Blood & Bone (Malazan Novel #5)

by Ian C. Esslemont

Paperback Edition, 847 pages

Originally published 2012

“Ghosts ruled the jungles of Jacuruku…”

Imagine The Lost City of Z but with even more ways to get killed and you’ve pretty much got Blood & Bone the fifth book in Ian C Esslemont’s series of Malazan novels.

For the first time the focus is the continent of Jacuruku, which I imagined as the Amazon rainforest with the danger level ramped up to 11; I challenge you not to itch or have the urge to shower after reading this book! The recently disavowed Crimson Guardsman Skinner has returned to the jungle to aid the Thaumaturgs in a search and destroy mission of the Witch Queen Ardata, the islands sorcerous ruler. Problem being she lives in a secret city in the middle of the jungle that barely anyone has reached alive. K’azz D’Avore, rescued leader of the Crimson Guard, is recruited by agents of Ardata to rid Jacuruku of Skinner. We also have the classy Sister Spite leading a band of Malazans on a treasure hunt, local resident Saeng searching for a temple and finally the mysterious ‘Warleader’ recruited by the island tribes to wipe out the Thaumaturgs. As with any Malazan book there’s a shed load going on all heading toward the inevitable convergence.

After the disappointing Orb Sceptre Throne it was a relief to see a return to the writing form I.C.E displayed in Stonewielder. The main contributing factor is featuring a location not explored before in either of the series: Jacuruku. The plot is a good one but what really stands out is the environmental descriptions. The jungle is as hellish as you’d expect; insects, sickness, heat, rain and several beasties. The writing is so good I could genuinely picture myself walking with the Thaumaturgs suffering as they do and most probably crying. I’m glad the UK only offers house spiders and mice as a threat.

I also loved the references to the events taking place concurrently with the Erikson series and Stonewielder. This was brilliantly done and brought a couple of moments of enlightenment. Overall it’s a class book and if you’re as avid a Malazan fan as me then there’s not really much more to say. Assail awaits.

My score – 5/5