I tried to read Malazan so many times. I was thirteen when I first tried, got stuck on the first few chapters, read all the Wheel of Time, returned to Malazan after every other book and tried again but I just kept bouncing off. Until one day it clicked. And I read the whole series. It’s the sort of book series that felt a bit like a puzzle. So much of the world and worldbuilding is unexplained because there is so little exposition, that figuring out what was happening felt like an accomplishment. Predicting what would happen based on the little clues I got? Now that was an amazing feeling.
I do still like the books. I think the world is just so rich and intricate. I have some problems with the book, especially the way that ninety percent of the female characters are written (which does lead to this being an incredibly homo-erotic book and no one will convince me otherwise). Still, it’s one of those books whose flaws I can forgive because the world is so wonderful and because I have been Stockholme Syndromed into liking it. haven't read this book in about fifteen years, but it still holds an important place in my heart
