About 10 minutes ago I finished TCG. As I put the book down, it seemed like there should be some ethereal event, such as lightning striking, or the sound of a god’s laugh. I mean, I just finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen for crying out loud. But there was only me, alone with my book, my heart full to bursting.

I have many thoughts on the book and the entire series, so many that cannot be contained here and have probably been said over and over throughout the years and readers finally close the last chapter. I will only say a few.

The characters of this series will forever be with me, part of me. I think Fiddler most of all.

I don’t think any other book will move me as these did, and I don’t think I want any other to feel like these.

I already feel like picking up GotM again but I think I’ll give it some time. I know they are all waiting for me again, anytime I need them. Why call on them quite so soon? They deserve a break after all they’ve been through.

And for now, I close this chapter of my life. I finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen. I will end this with my favorite quote from the entire series, one I will always take with me:

“There is no struggle too vast - no odds too overwhelming, for even should we fail - should we fall, we will know that we have lived.”