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Path to Ascendancy #4
Forge of the High Mage
A riotous new novel takes readers deeper into the politics and intrigue of the New York Times bestselling Malazan Empire
After decades of warfare, Malazan forces are poised to consolidate the Quon Tali mainland. Yet it is at this moment that Emperor Kellanved orders a new, some believe foolhardy the invasion of Falar that lies far to the north . . .
And to fight on this new front, a rag-tag army raised from orphaned units and broken squads is been brought together under Fist Dujek, and joined by a similarly motley fleet under the command of the Emperor himself.
So the Malazans head north, only to encounter an unlooked-for and most unwelcome threat. Something unspeakable and born of legend has awoken and will destroy all who stand in its way. Most appalled by this is the Empire’s untested High Mage, Tayschrenn. All too aware of the true nature of this ancient horror, he fears his own inadequacies when the time comes to confront it. Yet confront it he must.
Falar itself is far from defenseless. Its priests possess a weapon rumored to be a gift from the sea god, Mael―a weapon so terrifying it has not been unleashed for centuries. But two can play at that game, for the Emperor’s flagship is also believed to be not entirely of this world.
These are turbulent, treacherous and bloody times for all caught up in the forging of an Empire and so, amongst the Ice Wastes and in the archipelago of Falar, the Malazans must face two seemingly insurmountable tests, each one potentially the origin of their destruction . . .
After decades of warfare, Malazan forces are poised to consolidate the Quon Tali mainland. Yet it is at this moment that Emperor Kellanved orders a new, some believe foolhardy the invasion of Falar that lies far to the north . . .
And to fight on this new front, a rag-tag army raised from orphaned units and broken squads is been brought together under Fist Dujek, and joined by a similarly motley fleet under the command of the Emperor himself.
So the Malazans head north, only to encounter an unlooked-for and most unwelcome threat. Something unspeakable and born of legend has awoken and will destroy all who stand in its way. Most appalled by this is the Empire’s untested High Mage, Tayschrenn. All too aware of the true nature of this ancient horror, he fears his own inadequacies when the time comes to confront it. Yet confront it he must.
Falar itself is far from defenseless. Its priests possess a weapon rumored to be a gift from the sea god, Mael―a weapon so terrifying it has not been unleashed for centuries. But two can play at that game, for the Emperor’s flagship is also believed to be not entirely of this world.
These are turbulent, treacherous and bloody times for all caught up in the forging of an Empire and so, amongst the Ice Wastes and in the archipelago of Falar, the Malazans must face two seemingly insurmountable tests, each one potentially the origin of their destruction . . .
480 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2023
220 people are currently reading
2216 people want to read
About the author
Ian C. Esslemont
24 books2,138 followersIAN CAMERON ESSLEMONT was born in 1962 in Winnipeg, Canada. He has a degree in Creative Writing, studied and worked as an archaeologist, travelled extensively in South East Asia, and lived in Thailand and Japan for several years. He now lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, with his wife and children and is currently working on his PhD in English Literature.
Ian C. Esslemont and Steven Erikson co-created the Malazan world in 1982 as a backdrop for role-playing games. In 1991 they collaborated on a feature film script set in the same world, entitled Gardens of the Moon. When the script did not sell, Erikson greatly expanded the story and turned it into a novel.
Ian C. Esslemont and Steven Erikson co-created the Malazan world in 1982 as a backdrop for role-playing games. In 1991 they collaborated on a feature film script set in the same world, entitled Gardens of the Moon. When the script did not sell, Erikson greatly expanded the story and turned it into a novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
May 11, 2023
Fun story that gives the background of Falar. Not what I was expecting...but Malazan rarely is.
Watch my video review by clicking here.
Watch my video review by clicking here.
June 9, 2023
Esslemont continues his early empire Path to Ascendancy sequence impressively with the fourth instalment, Forge of the High Mage. This series is a prequel to the events of Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen and Esslemont's own Novels of the Malazan Empire, with this entry seeing Kellanved (The Emperor), Dancer (Master Assassin), Dassem Ultor (The Sword), Tayschrenn (High Mage) and their armies advancing into Falar. Awaiting them in or approaching their destination are a powerful religious faction that worships the elder god, Mael, the tribes of the Jhek that includes soletaken wolf and bear warriors, formidable Crimson Guard mercenaries, and something mysterious and ancient that, if left unchecked, could cause devastating damage to the surrounding environment and those within the vicinity.
Forge of the High Mage is a book that I have been eagerly awaiting since I finished my early review copy of Kellanved's Reach in January 2019. Fortunately, due to the fact that Esslemont's prowess and talent as a writer is ever increasing, this novel was worth the wait. Whereas Dancer's Lament only featured three point-of-view perspectives, Forge of the High Mage has approximately a dozen. These present a varied mix of interesting characters whose thoughts and feelings we are given witness to. The Path to Ascendancy novels are shorter, being more concise and focused, than the sweeping epics of the two main series. When reading Forge of the High Mage, like previous entries in this series, it is easier to keep track of the people, places, and the plot.
One minor criticism that I have with Forge to the High Mage, though, is that we spend less page time with the duo of Kellanved and Dancer, whose interactions are always memorable. However, by Esslemont taking them away from the absolute forefront of this narrative, he is adding to their infamy and legend, when other perspectives are deciphering the rumours or contemplating the reputation of the pair.
Readers of the two main series will be familiar with around fifty percent of the dramatis personae. Some of the finest moments of this tale occur when following a recognisable magic-wielder, the titular High Mage, Tayschrenn. The book's title is perfect in describing his character arc: which includes his doubts and concerns, trying to understand his place within the military, his working relationship with Nightchill and Dujek Onearm, as well as his magical potential, leading to mastery. In addition to Nightchill and Dujek, other main series players that stand out include Bellurdan and Cartheron, with new members to the ensemble such as Seven Cities warrior Imanaj and faith runaway Gianna having excellent moments too.
