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Book description for Orb, Sceptre, Throne.
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Darujhistan, city of dreams, city of blue flames, is peaceful at last; its citizens free to return to politicking, bickering, trading and, above all, enjoying the good things in life. Yet there are those who will not allow the past to remain buried. A scholar digging in the plains stumbles across an ancient sealed vault. The merchant Humble Measure schemes to drive out the remaining Malazan invaders. And the surviving agents of a long-lost power are stirring, for they sense change and so, opportunity. While, as ever at the center of everything, a thief in a red waistcoat and of rotund proportions walks the streets, juggling in one hand custard pastries, and in the other the fate of the city itself.
Far to the south, fragments of the titanic Moon's Spawn have crashed into the Rivan Sea creating a series of isles…and a fortune hunter's dream. A Malazan veteran calling himself 'Red' ventures out to try his luck—and perhaps say goodbye to old friends. But there he finds far more than he'd bargained for as the rush to claim the Spawn's treasures descends into a mad scramble of chaos and bloodshed. For powers from across the world have gathered here, searching for the legendary Throne of Night. The impact of these events are far reaching, it seems. On an unremarkable island off the coast of Genabackis, a people who had turned their backs upon all such strivings now lift their masked faces towards the mainland and recall the ancient prophesy of a return.
And what about the ex-Claw of the Malazan Empire who now walks the uttermost edge of creation? His mission—the success or failure of which the Queen of Dreams saw long ago—is destined to shape far more than anyone could have ever imagined.
Far to the south, fragments of the titanic Moon's Spawn have crashed into the Rivan Sea creating a series of isles…and a fortune hunter's dream. A Malazan veteran calling himself 'Red' ventures out to try his luck—and perhaps say goodbye to old friends. But there he finds far more than he'd bargained for as the rush to claim the Spawn's treasures descends into a mad scramble of chaos and bloodshed. For powers from across the world have gathered here, searching for the legendary Throne of Night. The impact of these events are far reaching, it seems. On an unremarkable island off the coast of Genabackis, a people who had turned their backs upon all such strivings now lift their masked faces towards the mainland and recall the ancient prophesy of a return.
And what about the ex-Claw of the Malazan Empire who now walks the uttermost edge of creation? His mission—the success or failure of which the Queen of Dreams saw long ago—is destined to shape far more than anyone could have ever imagined.
January 1st 2020 we began the re-read of the main series of the Malazan books. The plan being to read one book a month. We've now added additional Erikson and Esslemont publications to the schedule, to be read roughly according to the publication order.
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2020
January: Gardens of the Moon
February: Deadhouse Gates
March: Memories of Ice
April: House of Chains
May: Midnight Tides
June Night of Knives & The Bonehunters
July: Return of the Crimson Guard
August: Reaper's Gale
September: Stonewielder
October: Toll the Hounds
November: Orb Sceptre Throne
December: Dust of Dreams
2021
January: The Crippled God
February: Blood and Bone
March: Assail
April: Forge of Darkness
May: Fall of Light
January: Gardens of the Moon
February: Deadhouse Gates
March: Memories of Ice
April: House of Chains
May: Midnight Tides
June Night of Knives & The Bonehunters
July: Return of the Crimson Guard
August: Reaper's Gale
September: Stonewielder
October: Toll the Hounds
November: Orb Sceptre Throne
December: Dust of Dreams
2021
January: The Crippled God
February: Blood and Bone
March: Assail
April: Forge of Darkness
May: Fall of Light
You can read our thoughts from earlier months in these threads:
2020 Malazan Re-read: Gardens of the Moon
2020 Malazan Re-read: Deadhouse Gates
2020 Malazan Re-read: Memories of Ice
2020 Malazan Re-read: House of Chains
2020 Malazan Re-read: Midnight Tides
2020 Malazan Re-read: Night of Knives
2020 Malazan Re-read: Bonehunters
2020 Malazan Re-read: Return of the Crimson Guard
2020 Malazan Re-read: Reaper's Gale
2020 Malazan Re-read: Stonewielder
2020 Malazab Re-read: Toll the Hounds
November 1st we begin the re-read of Orb, Sceptre, Throne, the 4th Novel of Eslemont's Malazan Empire series.
There will be spoilers for all published books. So beware. Spoiler blocks are not mandatory but if people want to use boxes for the latest Kharkanas books or the Path to Ascendance books for example, I'd personally appreciate it.
Are you ready? What do you remember about Orb, Sceptre, Throne?
I remember being weary of Esslemont's story telling at this point but very excited to see the culmination of this return of "The Tyrant" story seed that was planted in Bonehunters, when the Undead Soldier Seguleh blew open our understanding of Darujistan's history.
The first quarter of the book, with the creepy, very gothic telling, of the uncovering of the mask and its power was fascinating. The power that took the field, an army of Seguleh, scary City Mages travelling the continent, that stuff was cool. The ending on the other hand was very disappointing. I feel like, this was the one book, where the authors should have had the balls to demonstrate the terrible consequences of ascendants and gods facing off. Darujistan should have been blown up by the Moranth or Brood should have brought the hammer down to kill the Tyrant. 10+ books of world building and story telling should have born fruit in killing that city and putting the rest of the wars in context.
This post has been edited by Aptorian: 01 November 2020 - 06:58 AM
