Gardens of the Moon: Book One of The Malazan Book of the Fallen

Steven Erikson

Jun 2004 · Malazan Book of the Fallen Book 1 · Sold by Macmillan

About this eBook

Vast legions of gods, mages, humans, dragons and all manner of creatures play out the fate of the Malazan Empire in this first book in a major epic fantasy series from Steven Erikson.

The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with the formidable Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii, ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.

However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand...

Conceived and written on a panoramic scale, Gardens of the Moon is epic fantasy of the highest order--an enthralling adventure by an outstanding new voice.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings and reviews

Interesting in a complex way (the world building is awesome), but the existential angst loses its charm as the series drags on. Diverse characters with complicated motivations, but it would have been nicer if there were less than 20 point-of-view characters (and there's far more than 20), so it becomes difficult to relate to or become attached to any of the characters (may as well just read history text books for fun). Definitely cerebral; relaxing, humorous or enjoyable much less so. Thought provoking but very dense at times. The endings of the books are generally quite exciting/satisfying, enough that most people forget how tedious of a grind it was to get there.

The beginning of an epic fantasy series. I've only finished book three, but wow, I now realize how much was packed into this first book that is still being drawn from. Threads started that become entwined. I think that is why I wasn't in love with this. So much was packed into it. Definitely get a digital copy, because I find myself referring back to this often. Searching for parts and rereading to make sure I remember the background. It helps with moving forward, as the world and characters are vast. Also, especially with this book, I found myself often having to look up the definition of words. With all that said, this book was still cool on its own, creating an enjoyably rich fantasy world. Just be prepared that it is not a quick read, but know that they do become easier.

I only read the first 100 or so pages, but I lost interest pretty quickly. As a fantasy buff i know how it goes sometimes - you need to read through the exposition to get to the juicy bits, but the writing style was just too awkward and dry. The characters seem fine, but also unoriginal and the bombardment of introductions and names to "speed the exposition" just didnt capture my interest. Again, only read through the first 1/3, but unless you're willing to commit maybe give this series a pass.

About the author

Steven Erikson is an archaeologist and anthropologist and a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His Malazan Book of the Fallen series, including The Crippled God, Dust of Dreams, Toll the Hounds and Reaper’s Gale, have met with widespread international acclaim and established him as a major voice in the world of fantasy fiction. The first book in the series, Gardens of the Moon, was shortlisted for a World Fantasy Award. The second novel, Deadhouse Gates, was voted one of the ten best fantasy novels of 2000 by SF Site. He lives in Canada.