#53 Steven Erikson: Gardens of the Moon (Malazan 1)

Sam and Dan discuss Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson.SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. If you’re planning to read this book, we’d recommend doing so before listening.In this episode, we take on the first entry in Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson — though not in the way we usually do. Dan didn’t finish the book, and we'll find out exactly why!We explore what makes Gardens of the Moon such a divisive read, from its lack of clarity and fragmented structure to a magic system that feels deliberately opaque. We also dig into Erikson’s own comments in the preface, where he acknowledges the book’s difficulty—and what that means for readers who struggle to connect with it.This is less a traditional review and more an honest discussion about readability, expectations in epic fantasy, and whether complexity always equals depth.Join in the conversation by following us on social media:InstagramTikTok