House of Chains

[Green]

I was under the same impression at first: that they didn't get the name until TBH, but (after re-read) I think it was originally mentioned in passing in HoC.

Not entirely sure, but I think that's how it went down.

[Rosemary]

HOC for me seemed as if it was the start of a new series altogether, not a follow on from MOI. I certainly didn't like the first four chapters and I felt a deep dislike for Karsa Orlong. I know it is fantasy but this guys amazing feats seemed far too exagerated. I was quite glad when previous characters returned.

[HoopyFrood]

I'm on page 270 of this at the moment and, as with all the Malazan books, am getting more and more into it as it progresses (and then feel worn out by the time I reach the end). I just (I can't help it, I get caught up in these things) let out an exclamation of delight when a messenger rode up to Tavore and declared "Wickans! Clan of the Crow...Coltaine's own!" had just turned up to join the fight. Yay!

I have to admit that for the first part of the story I kept thinking that Karsa was one of the people from the Whirlwind Rebellion in Deadhouse Gates (Korbolo and Kamist) because they all start with K Then I realised otherwise, of course. I got so caught up with Karsa that I actually felt a little disappointed when he disappeared into Sha'ik's army and changed his name (I hope he pops up again soon). I also really liked Torvald Nom (Lenny, how could you have been doubtful that he was Rallick's relative? As soon as I saw "Nom" I was completely certain that he was!) and I hope he appears again, too.

What I love about this series is that characters that appear for a brief moment in other books suddenly are launched into the limelight later on; Karsa being the obvious example. I don't think I took much notice of Toblakai at all in Deadhouse Gates, so to now found all this incredible back story behind him is great. And it also means that I'm very tempted to reread the novels before this, or at least Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates, if only to pick up on all the small details.

I find this arch of the story quite intense; when following the other arch with the Bridgeburners and Quick Ben and Kruppe and the rest, there are, especially in Memories of Ice, a lot of small but very funny moments, particularly from the lower-ranking soliders. But there are, I'm glad to see, a few moments like this in this book, especially with Fiddler (or Strings, if you will) making an appearance and thus bringing in a point of view from the soldiers. I think the best moment so far was the soldier whose name is "Maybe". Absolute genius! I'm getting my name changed by deed poll.

Anyway, back I go...