Forge of the High Mage is a fast-paced and gripping epic fantasy read. It is loaded with set pieces, contains wonderful dialogue, witty exchanges, explosive showdowns, unlikely alliances, and features some of the finest character creations that the genre has to offer. As ever, the excellent magic system (through the use of warrens) is finely showcased here and, for the most part, I found my reading experience to be extremely rewarding; leading me to score Forge of the High Mage an 8/10 rating.
There are a couple of final points I would like to raise before finishing my review:
As mentioned, Forge of the High Mage frequently features showdowns, sometimes between some of the most powerful beings in the Malazan Universe. One such occasion, unfortunately, left me feeling frustrated as it was a blink-and-you-will-miss-it, over-in-a-page encounter. I understand that this segment was at a heightened stage in the book with regards to pacing, yet, even so, I think the breakneck speed wasted the potential of what should have been a legendary confrontation. This led me to reflect, are these set pieces truly engrossing me as much as they could as I know which characters survive (having read eighteen Malazan books so far) and have already concluded who I should be rooting for prior to these exchanges? This must be an interesting consideration for an author when creating drama for particular scenes in prequels to a popular series.
Finally, it is worth noting that there are a couple of big-name cameos in Forge of the High Mage with characters who are not directly involved in the action taking place (yet). I found that these were handled brilliantly, with a few special easter eggs for Malazan fans who read closely. These special appearances seemed more organic and purposeful than those in The God is Not Willing.
I received a finished copy of Forge of the High Mage in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Ian C. Esslemont and Bantam Press.
Forge of the High Mage is a book that I have been eagerly awaiting since I finished my early review copy of Kellanved's Reach in January 2019. Fortunately, due to the fact that Esslemont's prowess and talent as a writer is ever increasing, this novel was worth the wait. Whereas Dancer's Lament only featured three point-of-view perspectives, Forge of the High Mage has approximately a dozen. These present a varied mix of interesting characters whose thoughts and feelings we are given witness to. The Path to Ascendancy novels are shorter, being more concise and focused, than the sweeping epics of the two main series. When reading Forge of the High Mage, like previous entries in this series, it is easier to keep track of the people, places, and the plot.
One minor criticism that I have with Forge to the High Mage, though, is that we spend less page time with the duo of Kellanved and Dancer, whose interactions are always memorable. However, by Esslemont taking them away from the absolute forefront of this narrative, he is adding to their infamy and legend, when other perspectives are deciphering the rumours or contemplating the reputation of the pair.
Readers of the two main series will be familiar with around fifty percent of the dramatis personae. Some of the finest moments of this tale occur when following a recognisable magic-wielder, the titular High Mage, Tayschrenn. The book's title is perfect in describing his character arc: which includes his doubts and concerns, trying to understand his place within the military, his working relationship with Nightchill and Dujek Onearm, as well as his magical potential, leading to mastery. In addition to Nightchill and Dujek, other main series players that stand out include Bellurdan and Cartheron, with new members to the ensemble such as Seven Cities warrior Imanaj and faith runaway Gianna having excellent moments too.
Forge of the High Mage is a fast-paced and gripping epic fantasy read. It is loaded with set pieces, contains wonderful dialogue, witty exchanges, explosive showdowns, unlikely alliances, and features some of the finest character creations that the genre has to offer. As ever, the excellent magic system (through the use of warrens) is finely showcased here and, for the most part, I found my reading experience to be extremely rewarding; leading me to score Forge of the High Mage an 8/10 rating.
There are a couple of final points I would like to raise before finishing my review:
As mentioned, Forge of the High Mage frequently features showdowns, sometimes between some of the most powerful beings in the Malazan Universe. One such occasion, unfortunately, left me feeling frustrated as it was a blink-and-you-will-miss-it, over-in-a-page encounter. I understand that this segment was at a heightened stage in the book with regards to pacing, yet, even so, I think the breakneck speed wasted the potential of what should have been a legendary confrontation. This led me to reflect, are these set pieces truly engrossing me as much as they could as I know which characters survive (having read eighteen Malazan books so far) and have already concluded who I should be rooting for prior to these exchanges? This must be an interesting consideration for an author when creating drama for particular scenes in prequels to a popular series.
Finally, it is worth noting that there are a couple of big-name cameos in Forge of the High Mage with characters who are not directly involved in the action taking place (yet). I found that these were handled brilliantly, with a few special easter eggs for Malazan fans who read closely. These special appearances seemed more organic and purposeful than those in The God is Not Willing.
I received a finished copy of Forge of the High Mage in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Ian C. Esslemont and Bantam Press.
August 1, 2025
Le truppe dell' Impero, sotto le folli e misteriose direttive dell' Arcimago Kellanved, si preparano alla conquista del continente arcipelago di Falar.
Quarto romanzo della serie "Path to Ascendancy" ambientato nel passato rispetto alla saga principale Malazan e si suppone che abbiate già letto i precedenti per seguire al meglio le vicende.
Esslemont, continua a tessere la complessa e affascinante storia Malazan, gettando luce sulle origini di figure e concetti che abbiamo imparato a conoscere nella serie principale di Erikson.
Vengono mostrate le fragilità e le ambizioni che guidano i suoi personaggi, anche quelli che in seguito diventeranno vere leggende.
Ritroviamo Kellanved e Dancer, un giovane Dujek, Dassem Ultor, Tayschrenn e tanti altri.
