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Title: The Crippled God
Series: Malazan Book of the Fallen #10
Author: Steven Erikson
Rating: 1 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 934
Format: Digital Edition
| Synopsis: |
Adjunct Tavore and the Bonehunters separate from their erstwhile allies as they make a 3 pronged attack on the heart of the recently arisen Forkrul Assail empire, which holds the Crippled God’s heart. Along with gods, various elder races and even the dead, all conspire to set the Crippled God free to return him to his own world and thus begin the healing of their own world. The Perish Grey Helms turn traitor and massive amounts of people die.
At the same time an Ototaral Dragon is resurrected and set free. She is the opposite to all the other Eleint, dragons, who are at heart forces of chaos while she is a force of utter negation. The embodiment of Chaos, known as Tiam begins to manifest but the Ototarol Dragon is chained thus setting the Eleint free from their own frenzy, which dissolves Tiam’s hold over them and dissipates her own Manifesting.
Lots of other things happen.
Tavore and the Malazans and their allies are able to free the Crippled God and he returns to his own world. Shadowthrone and Cotillion hint at each other that everything has been part of an even bigger plan but mention zero details or anything concrete.
As good an ending as one can hope for with the author’s known penchant for deliberate obfuscation and outright misdirection.
| My Thoughts: |
I read over my review from 2011. Eight years later, not one single thing has changed in my mind about this book. It is remains a piece of trash where the author masterbates to his own supposed cleverness with words and is nothing but a dung heap of rubbish pseudo-philosophy.
I finished this and all I could think was “Why did Erikson even bother writing this?” The battle scenes were incredible and show that the skill in writing the first book was no fluke. Which makes my question even more pertinent, as it means he wrote such pointless reams of words on purpose. FOR NO PURPOSE.
What a killjoy way to end a series that started out so promising 2 years ago. And this re-read did not change my mind about the series overall, as I was hoping it would. Well, it does reinforce that I’ll not read another book by Erikson, no matter what. He wrote this book and ended the series this way, he doesn’t deserve any more of my money, time or attention. I almost feel like I’m doing a disservice to book bloggers everywhere by even bringing attention to his name now. Bleh.
★☆☆☆☆
- The Crippled God (2011 Review)
- Dust of Dreams (Book 9)
- Toll the Hounds (Book 8)
- Reaper’s Gale (Book 7)
- The Bonehunters (Book 6)
- Midnight Tides (Book 5)
- House of Chains (Book 4)
- Memories of Ice (Book 3)
- Deadhouse Gates (Book 2)
- Gardens of the Moon (Book 1)
These books are huge. That’s a long freakin’ way to come to hate how the story ends!
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Indeed. It was very disheartening, even as I knew it was coming because this was a re-read. Kind of destroyed all the joy I had gotten from reading the Black Pear last week.
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That’s just craziness! But, I never reread anything so what do I know? 😛
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This was a ‘project’ read more than anything, hence my continuation in the face of bleak melancholia that affected me. Not a recommended course of action 🙂
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I loved “Gardens of the Moon.” The series was all downhill from there, in my opinion. And I agree that I will never go back to re-reading it – except for maybe “Gardens.”
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Gardens is worth re-reading for as long as I re-read books. Sadly, this re-read project showed me that the rest are just irredeemable…
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I’m pretty sure I will only read book 3, and call it quits after that. Good to know I shouln’t feel bad about it.
My main question here: why did you even start the reread? Masochism? A misplaced sense of duty? Doubts about your own opinions? It seems so out of character 🙂
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I started this series re-read because I wanted to make sure that my initial impression was correct. From ’10-through ’14 was a bad time for us (job, money and health) and it affected so many areas of our lives. And then when I re-read Gardens of the Moon and was just so blown away I figured I’d better make sure.
So if you look at this re-read as a project more than just a casual fun re-read, that might help. Of course, a strong dose of New England doughtiness comes into play and probably a bit masochism isn’t that far off the mark! 😉
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In that case, I hope the project brought some form of closure too.
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It did actually. Now I know to only recommend the first book 🙂
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I saw you gave 2 and 3 still 4 stars?
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Yep. Good books, but once you’ve gone that far in, you almost have to read the rest of the series if you want any form of answers.
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Sometimes keeping a series “alive” for too long ultimately saps the creative drive and causes the story to end with the proverbial whimper rather than the equally proverbial bang. (((SIGH)))
🙂
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The funny thing is, I am absolutely loving the prequel trilogy by his co-worker Ian Esslemont.
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And here goes another name on the impossibly long list of authors to try… 😀 😀
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Oh, my! Didn’t realize this series was so long!
When i was in uni, one of my classmates kept telling me on a weekly basis to read this. That was 10 years ago… Last year i bought book #1, but haven’t read it yet.
I’m quite intimidated. I’m not even into this genre so much. 😀
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If fantasy isn’t your thing, I’d be really hesitant about reading the whole series then.
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Was malazan only a 10 book series? I have heard there are other prequel books to it or something. Im sad that this ends crappy, should i be wary of even starting this, even after i met a band that sing of this series?
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There are 6 books AFTER this one by his co-writer Ian Esslemont. Then Erikson wrote 2 books in an unfinished trilogy that was so atrociously bloviated that no one could stand it (hence why he never wrote the 3rd book). Esslemont is now writing another prequel trilogy, the final book which comes out this march or april.
So, confused yet? Hahahahaa. You might like this series more than me, as I’m pretty sensitive to the Existential philosophy and get pretty depressed from it
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You are using words that i do not even know the meanings of… bloviated? Existensial philosophy?? Damn i need to increase my vocab
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Sorry about that.
Ok, Bloviated is super over written, over described piece of crap.
Existential philosophy is one that states that there is NO meaning in the universe. There is more to it, but that is it boiled down to its core essence.
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Gosh that’s such a disappointing thing that this series ends on such a disappointing and pointless low
I really am not a fan of rambling philosophy- but it’s even worse that this was a series finale.
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The only bright side is that I’ll never do this again 🙂 (for this particular series I mean!)
Not much of a bright side is it, though? I’m really reaching here…
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Hehehe yeah it sort of is?
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Oh and you got to forewarn me 😉 (although I still want to read the first one since I have it…. But doubt I’ll finish a series this long with such a disappointing end!)
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I still highly recommend the first book. Best book that is just pure awesomeness.
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Well that’s good at least!
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Unfortunate that it all had to end on this note. A true love-hate relationship from this series… I look forward to dipping my toe in this dark, dark world.
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I can totally see you absolutely loving the whole thing 😀
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YOU READ IT AGAIN! 😀
Do you like pain? Hahahahaha
I’m really scared to keep on reading and abandoned my whole project. I still had really good memories of the whole series and even the ending was alright? Even though huge chunks of the last couple of books were unnecessary & too much whinge & monologue… But re-reading.. kinda highlighted all the flaws…
I will probably ignore the books from now on. What a shame!!
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Yep, I think this confirms my masochist tendencies!
I think you are making the right choice in ignoring the series from now on. Of course, the new prequel trilogy by ICE has been awesome, so maybe some day you’ll read that…
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