Perfectionists will have a more difficult time with this series than those who are able to go with the flow. The book requires a ton of concentration if, like me, you want to get as much out of the experience as possible. Oh, how I wish I knew what to expect back then so that I could be standing her today saying “Malazan? I read that years ago.” But alas, I wasn’t ready. I was in it enough to appreciate the atmosphere of the story, but everything else was a blur. You know how when you’re disengaged from a book, your eyes can read for days but your mind doesn’t actually absorb anything? That was me. Erikson threw so many characters at me all at once, I quickly lost track of them all and ended up skimming for a while to see if I could find anybody familiar in the text. I expected to meet a handful of characters and stick with them throughout the book. I have to say, I was NOT prepared for this type of unconventional storytelling back then. So I snagged a sparkling new copy of Gardens of the Moon off the shelf and started reading. I genuinely wanted to see what all the hype is about, and GotM book made a strong first impression.īut this isn’t the first time I’ve picked up this book….īack in 2002 when I first became a bookseller, I was dazzled by the idea that I could check out hardcovers from the store for free. It stands on a pedestal as one of the most all-encompassing series on the market and I would be doing my passion an injustice not exploring it to the fullest. Gardens of the Moon was fantastic… aside from the fact that it took me a whole year to read it.įrom countless discussions with book friends, it’s clear to me that Malazan is not just a casual read, it’s a commitment of time, mental energy, and emotion. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand… Conceived and written on a panoramic scale, Gardens of the Moon is epic fantasy of the highest order–an enthralling adventure by an outstanding new voice. However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. Yet Empress Laseen’s rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. The Overview: The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with the formidable Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii, ancient and implacable sorcerers.

Gardens of the moon