingly composed master of all situations that we know and love.

I haven't re-read any Malazan for too long, a lot of the characters I know I know but I'm not quite sure where from. It's irritating. And my books are in another country.

I don't know if I'd go that far. I'd say they both have very consistent personalities to the main story, but both have a lot to learn to become those characters.

[Andorion]

benelori, on 01 March 2016 - 10:38 PM, said:

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 09:43 PM, said:

benelori, on 01 March 2016 - 09:23 PM, said:

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 03:50 AM, said:

Wtf did Kellanved just do?

What are you referring to here?

The earthquake, citywide growling, Hounds of Shadow thing around the 40% point.

Ah I see....that was probably the first Hound summoning, and it was just right under the tunnels of Pung's place

One of the things I loved the most. He barely knows what he is doing but he is already throwing Hounds at people

[Abyss]

Nevyn, on 01 March 2016 - 10:40 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 01 March 2016 - 09:46 PM, said:

One thing I noticed, right from the start: Kellanved - sorry, Wu- is already pretty much the same person we meet later in the series, just less experienced, but Dancer is really very different and has a lot of developing and changing to do before he's the seemingly composed master of all situations that we know and love.

I haven't re-read any Malazan for too long, a lot of the characters I know I know but I'm not quite sure where from. It's irritating. And my books are in another country.

I don't know if I'd go that far. I'd say they both have very consistent personalities to the main story, but both have a lot to learn to become those characters.

Wu is clearly at least a little nuts but not quite as erratic as he becomes as Shadowthrone. Also raises the interesting question of what he was like as Emperor Kellanved.
Dorin is farther away from the Cotillion personality, but the elements are there, notably in how he cares about people, even bystanders, at times in spite of himself.

Andorion, on 02 March 2016 - 12:40 AM, said:

benelori, on 01 March 2016 - 10:38 PM, said:

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 09:43 PM, said:

benelori, on 01 March 2016 - 09:23 PM, said:

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 03:50 AM, said:

Wtf did Kellanved just do?

What are you referring to here?

The earthquake, citywide growling, Hounds of Shadow thing around the 40% point.

Ah I see....that was probably the first Hound summoning, and it was just right under the tunnels of Pung's place

One of the things I loved the most. He barely knows what he is doing but he is already throwing Hounds at people

All true, but SisCold's discovery of the drawing of the Azath seriously complicates whatever is going on there.
Also, enjoyed Silk's excursion, attempt at channeling an elder warren, and visit with the CGuard. All kinds of interesting bits there.

[Andorion]

Abyss, on 02 March 2016 - 04:54 AM, said:

Nevyn, on 01 March 2016 - 10:40 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 01 March 2016 - 09:46 PM, said:

One thing I noticed, right from the start: Kellanved - sorry, Wu- is already pretty much the same person we meet later in the series, just less experienced, but Dancer is really very different and has a lot of developing and changing to do before he's the seemingly composed master of all situations that we know and love.

I haven't re-read any Malazan for too long, a lot of the characters I know I know but I'm not quite sure where from. It's irritating. And my books are in another country.

I don't know if I'd go that far. I'd say they both have very consistent personalities to the main story, but both have a lot to learn to become those characters.

Wu is clearly at least a little nuts but not quite as erratic as he becomes as Shadowthrone. Also raises the interesting question of what he was like as Emperor Kellanved.
Dorin is farther away from the Cotillion personality, but the elements are there, notably in how he cares about people, even bystanders, at times in spite of himself.

Andorion, on 02 March 2016 - 12:40 AM, said:

benelori, on 01 March 2016 - 10:38 PM, said:

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 09:43 PM, said:

benelori, on 01 March 2016 - 09:23 PM, said:

Abyss, on 01 March 2016 - 03:50 AM, said:

Wtf did Kellanved just do?

What are you referring to here?

The earthquake, citywide growling, Hounds of Shadow thing around the 40% point.

Ah I see....that was probably the first Hound summoning, and it was just right under the tunnels of Pung's place

One of the things I loved the most. He barely knows what he is doing but he is already throwing Hounds at people

All true, but SisCold's discovery of the drawing of the Azath seriously complicates whatever is going on there.
Also, enjoyed Silk's excursion, attempt at channeling an elder warren, and visit with the CGuard. All kinds of interesting bits there.

Reading Silk in this book adds so much impact to his actions in RotCG especially when he unleashed Kurald Thyrlan in the throne room

[Cougar]

Just bashed this fucker out. Pretty good stuff from ICE and a real step forward in the tone and quality of his work.

[Fid]

Cougar, on 02 March 2016 - 11:21 AM, said:

Just bashed this fucker out. Pretty good stuff from ICE and a real step forward in the tone and quality of his work.

Totally nailed it for me - very satisfying

[Abyss]

65%ish...
Dorin hunting Nightblades.... Perfect.
Dorin getting a job offer from the Nightblades in the process... More perfect.

Also interesting..."Already during her investigations she’d had to shy away from the attention of the one left behind within Kurald Emurlahn, its champion. She would most certainly not wish to be caught by him ."...Edgewalker? Is KE shattered yet? So much question....

Malle of Gris... Heh.

Iko whispering to the boy while she killed him was actually creepy on a couple of levels.

Baudin... Future Talon... Nice touch.
...and I just realized the significance of the Talons' name... Ullala's bird's...

[Andorion]

Abyss, on 04 March 2016 - 03:51 AM, said:

65%ish...
Dorin hunting Nightblades.... Perfect.
Dorin getting a job offer from the Nightblades in the process... More perfect.

Also interesting..."Already during her investigations she’d had to shy away from the attention of the one left behind within Kurald Emurlahn, its champion. She would most certainly not wish to be caught by him ."...Edgewalker? Is KE shattered yet? So much question....

That entire sequence reminded me of Gotm and the assassin war in Darujhistan

That is clearly Edgewalker and I think KE has been shattered for a long time. Remember that flashback sequence when Rake and Kili went into a warren to do some dragonslaying?I think that was it