Published on: Wed Apr 22
Going to say it one last time. This is the best Malazan book I’ve read to date. Erikson continues to grow better and better with each book, and Toll the Hounds is no exception to that. The 8th book in this saga doesn’t have the breakneck pace of The Bonehunters, nor does it have the continent spanning scale of Reaper’s Gale, but what it does that these books don’t is act as a deeply personal character study focused on grief and lost loves.
The book starts with a few scenes in the mind bending gallows of Dragnipur, and a bonfire with a rotund man, a Elder God, and a bard. The two scenes being what the entire book is framed around. The main plot is focused on Dragnipur and the Mother Dark’s refusal of the Tiste Andii. All told by Kruppe, who grieves for the sacrificies made, the loves lost, and embraces the new in the world.
“The soul knows no greater anguish than to take a breath that begins with love and ends with grief. But there are other anguishes, many others. ” Kruppe wraps the tale of Murillio in. Someone who had finally made a change in his life, and no matter how honourable his intentions were, was killed completely by chance. No rhyme or reason to it, a lifelong friend lost while bettering himself. Saving a child that no one wanted. And all his friends react in different ways. Crokus just wants revenge, not a single thought in his mind about that would do to his consciousness, Coll goes back to drink, Irilta dies slitting her wrists, all the while Kruppe tries his best to stop his friends from these actions. No matter the attempts, it can be impossible to heal a grieving soul through actions alone. These characters must all see their grief through, in whatever way they know. The chapter ends with the quote : “The soul knows no greater anguish than to take a breath that begins with love and ends with grief. But there are other anguishes, many others. They unfold as they will, and to dwell within them is to understand nothing. Except, perhaps, this. In love, grief is a promise. As sure as Hood’s nod. There will be many gardens, but this last one to visit is so very still. Not meant for lovers. Not meant for dreamers. Meant only for a single figure, there in the dark, standing alone. Taking a single breath.” And there is this understanding that comes from the quote. Grief makes a solitary experience of all. You can do all you want to try to take the burden of that grief from someone else. To share the grief over a common loss. But to get through grief is an experience that is done alone.
While the above is one chapter, it felt like an encompassing of the whole novel. Grief and love are prevalent in every plotline. The Tiste Andii’s eternal grief over Mother Dark’s betrayal and the love they feel for Rake. Harllo’s childhood ending, but giving his love of Darujhistan to Bainisk as he dies. Cutter feeling as if he’s in love with Challice, into realizing he was avoiding his grief over Apsalar and who he once was. Kallor’s curse to fail, instilling in him an unbreakable determination to keep trying. There is an abundance of love and grief, which of all things, helped me process the way I view both feelings.
As a huge fan of Deadhouse Gates, having Duiker back in the story felt great. His story felt as if it was seen through the eyes of Scillara. She was able to decipher him as someone who kept his soul closed off. His sadness was a part of him that he refused to let anyone into. Fisher helps him start recording the history Duiker refused to face. It’s a bittersweet story, where Duiker isn’t over his grief and he might never be but he is at least starting the process of getting better.
Torvald Nom and his two goons, Scorch and Leff, were another highlight for me. Scorch and Leff might be the dumbest character Erikson has ever created, every scene they had cracked me up. Torvald was a great middleman to their banter, and his own relationship with his wife and Rallick Nom were great. I do wish we had a scene with him and Karsa, their friendship in House of Chains was one of my favourite parts.
Karsa getting a tyrant to basically kill themselves just by showing up was funny. Kind of forgot about that storyline because of how crazy the ending got. Him and Samar had great banter as usual, and Traveller was a great addition to their troupe. Karsa acknowledging that he was scared of Traveller and Rake, especially as someone who constantly just fights anyone built up that fight soooo well.
Before getting to the face off, I have to talk about Hood as well. There’s this ominous feeling about Hood throughout the entire book. A mass murderer is implied to be influenced by Hood to kill. The dead’s realm is closed off to the Trygalle Trade Guild as they witness the dead become an army led by a mysterious Iskar Jarak. All to end with Hood manifesting fully within Darujhistan. Walking through the city, witness all deaths and influencing based on his own judgement. The God of High House Death’s compassion is undeniable as he brings life to the people who die to early, and to the absolute deplorable enforces the death of. All to end in front of Rake, who forces Hood into Dragnipur with his death.
Which leads me to the greatest fight ever. Traveller vs Rake ruled so hard. Traveller panicking as he hears about Hood’s demise, and his own anger forcing him to fight Rake to get at the god who took his daughter away. The reveal of Traveller as Dassem Ultor, and his worshippers all worshipping their god as the fight raged on. Rake’s death (which I was spoiled on) still shocked me. Rake sort of committing suicide to get within Dragnipur, which on top of Hood already being there was absolutely fantastic. As Hood’s undead army fights the forces of Chaos, Rake resolves the Tiste Andii of their greatest sin, bringing back Mother Dark and the gates of Darkness to his race. All with the help of a really cool son :)
Nimander Golit is one of my favourite characters introduced in this series. Nimander leads his own group of Tiste Andii to his father in Black Coral. With the guidance of Clip (who sucks and stinks and is a poopoo head), they trudge through the south of Genabackis to get to their races new centre. Nimander is meant to be a parallel to Rake. While we never see within Anomander’s head, Nimander we are within the POV of constantly. He is someone who is very unsure of himself. He was essentially exiled as a child and was thrown the role of leadership onto. From every other perspective, Nimander is seen as a great leader, someone who is sure of himself and is all so considerate of the ones who follow him. It’s such an interesting dynamic, of having what is essentially a ‘badass’ character who is unable to perceive what others see him as. It’s not until the end of the book, where Mother Dark’s manifestation in the world acknowledges him does he come to understand his affect on others. With Rake’s death, Nimander is forged into what I believe will be the next guiding figure of the Tiste Andii. With this and his scenes in Reaper’s Gale, Nimander shot up high on my favourite character list!
I have already made a post about my love of Harllo’s story, and there was not much else to it after that post other than the ending of the story. Harllo ending with going to his birth mother and acknowledging that he wants her love was a beautiful wrap to his arc. I cried a bit at his end. Stories related to a disturbed childhood hit my core, to see someone so innocent suffer so much is a tragedy and an all too real reality for many children.
Usually at the end of these books I have a bunch of questions, and expectations for the next book. With Toll the Hounds it feels like stories are finally wrapping up in this series. Events with consequences from the first and third book are wrapped up here. I still look forward to what was established at the end of the last book. The Bonehunters heading to whatever it is Tavore wants, the war against the Crippled God, and obviously more of Tehol (now leader of Lethar) and Bugg. With this book what feels like will continue forward is Mappo and the Trygalle Trade Guild heading towards wherever Icarium is, the beings within Dragnipur finally being free (Draconus seems to be the big deal here). Hopefully Apsalar and Crokus finally reconnecting ;-;. Also what the fuck is going on with the moon. And the Hounds of Light, Tiste Liosan plotline maybe????? Actually this book has a lot that it also sets up. Nimander as the new leader of the Tiste Andii is sick as hell. Can’t wait till my buddy finished Toll the Hounds so we can finally start Dust of Dreams together. I love how the title comes from a poem Challice remembers as she commits suicide. Malazan still good 👍👍👍
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