Memories of Ice: (Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 3) Paperback – 21 Mar. 2024

I continue my reread of Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen with Memories of Ice. During my first run-through of the series, I counted this novel as being one of my 3 favourites and I am glad that my enjoyment did not diminish on the reread. In fact, my reading experience was heightened because of the fact I have become more proficient in understanding this deep and complicated fantasy world. Memories of Ice is close to a 10/10 reading experience, however, that is not to say that every aspect of the book gelled perfectly with me.Memories of IceThe events of Memories of Ice run concurrently with those that readers witnessed in Deadhouse Gates. Here we are following the Malazan Empire outlaws Whiskeyjack and Onearm’s army, as they are looking to ally with former adversaries such as Annomander Rake, his Tiste Andii and the warlord Caladan Brood. This potential alliance has a common purpose, to investigate the new threat that has presented itself in the form of the Pannion Seer. This prophet has an extremely sizeable force that comprises religious zealots, cannibals, mages, supernatural beings, and the Women of the Dead Seed. The seer’s empire is enveloping the surrounding nations and, to coincide, the warrens are becoming poisoned and deadly to those that would normally access their magics. The gods and ascendants are as imposing, powerful, and important as they were in the series’ previous entries yet there is an alien entity that seeks prominence, is unforgiving, and may be aligning with or supporting the Pannion Seer’s ambitions.“Kallor shrugged. ‘[…] I have walked this land when the T’lan Imass were but children. I have commanded armies a hundred thousand strong. I have spread the fire of my wrath across entire continents, and sat alone upon tall thrones. Do you grasp the meaning of this?’‘Yes,’ [said Caladan Brood.] ‘You never learn.”The dramatis personae contains around 150 characters and it was strangely comforting to rejoin some of my favourite players from Gardens of the Moon. Most notably, the Bridgeburners, such as Captain Paran and Quick Ben, and the Knight of Darkness, Anomander Rake. Paran, again, finds himself wrapped up in happenings that should be overwhelming yet his uncompromising nature and actions rightly lead to him gaining the respect of others; often formidable peers. Quick Ben showcases more magical prowess, and the intrigue around who he is and how he possesses such powers is always fascinating. Finally, Anomander Rake just oozes scene-stealing coolness, which Erikson uses to full effect during the infrequent moments when he frequents the pages. There are some fine new additions too, including Gruntle, Stonny, and Itkovian. Furthermore, Silverfox’s amalgamation of souls creates some excellent drama and causes divides amongst the alliance, and this novel is the first time, in the main series, that Erikson introduces the nightmarish yet often darkly humorous necromancers, Bauchelian and Korbal Broach.Memories of Ice works in fine fashion as a standalone structured narrative. It includes so many excellent moments, gripping sieges, peculiar yet awesome fellowships and groups travelling with often unsynced motives in mind, romances and bromances, age-old rivalries and bitterness, and, not forgetting, dinosaurs that have swords for arms! Another neat addition that Erikson delivers is moments when the characters here are informed of, or do something that impacts the events as they are unfolding in Deadhouse Gates.Incorporating all of these elements, Memories of Ice is beautifully written and was the moment when Erikson cemented his position as a master weaver of tales that pluck the heartstrings. Everything was more purposeful and precise in this entry, however, that is not to deny the power of some phenomenal scenes that he has presented prior. A minor criticism that I do have is that the dream sequences seemed laborious. The payoff was well worked regarding what it could equate to in future entries yet it felt hard-earned when we finally got there. This small misstep aside, Memories of Ice is one of my top ten fantasy novels of all time. It is fantastic.

