Forge of the High Mage

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So if you don't want to know anything more, stop reading now and be assured that this book is much better (at least in my opinion, but if your problems with book 3 were similar, maybe for you too) than its predecessor. But I still won't put any plot details or characters down below, that you can't already guess from the blurb. Into this foray with the Malazan military and navy, Emperor Kellanved has his sights set on the islands of Falar to expand the Malazan Empire.

But then he would return to his music. And such eerie inhuman music it was – if it may be named such at all. Deep rumbling basso passages too low for any normal ear, or high trilling keening; all mixed together in constantly altering rhythms, beats and progressions. On and on, looping, rolling, changing in pitch and speed, then even repeating for a time. Malzan is my all-time favourite series, the worldbuilding, characters, the magic system, and the pure scope of it all that Steven Erikson and Ian C Esslemont has created is just phenomenal. Today the Priestess too was nervous, though she strove to hide it. And she may have been able to disguise her emotions from her court, but she could not screen them from her pets, so deep and personal was her connection with them. Her unease spread to the birds and they loosed more shrill calls than usual, half rose from their perches, and shook their wings as if eager to hunt.On the fifteenth day the general of the West, Fist Choss, arrived accompanied by his staff and personal guard. Throwing the reins of his mount to a groom, he stomped into the imperial command tent to find the Emperor, Kellanved, sitting at a table heaped with a mess of maps, lists and accounts. Dancer sat aside in a camp chair, arms crossed, his legs straight out before him. We will never be completely consolidated,’ Dancer answered. ‘We must push on. Expand. Expand or die. It’s the nature of the beast.’

Esslemont nails the feel and flavor of Erikson's books and brings the historical characters to life with a dexterity that will win over even the most skeptical fans."—Publishers Weekly

Really shines … heart-stopping fights, impressive displays of magic and desperate final stands … the book has it all."— SFX ICE, earlier in his Malazan days, suffered the curse of being continually compared to the incomparable, Erikson. Most people have stopped that (not all, for some reason) and now you can enjoy his books and let them shine for what they are. What is that? Good characterisation, good pacing and a rip roaring tale that adds to the beauty/context of the Malazan world. Here, then, in the tracts of the Ice Wastes and among the islands of Falar, the Empire of Malaz faces two seemingly insurmountable tests – each one potentially the origin of its destruction… These are bloody, turbulent and treacherous times for all caught up in the forging of the Malazan Empire.

Falar itself is far from defenseless. Its priests possess a weapon rumored to be a gift from the sea god, Mael—a weapon so terrifying it has not been unleashed for centuries. But two can play at that game, for the Emperor’s flagship is also believed to be not entirely of this world. The Fist nodded his agreement. ‘True. However, as we have all seen over the years, everything goes so very much smoother with everyone’s cooperation.’ Kellanved gave a curt wave. ‘Exactly. A lost cause. We miscalculated there. I’ll not pour more resources down that hole.’ Sadly, the part of the books that felt the least necessary or even relevant to any of the plots was the Crimson Guardsmen plotline. Which is not really a plot so much and Blues and Gwynn and a couple of others were just there, they got shuffled about a lot (by events out of their control). I understand that the Crimson Guard are ICE’s baby and he must have them around in all these books. In all the other entries of this series, it made sense and they were important in the unfolding of events. In this one, not so much. Conversation on Malazan with Steven Erikson and AP Canavan (aka A Critical Dragon) - Green Team of the Legendarium - See 56:45No, the problem lay among her shapeshifting, Soletaken clans. And she focused upon a group of tall and ropy Jhek warriors among the crowd of her court. The wolf-warriors – most resentful of her peace, and most eager to return to hunting their traditional enemy. Epitomized by their clan leader – white-haired, lean, and ever with a hungry sharp-toothed smile – Looris. Forge of the High Mage is a fast-paced and gripping epic fantasy read. It is loaded with set pieces, contains wonderful dialogue, witty exchanges, explosive showdowns, unlikely alliances, and features some of the finest character creations that the genre has to offer. As ever, the excellent magic system (through the use of warrens) is finely showcased here and, for the most part, I found my reading experience to be extremely rewarding; leading me to score Forge of the High Mage an 8/10 rating.