The Bonehunters Reflection

Published on: Mon Nov 17

General Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. Seeing Khalam, Fiddler, and Quick Ben all together for the first time since Gardens of the Moon was great. Some of the best comedy in the book came from their shennanigans, while at the same time their emotional connection over the loss of the Bridgeburners felt great. While the Bonehunters in general came into their own, Corrab, Bottle, Kenab and Hellian were the highlights for me there. Bottle had a lot of POV time in this book, and getting into his thoughts on his unique relationship with animals was a blast. I loved Corrabb’s development from a devoted Sha’ik fanatic to letting go of that through his dissilusionment of Leomen and the cult. Kenab held his own wonderfully throughout, especially in the moments where he stalled near the end of the book. Hellian was just secnod funniest character in the series to me (Tehol will always be my favourite). I have no idea what Erikson was on when he wrote her but she just kept on cracking me up. Loved her crawling out of the sewers of Malaz Island covered in eels, chasing Banaschar down and beating the Claw to death, all the while ranting about how she’ll beat the shit out of Banaschar and how she really wants a drink.

Outside the Bonehunters, we followed the stories of Cotillion, Trull, Karsa, Cutter, Israkal Pust, and Ganoes Paran in the book. Cotillion felt as if he was the emotional core within this book. Compared to his earlier actions in the series, here he feels as if he’s grown a concious. He regrets his possession of Apsalar, he jokes around with Kalam and Quick Ben, he saves Leostra Yil, and laments the loss at the ruins of the First Throne. While I’m still unsure of Cotillion and Shadowthrones plans, I’ve come to appreciate the two of them. Trull and Onrack, following through with the ending of House of Chains, are still guarding the First Throne along with Menala and the army of orphans. Within Trull, I believe he sees saving the orphans as a chance to right the wrong of what happened to Rhulad. Trull feels so deeply for them, even knowing that the Tiste Edur invaders might eventually report back that Trull is protecting the throne, leaving them no choice but to attack with their mages. Trull has no reason to stay and protect the children, other then knowing that its right, and that every one saved is another younger brother not killed trying to protect him. Onrack on the other hand is just so goddamn supportive of Trull. He keeps on cheering him on, and talking about how glad he is to be at his side. It’s a beautiful friendship and I’m all for it.

Cutter and crews follow a much calmer path. Cutter is helping guide them to Otataral Island, where they get attacked by The Unbound, killing Heboric, heavily injuring the rest, and kidnapping Felisin Younger. The remaining members get healed at a nearby town, and eventually leave to Otataral Island alongside Heboric’s corpse. Now this is where I start getting very confused. While sailing towards the island, the sky sort of blows up? We get POV’s of everyone in the story looking at the sky and thinking they’re about to die. During this Paran tries to get to Mael, ends up talking to Hood instead, and Hood revives Heboric I think? THen Heboric realizes he was actually Shield Anvil, talks to spirits in jade statues, and Otataral Island ends up summoning a bunch of hands that stops a bunch of suns from falling on the ground. Now do I know why the sun blew up? No idea. Probably one of my biggest questions after this book. After that interaction Heboric dies again, and Cutters crew starts to head back to Dharujistan, which is all the way on the other side of the world so good luck guys.

I thought Israkal Pust was suprisingly fun this time around. Usually I tend to hate him as much as the characters on the pages do but I have to respect just how funny he is here.

He thinks I will hit him. Strike him, with a large stick. Foolish mule. Oh no, I am much more cunning. I will surprise him with kindness… until he grows calm and dispenses with all watchfulness, and then… ha! I shall punch him in the nose! Won’t he be surprised! No mule can match wits with me. Oh yes, many have tried, and almost all have failed!

Can’t help but love him after that.

I loved Karsa and Ganoes in this book. Especially seeing Ganoes come to terms with being the Master of the Deck and really starting to use his insight into greater things.

