So I've started to read the Malazan series. I've read Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse gates and I've started on Memories of Ice. My reaction to the series so far has been decent, the books are rather long and can be quite tedious (I'm slow and I don't have a lot of spare time). All in all I'd say they're pretty good though.

I like the unique approach to magic the series offers and I also appreciate that it's not the chosen one versus the ultimate evil cliche. I feel the world building is rather immense and so far that I've only been introduced to a small fraction of said world. The characters are colorful and well thought out and you can't really point to anyone and say "yeah that's the bad guy" or "He's definitely one of the good guys." You kind of get the feel that it depends on whichever side of the war your on that makes those distinctions for you.

Now, what I haven't liked...so far. Is how each book seems to change its focus. Meaning some of the main characters I've enjoyed in book one made absolutely no appearance in book two. Similarly from book two to book three, at least so far, I'm admittedly not that long into book three. However, with that being said you still get a decent feel for whats going on with the others so even though they don't make an appearance they are mentioned.

My other semi-gripe is the endings to the books. Book one ended okay as there was some closure. However, book two kind of pissed me off. Not to say it was a bad ending but damn they killed off darn near everyone I got to know over the course of the book what the hell? And the ending confrontation with Empress Laseen and the assasin was kind of a let down as well, it was far too easy for him to infiltrate her hideout/fortress.

All in all I'd give the series so far 4 out of 5 stars.

What do you guys think? Am I way off on my assesment? Do they get more integrated later on in the series? A little faster paced maybe?