La lotta per il potere, le alleanze che si formano e si spezzano, e la costante minaccia di forze oscure creano una tensione palpabile.
Esslemont intreccia diverse linee narrative, introducendo nuovi personaggi intriganti e sviluppando ulteriormente quelli esistenti. A volte la quantità di personaggi e sottotrame può risultare impegnativa, ma alla fine contribuisce alla ricchezza e alla profondità di un universo narrativo già di per sé vasto e affascinante.
------------------------------------------
The troops of the Empire, under the mad and mysterious directives of the Archmage Kellanved, prepare to conquer the archipelago continent of Falar.
Fourth novel of the "Path to Ascendancy" series set in the past with respect to the main Malazan saga and it is assumed that you have already read the previous ones to better follow the events.
Esslemont, continues to weave the complex and fascinating story of Malazan, shedding light on the origins of figures and concepts that we have learned to know in the main series of Erikson.
The fragilities and ambitions that guide his characters are shown, even those who will later become true legends.
We find Kellanved and Dancer, a young Dujek, Dassem Ultor, Tayschrenn and many others.
The struggle for power, the alliances that form and break, and the constant threat of dark forces create a palpable tension.
Esslemont weaves together several story lines, introducing intriguing new characters and further developing existing ones. The amount of characters and subplots can be overwhelming at times, but ultimately it adds to the richness and depth of an already vast and fascinating narrative universe.
Quarto romanzo della serie "Path to Ascendancy" ambientato nel passato rispetto alla saga principale Malazan e si suppone che abbiate già letto i precedenti per seguire al meglio le vicende.
Esslemont, continua a tessere la complessa e affascinante storia Malazan, gettando luce sulle origini di figure e concetti che abbiamo imparato a conoscere nella serie principale di Erikson.
Vengono mostrate le fragilità e le ambizioni che guidano i suoi personaggi, anche quelli che in seguito diventeranno vere leggende.
Ritroviamo Kellanved e Dancer, un giovane Dujek, Dassem Ultor, Tayschrenn e tanti altri.
La lotta per il potere, le alleanze che si formano e si spezzano, e la costante minaccia di forze oscure creano una tensione palpabile.
Esslemont intreccia diverse linee narrative, introducendo nuovi personaggi intriganti e sviluppando ulteriormente quelli esistenti. A volte la quantità di personaggi e sottotrame può risultare impegnativa, ma alla fine contribuisce alla ricchezza e alla profondità di un universo narrativo già di per sé vasto e affascinante.
------------------------------------------
The troops of the Empire, under the mad and mysterious directives of the Archmage Kellanved, prepare to conquer the archipelago continent of Falar.
Fourth novel of the "Path to Ascendancy" series set in the past with respect to the main Malazan saga and it is assumed that you have already read the previous ones to better follow the events.
Esslemont, continues to weave the complex and fascinating story of Malazan, shedding light on the origins of figures and concepts that we have learned to know in the main series of Erikson.
The fragilities and ambitions that guide his characters are shown, even those who will later become true legends.
We find Kellanved and Dancer, a young Dujek, Dassem Ultor, Tayschrenn and many others.
The struggle for power, the alliances that form and break, and the constant threat of dark forces create a palpable tension.
Esslemont weaves together several story lines, introducing intriguing new characters and further developing existing ones. The amount of characters and subplots can be overwhelming at times, but ultimately it adds to the richness and depth of an already vast and fascinating narrative universe.
May 22, 2023
Boom, Malazan is back with a bang, and man Ian C Esslemont didn't disappoint. The author takes us back to where it all began and how the Malazans forge their empire with their ruthlessness.
Forge Of The High Mage is the fourth in book in the Path to Ascendancy series, which has just gotten better and better. For any Malazan fan, this just adds layers and layers to the main characters from the main series. Beautifully soul satisfying.
Malzan is my all-time favourite series, the worldbuilding, characters, the magic system, and the pure scope of it all that Steven Erikson and Ian C Esslemont has created is just phenomenal.
The writing is just poetic. It will make you laugh, cry, leave you in awe, and there are so many characters for you to fall in love with and hate with a vengeance.
Into this foray with the Malazan military and navy, Emperor Kellanved has his sights set on the islands of Falar to expand the Malazan Empire.
Old legends return, my absolute favourite the K' Chain Che Malle, Dinosaurs with swords for arms, causing absolute mayhem with their slicing and dicing.
Our main character, who takes centre stage in this Malazan tale, is a young High Mage Tayschrenn, leads the Malazan infantry alongside High Fist Dujek to reach Falar, he is untested and doesn't realise how powerful a mage he is until he comes up against very powerful elder magics.
Now, I want to start my whole Malazan adventure again. That was such a roller coaster ride and a Malazan fix I thoroughly needed. If you haven't read any of the main series by the authors yet, I very highly recommend that you do, you won't regret it..😁🔥🗡🖤⚡️🙏
Forge Of The High Mage is the fourth in book in the Path to Ascendancy series, which has just gotten better and better. For any Malazan fan, this just adds layers and layers to the main characters from the main series. Beautifully soul satisfying.
Malzan is my all-time favourite series, the worldbuilding, characters, the magic system, and the pure scope of it all that Steven Erikson and Ian C Esslemont has created is just phenomenal.
The writing is just poetic. It will make you laugh, cry, leave you in awe, and there are so many characters for you to fall in love with and hate with a vengeance.
Into this foray with the Malazan military and navy, Emperor Kellanved has his sights set on the islands of Falar to expand the Malazan Empire.
Old legends return, my absolute favourite the K' Chain Che Malle, Dinosaurs with swords for arms, causing absolute mayhem with their slicing and dicing.
