Finally stuff is making more and more sense to me. But there is so much that happens in this book that it is really hard to sum it up in a review. Mortals, which can bring gods and godlike beings to their very knees. The story of Itkovian, the Shield Anvil of Fener, was one which brought me to mine as it did for tens of thousands with his boundless and unfathomable capacity for compassion. To make right yet another ancient wrong.

Erikson's Mythology is as deep, perhaps deeper than Jordan's or Tolkien's. So deep, that I didn't feel any sort of grasp on it until halfway through the book. The characters from the first book are all but forgotten for this tale. Erikson again spins 4 storylines bound for a collision at the end of the book. New, vibrant, and complex characters abound as we again see both sides of warring parties. I find myself rooting for morally bankrupt individuals and trying to figure out if this is a story of futility or hope in the face of desperate odds. Erikson takes on a journey of retribution and sacrifice--balance past criminal behavior versus wisdom gained from experience or tenderness brought on by ignorance. However, most of you, if not all, are extremely excited for the journey, as was I when read this series for the first time. The T'lan Imass are gathering to a summons, the magical warrens are poisoned and the world is in danger by a dark and malign threat. Le Spade Grigie, mercenari religiosi devoti a Fener; la guardia di carovane Gruntle; un antico Dio primordiale, due necromanti. The Second Gathering of the T'lan Imass takes place. Silverfox seeks to give the undead warriors a new enemy to fight, but they instead ask to be released from the ritual. Silverfox accuses them of abandoning her, and refuses to release even the T'lan Ay.Best new character award goes to Gruntle. I love that guy (that means he is doomed in the future > eyes #1 suspiciously ). I wasn’t really sure what to think of him at the beginning but his story actually ended up being my favorite for this book. I love that he doesn’t care for the houses or the gods in them one bit and yet now he is attached to one. He probably isn’t what that god wanted but he was in the right place at the wrong time and as the strips are with him forever now. Of course he was the person that I really was hoping wou I know you have seen me, friend, my lined face and silent regard, the cold calcretions that slow my embittered pace, as I walk down the last years, clothed in darkness as are all old men, haunted by memories... The Road Before You

And perhaps that is the final, most devastating truth. The gods care nothing for ascetic impositions on mortal behaviour. Care nothing for rules of conduct, for the twisted morals of temple priests and monks. Perhaps indeed they laugh at the chains we wrap around ourselves – our endless, insatiable need to find flaws within the demands of life. Or perhaps they do not laugh, but rage at us. Perhaps our denial of life’s celebration is our greatest insult to those whom we worship and serve.” Celibate Hero: Shield Anvil Itkovian is celibate and one of the major figures in the resistence of the Grey Swords, owing it to his religious vows. Hetan tries to seduce him several times, but he resists each time. Even after his sworn god, Fener, seems to have disappeared, Itkovian remains an example of this trope. I haven't read an author more inclined to have his characters suffer than Erikson. I mused in my review of the previous book in this series (The Deadhouse Gates), with all the starvation, rape, murder, and mass crucifixion that took place in the story, where does Erikson go from there? What does he do to increase the tension and deepen the depravity?

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Grey Sword Trimaster, commanding officer of Wings One, Three, and Five of the Grey Sword cavalry [22] I mostly had a lot to say about characters, and I think that is what makes this series so good. However, there is a lot to be said for the world in which these characters reside. Hetan and Cafal leave with the rest of the Barghast and run into the now mortal Tool and Kilava. Hetan and Tool become lovers. I’m going to bask in my memories of this book for possibly the rest of my life. Not only this is the best book in the series so far, this has also become one of my favorite books of all time. Memories of Ice is deeply impactful and irreplaceable in content. It’s an epic tale of enormous proportion that could only be delivered by a masterclass fantasy author; Steven Erikson is definitely one such writer. Out of every book I’ve read, there are currently less than ten books on my “Masterpieces” shelf, and Memories of Ice is a welcome addition to that list. I’m completely floored and astounded by the greatness that Erikson has created with this installment. The experience of reading Memories of Ice has been frozen inside my brain, and not even Elsa has the power to let it go.