Gardens of the Moon - Week 1: Prologue and Book One

[Jeni]

Loving this so far. 

Don't skip any poems in Malazan. 

Ahh. Why am I not surprised to hear this

I did spot this rather interesting poem that opens the novel (and with it the series) that may be a bit more telling than it seems at first glance:

Hehe... the poems in epic fantasy novels are usually as clear as mud until you've read on and then go back!
What I did find interesting about that poem though is that it was written by 'Felisin'... isn't that Paran's youngest sister?

Quite a range of characters so far, who are all pretty much what you would expect from a series like this - which is one of the reasons I am enjoying it, I think. Also ....

In many ways it feels a little like being thrown into the middle of a much greater narrative from the beginning

I agree, and I'm enjoying just going with it at this stage because it is pointless speculating on where this is all ultimately heading this early on.

And.....

YAY!!! MAGIC!!!

[Timstar]

I found Paran one of the best characters as well, maybe because I could understand his story more than the others.

Sorry is also great

[Idlewilder]

I found Paran one of the best characters as well, maybe because I could understand his story more than the others.

Sorry is also great

Glad to hear you're enjoying it! It only gets better and better (and better and better)! 

[JMack]

Finished Book 2 just now.
Book 1 was fascinating, even if the writing was occasionally a problem and often more obscure than it needed to be. Of course, the unraveling, or revealing, of the obscure is the fun; but I just mean passages where you really can't tell what the f@*k just happened.

Meanwhile, I'm really enjoying Paran and Tattersail. I find them both very easy to identify with. It's also fun to hate the two hunters. Sorry is boring after the initial part of the story. So far the bridgebuilders feel more like the promise of good characters than actually interesting ones.

Finally, the gnomic poems at the beginning of each chapter feel pretty pointless. Though I did just go back and read earlier comments from the January 2014 book club. I'm not supposed to ignore the poems. Yeah, but, I don't like them! 

But, overall, really enjoying.

[JMack]

And re-reading from the start. Bumping this thread so I can find it more easily.

[xiagan]

And re-reading from the start. Bumping this thread so I can find it more easily.

It's great to have you trying this again! I'm not sure if you'll like GotM, but Deadhouse Gates and Memories of Ice are a blast.

[JMack]

And re-reading from the start. Bumping this thread so I can find it more easily.

It's great to have you trying this again! I'm not sure if you'll like GotM, but Deadhouse Gates and Memories of Ice are a blast.

Finished "book 1" and now heading to Darujistan. I do like the book quite a bit.

[xiagan]

And re-reading from the start. Bumping this thread so I can find it more easily.

It's great to have you trying this again! I'm not sure if you'll like GotM, but Deadhouse Gates and Memories of Ice are a blast.

Finished "book 1" and now heading to Darujistan. I do like the book quite a bit.

Then you'll love DG and MoI!

[ScarletBea]

I finished book 1, and I'm really glad I didn't give up!

I'm quite enjoying it, especially Tattersail - I really like her.
I thought Paran would be another "young noble comes to lead and soldiers don't like him until he does something brave" but it ended up not being quite like that, I'm glad (that's a cliché I'm starting to get annoyed with!)

Don't skip any poems in Malazan. 

It won't make any difference to me because I don't get any of those hints, at least not yet

In many ways it feels a little like being thrown into the middle of a much greater narrative from the beginning

This, definitely! It's not that bad, though, if after a few pages you're able to swim into the story, instead of sinking, hehe