Our main character, who takes centre stage in this Malazan tale, is a young High Mage Tayschrenn, leads the Malazan infantry alongside High Fist Dujek to reach Falar, he is untested and doesn't realise how powerful a mage he is until he comes up against very powerful elder magics.
Now, I want to start my whole Malazan adventure again. That was such a roller coaster ride and a Malazan fix I thoroughly needed. If you haven't read any of the main series by the authors yet, I very highly recommend that you do, you won't regret it..😁🔥🗡🖤⚡️🙏
Read
January 28, 2025Very excited for the next books in the PtA series, a great read and very nice to see a certain someone realize and reach their potential :))
May 1, 2023
Brilliant.
ICE, earlier in his Malazan days, suffered the curse of being continually compared to the incomparable, Erikson. Most people have stopped that (not all, for some reason) and now you can enjoy his books and let them shine for what they are. What is that? Good characterisation, good pacing and a rip roaring tale that adds to the beauty/context of the Malazan world.
Tay (the titular High Mage) steals the show, he really comes on leaps and bounds as a character from a largely unknown, pretty stereotypical big hitter type character to someone with nuance and it gives you understanding of how he is, who he is.
Other characters from the past get some great page time to flesh them out and further imperial politics (plus a little from the Guard) are also given more context. A great character gets a cameo and the guy we thought it would be about (fuck you Mallick) gets some page time, perhaps not in the way you would think, but he is certainly true to form.
My only regret, and I appreciate it may have been a little dry, was we didn't get a little more context on the Jhistal and it's exact perversion. We get the story, mostly, but how the cult came to dominate an otherwise peaceable (from what you can infer) people and twist things, that would have been interesting to see a little more of.
Great book, perfect ICE novel and it sets up the next one (the events at Aren) nicely by showing a few of those characters and most likely the man who will face Daseem.
ICE, earlier in his Malazan days, suffered the curse of being continually compared to the incomparable, Erikson. Most people have stopped that (not all, for some reason) and now you can enjoy his books and let them shine for what they are. What is that? Good characterisation, good pacing and a rip roaring tale that adds to the beauty/context of the Malazan world.
Tay (the titular High Mage) steals the show, he really comes on leaps and bounds as a character from a largely unknown, pretty stereotypical big hitter type character to someone with nuance and it gives you understanding of how he is, who he is.
Other characters from the past get some great page time to flesh them out and further imperial politics (plus a little from the Guard) are also given more context. A great character gets a cameo and the guy we thought it would be about (fuck you Mallick) gets some page time, perhaps not in the way you would think, but he is certainly true to form.
My only regret, and I appreciate it may have been a little dry, was we didn't get a little more context on the Jhistal and it's exact perversion. We get the story, mostly, but how the cult came to dominate an otherwise peaceable (from what you can infer) people and twist things, that would have been interesting to see a little more of.
Great book, perfect ICE novel and it sets up the next one (the events at Aren) nicely by showing a few of those characters and most likely the man who will face Daseem.
April 16, 2023
This was not what I expected but then again, Cameron's books rarely are.
Friends, delight yourselves with the forge of the high mage.
Friends, delight yourselves with the forge of the high mage.
August 24, 2023
I have enormous respect for Esslemont for co-creating the best fantasy world of them all. Unfortunately, this entry wasn't very enjoyable for me. The plot and the character work was not up to standard, and the book dragged on unnecessarily.
There were a few awesome moments, and a few questions answered, but that wasn't enough to make this book memorable .
There were a few awesome moments, and a few questions answered, but that wasn't enough to make this book memorable .
December 26, 2024
This is the fourth in his series of prequels set in the Malazan world that cover some of the key events in the formation of the Malazan Empire. This is set a few decades after the previous book in the series which portrayed some of the biggest events in the history of that Empire, I had felt that book was disappointing since it felt too rushed for some of the things it was describing. In contrast, this book is exploring a more obscure piece of Malazan history, namely the conquest of the Falar islands - an insular society ruled by a ruthless religious cult. I think this works a lot better than the previous book because it is a lot more focused with two main plot threads and relatively few digressions (although one subplot about a warrior stranded on a backwater isle felt a bit redundant). I think the pacing is also a lot better, taking time to explore the setting before tying things together for an explosive finale. Many of the characters in this have appeared in the chronologically earlier and/or later books, and it is interesting to see how some have developed over the years and how the events in this book shape what they will be like in later years. I wouldn't say this is up with the very best Malazan books, but it's better than many of them.
May 7, 2024
This was good but felt like a really big side quest in the series. Overall enjoyable though!
October 1, 2025
Forge of the High Mage (Path to Ascendancy, #4)
by Ian C. Esslemont
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for Goodreads. I'm not sure if this one was worse than the three before this, but it was indeed frustrating. Never in my life did I think I would find myself getting annoyed by the word "yes," but this book did me in. I appreciate getting more worldbuilding and backstory to the incredibly dense world of Burn, but this particular entry was grating. The interactions and story telling of this entry of the Malazan Empire was surface level and shallow. I think I am feeling a little less forgiving in this one as the characters are older, so I feel there should be more depth where the first three in this series read as young adult, and I judged them as such.
by Ian C. Esslemont
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for Goodreads. I'm not sure if this one was worse than the three before this, but it was indeed frustrating. Never in my life did I think I would find myself getting annoyed by the word "yes," but this book did me in. I appreciate getting more worldbuilding and backstory to the incredibly dense world of Burn, but this particular entry was grating. The interactions and story telling of this entry of the Malazan Empire was surface level and shallow. I think I am feeling a little less forgiving in this one as the characters are older, so I feel there should be more depth where the first three in this series read as young adult, and I judged them as such.
