The Bonehunters by Steven EriksonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
a;lkjfsd a;klj.
There. Succinct, no?
But seriously, I have been waiting ages and ages to read this book. Not for any particular reason, except that I have been caught up with other projects and reading other books for said projects.
Needless to say, after years away from The Malazan Book of the Fallen, I have tumbled effortlessly into the warren that is magnificent story-telling. Despite only half-remembering the books before this, I immediately recognised and recalled each character and their story when I came across them in this book; a testament to how deeply these books have wormed their way in my psyche, leaping out at random moments (I'm still using 'Hood's Breathe' as a curse on occasion).
I'm on holidays in Australia at the writing of this, and I was supposed to be going out and doing interesting and fun things. Instead, my poor mother had to literally drag me off the couch because I was so engrossed in this book.
My usual compliments about Steven Erikson remain. Here is a master story-teller who has managed to create a rich world full of myth, magic, history, sorrow and beauty, and all without coming across as drab, dry or overly descriptive. I am particularly enamoured with the easy manner in which details of ancient places, or the remembrance of those places, are woven through each story, be they brief mention of ancient pot sherds or the appearance of wonderfully painted frescos in the ruined tunnels beneath a much newer city. Scenes and characters are painted so fully without the read ever being tortuously boring. Words tumble effortless before one's eyes, as poetic and profound as the edda.
Look, I always fan-girl when it comes to Steven Erikson, but I swear it is well earned. There is no other author whose books fill me with delighted anticipation before even cracking them open the way The Malazan Book of the Fallen manages to do. More importantly, they never fail to live up to that anticipation. More than once, I was driven to the edge of the couch, crouched over the book as thrilling and terrifying battles raged across its pages.
Seriously, though. This is but one more (very long) chapter in an excellently told epic tale that I cannot wait to discover. In truth, when I close the final book, I'll probably cry a little for the loss. Then go back to Gardens of the Moon and start all over again.
This is a series I will never tire of re-reading.
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