Malazan Book One: An Honest First ReadArts & Culture
Last update 3 w. agoCreated on the 26th of April 2026
The First Report From the Other Side of the Opening
Gardens of the Moon begins in the middle of a siege with no introduction to the world, the military, or any character who will be important for the whole novel. Steven Erikson does not explain. He trusts that the world will cohere eventually and it does, but the first 200 pages require a tolerance for confusion that I had to actively practice. Once the pieces began to connect, around page 250, I understood why this series has the devoted readership it does.
768Pages
Malazan books finished
1/10
"We are all of us fools in love with our own mortality.
"Steven Erikson
journey·4 Sections
Reading Gardens of the Moon
Enjoyment
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Section
The moment Erikson's project becomes clear
Read a brief plot summary after the first 100 pages. It is not cheating. It is what Erikson's audience has quietly always done, and no one who loves this series will judge you for it.
Malazan Book of the Fallen volumes finished
2/10