November 16, 2025
The Malazan Empire has completed its conquest of the Quon Tali continent and is mopping up a few rebellions and uprisings. However, Emperor Kellanved is in no mood to consolidate. Greymane's armies are engaged on the continent of Korelri to the south, but Kellanved is of a mind to take the rest of the imperial forces and strike for Falar, the peninsula and large island chain off the remote northern coast of the continent, separated from the rest of Quon Tali by the icy wasteland beyond the Fenn Range. In Falar, religious strife and political intrigue are building to a climax, but it is in the icy wastelands that the fate of the land will be decided, for an ancient Jaghut has discovered a K'Chain Che'Malle artefact of tremendous power, and is of a mind to unleash it upon the world.
The first two novels in the Path to Ascendancy series, Dancer's Lament and Deadhouse Landing, were Ian Cameron Esslemont's best Malazan novels to date. Set long before the events in either his own Malazan Empire sequence or Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, the two books established the origin story of Emperor Kellanved (aka Shadowthrone aka Ammanas aka Wu) and Dancer, the Rope (aka Cotillion), founders of the Malazan Empire. The books were focused, tight and highly enjoyable.
Unfortunately, the third book, Kellanved's Reach, was less-accomplished. The book was incredibly rushed given the story it had to cover - the conquest of mainland Quon Tali by Kellanved and his ragtag bunch of disparate allies - with massive battles, campaigns and character motivations machine-gunned out by the writer at a rate of knots. It had every appearance of a book written to a tight page count (just over 300 pages) and meant to wrap up its series.
With the Path to Ascendancy series selling much better than expected, it was decided to expand the series to six volumes, with the next three focusing on the Malazan conquest of Falar, Seven Cities and northern Genabackis in turn. It also appears that any page limit has been relaxed, with Forge of the High Mage coming in at a much more generous 450 pages, with a tighter focus that mean we're back to the quality levels of the first two volumes here. Indeed, if not better.
The book is structured around the Malazan decision to invade Falar from both land and sea. Kellanved contracts a pirate flotilla to invade Falar and cause chaos and destruction, scattering the Falaran fleet piecemeal whilst the Malazan land armies under Dujek One-Arm advance across the icy wastes to invade the archipelago from the south, via its mainland holdings. This plan, naturally, barely survives contact with the enemy: the Falarans are revealed to have a magical superweapon called the Jhistal, the capabilities of which are unknown and the threat of which stymies Kellanved's plans. Meanwhile, the Malazans have to deal with the natives of the wastelands, namely the Jheck and various other factions who do not take kindly to the Malazan incursion. Events are complicated further by some treasure-seekers who find a solitary volcano in the heart of the wastes, and get rather more than they bargained for when they get inside.
Forge of the High Mage works because it settles on doing three things and doing them well: a Malazan military campaign focusing on the old favourites, with Kellanved, Dancer, Hairlock, Nightchill, Dujek and the Crust brothers playing a major role in events; a coming-into-his-power story for perennial Malazan favourite Tayschrenn; and an exploration of the Falaran culture and religion through the eyes of its highly reluctant High Priestess (with a healthy bonus of exploring more of the character of perennially loathed antagonist Mallick Rel). It's also tapping into something the Malazan series has flirted with before but not quite committed to, and in fantasy as a whole is under-explored: an epic fantasy disaster novel. The second half of the book turns into the fantasy equivalent of Towering Inferno as various characters try to stop the disaster that has been unleashed and is now out of anybody's control.
The book's pacing is much-improved over its forebear, and we get a lot more character-building and exploration. Tayschrenn's growth from arrogant but skilled mage to a more considered, mature statesman starting to understand the vast powers he has access to is extremely well-handled, whilst our limited-but-effective observations of Mallick Rel's multi-layered, Littlefinger+ Xanatos Gambits that see him emerge on top when he should really have been killed ten times over are quite impressive. Indeed, Esslemont makes Rel's ability to get on top of even the most ludicrous odds and emerge victorious seem quite plausible, which in turn benefits Erikson's Malazan novels where Rel's rise to supreme power decades after these events felt a lot more random. Kellanved and Dancer fans may be disappointed that they get a lot less screentime this time around, but those who feel they were verging on overuse in the prior books may appreciate the fact we spend a lot more time with the rest of the Old Guard.
Another theme of the novel is the idea of "moving into a new world." The Malazans started as a gang operating out of an inn and somehow conquered an island, then a continent, and are now going for the world, but in doing so they are starting to attract the attention of some very big hitters. When one legendary figure who has so far dismissed the Malazans as non-entities finally turns his attention to them after their madcap antics in this book and decides to "keep an eye on them," it feels like the sort of momentous backstory moment we really should be seeing in these books (and often are not).
On the negative side, it does feel like Esslemont includes some favourite characters really only to touch base with them rather than because they have a key role to play in this book. He's sensible enough not to bring in Surly or Greymane (who have other fish to fry), but some of his favourite Crimson Guard do feel shoehorned in, do very little, and then leave the narrative. Some might also ponder the bonkers scale of events in this book and the fact that nobody in chronologically later books mentions them, but to be honest that's par for the course for Malazan: the events that completely change the lives of millions of people in Falar forever are just a wet Tuesday afternoon to the likes of Kellanved and Tayschrenn. There's also quite a bit of blatant scene-setting for the next volume in the series that fulfils relatively little function in this novel, but that might read better once the next volume is available.
Forge of the High Mage (****½) is a splendid return to form for Esslemont, something that will hopefully continue. The fifth book in the Path to Ascendancy series, The Last Guardian, is forthcoming.
