Steven Erikson Review: The Bonehunters
Published: Jan 01, 2008 - 09:25 PM :: Print this article
The Bonehunters is a sixth book in the Tales of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
The Bonehunters picks up with events in Seven Cities two months following Sha'ik's fall to Tavore and her 14th Army, making this book a direct sequel to House of Chains.
The Bonehunters picks up with events in Seven Cities two months following Sha'ik's fall to Tavore and her 14th Army, making this book a direct sequel to House of Chains.
The empire's mopping up operations include sending Dujek Onearm's army (now back in Laseen's good graces) to northwest Seven Cities. Here they are stymied by plague, let loose by the goddess Poliel, consort of the Crippled God. Ganoes Paran, on a fact-finding trip of his own, finds them camped outside the city, with most of their officers dead or dying. After dealing with Poliel (not single-handedly, mind you), Ganoes takes command and makes plans to march south. Meanwhile, the plague has spread west, leaving destruction in its wake, with Tavore's army endeavoring to stay one step ahead of it.
A second and third story line, rather related, involves the further adventures in Seven Cities of Karsa Orlong and his new female companion, and Mappo and Icarium, who become separated from one another. Both Karsa and Icarium eventually find themselves on Letherii ships (yes, that is why Midnight Tides is positioned as book 5), bound for Lether to provide dueling fun for Rhulad, immortal pawn of the Crippled God.
Normally, I don't mention the peripheral story lines, nor have I discussed much about the gods, the Elder Gods, the ancient Holds, the sentient races, or the Deck of Dragons. I'm still not going to, since that would constitude a Malazan encyclopedia with hundreds of pages. Still, The Bonehunters is a very busy book and a few things just must be mentioned.
Cutter and some companions are escorting Heboric back to the jade statue on Otataral Island. Heboric has a lengthy vision which I, personally, do not really get. Sighs. Another story line follows Apsalar on a mission to assassinate various parties on behalf of Cotillion. We come to appreciate Cotillion more and more. Kalam and Quick Ben are also busy bees.
In short, The Bonehunters gathers threads from all over the place, ties a lot of things together, introduces a new Elder goddess, a new House, and moves the overall story along at a remarkable pace. We find that the gods are also making decisions about which side they'll take in the coming showdown. But that's not nearly all.
Okay, now for the main story line. (some spoilers here, I just can't resist) Tavore is chasing the remnants of Sha'ik's army under Leoman west across the subcontinent. Leoman beats her to the ancient, well-fortified holy city of Y'Ghatan and holes up there. Amid uncertainty and dissent amongst her advisors, Tavore prepares to break the walls, naturally using her sappers and marines to lead the way. With the plague on their heels and supplies running low, there is no time for a lengthy siege.
Once a great many Malazans have breached the walls, Leoman torches the entire city's inventory of that years' olive oil harvest, creating a gigantic firestorm that consumes the city, including his own troops. What a jerk. He has made a deal with the Queen of Dreams and escapes the city with his new lady friend.
A group of Malazans, some frightened children, and Leoman's erstwhile right hand man, manage to find passage underneath the city, escaping the fire and eventually emerging into the light days later, thanks to Bottle's gift for communication with small creatures. The experience leaves a lasting impression, they have been forged in fire, and they are now the Bonehunters.
You'd think that would be enough for one book, but no. Having completed her assignment, Tavore marches to the west coast, meeting up with Admiral Nok for the return journey to Quon Tali. Word reaches them of sightings of the Letherii expeditionary ships. They also meet up with another fleet and meet the Perish, a nation we have not met before, under service to the newest House in the Deck of Dragons, the House of War, devoted to the wolf god and goddess, Togg and Fanderay. And what do the Perish do? They pledge their allegiance to Tavore. Not the Empire. Just Tavore.
They sail together to Malaz City, where Tavore has her final confrontation with Laseen, who has become concerned about Tavore's ambitions. The final pages of The Bonehunters are extremely fast-paced. Much is revealed. Much is hinted. Fiddler fiddles. That right there is worth the price of the book.
The Bonehunters summary by Waverley.
A second and third story line, rather related, involves the further adventures in Seven Cities of Karsa Orlong and his new female companion, and Mappo and Icarium, who become separated from one another. Both Karsa and Icarium eventually find themselves on Letherii ships (yes, that is why Midnight Tides is positioned as book 5), bound for Lether to provide dueling fun for Rhulad, immortal pawn of the Crippled God.
Normally, I don't mention the peripheral story lines, nor have I discussed much about the gods, the Elder Gods, the ancient Holds, the sentient races, or the Deck of Dragons. I'm still not going to, since that would constitude a Malazan encyclopedia with hundreds of pages. Still, The Bonehunters is a very busy book and a few things just must be mentioned.
Cutter and some companions are escorting Heboric back to the jade statue on Otataral Island. Heboric has a lengthy vision which I, personally, do not really get. Sighs. Another story line follows Apsalar on a mission to assassinate various parties on behalf of Cotillion. We come to appreciate Cotillion more and more. Kalam and Quick Ben are also busy bees.
In short, The Bonehunters gathers threads from all over the place, ties a lot of things together, introduces a new Elder goddess, a new House, and moves the overall story along at a remarkable pace. We find that the gods are also making decisions about which side they'll take in the coming showdown. But that's not nearly all.
Okay, now for the main story line. (some spoilers here, I just can't resist) Tavore is chasing the remnants of Sha'ik's army under Leoman west across the subcontinent. Leoman beats her to the ancient, well-fortified holy city of Y'Ghatan and holes up there. Amid uncertainty and dissent amongst her advisors, Tavore prepares to break the walls, naturally using her sappers and marines to lead the way. With the plague on their heels and supplies running low, there is no time for a lengthy siege.
Once a great many Malazans have breached the walls, Leoman torches the entire city's inventory of that years' olive oil harvest, creating a gigantic firestorm that consumes the city, including his own troops. What a jerk. He has made a deal with the Queen of Dreams and escapes the city with his new lady friend.
A group of Malazans, some frightened children, and Leoman's erstwhile right hand man, manage to find passage underneath the city, escaping the fire and eventually emerging into the light days later, thanks to Bottle's gift for communication with small creatures. The experience leaves a lasting impression, they have been forged in fire, and they are now the Bonehunters.
You'd think that would be enough for one book, but no. Having completed her assignment, Tavore marches to the west coast, meeting up with Admiral Nok for the return journey to Quon Tali. Word reaches them of sightings of the Letherii expeditionary ships. They also meet up with another fleet and meet the Perish, a nation we have not met before, under service to the newest House in the Deck of Dragons, the House of War, devoted to the wolf god and goddess, Togg and Fanderay. And what do the Perish do? They pledge their allegiance to Tavore. Not the Empire. Just Tavore.
They sail together to Malaz City, where Tavore has her final confrontation with Laseen, who has become concerned about Tavore's ambitions. The final pages of The Bonehunters are extremely fast-paced. Much is revealed. Much is hinted. Fiddler fiddles. That right there is worth the price of the book.
The Bonehunters summary by Waverley.
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