Repost - Review: The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson

A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen

ABOUT: The Bonehunters picks up various storylines from the fourth and fifth books in the Malazan Book of the Fallen sequence, House of Chains and Midnight Tides.

On the Seven Cities Subcontinent, the Fourteenth Malazan Army (the Bonehunters of the title), under the command of Adjunct Tavore Paran, pursue the remnants of Sha’ik’s Rebel Army (under the command of Leoman of the Flails) to the ancient city of Y’Ghatan.

Also, the Malazan Empire has its first contact with the Tiste Edur from Midnight Tides.

Apart from the soldiers of the Fourteenth and the Rebel Army, there is a huge returning cast in the Bonehunters including: Heboric Ghost Hands and Cutter (formerly Crokus) of Daurjhistan, Karsa Orlong, Icarium and Mappo Runt, Aspalar, Ganoes Paran, Master of the Deck of Dragons, and my favourite Ascendants Ammanas Shadowthrone and Cotillion: The Rope, Patron of Assassins.

FOR: - It has been said by many people, who are much more qualified than me to express the opinion, that no one except Steven Erikson writes sprawling tales that are more truly deserving of the title epic. Only a writer of Erikson’s standard can take so many storylines and weave them into a cohesive whole.

- As usual, the depth and execution of the world building in the Bonehunters is a standout. We get to see a much larger chunk of the Seven Cities Subcontinent and spend a lot of time on Malaz Island, the home of the Empire. The scenes in Malaz City and Y’Ghatan are particularly well realised.

- The characterisations in the Malazan books have tended to improve as the series has progressed (The clearest distinction can be seen between Gardens of the Moon and in my opinion, the superior books in the series so far, Memories of Ice and Midnight Tides). The Bonehunters is no exception. We gain new insights into familiar characters, such as the soldiers of Fiddler’s squad (particularly Bottle), and a new complexity is given to the formerly possessed Aspalar, the Tiste Edur Trull Sengar, Icarium’s companion Mappo Runt and the Master of the Deck, Ganoes Paran. Personally, I wish that Trull Sengar had had more screen time, but I am sure he is destined for a larger role in the upcoming books. There are several new standout characterisations in the Bonehunters as well, my personal favourite being the always amusing Hellian.

- The Bonehunters continues another trend of the previous books by revealing more of the magic system that lies at the heart of the Malazan series. We gain new insights into the relationship between the Warrens and the Holds and the ongoing (and more importantly upcoming) conflicts between the Ascendants. We gain a special insight into Shadowthrone and Cotillion, their relationship and motivations.

- A key part of Erikson’s success with the Malazan Book of the Fallen series is the characteristic convergences between gods and powers that each novel features. The Bonehunters features two standout set pieces. I can probably reveal that one is set in Y’Ghatan and the other Malaz City, without giving away too much information. These conflagrations are easily some of the best seen in the series so far.

AGAINST: - In the past, a feature of the Malazan books has been that each has featured a contained story, from beginning to end. They form a series (and it is definitely better to read them in order as a series) but each book could stand on its own. The Bonehunters has lost some of these characteristics, as it is clearly a bridging book between the Malazan storylines and the consequences of Midnight Tides. After reading the Bonehunters it is no surprise to learn that the next book in the series, Reaper’s Gale, will be set back in Lether.

- Has Steven Erikson become too epic for his own good? That is a question that I asked myself several times whilst reading the Bonehunters. A hallmark of the series is multiple story lines that interweave and converge, but at times I think the Bonehunters needed a little more balance. Several storylines were completed without a great deal of exposition, so much so that it became downright confusing at times. (SPOILER Heboric Ghost Hands, I am thinking of you and your giant green statues! SPOILER). At other times the book seemed to drag a little (SPOILER Did we really need to spend so much time crawling under Y’Ghatan with the survivors? SPOILER).

VERDICT: A few complaints aside, the Bonehunters is a fantastic addition to one of the few ongoing epic fantasy series that could be called, truly significant. The pieces of Erikson’s masterwork are slowly falling into place.

SCORE: 8.5 out of 10

OTHER OPINIONS: Other reviews of the Bonehunters will be added as I find them. If you know any reviews you would like to see mentioned here, leave a link in the comments.

AUTHOR’S WEBSITE: Visit the author approved, Malazan Empire Forums and Site here for a huge variety of information and ongoing discussions about the Malazan Book of the Fallen sequence.