The first two novels in the Path to Ascendancy series, Dancer's Lament and Deadhouse Landing, were Ian Cameron Esslemont's best Malazan novels to date. Set long before the events in either his own Malazan Empire sequence or Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, the two books established the origin story of Emperor Kellanved (aka Shadowthrone aka Ammanas aka Wu) and Dancer, the Rope (aka Cotillion), founders of the Malazan Empire. The books were focused, tight and highly enjoyable.
Unfortunately, the third book, Kellanved's Reach, was less-accomplished. The book was incredibly rushed given the story it had to cover - the conquest of mainland Quon Tali by Kellanved and his ragtag bunch of disparate allies - with massive battles, campaigns and character motivations machine-gunned out by the writer at a rate of knots. It had every appearance of a book written to a tight page count (just over 300 pages) and meant to wrap up its series.
With the Path to Ascendancy series selling much better than expected, it was decided to expand the series to six volumes, with the next three focusing on the Malazan conquest of Falar, Seven Cities and northern Genabackis in turn. It also appears that any page limit has been relaxed, with Forge of the High Mage coming in at a much more generous 450 pages, with a tighter focus that mean we're back to the quality levels of the first two volumes here. Indeed, if not better.
The book is structured around the Malazan decision to invade Falar from both land and sea. Kellanved contracts a pirate flotilla to invade Falar and cause chaos and destruction, scattering the Falaran fleet piecemeal whilst the Malazan land armies under Dujek One-Arm advance across the icy wastes to invade the archipelago from the south, via its mainland holdings. This plan, naturally, barely survives contact with the enemy: the Falarans are revealed to have a magical superweapon called the Jhistal, the capabilities of which are unknown and the threat of which stymies Kellanved's plans. Meanwhile, the Malazans have to deal with the natives of the wastelands, namely the Jheck and various other factions who do not take kindly to the Malazan incursion. Events are complicated further by some treasure-seekers who find a solitary volcano in the heart of the wastes, and get rather more than they bargained for when they get inside.
Forge of the High Mage works because it settles on doing three things and doing them well: a Malazan military campaign focusing on the old favourites, with Kellanved, Dancer, Hairlock, Nightchill, Dujek and the Crust brothers playing a major role in events; a coming-into-his-power story for perennial Malazan favourite Tayschrenn; and an exploration of the Falaran culture and religion through the eyes of its highly reluctant High Priestess (with a healthy bonus of exploring more of the character of perennially loathed antagonist Mallick Rel). It's also tapping into something the Malazan series has flirted with before but not quite committed to, and in fantasy as a whole is under-explored: an epic fantasy disaster novel. The second half of the book turns into the fantasy equivalent of Towering Inferno as various characters try to stop the disaster that has been unleashed and is now out of anybody's control.
The book's pacing is much-improved over its forebear, and we get a lot more character-building and exploration. Tayschrenn's growth from arrogant but skilled mage to a more considered, mature statesman starting to understand the vast powers he has access to is extremely well-handled, whilst our limited-but-effective observations of Mallick Rel's multi-layered, Littlefinger+ Xanatos Gambits that see him emerge on top when he should really have been killed ten times over are quite impressive. Indeed, Esslemont makes Rel's ability to get on top of even the most ludicrous odds and emerge victorious seem quite plausible, which in turn benefits Erikson's Malazan novels where Rel's rise to supreme power decades after these events felt a lot more random. Kellanved and Dancer fans may be disappointed that they get a lot less screentime this time around, but those who feel they were verging on overuse in the prior books may appreciate the fact we spend a lot more time with the rest of the Old Guard.
Another theme of the novel is the idea of "moving into a new world." The Malazans started as a gang operating out of an inn and somehow conquered an island, then a continent, and are now going for the world, but in doing so they are starting to attract the attention of some very big hitters. When one legendary figure who has so far dismissed the Malazans as non-entities finally turns his attention to them after their madcap antics in this book and decides to "keep an eye on them," it feels like the sort of momentous backstory moment we really should be seeing in these books (and often are not).
On the negative side, it does feel like Esslemont includes some favourite characters really only to touch base with them rather than because they have a key role to play in this book. He's sensible enough not to bring in Surly or Greymane (who have other fish to fry), but some of his favourite Crimson Guard do feel shoehorned in, do very little, and then leave the narrative. Some might also ponder the bonkers scale of events in this book and the fact that nobody in chronologically later books mentions them, but to be honest that's par for the course for Malazan: the events that completely change the lives of millions of people in Falar forever are just a wet Tuesday afternoon to the likes of Kellanved and Tayschrenn. There's also quite a bit of blatant scene-setting for the next volume in the series that fulfils relatively little function in this novel, but that might read better once the next volume is available.
Forge of the High Mage (****½) is a splendid return to form for Esslemont, something that will hopefully continue. The fifth book in the Path to Ascendancy series, The Last Guardian, is forthcoming.
May 12, 2024
Ummmmm Mr. Esslemont i want book 5 now
May 28, 2023
I am finally up to date. I have read every single book that has been released to date in the Malazan universe from both Ian C Esslement and Steven Erikson (well except Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords which in all his eccentricity Erikson decided to release just his handwritten notes and at the moment is not available as an actual book).
Forge of the High Mage is the fourth book in the Path to Ascendency that deals with the formation of the Malazan Empire. I absolutely loved the first three books from this series and had high expectations from this one but I felt that this was probably the weakest so far in the series. It is still very enjoyable, especially because we have all of the old guard (Kellanved, Dancer, Dassem, Tayschrenn etc) and we get to see them in action. There are some very good action sequences and some interesting events, I especially liked all the lore regarding the priesthood of Mael.
