Published Date: April 1999
Pages: 703
Summary
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. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen’s rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.
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. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.
However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand…
My thoughts
This is a challenging book and don’t get me wrong, the first 100 pages was a constant I’m confused.. no wait, I’m with it.. actually I’m confused again’ but you reach the 100 mark and start to see the separate tales begin to intertwine and I got my lightbulb moment.
Too many regrets. Lost chances—and with each one passing the less human we all became, and the deeper into the nightmare of power we all sank.
The writing style is both dense and poetic, he can tell a story and make me believe I’m there in the same room as these characters. The world-building is good, it gets better as you move through the book, but this is a 10 book series so I expect he will keep building as I read on.
While the novel can be intimidating at 700 pages, it does not feel like 700 pages. The storytelling drew me in from the very start. The plot is intricate and complex, with numerous subplots and character arcs that intertwine seamlessly. I found the pacing not so fast that we flew through everything, whilst not slow that it felt dragged out. Every chapter we learn something new or piece together connections, or discover a different perspective/character.
Garden of the Moon is a challenging but rewarding read. It demands patience and attention, but the rewards are immense. For those who are willing to invest the time, this is truly an epic journey. I will definitely be reading book 2!
She’d seen them them all before, those faces. She knew them all, knew the sound of their voices, sounds mired in human emotions, sounds clear and pure with thought, and sounds wavering in that chasm between the two. Is this, she wondered, my legacy? And one day I’ll be just one more of those faces, frozen in death and wonder.
Would I recommend?
Absolutely, a thousand times, yes!! There is a reason this book has remained one of the best epic fantasy series in decades. I cannot wait to keep reading and see where this story goes. This book is gritty and hard, and at times very painful. I grew attached to these characters, and the pain they felt, I felt. But there is hope, so much hope despite the raw, unfavourable circumstances. I really loved this book and would definitely recommend to other fantasy lovers.
I want to read this, but it intimidates me just a bit, hahaha.
It can be quite daunting, I feel that about some of Sanderson’s work too! But its such a good book, just 9 more to go haha!
Hahaha, I get that. I’m convinced I need to read it. I’m getting it on my next bookstore outing.