First Read - Midnight Tides: Book 5 of the Malazan

[SoulBiter]

I like the way this one has started and we get yet more history of this world. The Tisti Andii and the betrayal of the brother that starts this book. The Jaghut that is going to bring about an ice age, an elder God that is enlists his aid. That was just the preface. then we get to Chapter 1 and we get Trull Sengar. We start learning of his past to a degree and how he was a blooded warrior who carries respect but has at least one brother (maybe two) that do not. I suspect more betrayal to come....

[Fist and Faith]

His prefaces are always so great! MT among the best. Mael and Gothos!

[Avatar]

Unfortunately one of my least favourite books. Also, this is where the overlapping timelines start to hit...Chapter 1 is several years before the end of book 4 IIRC.

--A

[Fist and Faith]

Tehol and Bugg are worth anything else about the book. And combined with the preludes. And, of course, everything in it is very important for everything that comes later.

And there's Iron Bars.

[Holsety]

UBLALA PUNG

EDIT-Hannan Mosag is maybe my favorite villain in this series.

[Avatar]

Damnit...stop reminding me of the good parts. I am determined that this should be my least favourite. (Along with RG.) And don't mention Trull.

--A

[Fist and Faith]

Mum's the word.

[SoulBiter]

Less time to read lately. About 20% in. Not a lot of progress. We have some actual undead. One is now hired as a thief/assassin, and the other is a child who has killed no telling how many. They both seem to be sociopaths with no regard for who they kill or why. On another front the four brothers (Trull, Fear, Rhulad, and Binadas) are being sent on a quest.

I liked the way the book started but now it seems we have these other plots injected that, at least at this point, don't seem to move the story forward. But too invested to stop... I read on!

[Avatar]

It's not that they don't move the story forward, it's more that their relevance doesn't become apparent until much later on.

--A

[SoulBiter]

Current about 30% in, the brothers finding the frozen wall (that is thawing) like a time capsule.. except its real.. Frigging awesome. I believe they are now close to finding what they were sent after. One of the brothers fell asleep during guard duty.... not good, but was it really his fault? Time will tell.

Holy shit... that was fast. A fight for the sword, we find that Rhulad was not a coward and died fighting and somehow his grip is stuck on the sword. Trull gets lost running back and fights wolves and Jheck... a great running battle that he at one point thinks is just a nightmare. After getting back he almost feels as if they should have failed. A premonition?

[Holsety]

Two things from early in the book (like before you even see Letheras or any of the Beddicts):

Spoiler

First off, I never noticed that in the earlier parts of the book, there's a chapter opener that refers to Rhulad's to-be-sword as a spear of Ice, and Hannan Mosag also refers to it as such. This was probably intended to falsely hint that Trull the spearman would be the one to wield the artifact rather than Rhulad...maybe?

In addition, I noticed that the Kris'nan Cadre are shorn from their bloodlines kind of like how Trull is later found shorn in House of Chains. I can't say it's exactly the same procedure, but it's close.

[SoulBiter]

About 60% now.

Spoiler

Rhulad is alive and the

Edur have now bent knee to him. They are ready to go to war and they have sent the delegation from Lethar packing.

There are a couple of undead in this that I have not figured out what their part is. Kettle, the little girl who does not remember a past when she was not dead. She is killing and feeding trees but saying that something is trying to break free. The other is older, remembers when she was alive and has some crazy stuff done to her to make her more lifelike... including a little something that has to be fed LOL.

[Avatar]

For a book that I really don't enjoy, it sure does have some great characters.

--A

[Holsety]

I'm starting to think Midnight Tides is actually my fave Malazan book. Just finished it. Not liking The Bonehunters that much so far, but I've got plenty to go.

Regarding The Little Mermaid (spoilers for near the end of the book when Crippled God tries to do something for Withal):

Spoiler

So Sandalath Drukorlat washes up on shore with red hair and black skin. Was it the inspiration for casting of the live action Little Mermaid?? XD

[Avatar]

I love The Bonehunters...

Y'ghatan...

--A

[SoulBiter]

I'm almost 80% complete now. Its been a bit of a slog but things are finally happening. Funny that the story line moved away from Rhulad and on to other things. I expect it has to get back to him soon. One thing is certain, do NOT kill him again.

[Fist and Faith]

That's for the best.

@SoulBiter
But aren't Tehol and Bugg the best?!?

[SoulBiter]

But aren't Tehol and Bugg the best?!?

Yep!!! The fun of the story always seems to pick up when they are involved.

The other thing is the Acquisitor traveling with the Avowed. It was interesting to read the explanation that Corlo had on what "warrens" are and how "magic" works.

[StevieG]

Midnight Tides was as far as I made it through the series sadly. I can’t remember why I stopped - I think it was to reread an SRD in anticipation of the next release - but now I’d have to start Malazan again to remember any of it, which I don’t think I could possibly face at the pace I read.

[Fist and Faith]

which I don’t think I could possibly face at the pace I read.

I hear ya. It's a lot. A LOT. And I was the slowest reader I know BEFORE sleep apnea.