At this point, if you have read the other Malazan books by Esslemont then you have read many (or all) of the Malazan books by Steven Erikson and will read this volume. Those people will derive the most out of Blood & Bone (particularly if you have read Forge of Darkness by Erikson).

The Malazan series is a strange breed... namely because it harks back to the days when each volume in a series was self-contained. Theoretically, you should be able to pick any book by any author and read it in any order... you'll be just as confused about any over-arching story.

Esslemont's reticence is at once empowering to reader as it is frustrating. Sure, he treats the readers as if they are intelligent enough to make the necessary connections, but sometimes one just does not know what is going on. It almost seems like you need to know what the story is before you can fully enjoy it.

And, of course, Esslemont is very stingy with any sort of hints that would be food for speculation.

But, those are all virtues and vices of the main Malazan series. Chances are, if you are reading this book you have read others and know the style.

So how does it hold as a 'self-contained' novel? It is definitely a unique fantasy entry... even a unique entry into the Malazan world. Esslemont really takes advantage of the jungle setting and the unique problems civilized people would face there. And, being an informed anthropologist, Esslemont does not portray the indigenous jungle people as being these lazy, cannibalistic savages that pulp culture tends to manufacture. The jungle is the driving force of most of the narrative archs.

Of course, the archs are somewhat convoluted, but are engaging for the most part.

The actual writing of the jungle reminded me even of Mario Vargas Llosa's The Storyteller, though the conclusion reached by both authors with regards to indigenous people could not be more different even as their understandings are very common with each other.

If this happened to be the first Malazan book you pick up, do not fret. The authors want their readers to be confused. Just remember: not even us readers of the series know what the bloody hell is going on in Assail... but that should change with the next book.