Memories of Ice

Vengeance yielded a mirror to every atrocity, where notions of right and wrong blurred and lost all relevance.

“Memories of Ice” is the third installment in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. And so far, each book is getting a bit bigger.
We are once again back on Genebackis, the continent from “Gardens of the Moon.” Most of the main characters from the first book return in the third book, along with some additional characters.
From “Deadhouse Gates,” readers may already know the vivid imagination that Steven Erikson has when it comes to violence, torture, and perversions. He once again uses this ability to full effect in this book.
The fact that he even conceives of it is remarkable, but he describes it with a detached perspective that makes the impact even greater.

Fortunately, this is not the only thing worth mentioning; nowhere do I, as a reader, get the impression that the author is trying to shock for shock's sake. Multiple storylines unfold, layer upon layer, and they come together masterfully in a truly epic conclusion.
Although it is clear that Malazan does not follow the pattern of the “chosen one” on a quest for redemption, Erikson suddenly incorporates a Christ theme into this book. And not even in a subtle way, but rather “in your face.” While it is not clear to me whether this is intended as a nod, it does create a very emotional plotline. One of the many deeply emotional storylines in this book.

When you, as a reader, finally reach the epilogue, it's a moment to catch your breath. However, when the dust settles, there are still some rough edges for me, which is why I'm not giving it a full 5 stars.
Just like in “Gardens of the Moon,” the first book, there are plot twists that seem a bit too convenient. This may be a result of the structure that Stevenson employs, where nothing is explained, and the rules of the ‘game' only become clear as the story progresses. This carries the risk that some ‘rules' seem to suddenly emerge. Is this now a Deus Ex Machina, or an Erikson ex machina, if you will? Or was everything thought out in advance and seamlessly fits into the overarching story without plot holes? I'm not entirely sure, hence deducting half a star.