Wow. That was an amazing book. I loved reading about the Malazan troop interactions and getting a closer look at them.
I loved reading about the Snake (disturbing, but awesome) and how they turned the tables - can't wait to see how that turns out.
I really like returning to so many characters we had seen throughout the other books.
Though I was greatly disturbed by the undead pirate captain and her unending thirst for men - humorous at first, but this got so old so fast. Just nasty.

Questions:

What did Fiddler's reading mean to each person there? Especially Tavore?! Nothing for her means . . . ? Awesome imagery during that reading, I just didn't understand what it all meant.

Where is the Master of the Deck and central character of this story??? Last I can remember he took down the goddess of disease or something (amazing, by the way!), but I can't remember where he's been since. I'm hoping he shows up in a big way in The Crippled God.

OK, the ending. Quick Ben? What happened? Did he really die? And for that matter, did Kalam really die all those books ago? Those two were my favorite characters and to think we've lost them both?! I'm guessing the huge crater seen after the battle was the bolt that did Quick Ben in, but it was all happening so fast, I just couldn't follow it all.

Was the otataral dragon released or not? I know the book is a huge cliff hanger, but I almost couldn't tell which stories were resolving and which ones weren't.

Have we seen Olar Ethil before and why do I hate her so much?

What ever happened to Tattersail?

Why is Toc the Younger just about the coolest character ever put down on paper?

OK, so Tavore was planning to bring in the army and . . .? Free the Crippled God??? So she could then kill him?
I'm so confused.

Amazing book and I am looking forward to The Crippled God with bated breath. The last 100 pages were just incredible, and the build up on the way there was totally worth it. Excellent read and excellent set-up for The Crippled God.