Orb Sceptre Throne

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Title: Orb Sceptre Throne
Series: Malazan Empire #4
Author: Ian Esslemont
Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 850
Format: Digital edition

Synopsis:

A golden mask is uncovered in the plains outside of Darujhistan. It belongs to the spirit that raises Tyrants up again and again. This time it calls the Segulah into its service. They and the Moranth, ancient enemies, duke it out until the Segulah are freed from the Golden Mask's domination, then they show more go back to their little Island Nation.

Kiska and Leoman of the Flails are in limbo, looking for Tayschrenn. They find him, restore his memories to him and they all return to do whatever hidden thingamajig Tayschrenn wants to do.

Also deals with various characters attempting to loot the fallen Moonspawn, all hoping to find the Throne of Night.

Plus about 6 other smaller threads dealing with such characters as Coll, Kalam, Baruk, Kruppe and others that we were introduced to way back in Gardens of the Moon.

My Thoughts:

When I initially read this back in 2012, I was not impressed at all. I still hadn't gotten that Erikson and Esslemont created bigger than life mythos for their characters, whether individuals or as a people, just so they could tear them down. So my thoughts regarding the Segulah were that they were the Pristine Warrior Culture; those thoughts were not only dashed, they were trampled into the dust on my first read and my rating and review reflected that.

This time around, what a difference. I didn't have those misconceptions about the Segulah and so their story didn't bother me. The only thing that really bothered me was the fact that there were just so many story threads going on. Some of those threads had nothing whatsoever to do with this book, ie, Kiska, Leoman and Tayschrenn but simply pushed an overarching story forward. I don't care for that. Other than that, I was pleased as punch.

It was sad to see characters from Gardens of the Moon becoming old or giving up in spirit. Coll turning into an old, wine addicted, fat counselor was especially sad. Baruk's subsumption by a demon seemed very cruel, considering how much he'd sacrificed for his city. And yet that is what happens to old heroes. They fail and a new generation must step up.

While I complained about the multiplicity of threads, they were tightly woven together and even the thread about Tayschrenn didn't detract from overall affect. It really was one story being told even if it took awhile for them all to get tied together.

This book is why I like to re-read things. My mind was completely changed from last time and I went from almost hating this book to really loving it. Most of that change was on my end and my perspective and expectations. 17 years of reviewing and I still marvel at how our expectations can shape how we react to a book. I was semi-dreading this re-read but it turned into a jewel instead.

Pretty satisfied this time around.

★★★★½ show less

Tyranny remains because the weak and fearful seek it.
- Orb Sceptre Throne

Oh god, another four stars. I think I'm going to coin the term "Malazan Syndrome" for this problem.

I think, from a perspective of a "tourist" reader who wants to see a lot of the World of Malaz, this is a very good book. There are some insights into the culture of the Moranth and a lot of information about the Seguleh. Also, if you have read the Malazan Book of the fallen Series (Which is pretty much mandatory for understanding what is going on in this book), you will find a lot of links to that Series in this book, as always. I also suspect that it is somehow tied into the other books by Erikson about the pair of necromancers whose name I can neither remember nor show more pronounce, as they also make an appearence.

You will also find a bit of headache because of the number of characters, as always, but Esslemont is generally a bit more friendly concerning that, and so it was at least possible to keep track of who is who. Also, without spoiling anything, this book has a description of Caladan Brood holding a crazed cat by the neck, which alone is worth the asking price of the book.

So, yeah, go ahead and read this book. But not before reading the main Malazan Series and the previous books of the Malazan Empire Series by Esslemont. show less

Darujhistan is invaded, from without and from within, after the fall of Anomander Rake's sky fortress. this one's a gift: the mysterious Seguleh are prominently featured, along with the Moranth. things occur at the Shores of Creation. old Bridgeburners turn up, and the last Jaghut Tyrant, and Caladan Brood, and the Malazan Army. it's like a fan convention, full of fascinating sidenotes and guest appearances. fun times indeed, as Esslemont surrenders to the joy of writing into his co-authored world.

Enjoyed it while remaining largely confused. There are a LOT of powers in this book. Some are known well, some less so. I enjoyed seeing more of the Seguleh and Moranth, got a few characters that I actually remembered from book of the fallen, and the inestimable Kruppe. An enjoyable read on the whole, but I need a spoiler read along to remind me of what (if anything) I could already know about certain characters based on previous books. Because some parts of the story make even less sense than I think they should.

Segulah.

I thought they would be the untouchables. The perfect race of peoples untouched by the cloud of despair and shame that Erickson and Esslemont visited upon every other race.

I should have known better.

And yet another Tyrant rises. And we find it out WHY tyrants kept rising in Darujistahn. Which is good, because my first reaction to another tyrant was great, a copy of the end of Gardens of the Moon".

And lots of other things going on. I do wish that Esslemont would stick to 2-3 plot threads. I prefer his writing that way. Let me get pissed off at Erikson for the big stuff..."

...I think that for the die hard Malazan fan there is still a lot to enjoy in this novel but I don't think the novel ever overcomes the problems Esslemont has building on the foundation of Erikson's work. Part of the reason why Stonewielder works so much better than Orb Sceptre Throne might be that Esslemont strikes out on his own in that novel. A continent not seen before with a cast that is largely unfamiliar to the reader. Orb Sceptre Throne has links to just about everything published before in this setting though. Some people may find all the links and references fascinating. I think Esslemont could have concentrated on the story he was telling a bit more and a bit less on whatever else is going on in the vast world he and Erikson show more have created.

Full Random Comments review show less

Darujhistan is overrated. There, I said it. Seguleh are still cool tho.