The renegade army named the Bonehunters, of the Malazan Empire, prepares to travel from Letheras into the Wasteland, the vast and supposedly empty plains to the east. Beyond the borders of the Letherii the Perish Grey Helms and Khundryl Burned Tears march to rendevouz with their allies through the lands of the treacherous Bolkando and the White Face Barghast face insurrection against their now mortal leader, Onos T'oolan. Meanwhile an Elder Race search for redemption, not among their own kind but from the humans while their ancient enemies daws ever closer to the the last surviving bastion of the K'Chain Che'Malle.

A convergence seems destined to happen as these and more forces are drawn to the mysterious Wasteland and the secrets it holds.

Dust of Dreams has the same giant scope that we've seen in Steven Erikson's other Malazan books, the events we're witness to are world changing and the consequences are far reaching. Nothing feel inconsequential as we're pulled into this epic, the people, the monsters, everyone has a purpose and will of their own and that's shown with extraordinary skill.

There is definitely a strong sense of tragedy in Dust of Dreams, but this is something we've seen in the other books and I'll say, come to expect form the world Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont have created. It is a harsh and brutal place, littered with gods and ascendants who meddle in mortal affairs as often as mortals meddle in their's.

Though the plot is grand and intersting in itself it really only comes to life with the characters we're introduced or reaquinted to. Even though many of them have the makings of being the Epic Hero none really stand out as such. Instead what we see are a group of people caught in a maelstorm of events that threatens to overwhelm them, everyone is simply struggling to keep themselves and their friends alive.

There were three characters that stood out the most to me, first of them was Fiddler, a sergeant of a squad of Malazan marines of the Bonehunters, he's been through a lot, lost many friends and seen perhaps just a bit more than any sane man should. He doesn't give up but fights to keep not only his squad but the rest of the Bonehunters alive as morale drops.

Then we have Twilight, the queen of the Shake, a pitiful remnant of an island people that takes on a journey that might just cost more than they had expected. She's ravaged by doubts and seems to rely on her brother, the cause and solution to many of her problems, for support to keep on fighting for her people.

Far from the last character of the cast, but definitely the most tragic is Badalle. A young girl who, with thousands of others like her, have been driven from her home and forced to travel across a hostile land to escape their tormentors. With little food and water they sink ever lower to survive, this long snake, as named in the book, of children simply stumble on with no discernable hope, no future but to keep going despite everything.

If you are accustomed to fast-paced action books you might find Dust of Dreams to be a slow read, that said, at no point did I feel that what I was reading was boring. The events does flow smoothly and the further you get into the book the more you want to keep reading as the pace feels like it increases. I am amazed and inspired by the setting and storyline that, although drawing on many elements one recognizes, feels completely original.

There has been complaints that Erikson's books are hard to really be pulled into, and even Erikson himself have commented on what seems to be a strict love it or hate it reaction to the series. It has to be said that his writing is not suited for younger ages, not only for the rather graphic and intense setting but because his style and writing can be complicated and simply a bit much for some to fully comprehend and appreciate. There are no explanations, the story explodes into action, just like it has from the very first book, Gardens of the Moon, and keeps on rolling no matter what. It's really up to the reader to figure out what's going on based on what we're shown, personally I love it and feel that it produces more of a thrill to read than the often repeated explanations and "history lessons" of other Epic fantasy works.

Dust of Dreams took hold of me from the very first page and kept me pulled in during the entire read, it was almost painful to put the book down and the ending left my craving for more. It is definitely not light-weight, but if you want to read one of the most, if not the most, fascinating fantasy stories out there Dust of Dreams provides you with thought provoking characters and the continuation of the epic Malazan Book of the Fallen series. The fact that it is the beginning of the end is even more thrilling!

Dust of Dreams (The Malazan Book of the Fallen) Review was written by Jesper  for ThirstforFiction.

Blurb

On the Letherii continent the exiled Malazan army commanded by Adjunct Tavore begins its march into the eastern Wastelands, to fight for an unknown cause against an enemy it has never seen. The fate awaiting the Bonehunters is one no soldier can prepare for, and one no mortal soul can withstand - the foe is uncertainty and the only weapon worth wielding is stubborn courage. In war everyone loses, and this brutal truth can be found in the eyes of every soldier in every world. Destinies are never simple. Truths are neither clear nor sharp. "The Tales of the Malazan Book of the Fallen" are drawing to a close in a distant place, beneath indifferent skies, as the last great army of the Malazan Empire seeks a final battle in the name of redemption. Final questions remain to be answered: can one's deeds be heroic when no one is there to see it? Can that which is unwitnessed forever change the world? The answers await the Bonehunters, beyond the Wastelands.

Details

Dust of Dreams: book nine in The Malazan Book of the Fallen
Read it if you liked: A Song of Ice and Fire, Wheel of Time
Published: August 2009 by Bantam Press (UK)
RRP: £20.00 (UK) $17.99 (US)
Buy on Amazon: [UK] [US]
Pages: 509
Age: 15+