However, there was a considerable time jump from the previous book which means a lot of the Malazan expansion happened off page which was very disappointing. Then the actual events of the book are not what I expected. I can't give away too much due to spoilers, but let's just say I was hoping for some serious land and ship battles but again they all happened mostly off page.
All in all I think 3 stars is fair for the book. The great thing is we still have two ongoing series from Erikson and at least another 2 books left in this series. So let more Malazan come!
Forge of the High Mage is the fourth book in the Path to Ascendency that deals with the formation of the Malazan Empire. I absolutely loved the first three books from this series and had high expectations from this one but I felt that this was probably the weakest so far in the series. It is still very enjoyable, especially because we have all of the old guard (Kellanved, Dancer, Dassem, Tayschrenn etc) and we get to see them in action. There are some very good action sequences and some interesting events, I especially liked all the lore regarding the priesthood of Mael.
However, there was a considerable time jump from the previous book which means a lot of the Malazan expansion happened off page which was very disappointing. Then the actual events of the book are not what I expected. I can't give away too much due to spoilers, but let's just say I was hoping for some serious land and ship battles but again they all happened mostly off page.
All in all I think 3 stars is fair for the book. The great thing is we still have two ongoing series from Erikson and at least another 2 books left in this series. So let more Malazan come!
April 14, 2023
I thought Kellanved's Reach was a bit under par, but Forge is a massive improvement. So many things happened, and so many threads to follow- all of which were tied off pretty well. So many characters who'd later go on to have massive roles in Malazan BotF + ME books were featured and none of them felt like fan service. Can't wait for the next book in PtA series.
October 4, 2024
And the Path continues. A perfect companion for the last 3 books and the whole Malazan world in general. ICE's malazan books have come into its own with its unique voice and take on the universe.
These prequels clear the shroud and lifts the "shadow" of mystery behind the extraordinary circumstances that lead to the formation and expansion of the Empire.
The old guard is all here.
These prequels clear the shroud and lifts the "shadow" of mystery behind the extraordinary circumstances that lead to the formation and expansion of the Empire.
The old guard is all here.
April 14, 2023
A bit of a muddle. Really do think you can see ICE straining to make all the plotlines work chronologically. But we love this world and the characters so it gets by, even though not that much actually happens...
October 20, 2023
Another ace from ICE.
I felt like his original 6 were a little gimmicky - like seeing the rest of the Star Wars universe you always wanted to see but then realize it was better keeping it mysterious. But Path to Ascendancy has worked for me on all levels. The cataclysmic ending is a tad contrived, but the various storylines sync well and everything Malazan and Crimson is in fine form. Can't get enough of Wu.
I felt like his original 6 were a little gimmicky - like seeing the rest of the Star Wars universe you always wanted to see but then realize it was better keeping it mysterious. But Path to Ascendancy has worked for me on all levels. The cataclysmic ending is a tad contrived, but the various storylines sync well and everything Malazan and Crimson is in fine form. Can't get enough of Wu.
April 28, 2024
Placeholder for another review to come later (maybe). I’m about fifteen or so books into the series and it’s hard to remember what’s at stake in addition to having to remember the names of the continents, factions, races, characters and a complicated magic system.
March 22, 2025
Very much a nice read with how much I'm invested in anything Malazan. Definitely fun to see some more early history of the characters that founded the Malazan empire. However, the story this time didn't really make an impact and lacked some of the depth that I appreciate in the Malazan series
July 28, 2024
I wanted to love it because I’m so invested in the entire Malazan world but it came up a little short for me. Will have to do a 2nd re read again though.
April 18, 2023
Ein unterhaltsamer Eintrag in der Welt von Malaz. Die meisten Charaktere sind dem Leser schon bekannt und der Leser des Book of the Fallen weiß natürlich wo die Geschichte hinführt, aber einige Lücken werden zufriedenstellend gefüllt und auch die ein oder andere Unklarheit im Gesamtbild wird beseitigt.
October 4, 2023
Forge of the High Mage was beyond disappointing for me. Malazan being my undisputed GOAT series, I feel almost obligated to read anything releasing in greater series. ICE has written a couple book's that were serious misses for me, but I've been enjoying the Path to Ascendancy Series for the most part.
Main complaints - Seriously flat writing. Characters lacking 'character'. And worst of all, it is a seemingly purposeless journey. I don't feel like I got any Aha moments or received any depth or insight you would expect from a prequel book.
The one good thing I can say about the book is that it reads well and is almost a page-turner so despite some misgivings, it didn't turn into a slog at all and is relatively short for a Malazan novel.
Unfortunately, I don't think I will be continuing on with the series. I would much rather do a re-read of MBOTF which I've been meaning to do since it's been about 10 years since finishing Crippled God
Main complaints - Seriously flat writing. Characters lacking 'character'. And worst of all, it is a seemingly purposeless journey. I don't feel like I got any Aha moments or received any depth or insight you would expect from a prequel book.
The one good thing I can say about the book is that it reads well and is almost a page-turner so despite some misgivings, it didn't turn into a slog at all and is relatively short for a Malazan novel.
Unfortunately, I don't think I will be continuing on with the series. I would much rather do a re-read of MBOTF which I've been meaning to do since it's been about 10 years since finishing Crippled God
July 12, 2025
I will firstly prefix this review by saying that I have been a fan of Stephen Erikson and by extension Ian C Esslemont for many years now. So do take this review with a pinch of salt as it will undoubtedly be positively biased. I offer no apologies but just a slight forewarning for those looking for an impartial review.
