Ok, so I found Reaper’s Gale’s relentless grimness to be a challenge and it took me like, 5-6 weeks to get through it? Something ridiculous like that. Much as I ultimately enjoyed the ride it was hard-going at times. Toll The Hounds is a refreshing change of pace. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that so far (I’m actually a bit further – probably halfway through Part 2) this is my favourite opening to a Malazan novel yet. The prologue worried me as it was weird and hard to understand for the most part but the rest has been an utter joy to read.
I loved the opening chapter with Picker, Antsy and Bluepearl being targeted by the assassins. So much fun, and it’s awesome meeting these particular Malazans again. But where the hell has Spindle gone?
So pretty much this one is split into alternate-ish chapters so far. We get Darujhistan and those therein, then alternating that is Black Coral and those travelling on Genabackis. Very fun.
Seeing the Trygalle Trade Guild again is awesome and I think I have a rough idea where it’s going (a good way of getting some of these characters to meet up with those on Lether). I really hope we get a whole sub-plot that shows a Trygalle Trade Guild mission through the Warrens.
Seeing Cutter et al back is great. Is Spite remaining on board the ship because she can feel her sister in the city somewhere? I hope we get a meeting of those two…
I like the idea behind Kruppe’s narration. Not sure I see the point, but it’s a fun inclusion and not too distracting.
Torvald Nom is back! Rallick Nom is back! Holy shit, this honestly just gets better and better.
And Gruntle! GRUNTLE!
On the other side of things we have a very different series of quite sombre storylines. Nimander and his journies with Clip et al I’m actually really enjoying as he’s quite a different POV, plus it’s always great to see more of the Tiste Andii. But I can understand why people might not like him very much. I mean, I don't like Clip but we're not supposed to... (Though having read on his storyline gets EPIC very quickly…) Spinnock Durav and Endest Silann – other than having awesome names – are also very sombre and interesting POVs. Loving that we get so much of a look into the Tiste Andii and Rake. Makes me very excited for Forge of Darkness.
And FINALLY we have 100% confirmation that Traveller is Dassem Ultor. Nothing we didn’t already know, but it was great to finally get that seal of confirmation. A bit annoying that Esslemont didn’t reveal it though – I hope Stonewielder is a better book than Crimson Guard.
Kallor’s back and as horrific as ever. Can’t believe we’re in his head aswell. And that ending with Samar Dev on Karsa’s horse had me cheering. I thought the monster was maybe Kallor, as he was travelling at the same time, but nope! Amazing how Erikson has managed to turn around our perceptions of Karsa Orlong from when we first met him. Witness.
I wonder who else might come back in this one? Kalam perhaps...?
Who is this dying god? Surely not the fallen one, or is it?
I just can't think who else. But The Crippled God seems too obvious.
Two new Hounds hmm Light hound?
I've wondered about them at times. Kinda makes sense, but I just don't trust Erikson when he readily *gives* us information like that...
Anyway, I can’t stress enough how much I’ve been enjoying this slightly slower, less epically scaled opening. Definitely feels like the calm before the storm. I know I’ve been slow but hopefully this gets a bit of discussion unlike my mammoth Reaper’s Gale concluding post did…
