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Oh yes, I'm like 20% into Gardens of the Moon.
 

Nynyra Falas

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I have looked now, but I thik I have forgotten to much... :brown-blink:
 

Rhianna Solstice

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I've recently finished The Bonehunters, the sixth book. It was weighty, and intense, and I am have a little break before I continue on.
 
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Oh, yeah, I ended up giving up around 40% into Gardens. It's just not for me. It was putting me into a reading slump.
 

Jeryn Lekar

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Wrong thread edit.
 
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Anika Forsyn

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I'm currently rereading book 5 midnight tides and I can't believe how much I missed the first time around. This author is so incredible
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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I've tried reading Malazan several times and I just couldn't vibe with it. Something about the author's writing didn't make sense to me. Has far into the first book should I go to give it a fair chance?
 

Anika Forsyn

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The first 3 books will be confusing. Understand that there is a huge host of characters that may disappear for a book or two but come back later. I've struggled to make it through as far as I have but it's so worth it! Some of the authors subtle commentary/allegories are devastatingly accurate!
 

Viktara Fen

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I've pondered giving this one a go for years. Suppose I ought to finally jump in and do it?
 

Toral Delvar

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The first book is a little different to the others - as first books often are, and was apparently initially a screenplay or something. I think his writing improves, but it still has the same overall style
 

Anika Forsyn

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There's a podcast called 10 very big books that recaps the story of each book. The hosts interview the author halfway through the second book's episodes. It was really interesting to hear him talk about the evolution of the story. There are a couple of minor spoilers however
 
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I got quite far with Malazan but eventually gave up on Toll The Hounds.

There are moments of brilliance in Eriksons writing but ultimately I just felt it was unnecessarily complicated and that his writing meandered far too much.
 

Ephrem Elpidius

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Anika Forsyn

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That's the one!
 

Anika Forsyn

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Ok on book 8 and every time
Kruppe
opens his mouth I just start dissociating. If you've read them you know. Book 7 was a slog and 8 is looking to be the same
 

Toral Delvar

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He can be annoying, but fortunately, I at least find him amusing, so it's not unbearable, and his
conflict with Caladoon Brood
in Memories of ice is great
I'm not sure how much of the world and background Erickson had worked out in those early books. A lot can be explained by it being framed as a history, so lots of unreliable narration, but we later learn than Brood and K'rul are the same species/race
 
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It took me 3 or 4 tries to finish Gardens of the Moon. Then I joined a read-along, and it's going much better. Currently partway through House of Chains and it is my favorite so far. I do need to take breaks every now and then.
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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It took me 3 or 4 tries to finish Gardens of the Moon. Then I joined a read-along, and it's going much better. Currently partway through House of Chains and it is my favorite so far. I do need to take breaks every now and then.
Do you have any tips to reading it?
 
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Do you have any tips to reading it?

Yes. If possible, read it with others. Different people will catch different things, and picking other people's brains is nice if someone is confused.

It also helps if you know what you are getting into. Many people recommend trying to finish the first 3 books before deciding to continue or quit, because the first 2 books have weaknesses. The first book, Gardens of the Moon, was originally written as a movie script and the writing suffers a little because of it. Then the second book, Deadhouse Gates, has an almost entirely new cast of characters which can throw people off (me included). Book 3, Memories of Ice, returns to the characters from the first book. (I have heard that this happened because he lost his progress on MoI at one point, and rather than immediately starting over he chose to work on DG and make that book 2 instead.)

Reading the Dramatis Personae and maps at the front is even more important with this series than others, because the author will not hold the readers' hands with explanations in the actual prose. Keeping track of people and places takes much more mental work with this series. But with that said, try not to get too bogged down with it. Keep moving. You can always catch more on rereads, if you like rereading.

I have not been disappointed with the endings of any of the books I have finished so far. (The first 3).

In short, these books require alot of homework up front, for a massive payoff at the end. If you enjoy that sort of thing, hang in there and keep reading. If not, then these books may not be for you. And there is no shame in that whatsoever.

I am more than happy to talk Malazan with anyone who would like support.
 

Jeryn Lekar

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There are several podcasts with first time readers that go through the books too. One goes through chapter by chapter and analyse and talk what they've read there. That might be helpful to have as a tool to go along too.
Or the TOR read through.
 
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