I finally get Malazan, because Memories of Ice was terrific. It took me a while, and I think it have been that this was a return to Genebackis. I was with familiar characters and not having to put a puzzle together in my mind.
It's dense and it took me a long time to read. Almost 5 full months. But I'm glad I took my time. I don't have the fondest feelings for Deadhouse Gates, and I think it's because I forced myself to race through. But slowing down and smelling the roses really built my appreciation for Malazan Book of the Fallen.

This book was amazing, actually life-changing, and easily one of the best books I've ever read. Everything about Memories of Ice was perfect.
The slow build-up of tension, leading to some of the most jaw-dropping action. With massive and complex plot threads wrapped up in unique but satisfying ways.
The intense, deep, and complex, but very much explored, themes of compassion left me speechless, and teary-eyed. I had heard that Malazan Book of the Fallen was a 3.4 million word essay on compassion, and now I understand why.
The fully developed character's, that I didn't care for at the beginning, but by the end, might be my favorite. Each one complex, and human, Itkovian and Whiskeyjack are top-tier. With other characters just oozing power and just dominating the page like Annomander Rake
The heavy emotions, not just of betrayal, torture, and grief, but that of hope, loyalty, and love. The juxtaposition of these emotions was brutal as much as it was inspiring.

If any other book in the series is as good as Memories of Ice then Malazan will cement itself as some of the best fantasy, if not all of fiction, that I've ever read.

I'll leave with a quote.
"We humans do not understand compassion. In each moment of our lives, we betray it. Aye, we know of its worth, yet in knowing we then attach to it a value, we guard the giving of it, believing it must be earned. . . Compassion is price’ less in the truest sense of the word. It must be given freely. In abundance."