Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
 Not a great start January 3, 2009
I admire Esslemont for his part in the creation of the Malazan empire and I was pleased to see his first book set in this world arriving. However after several bad reviews I admit to putting off reading Night of Knives as I was worried I would be disappointed. I have finally read the book and must say I am very critical. It must first be noted that he must be compared to Erikson, it cannot be avoided, which is a very hard billing to live up to. Erikson writing style and characterisations are of the highest quality and sadly Esslemont doesn't come close.
The story is split between two main characters, Temper and Kiska. It is Kiska's character in particular that really disappointed. She failed to grab my attention and I felt throughout the book that the motivation for all her actions was lacking. Considering the situations she found herself in, it really wasn't possible to believe the justification given that she would do anything to get off the island.
His writing style lacks the depth and the wit that Erikson has shown throughout the Malazan series. Esslemont, while writing in third person, has an annoying trait of making the characters ask themselves questions as part of the prose. Should I ask a question now? Maybe I should ask a second one too? This started distracting me from the story, in one particular sequence there were 9 such questions over two pages. The fact that I noticed this shows how the writing failed to draw me in to the world.
So is it all bad? Well, no. With experience Esslemont can improve, it is not easy to sparkle with your debut and his books. He also obviously has the mind and imagination to produce great ideas. I will be buying Return of the Crimson Guard and I would not be surprised if I am reviewing that more positively.
 A great prequel to the Malazan series. September 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
If you enjoy Erikson, think twice before buying, June 28, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
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.
 Nah... June 24, 2008
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.
 A great addition to everything Malaz June 1, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
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.
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