Greymane believed he’d outrun his past. With his school for swordsmanship in Falar, he was looking forward to a quiet life, although his colleague Kyle wasn’t as enamoured with life outside the mercenary company, the Crimson Guard. However, it seems it is not so easy for an ex-Fist of the Malazan Empire to disappear, especially one under sentence of death from that same Empire. For there is a new Emperor on the throne of Malaz, and he is dwelling on the ignominy that is the Empire’s failed invasion of the Korel subcontinent. In the vaults beneath Unta, the Imperial capital, lie the answers to that disaster. And out of this buried history surfaces the name *Stonewielder*. In Korel, Lord Protector Hiam, commander of the Stormguard, faces the potential annihilation of all that he holds dear. With few remaining men and a crumbling stone wall that has seen better days, he confronts an ancient enemy: the sea-borne Stormriders have returned. Religious war also threatens these lands. The cult of the Blessed Lady, which had stood firm against the Riders for millennia, now seeks to eradicate its rivals. And as chaos looms, a local magistrate investigating a series of murders suddenly finds himself at the heart of a far more ancient and terrifying crime – one that has tainted an entire land.... *Sto**n**e**wielder *is an enthralling new chapter in the epic story of a thrillingly imagined world that takes place in the timeline right after the *New York Times* bestseller Dust of Dreams left off. ** Why not 5 stars, you ask. There are three reasons:The first is Ivanr. What was the point? An unnecessary character whose story doesn't link in any way to the main story. As a background story it could have been done better.The second reason is what I started referring to as "Kiska in the mist" a la David Lynch. Again, I got the feeling that this character was added unnecessarily. All those she encounters along the way were also quite forced on the story. Perhaps this is relevant for the next book in the series, but in this one, her journey felt redundant.Lastly, I was disappointed with the ending. The book was developing so well up to the last 50 pages or so and then it all went downhill with a Scooby Doo ending.Now, the good part... everything else!The book itself was amazing, the stories of the main characters and the world described are superb. I couldn't put the book down. It is very fast paced and there are plenty twists and turns that are surprising and exciting and interesting.I strongly recommend this book and will continue reading the next installment in the series.
What do You think about Stonewielder (2010)?
3 stars. Would have been 2.5 but the last chapter and epilogue were a return to form.
—JelzBelz
Top notch! Love the world of the Malazan Empire!
—nids
These books put game of thrones to shame
—mistydawns
