Dancer's Lament

Dancer's Lament is the first of Ian C. Esslemont's Malazan novels that I have read and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It is the first installment of the Path to Ascendancy trilogy. The book is more linear that the previous series entrants that I have read written by Steven Erikson. It is more story driven and less about the world building, however, it still contains a large cast of dramatis personae and the book is complemented by some amazing and very memorable set-pieces.The action [...]

Reread edit: so much love for this on the second read through. Next book out in November so if any Malazan fans haven’t picked this one up yet, get to it’s well worth your time. My experience of this book was entirely that of gleeful absorption and joyful celebration because it's about Dancer and Kellanved. If you have read Erikson's Malazan books and these two characters aren't on your favourites list, then you need to read the series again, because you're reading it wrong.My main concern w [...]

I've slept on this rating, and I'm still calling this a 5 star book."He was Dancer now, and Dancer from now on."This review is up at my new blog that I'll be doing with a few friends check it out hereFirst of all, the Dramatis Personae in this book had me confused in so many ways. The only name I even recognized was Dassem and K'rul. As we find out, not everyone's name that we've come to know had that name in the beginning. With that said, let's get into the review, shall we?Dancer's Lament is t [...]

WOW! Mr Esslemont. Just WOW!After building me up with Orb Spectre, Throne and then crushing me with Blood and Bone, I am deliriously happy to announce that Dancer's Lament is your finest work yet.Fantastic being back in the Malazan world and with a history lesson to be had from two of the most interesting characters in the entire series. Dancers Lament, as all Malazan fans will be aware, is the how Cotillion (The Rope) becomes the man he is that we know in MBotF. His meeting with Ammanas and how [...]

ICE has final produce the 5* book I've been waiting for and this is better than some of the Erikson books for the first time. The differences for me are that for the first time he used empathy for the characters and the people in general. Second he did foreboding and portentous events with the correct leveling. In the past he either over did it beating you in the head with a shovel or did in a way that only confused the issue. Third his general writing style has comes so far since Night of Knive [...]

Dancer’s Lament, first book in Path to Ascendancy series, is not a prequel. It’s the first book of a new series set in the early history of the Malazan Empire. Distinction very important to indicate less we woke Ian’s ire.But, in all seriousness, it is my hope that (when finished) people in future will start Malazan Book of the Fallen series from this book instead of Gardens of the Moon, written by Steven Erikson.While this book stands on its own, without any need of your prior knowledge t [...]

Sweet Jesus, is this book for real?Looks like heaven on earth in the Malazan universe to me.

Couple of things. I'm a huge fan of the main Malazan series, loved it. I have read several ICE books and have been underwhelmed. This book is different and reminded me of why I loved the main series. Great characters, great interactions, great dialogue, great action. If you've read the main series you know the great duos and everyone has a favorite. Mine was Tehol & Bugg but you could go with Quick Ben & Kalam, Whiskeyjack & Dujek, Gess & Stormy, Tool & Toc, Icarium & Map [...]

Never read any of the Malazan novels before but really enjoyed this one. Will have to bump them up my to-read list.

Dancer’s Lament was one of my most anticipated releases of 2016 and not only was I stunned actually be approved for an advanced copy, I was pleasantly surprised that the book exceeded my expectations. I’ve read most of Esslemont’s other books set in the Malazan empire and thought they were quality stories, but didn’t capture my imagination quite as strongly as the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Erikson. They were an excellent source of enrichment and added depth as well as breadth [...]

While I did have a digital ARCs of Dancer's Lament and Forge of Darkness at one point, I hesitated to read then for two reasons. First, I like being able to hold an epic fantasy, to feel the weight of it, and to flip back and forth between chapters, glossaries, maps, and all the rest. It's a reading experience that no Kindle or Kobo can ever capture.More importantly, however, I struggle with prequels. Epic fantasy, as a genre, is so story-driven that there's a narrative disadvantage in knowing h [...]

*copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*Dancer’s Lament is the first in a new fantasy series by Ian C. Esslemont. It’s set in the Malazan universe (which he shares with Steven Erikson), a place where gods meddle in the affairs of men, where mages throw fire and vanish into shadows, and where monstrosity and divinity keep remarkably close company.In this case, the book begins the story of Dancer – a newly minted assassin-for-hire, with a rather high opinion of himself, and a skillset [...]

Amazing! This was my first book from Esselmont, and it definitely won't be my last. I thought this did such a great job expanding on some of the history from the Book of the Fallen; we get to see the making of the Dancer/Kellenved relationship, which always intrigued me in the main series. I can't wait for the next book to come out!

This book had everything to be good. Dancer? Checked.Kellanved? Checked.Dassem? Checked.The beginning of the partnership that would come to change the world? Checked.It's only natural that it was a great read for me and that I would give it 5 stars.I NEED MORE.

