This was another exceptional book, although I did have some issues getting into it. I’ve been told to treat this book like you would start a new series and while that is certainly helpful advice since you almost have zero character and plot overlap (pretty much only very nuanced stuff aside from one major character) with the first 4 books in Malazan, it still was a bit jarring in the beginning. You get introduced to so many new characters very quickly and it definitely felt more than a little overwhelming. I could already see how this book would be much better on a reread, but I guess that holds true for pretty much the whole series.

That being said, once the new characters and plotlines get going and you just have a grasp on everything that’s happening in this book it is incredible. Personally I was hooked by the end of part 2 (which was like 40%) and that super strong momentum carried through until the end of the book.

Out of the new characters I gotta give a special shoutout to Tehol and Bugg. I already knew that Erikson can produce hilarious lines and character interactions but these two just bring that to a whole other level. Like you can’t just do anything else but constantly smile and laugh during their many dialogues and just the whole plot surrounding them in this book is so funny and we also get introduced to so many super quirky and just laugh out loud side characters (Shurq Elalle, Ublala Pung …). It’s just so damn entertaining. 

This book does not only deliver on the humor front though. In fact the core story is a very tragic one. At the core we have this conflict between two races. One is a constantly expanding human empire and the other is an elder race and both of those sides offer us some interesting family dynamics, strong friendships, themes of duty, honor and jealousy which by itself bring a lot of potential conflicts. You stir all those things into a pot and you have a great recipe for a compelling, heartbreaking tragedy to occur. I think that’s as far into detail as I can go without spoiling anything. 

The ending of the book was again very good and it brought some pretty cool reveals but also on the other hand it wasn’t really an ending to the story (and more of a setup) which I heard will continue in book 7 and I am already excited about that.

I think from a personal enjoyment perspective I will rate Midnight Tides as my 2nd favorite Malazan book so far mainly because the beginning was a bit rough but it absolutely made up for that later on. 

Next month The Bonehunters. Let’s keep the mission of one Malazan book a month going!