Great novel, but didn't quite earn the fifth star from me. Reading it took unusually long, the complex world (and especially it's vastly explained history) takes some concentration to comprehend.
Erikson creates poetic descriptions even of the most gorey scenes which almost makes you forget you're not reading about pretty things. He also kicks it up a notch in the humor and romance departments, giving some needed relief in the midst of non-stopping battles, guts and severed body parts.
Highly recommended, although I personally need some "lighter" read for a change before picking up the next entry of this series.
