#76: Midnight Tides, chs 6-11 (Malazan #5)

Midnight Tides is a self-contained tragedy set on a new continent, detailing the convergence of the tribal Tiste Edur and the greedy, imperialistic Letherii society. It follows the Beddict brothers and Sengar family amid prophecies, betrayals, resurrections by the Crippled God, and wars fueled by greed and power. Key events include Rhulad's cursed sword-induced madness, the fall of Lether's monarchy, and revelations of gods like Mael disguised as the manservant Bugg.

House of Chains opens with the story of Karsa Orlong, a fierce Teblor warrior from the mountains whose brutal raids and journey lead him into the wider conflicts of the Malazan world, bridging events between earlier books. It returns to the Whirlwind uprising in Seven Cities, where the Malazan forces under Adjunct Tavore confront rebels led by Sha'ik, amid power struggles, ancient beings, and converging plotlines involving the Crippled God and the House of Chains. Multiple perspectives weave together in a tale of betrayal, war, and revelation, culminating in intense battles and unexpected ties across the epic series.

A Land Fit for Heroes is Richard K. Morgan's grimdark fantasy trilogy that follows battle-scarred protagonists navigating a harsh, often morally ambiguous world. The series interrogates themes of violence, the commodification of honor, and the difficulties soldiers face reintegrating into peaceful society. Morgan employs gritty prose and dark satire to challenge heroic tropes and examine how societies mythologize warfare. The trilogy's tonal severity and philosophical underpinnings make it a resonant touchstone for discussions about soldierly identity and the emptiness of 'peace' for warriors. Yesna invoked it to draw parallels with the Crippled God's manipulation of Rulad and questions about post-war life.

The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events. The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris. The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war. The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector.