[Skywalker]

Best goddamn ICE book yet, easily! Loved all the allusions to the future and younger, uncooked versions of otherwise familiar characters. That said...

I got a very strong feeling that Rheena is Surly is Laseen. Anyone else?

There's a line near the end of the book (I think before Dorin goes after Pung) to the effect that Rheena takes over running the gang on a day to day basis. Feels very Laseen-like. SO I'm thinking she's either going to become Surly or she's a precursor to that ultimate majordomo character

Thoughts?

[amphibian]

The danger with saying Rheena is Laseen is that it assumes a campaign to conquer continents that is nearly bloodless for the Crew. This is not how ICE and SE operate.

I think we have yet to meet Laseen and that Rheena eventually becomes a casualty of the wars of conquest. It could be that her absence leaves the gap for I'll administration and Laseen's coup.

[Abyss]

Nope. Rheena is the Fist of Li Heng taken out 'offscreen' at the start of RCG before Storro's squad starts their counterattack.

[worry]

Plus Laseen is blue. She's a blue person.

[Kalam&Quick]

Kanyemander West, on 02 April 2016 - 07:16 AM, said:

Plus Laseen is blue. She's a blue person.

this, so much of this.

[wullagaru]

Abyss, on 02 April 2016 - 06:42 AM, said:

Nope. Rheena is the Fist of Li Heng taken out 'offscreen' at the start of RCG before Storro's squad starts their counterattack.

are we sure about this? i ask because this is well before RoTCG and even though Rheena is only like 12 in this book I still think this Rheena would be dead unless she was also there for the denul rituals

[worry]

Sounds like total Rheenal failure to me.

[Vengeance]

I read this thread title as So....rihanna....

Which was wasn't expecting to see in a books thread.Dohh

[Coltaine -]

wullagaru, on 29 June 2016 - 06:27 PM, said:

Abyss, on 02 April 2016 - 06:42 AM, said:

Nope. Rheena is the Fist of Li Heng taken out 'offscreen' at the start of RCG before Storro's squad starts their counterattack.

are we sure about this? i ask because this is well before RoTCG and even though Rheena is only like 12 in this book I still think this Rheena would be dead unless she was also there for the denul rituals

We can't be totally sure. The dead Fist could also be Rheena the Younger. Or someone with the same name. But several people are still alive from that time. Silk, Ho, Liss, A'Karonys until Pale. As well as the Crimson Guard and the old Guard. And as Rheena probably joined the malazan military and got a high rank money for a good denul mage shouldn't be a problem. Baudin the Elder was also around in Li Heng and he died some time after Laseen took the Throne and killed a lot of claws in his last fight. So he was probably also not senile at that time. So either Deadhouse or Denul for both of them.

[Edonidd]

About Baudin specefically, he does say his dad was named Baudin and his dad before him "all Baudin."

So this one could be the one mentioned as Baudin sr. Or he could just be another ancestor.

Still a cool cameo ish.

[NefaraisBredd]

Some thoughts/questions/facts regarding Surly/laseen to start:

1.How old was she when she joined the emperor?

2. Does her skin have a bluish tint to it? (yes)

3. we know she is Napan; (and rumoured to be royalty) and we also know that she defected from Napan with Crust & co to join Wu & co.

4.How old is Wu in this book?

5. How old is the assasin Dorin, or whatever his name is?( You know who I mean)

6. How could a person consider this his best book? Its a good read no doubt however, (in my opinion) it pales in comparison to most of his other books in the Malazan world. B&B, RotCG, OST, NoK!!!! I enjoy SE's novels (and writing) at another level but ICE is effin amazing in his own right. KoK is probably one of my favorite books that i have ever read. Temper didnt realize just how badass he really is. I apologize for the digression-Reena being Surly just doesnt seem to fit.