Midnight Tides
LC Class PR9199.4.E745 | | |
Preceded by | House of Chains | |
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Followed by | The Bonehunters |
Midnight Tides is the fifth volume of
The novel was first published in the United Kingdom as a hardcover on 1 March 2004, with a mass-market paperback following on 1 March 2005. The first American edition came out on 17 April 2007.[2][3]
Plot summary
The
To increase his power, the Warlock King sends Trull Sengar and his brothers Fear, Binadas and Rhulad on a quest to recover a sword. When they find the sword, they are attacked by a tribe of Soletaken. Rhulad takes up the sword in combat and is killed while bearing it. The Sengar brothers return bearing Rhulad's corpse. The corpse will not relinquish the sword, causing a feud between the Warlock King and the Sengars. While his body is being prepared for its funeral, Rhulad returns from the dead through the machinations of
Tehol Beddict evacuates non-citizens from Lether, outmanoeuvres Gerun Eberict, and keeps his partners outwitted. His brother Brys Beddict attempts to maintain order in the city, and forms an allegiance with an ancient god. King Diskanar crowns himself Emperor while Letherii forces under the Queen and Prince are routed and destroyed in battle. The Azath House is dying and entrusts an undead child named Kettle to feed it blood to keep it alive. She is contacted by Bugg, who has more knowledge than one would suspect for a lowly manservant. He gives her advice. Later, a number of beings escape the Azath House, only to be dealt with by the mysterious Bugg.
Simultaneously, the
Back in the Azath house, in the midst of a fierce battle, Udinaas arrives and frees Silchas Ruin. Ruin helps destroy the other creatures. Despite the opportunity to escape, Trull decides to return to Rhulad to aid him in finding his sanity. Tehol, meanwhile, is attacked and nearly killed. His brother Hull is murdered for betraying the Letherii, leaving only lowly Bugg to protect him. Bugg, revealing himself as the Elder God of the Seas, Mael, saves Tehol. As the book ends, Bugg/Mael leaves to confront
Critical reception
Reviewers have praised Erikson's world-building as well as characterization, noting that it is the most significant work of epic fantasy since
Other reviews
- Review by uncredited (2005) in Vector 241
References
- ^ a b "Midnight Tides: A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen". Publishers Weekly. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ a b Thompson, William (2004). "The SF Site Featured Review: Midnight Tides". The SF Site. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ Wolfenden, Karl (20 April 2014). "Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson". fantasy-faction.com. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ "Steven Erikson - Midnight Tides (Book Review)". Realms of Speculative fiction. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
External links
- Midnight Tides title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Midnight Tides at the Internet Book List