Just finished The Bonehunters. Seems like a pretty good time to start writing a blog about the Malazan Empire. If I had had the nerve to open my mouth earlier, well – that would have been preposterous (I think).

   Now, after the first six books, plus Night of Knives, and also four unforgettable Bauchelain & Korbal Broach stories, including Crack’d Pot Trail, I don’t feel like a newbie anymore. Seven thousand pages... Hood’s breath! This is like reading the complete works of Hemingway – twice!

   So, The Bonehunters... Regarding ‘that horrendous game’, like Oponn said. Out of the twenty-four cards dealt, there’s a few I don’t quite get. Who are Grub’s three friends, represented by Crown, Sceptre, and Orb? Also, before passing out drunk, why does Bottle gets Deathslayer? As for Fist Keneb, okay, let’s see: he gets Lord of Wolves – that’s the Perish; Spinner of Death – that’s the plague flags; Queen of Dark – the Empress; Queen of Life – probably the Eres’al; but then, uh, the King in Chains – that’s weird. Why Keneb?

   Everything Grub said on page 778 came true afterwards, except one little detail I don’t understand: ‘and the man with the big cut hands says yes.’

   Once in Malaz City, the Adjunct realises ‘enough of everything to be enough’, and then ‘the man with the big cut hands says yes.’

   Heboric? Or could it just be Crust agreeing to take the Wickans? Grub is usually accurate. That one’s a mystery...

   And then there is what Shadowthrone says to Tayschrenn: ‘You schemed with Quick Ben and Kalam. You travelled all the way to Seven Cities to do it, yet what have your plans achieved?’

   Damn, was there a plan in this gigantic mess? Really? Tayschrenn’s too smart for me, because I don’t see it. I’m clueless. In my humble opinion, Laseen fucked up big time, with all her Korbolo Dom and Mallick Rel shit. She lost an entire army, and her Adjunct, and hundreds of Claws – for what? A megalomaniac Napan, and some sneaky priest. I am at a loss for words. Well done, Surly.

   ‘What have your plans achieved?’

   Indeed.