I had a very similar reaction to the themes of this book, Larry. But after reading further novels, where 8 year old bullies are made out to be irredeemably evil human beings, I cannot anymore say that Erikson is in any way say that Erikson is consistent or sensible with the themes in his stories.

They are a sham because issues like forgiveness and empathy, the balance between the need for and the senselessness of war, etc. are treated as the plot demands.

If the protagonist is a six year old child for whom Erikson wants to engender sympathy, forgiveness and empathy be damned there will be an eight year old bully, and the reader will not be allowed to feel any empathy for this antagonist. But the Pannion Seer is to be understood (though his actions never approved) because he was scarred in childhood?

In the same vein, when the world weary and cynical Malazan soldiers have to be built up as heroes, there's an expansionist empire that kills off opposition in the ready. But these same soldiers approve of their own empire, that ships off noble children to slaver, or even kills them all, so as to exert control over their newly conquered territory. And there is no sense that this is the expected hypocrisy of nationalism. How can there be when every soldier who speaks sprouts deep philosophy?

The earlier books had consistent themes within them, the latter have started losing that aspect as well. The series on the whole definitely does not have a consistent application of themes.