Toll the Hounds centers around the legacy of Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness and Lord of the Tiste Andii, and the convergence of various powers in the city of Darujhistan.

[1] When asked about the unique and divisive tone and style of the novel, Steven Erikson stated that he had planned to write the novel with Kruppe's voice "from very early on in the series".

The first is in a "necropolis of sorts", where two people, who are revealed to be dead, witness a meeting between Hood, Edgewalker, Shadowthrone and Anomander Rake, though they are not privy to what is discussed.

Crokus, under the alias Cutter, is anxious at the thought of being reunited with his old friends at the Phoenix Inn, while Barathol seeks anonymity in the city.

He hires the Trygalle Trade Guild to take him to that distant continent and is accompanied by Gruntle, who does this because he is irritated by all the attention from the acolytes and priestess of Trake, the new God of War.

Anomander Rake, the Son of Darkness, asks Endest Silann, the broken High Mage of Moon's Spawn, and Spinnock Durav, the wandering Tiste Andii warrior, to do what must be done, as he senses many things coming.

[6] Neth Space stated in their very positive review that Toll the Hounds "may be the best written volume so far in Steven Erikson’s momentous epic fantasy series: The Malazan Book of the Fallen".

Pat's Fantasy Hotlist gave it a 9 out of 10, stating that "After nearly 800 pages spent setting the stage, Steven Erikson finally goes in "attack mode."

[9] The Wertzone also gave a positive review, stating that "Toll the Hounds is also the Malazan series' most thematically-developed and tightest novel, with notions of family, responsibility and the role of desire all coming in for examination.