Talking about Chapter 23 and Tavore Paran

Initially I thought the Bonehunters would live in the shadow of Chapter 7. The chapter that gripped you by the throat and doesn’t let go in its 120 page span. I was wrong. Chapter 23 felt like the cumilation of everything we’ve experienced in the Seven Cities books so far. The events of the chain of dogs are contorted by the Empress and Mallick Rell to justify a Malazan take over of Wickan lands. Mallick Rell has control of most of the claw, and his ambitions have put him as the right hand man to Laseen. Pearl is made in to a momentary leader of the Claw and Kalam finally has the chance to get payback against Pearl. And to top all of these other conclusions off, Tavore detaches herself from Laseen, making a choice that proves her own ambition is greater than what the Malazan empire expects of her.

The exhiliration that is felt throughout this chapter is nuts. The lead up to the meeting with Laseen has this tension that builds as we see more of Laseen’s attempts at leading the Bonehunters to their death. Kaneb does this absolute powerplay of getting the fleet to pretend they caught the plague in Seven Cities, which as a plan was entirely dependent on the Malazan Empire not knowing that the plague was ended. We see a few glimpses of Bonehunters who decided to visit Malaz city, getting past the crowds through their own means. Fiddler stands out, with him getting a fiddle, and singing to the dead in his life. The tension breaks as Tavore confronts Laseen flanked by Kalam and T’Amber.

There is this dance of words as Tavore and Laseen try to game each other. Laseen has backed herself into a corner. She has no loyal allies left, leaving her with only Mallick Rell and Korbolo Dom, two individuals who are clearly trying to get the throne for themselves. The Claw has been overrun by Mallick Rell’s followers, Laseen has isolated the Bridgeburners through her own scheming, and the only “solution” to the empires food drought is to force the Wickan’s out through force. She’s created enemies in every corner and the only hope she has against her co-conspirators is through Tavore abandoning her own ambitions to stand by Laseen’s side. Laseen throws another rope through trying to get Kalam’s help, offering him a potision as Claw Master, in hopes that he would turn around and assassinate Mallick Rell and Korbolo Dom. Both Tavore and Kalam refuse these offers as soon as they walk out the door. Not implicitly saying it in the scene, and only the thought of it racing through the readers head as Tavore reveals exactly what went down in the conversation by speaking the thought no else wanted to. How many Hands of the Claw will they have to get past? And with that the height of the book starts.

Kalam, T’Amber, and Tavore escape through Malaz City, trying to get back to the Bonehunters fleet. The Claw has no magic they can use due to the Adjunct’s otataral blade. The Bonehunters back on the boat are faced with crowds hungry for the Wickan’s on board. Fiddler’s song for the fallen echoes through each scene, as he laments his view of a peacecful world broken by the suffering of people even in times of peace, of how lords can thrive while children starve at their feet. T’Amber tells Kalam that Tavore’s life is more important. T’Amber gets hurt beyond recognition, but keeps standing despite all the lost blood. Kalam falls to Pearl’s poison, who in turn is damaged by Kalam to the point he can see or do nothing other then crawl begging for his life. Lostara Yil finishes him off, a lover who could not accept Pearl’s support of the Wickan genocide. T’Amber dies, and Tavore keeps going. Despite now being a fugitive to the Empire she served, despite her own lover dying, she keeps going.

We don’t see into Tavore’s head ever. She’s been around since the fourth book, and despite being on the sixth, all we know about her is she loved strategizing as a child, is a lesbian, and she knows much more then she should. Most of the Bonehunters aren’t even sure if she’s someone they can trust. Half the book has Kalam and Quick Ben questioning her motives. She had a secret goal in picking up Withal in Malaz City. Why did Withal wait for Tavore? Why does she know so much about magic despite having none herself? Why is she afraid at the idea of her soldiers respecting her? There’s a bunch of mysteries surrounding her at this point, and I cannot stress how excited I am to learn more about this character :)