This absolutely delivered on all cylinders. There is not a single change necessary, I loved every moment. The development of Dancer, of Shadowthrone, and of their relationship is well-drawn, exhilarating and illuminating. So many clever scenes and exchanges appear, the layers presented throughout are intricate and so far-reaching I know there are some I won't fully recognize until a reread or book 2. Dancer is everything I could image, his background, growth, internalizations, motivations. I can [...]

A glorious excursion back into the world of Malazan. Full review to come.

The man is obsessed with the Crimson Guard!Even when he is not writing about the Crimson Guard, he is writing about the Crimson Guard.This is an excellent book! A great place to start for those who found Gardens of the Moon too overwhelming as the intro to the Malazan world.Highly recommended!

Pode dar 10★? Não? Então vai só cinco mesmo

Wow-definitely the best Esslemont so far. So much backstory revealed, especially regarding Khalenved and Dancer and the beginnings of how they formed their 'old guard'. A must-read!

A very strong introduction to what promises to be a great additional series in the Malazan world.I am no real fan of most of Esslemont's contributions to the Malazan world.Return of the Crimson Guard was fantastic in my opinion, and Stonewielder was solid, but I really didn't like Night of Knives, Blood and Bone, and Assail.Dancer's Lament fixes every problem I had with those books, and more.In addition to being an interesting, well-written, and well-plotted book, it also has given me something [...]

If you haven't read Malazan this book will read completely different. I have read it and my review will reflect this even though it's been some time. Also, I recommend reading the Malazan books first.This book is a prequel featuring the young Cotillion and Shadowthrone before they get anywhere near being those two. In this book they are named Dorin and Wu. But they are easily recognizable. Especially Cotillion is among my all-time favorite characters ever, so I was looking forward to reading th [...]

I would probably have said 4.5 stars but all in all a great read.The fact that Esselmont has seemingly distanced himself from trying to emulate Erikson's style and stuck to his own strengths of tight prose and equally tight narrative. So you won't get the intricacy of an Erikson novel but instead you get a complimentary style which works even better when Esselmont isn't forced to play so heavily in Erikson's backyard and interpret his own work.I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I don't think it is [...]

Wow this was fantastic. I can't even believe I'm saying it. I have never raved about an ICE novel before. Most of his previous stuff I'd say was just mediocre, although I did like OST and BB. This one though, I loved. In fact, I'll go as far to say that it's better than some of Erikson's books (like HoC and DoD). I loved seeing Kellanved, Dancer and Dassem when they were young - especially knowing what their future was. However, the BEST thing about this book? NO KRUPPE. He's not even alive yet [...]

The continent of Quon Tali is divided into a morass of squabbling city-states, the days of the Talian Hegemony long past. But, in the south, the Kingdom of Kan is on the move. Its armies are moving on Li Heng, the great crossroads city at the heart of the continent. The Protectress of Heng and her powerful (but eccentric) cadre of mages are prepared to stand against them, but they are distracted by the arrival of a bizarre mage, a skilled assassin hungry to make a name for himself and a warrior [...]

What a wonderful book.Great story with plenty of ups and downs, and well told. Characters are built up nicely and sufficient details are provided that help with the story as well as fit with what we know of the future through previous books. But still that sense of mystery is maintained which makes you eager to read more.There is plenty of action leading to the main characters changing their view of the world. Given this story is about Dancer and Kellanved becoming the rulers of the continent an [...]

At first, I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be reading Ian Cameron Esslemont's Dancer's Lament. Sure, a prequel trilogy focusing on how an assassin and Kellanved Ascended and became Dancer and Shadowthrone was intriguing. But given how disappointing Esslemont's last three Malazan books turned out to be, I was afraid to get burned again. The advance reviews were quite positive, yet they mostly came from fans who loved everything the author has published thus far. Hence, against my better judgement [...]

Jedna od najboljih u Malazan svijetu !!!

Gli inizi della collaborazione (recalcitrante​ e burrascosa) tra Kellanved e Dancer. Senza l'ermetismo di gran parte dei capitoli di Erikson, senza le lunghe parentesi filosofiche. Solo una storia di azione, di maghi e assassini con protagonista la genialità folle di Kellanved e la furtività di Dancer. Esselmont stavolta ha fatto centro. Malazan al 100% ma molto più accessibile. Non vedo l'ora di leggere il seguito.

And so begins the prequel of prequels to the Malazan saga, and what a start it is. Esslemont shines in this title, and shows yet again that he is a better writer than Eriksson, at the very least much more readable than him. One of my favourite ever literary odd couples, Kellanved and Dancer, get their start in this one, and it is just so well written and fleshed out by Esslemont. Wu, (who would later be known as Kellanved), just jumps off the page, as does Dorin / Dancer. I cannot wait to read t [...]

First of all, I really really really recommend reading the entire Malazan Book of the Fallen series before starting Dancer's Lament. It would be best if you also read Forge of Darkness, for more info about the Tiste and Azathani. This book is a prequel to Malazan Book of the Fallen (it takes place after Forge of Darkness, but before Night of Knives), but there are many terms and names dropped without explanation, so someone entirely new to this series will be truly lost. Some gods make appearanc [...]