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I guess I'm going to have to be 'that guy'. Malazan Book of the Fallen does the whole intricate, overlapping fantasy universe incredibly well.

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I read the first Malazan book but it never really gripped me. I've heard that it really gets good at book three. Do you agree?

Book two is very intense and gripping, but it features a different cast of characters from the first which some people find jarring. The third book returns to the characters from the first, and is definitely where most people find that they've really gotten sucked into it :)

It is very jarring, that's why I love it. He isn't at all bothered about following generic fantasy patterns, it does seem like a labor of love in that he just does what he likes when he likes. The only weak part I felt so far was the culmination of Book 1, it could have been better I guess.

Still on the 2nd book. Just love how he obfuscates so much of the plot and drips it out very sparingly, while focusing very heavily on character development. It feels like he is comfortable at revealing details at his leisure rather than clumsily throwing predictable tropes at the reader.

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