Kevin's Watch

Just started this yesterday, and even just reading the Dramatis Personae got a few laughs, and the odd conniption

Dead Hedge, King Tehol, The Forkrul Assail, The Jaghut, and the biggest was the assassin and destriant listed under K'Chain Che'malle

I never read the Dramatis thingy.

--A

They're rarely useful. Mainly because they do nothing to tell you where given characters appeared in previous books, which is the only way I tend to lose track of them.

I find reading it builds the tension nicely

I enjoy reading the DP. "What?!? Who's that guy? Can't wait to find out!" "He's in the book?!?! COOL!"

Fist and Faith wrote:I enjoy reading the DP. "What?!? Who's that guy? Can't wait to find out!" "He's in the book?!?! COOL!"

exactly!

Fid's reading- well, what can I say?

Have to say, I am absolutely loving this book. In total contrast to TtH, every single thread is grabbing me, I'm annoyed when he skips to the next one, but only momentarily because then I get to catch up on someone else

Yeah, I also found a lot of skipping in it to be disconcerting.

--A

Finished this book. I guess I liked it more than TtH but it the Malazan series seems to be ending on a low point for me, unless Crippled God is a lot better.

I didn't really see any connection between "the snake" plotline and the rest of the stories in the book. Except that the city they reach seems to have some ties...

Spoiler

to Icarium

It becomes important in the last book. Dust of Dreams and The Crippled God are pretty much one big two-part story.

The Snake was very strange, for sure. I wanted to like it, to understand it, just because it's Malazan. But it was just weird.

After TCG, however, it's among my very favorite aspects of the entire series.

Nearly finished. I really hope this is going where I think it is! I don't have to read any esselmont between DoD and tCG, do I?

Nah, you're good.

Spoiler

Nah'ruk!!!!!

I don't even know what to say. Parts of this book were hilarious, parts were incredible, parts were heartbreaking.

I had a love/hate relationship with the Barghast storyline. After Tool died it was just one big bummer. The Barghast, whom I'd found pretty cool in previous books, were exposed as barbaric, and most of them acted like idiotic savages. Tool's death was noble and moving, but then it was all undone in the worst ways imaginable, and he turned into a genocidal dick. Also, when will Toc get a goddamn break? The storyline was well written and moving, but it just left me feeling bitter.

The ribby snake parts were confusing as hell for me, but after reading this thread I understand better. Badalle facing down the Forkrul Assail was awesome.

The K'Chain Che'Malle storyline unexpectedly became the most awesome part of the book. I mean, I'd always found them interesting, but that closing battle was just mind blowing.

Can't wait to find out what happens to the Bonehunters. Sounds like they got pretty savaged, but most of the main characters were still kicking last I read. I'm guessing at the very least Tavore and Fiddler will have made it, and I won't be surprised at all if Quick Ben ducked into a warren at the last second or something.

Two cool little bits about the Bonehunters battle:
Lostara Shadow Dancing, and
"Quick Ben's been Ranalled" - I love it when the soldiers use that phrase