Here we are, at the end of book 7! It doesn't even feel odd giving another book 5 stars in this series. Just the natural thing to do. 
 Took me 2 months to read this due to my lazy and slow pace. For a while there, this book could have been a 4 star candidate because of how slow and draggy the middle of the book felt. But, as usual, everything in this book happens for a reason and that reason is eventually revealed in all its glory. Oh such glory it was. 
 I'm going to keep this short, so let's start. 
 Be warned, spoilers ahead! 
 Sigh, that feeling of (view spoiler)[loss when Ruin stabs Kettle. I had a feeling Kettle wouldn't make it to the end of the book because of how she had been sidelined on the trip. But still, it hurt. But there were such good things to come from that chapter! I was so happy to finally see Quick Ben kick some ass at levels way beyond his expectation! It's like SE has been hiding his potential for all these books and I've just been waiting for it to happen! (hide spoiler)] 
 One of the reasons why the Malazan army is so good is because it has the best mages in its ranks. With Bottle, Quick Ben and now Beak (omg, mind blown) it's not even a fair fight for their enemies. (view spoiler)[Why'd they have to kill Beak? :( And fuck, Hood came to welcome him personally! (hide spoiler)] 
 We got to see the Grey Swords and finally see what happened to Toc Anaster after his last appearance in Memories of Ice. (view spoiler)[It breaks my heart that Tool was not able to reunite with Toc after all this time. Just a convenient plot here to bring up some sad memories. (hide spoiler)] 
 Trull Sengar was at his peak in this book after the events of the last book while fighting Icarium. Trull is one of the few remaining Edur with a brain and his friendship with Onrack is a joy to watch. (view spoiler)[Again in usual plot fashion, Fear Sengar dies just as he sees Trull Sengar. Brothers reunite just in name. It was really really terrible watching Trull die. He was such an amazing character.The Sengar family really got a raw deal in the books. Completely wiped out, barring the child Seren is pregnant with. (hide spoiler)] 
 So many other memorable characters in here, 
 - Fiddler keeps getting better with each book, the best sapper there ever was. 
 - Hedge becomes one of the first Bridgeburners to start affecting the real world after dying. 
 - Mael and Tehol could have their own series of 10 books and I would read them all. 
 - The Errant, well, I am just curious to know (view spoiler)[what Mael did to him. Hope he got his ass kicked and stuck under an altar. (hide spoiler)] 
 - Karsa Orlong and Samar Dev, wow. I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of reading any chapters involving Karsa. He is a legend unto himself. 
 - Icarium, (view spoiler)[what the fuck did he do there with the white fire? He tried to do something like what K'rul did to make the warrens but I am curious! Show me! (hide spoiler)] 
 This book was full of (view spoiler)[deaths. So many named characters died this time around and some really good ones too :( (hide spoiler)] 
 Off to Toll the Hounds! 5/5