So DHG is still quite fresh in the memory, I always got the impression that large parts (the dry march etc.) were skipped because nothing important/unique happened. The whole thing took place over 400-450 leagues and a year roughly in Malazan time, that's only ~4 miles a day, I think it's just a case of the writing not focusing on time rather events (which, in fairness, I'm sure in that situation you would) so it's ambiguous.

Lots of what they did was just shy of impossible, but then I guess if you're going to tell the reader about it you might as well pick the less mundane stuff! Timeline problems or not, I thought it was a very powerful piece of writing which captured the emotion and general desperation of everyone involved very well.

For me it was definitely the stronger plot line in the book, I found lots of Felisin and Kalam/Fiddlers stuff hung too much on the strength of the characters rather than the strength of the plot. Better than the first book for me but not as good as Memories of Ice, which not only had a stronger set of plot lines but also had the same strength of feeling that the Chain of Dogs plotline captured so well.

Only a little bit into the 4th book but it's all gone t**s up for some moaning overgrown attention seeker with a wooden sword and I can't say I'm all that bothered not exactly interesting me as a storyline at the moment.