Then rises a single figure between the foes, spire of flesh and obdurate will, iron-boned yet shattered of visage. He is no one's champion, yet everyone's god. He is the warrior's red blessing, yet the lover's sweet kiss; he is witness to every corpse, and the maker of children. He is history's gilded prow, rearing fierce through the spume, yet dwells at ease in the space between barrow and menhir. He is heavy footfall and he is feather touch; cold stare and fleeting glance. For him, all is surrendered; for him, all is sacrificed. In his name nations fall; in his name, gods will kneel. If empires burn, blame him not, nor again in the moment the lover turns away. To witness is to begin to see. To see is to begin to know. To know is to recoil. Yet he stands fast, unarmed, the Unwilling God, the Helpless God, the Stayer of All and None. The pure scope and depth of this world are truly fascinating. His characters are so compelling and loveable. Some people tell themselves that their past is behind them, as if being responsible has a time limit and if you live long enough, you’ve outrun it.’ He shook his head. ‘It all catches up, sooner or later.”

Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. He hadn’t ever expected to return here. Not to a place where he’d twice pushed a spade into the earth, first to build a fort, and then to dig out a barrow, watching red-splashed friends being rolled into it. A soldier’s loyalty died to a thousand cuts, until it seemed there was no hope of finding it again – not to an empire, not to a commander, not even to a faith. He’d seen companions slip away, deserting, even among the famed Bridgeburners, too far gone and too alone in their heads to meet anyone’s eyes. He’d been damned close to that himself.

The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. Peace had settled its suffocating blanket since then, snug around traders, innkeepers, crafts-people, sheep-herders and farmers and all the rest. Stone replaced wood, empty land sprouted a town. None of that seemed, or looked, real. Itkovian. You of the single mad gesture, the appalling promise. Did you imagine what it would make you? I doubt it. I don’t think you spared that a single Hood-damned moment, when with clear eyes you went and forgave the unforgivable. Di facile lettura se paragonato alla saga principale e difficile, molto difficile posarlo sul comodino finché non si è giunti al termine dell'ultima pagina. Freed up from the need to do all the world-building and writing a million characters and plots across a grandly epic 10 book series, Erikson crafted a much much tighter book than what I was used to from him.

The Malazan Empire is my all-time favourite series, and this book has just cemented why it is and why it always will. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; Poor Oams,” Stillwater sighed. She wondered who this Barthes person was. Someone else stealing her best ideas.

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Karsa Orlong is now a god, at least that is what his "followers" say. (emphasis in followers because he beats up any who come to him asking guidance, typical toblakai nature).The Teblor warrior also known by Knight of Chains, The god of the shattered face also self prophesied destroyer of civilisation whose notoriety is now renown across the lands to the point where his people, the Teblor in their remote home which he left years ago seeking glory have come to know about his deeds and vows. They believe he will return to lead them in a glorious raid that will mark the beginning of the end of civilisation, but what happens when their so called "God" is not willing to do what he so boldly proclaimed to do. It's almost like Ascendancy gave him a rather wider perspective of the world. Karsa Orlong does not actually make an appearance in this book rather he is only mentioned (funny this being initially thought as a sequel series focusing on Karsa), Karsa was a character who had left me feeling mixed, while I love his badassery, his Stoic nature and dry wit and although his character does undergo much development in the previous series, his endgoals doesn't seem to change. In fact when we left him it seemed like he was doubling down on his own vow of destroying all civilisation. I believe Erikson tried to be a little experimental by not including the so-called main character and writing a story of how the world would react in his absence (but I still need to know why is Karsa unwilling) and like always, the world moves on. A new warleader has decided to take it into his own hands of fulfilling Karsa's vow. Scarred in his youth by the hand of Karsa Orlong, this new leader is determined not to let the legend of the god of the shattered face grow any greater. He gathers all the tribes of the teblor and various other tribes of the north to form a massive host with a single purpose in mind. His actions are further spurred by the fact that a far greater danger is brewing further north, one that could prove an end to the teblor way of life forever. The first town in their wake is the town of Silver Lake where we also follow a company of Malazan marines who are sent to reinforce the local garrison. The description of the book tells you that these marines are not the ones of old, this is a massive understatement as you'll soon find out. This is also where Erikson eases the building tension with bout's of his signature dry humour that is all too familiar to Malazan fans. Essere creduti è un impegno. Soltanto prestando attenzione a quell'impegno diventi degno della stessa fede." Now the tribes of the north no longer venture into the southlands. The town has recovered and yet the legacy remains.