This novel continues Esslemont's series exploring the foundational years of the Malazan Empire. As with his previous works the novel centres around both Kellanved and Dancer but favours a number well known characters perspectives that orbit the pivotal twosome. We are thrust immediately into the thick of Malazan expansionism with a forward looking march into Felar and the archipelago of cities overseen by the cult of Mael.
The characters here are varied and interesting. Those returning faces as seen in the raft of other novels over the Malazan universe are breathed new life in this expansion. Clearly this is a novel that is based around the crucible of change for high mages pushing themselves beyond their limits and finding new avenues of power. Tayschrenn is featured heavily in this novel and adds real flavour to the character that we have seen within the Malazan books. The only problem with a novel such as this is that there are so many interesting characters that you cannot help but want more time with them all. As a slight adage to this is the fact that if one has not read the Malazan novels then these ones I would oddly say should not be the starting point. While they do offer an account of events that have come before there is almost an expectation on the reader to simply know who these actors are and what their flavour of peculiarities are.
This location is succinctly described through the clever use of war maps, however if I were to make the tiniest of points a directional travel system was used North, East etc that did not aptly describe the surrounding environment or what is on the horizon. Potentially not needed but it would have added a level of flavour to the plains or island environments. Considering that a sizable chuck of the novel took place on the floating hive mountain of the K'Chain Che'Malle it would have been quite nice to have a more descriptive assessment of the mountain other than it's colossal size. These are more nitpicks then anything else though and in truth the setting was not the main focused of this fast paced novel and detracted next to nothing from the overall story.
The novel is a great addition to the series and while I think that the characters do slightly suffer from a wisdom unmatched by their current history it is not so apparent as to case issue. This novel continues to expand on a world that is a rich tapestry formed from the threads of varied and yet interconnected stories. I have enjoyed this novel immensely and am looking forward to any further additions to the story.
This novel continues Esslemont's series exploring the foundational years of the Malazan Empire. As with his previous works the novel centres around both Kellanved and Dancer but favours a number well known characters perspectives that orbit the pivotal twosome. We are thrust immediately into the thick of Malazan expansionism with a forward looking march into Felar and the archipelago of cities overseen by the cult of Mael.
The characters here are varied and interesting. Those returning faces as seen in the raft of other novels over the Malazan universe are breathed new life in this expansion. Clearly this is a novel that is based around the crucible of change for high mages pushing themselves beyond their limits and finding new avenues of power. Tayschrenn is featured heavily in this novel and adds real flavour to the character that we have seen within the Malazan books. The only problem with a novel such as this is that there are so many interesting characters that you cannot help but want more time with them all. As a slight adage to this is the fact that if one has not read the Malazan novels then these ones I would oddly say should not be the starting point. While they do offer an account of events that have come before there is almost an expectation on the reader to simply know who these actors are and what their flavour of peculiarities are.
This location is succinctly described through the clever use of war maps, however if I were to make the tiniest of points a directional travel system was used North, East etc that did not aptly describe the surrounding environment or what is on the horizon. Potentially not needed but it would have added a level of flavour to the plains or island environments. Considering that a sizable chuck of the novel took place on the floating hive mountain of the K'Chain Che'Malle it would have been quite nice to have a more descriptive assessment of the mountain other than it's colossal size. These are more nitpicks then anything else though and in truth the setting was not the main focused of this fast paced novel and detracted next to nothing from the overall story.
The novel is a great addition to the series and while I think that the characters do slightly suffer from a wisdom unmatched by their current history it is not so apparent as to case issue. This novel continues to expand on a world that is a rich tapestry formed from the threads of varied and yet interconnected stories. I have enjoyed this novel immensely and am looking forward to any further additions to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2023
Learned lots and lots of background on lots of characters, especially the growth of our titular mage. Experienced more of the Emperor's shadowy plans, learned the sheer power of coincidence and timing, discovered depths of treachery, and lived much action, from swordplay to spellcasting. This is a very good addition to the Malazan world and a return to the form of books 1 and 2 in this Paths to Ascendancy. Only snafu was the absolute sudden unexplained and glaring omission of a character on page 111 who should have had an explanation for his unresolved absence.
April 18, 2024
A superb return to the Malazan world for Ian Cameron Esslemont that overcomes the criticisms of excessive brevity and rushed pace that were made against his previous book. The pacing of the book is slower, as a result of which the story and characters get time to breathe and grow organically. There are many PoVs in the book, which is of course to be expected, but a few quickly emerge as being far more important and engrossing than the rest. As hinted by the title, this book is crucial for Tayschrenn and he is quite an enjoyable character to follow as he discovers himself. A few PoVs were definitely included to help setup later books. This being a Malazan book, there are of course a whole range of prominent and subtle references. There is clear setup for future conflicts, like with Surly and Nightchill. I am intrigued to see where ICE takes those.
April 17, 2024
Average
Great characters, average story. While I will buy anything malazian this story just didn't do it for me. Nothing seemed to flow and a few storylines had me scratching my head. The characters though, oh my! Just feels good to revisit old friends and see what's going on. Now the long wait till another book appears.
Great characters, average story. While I will buy anything malazian this story just didn't do it for me. Nothing seemed to flow and a few storylines had me scratching my head. The characters though, oh my! Just feels good to revisit old friends and see what's going on. Now the long wait till another book appears.
May 20, 2024
The quality doesn’t diminish, it stays consistent. Nothing spectacular to report in this series, but it keeps me wanting more. Hopefully it won’t be too long until the next book is released- lord knows Steve Erikson takes long enough.
February 14, 2024
Engaging continuation of the story with lots of insights into the character of Tayschrenn. I feel like some of the Falari characters get lost in the weeds and I personally found myself a bit confused at times with the rapid changes in perspective.
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