Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire - Books (Ian Cameron Esslemont, Mass Market Paperback)

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Customer Reviews of Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire

Fantasy Doctor
Liverpool,England
5th September 2008

A great prequel to the Malazan series.
This is the very first of Esslemont's prequel Malazan novels, and here is a bi of the story.

This story tells how Kellanved and Dancer came about becoming the rulers of house Shadow and how Surly usurped Kellanved to become the ruler of the Malazan Empire, there are some other great characters with different stories, my favourite is Temper who served as a bodyguard to Daseem during the nemours they fought together we also have Kiska, a young woman with dreams of becoming a Claw and mage.

All of these characters find themselves pitted against each other on the night of shadows, a night where the realm of shadow is let loose on the people in Malaz City, anyone caught outside faces certain death from other worldly forces or from the assassins of the Claw who will try anything to stop Kellanved and Dancer from ascending to the throne of shadows.

I really enjoyed this book, it is well written and has a great story, however it just doesn't have the skill and writing style that Erikson's books have, but this book are still well worth reading and will be an able prequel in the Malazan series.

I hope this review was of some help to you.

andy_ewing
UK
28th June 2008

If you enjoy Erikson, think twice before buying,
Upfront I'll confess to being an unashamed fan of Erikson's writing and believe he is one of a small group of writers that have single handed resuscitated the Fantasy literature market. And given this rich, diverse and deep universe he has unfolded, then the concept of another writer taking an aspect of the story line - in this case a kind of prelude - seems valid. Unlike other critics noted, I revel in the complexity of Erikson's writing; simply because he is not creating complexity as a kind of 'Oh look how abstract and contorted I can make the plot lines' but more that he makes it look so easy; sort of Robert Ludlum meets Terry Pratchett - rich, engaging characters, amusing and intelligent dialogue, innovative magic and civilisation concepts.
Therefore... this book reflect against that is plodding, single dimensional with characters that lack the Erikson whit and colour. I also think that given Erikson's books to date have always debut as soft cover, making this derivative work appear as hardcover (though I notice Toll Of Hounds is hardcover) was a poor business decision by the publishers. I think I'll steer clear of the rest of Mr Esslemonts work.

Flemming Nielsen
Denmark
24th June 2008

Nah...
I bought this book because I'm a big fan of Erikson's writing. In spite of the somewhat lukewarm reviews it had had, I was hoping Night of Knives would be a fairly decent book, adding to the already immense history of the Malazan world. Sadly the book didn't really deliver. Yes, there was a bit more detail about the fall of the emperor and so forth, and a few cool(-ish) references to some of the nastier and lesser known denizens of the Malazan world, but overall, the story was messy and seems to have been part of a larger story. There seems to be an underlying assumption that the readers know more about the situation in which the story takes place, than we are actually told. On several occasions, this leaves us wondering what just happened.
I'm probably getting Esslemont's next book as well, but then I am a bit of a completist. I can tell you though, that I would not have gotten very involved in the Malazan world had I read Esslemont before I read Erikson.

Mr. D. Peedell
Bampton, Oxfordshire United Kingdom
1st June 2008

A great addition to everything Malaz
I would have given this 4 stars normally, but there is always some idiot that gives one star and an explantion like 'I thought this was a book about knives'. Contrary to the said one star review, you could easily read this stand alone, I will admit that reading GOTM first may make it more enjoyable, but there is more about Daseem in Erikson's later novels.

I am look forward to Return of the Crimson Guard.

Adam Foster
Helsinki, Finland
18th May 2008

A great beginning
The Malazan world certainly is deep enough to support two writers, and I was delighted to find this book as enthralling as Erikson's earlier work. The style is different, but equally good and more suited to the presentation of a tighter storyline. I cannot say whether it works without being familiar with the others books, but if you like great writing and don't mind your brain working while reading, just get this along with as many of Erikson's books you can fit on your shelf.