“First in, Last out” – Motto of the BridgeburnersWith a book this big, where so much happens, yet without revealing spoilers, it is difficult to know where to begin with this Memories of Ice book review. There are two main things I want to cover – although they are by no means everything that I could talk about – which are: characters and lore/history.CHARACTERSThis book leads on from Gardens of the Moon, so despite Deadhouse Gates being an incredible book with its own cast of brilliant characters, it was so good to follow the characters left behind from book one.Whiskeyjack, Paran, and Quick Ben, I think, are the main ones I was excited to see again. I had heard so much about how Steven Erikson drew on the outlines of the characters from GotM and really fleshed them out in Memories of Ice. I wasn’t disappointed.Whiskeyjack quickly became one of my favourite characters. He reminds me a lot of Eddard Stark from A Song of Ice and Fire, but for the fact that no character in Malazan is completely good or noble – unlike Ned Stark.Paran really develops as a character and we finally see what he is really like. He is put in difficult situations and has to navigate less life-threatening but equally difficult issues which arguably have more of an effect on his character development. In GotM he does very little but looking back there are hints to the person we finally get to see in MoI.Quick Ben has been a mystery from the beginning, and he is still full of secrets, but it is great to finally know a little more of who he is, what his history is, and what he wants. I look forward to seeing more of him as I am sure there are several more surprises in store.As well as old favourites, we have new characters too. Notably we see more of Caladan Brood, Kallor, and Anomander Rake. I loved that these characters – despite their power – did not command the story. This is a story that belongs to the mortals, and it is much better because of it.Having said that, however, Erikson characterises these three brilliantly. They all have their own little quirks, their weaknesses, a voice in the back of their head. They all have their own problems and desires.It would have been so easy for Erikson so ignore that these three characters have any humanity at all, but he makes sure that you know they do.Some of the other characters we meet include: Silverfox, Gruntle, Stonny, Korlat, and Itkovian. (Yes, there are a lot more, but give me a break! If you want a full list, read the book!)Each new character brings something new to the story. It’s incredible how Erikson can create this enormous list of characters yet none of them feel the same. He has worked hard to make their voices sound distinctive and to give them all a history and motivations which make them unique in the sea of characters.Overall, with the characters, Erikson’s character work has improved a huge amount from GotM, yet we did see a little of this in the characters from DG. I love all of these characters.Not one of them is purely good or bad. They all make mistakes and their reactions to those mistakes make me love their humanity and how they grow from them.LORE/HISTORYI mostly had a lot to say about characters, and I think that is what makes this series so good. However, there is a lot to be said for the world in which these characters reside.The prologue introduces us to a small period of ancient history. When I read it I didn’t think much of it. Yes, I was excited to read about the past and see more of Erikson’s world, however I didn’t see how important knowing that information was going to be.It is rare that a prologue can deliver on the promise of being relevant, but this certainly does it.I wanted to talk about the prologue because I think it’s a perfect example of how much history there really is in these books. I love every minute where, either through dialogue or thought, the characters mention something that happened in the past. It just adds so much to the story.It is strange to think – yet Erikson makes sure that you know it is true – that even though these characters are big in these books, and are important to the particular places they are in at that particular moment in time, they are but ants in a world that is far bigger than even we can imagine, and we’re reading the damn books!It’s a feeling of existentialism that I feel when I read the books, because when that particular thought comes to mind, I realise that my life in this world is just as small in relation to the planet we are on, never mind the universe that Earth is but an ant in itself.

I have not finished the book yet. It is going pretty good and the story is taking a turn that makes me want to read more, both more of this book and more books in the series.However, this book is now emphasising the military point of view a little bit too much. It is almost turning into a fantasy version of the military sci-fi genre. We read about the bond, respect and loyalty amongst the soldiers of various armies and groups so much it reaches a point where the whole setting begins to lose its believability because of the dialogs and actions of characters who are really, really trying too hard to make this point.Erikson also seems to have a problem with establishing a spectrum of power for the characters. Starting from the first book, we're given descriptions of characters that make the reader think that nothing or no other character would be able to match them but then comes a new character who makes everybody else look like children. After three books, this creates an overload or sorts and again, hurts believability.Four starts is due these reoccurring themes. Still a good read and I'm pretty sure I'll finish this one and read the following book in the series.

Each book in the Malazan series gets better and this is another leap from book 2. Lots of engaging characters in a brilliant world...a must for any epic fantasy readers. You could even read this book first

There's just not many books out there that are this level, absolutely superb reading and an ending of epic proportions.

I could write pages on how much I love this series, but basically, if you like epic fantasy, this is it! It's long, complex and detailed, but don't get bogged down in the details, just read, enjoy the characters, their journeys and the ride.