Toll The Hounds
Steven Erikson
Tor, Sep 2008, $17.95
ISBN: 0765316544

It has been six years since the last deity battle, but another one between competing Gods seems imminent in Darujhistan. The native Crippled God and the Dying God want a seat at the pantheon. Each uses expendable humans to gain an edge over their rival.

Meanwhile as these two Gods battle for supremacy and the prize, others converge on the city in which factions already are divided. No matter the outcome, the 'City of Blue Fire' will burn. Assassins are everywhere trying to eliminate Malazans and other foes, and the hounds howl over the toll of death. Behind the scenes of the night the Son of Darkness warrior ruler Anomander Rake of Black Coral tries to manipulate the various foes. Finally the night arrives when the city will never be the same as violence and the dance of death are everywhere.

Overall this is a strong Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen especially when the focus remains in Darujhistan; however when a subplot moves the storyline to the distant Black Coral city, it loses some of its fast pacing in spite of Night of Darkness Anomander insidious plotting. Still this is an exciting entry as readers return to the City of Blue Fire for an epic battle between Gods competing for a seat at the supreme pantheon.

Harriet Klausner