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Novels of the Malazan Empire #1-6
The Malazan Empire Series: (Night of Knives, Return of the Crimson Guard, Stonewielder, Orb Sceptre Throne, Blood and Bone, Assail)
This discounted ebundle Night of Knives, Return of the Crimson Guard, Stonewielder, Orb Sceptre Throne, Blood and Bone, Assail
An epic adventure in the extraordinarily imagined world of Malaz!
Esslemont’s epic fantasy series begins with the story of the night of the Shadow Moon, when the good people of Malaz are threatened with demon hounds and other, darker things. It was also prophesied that this night would witness the return of Emperor Kellanved, and there are those prepared to do anything to prevent this from happening…
Ian C. Esslemont co-created the world of Malaz with his friend Steven Erikson, and Esslemont’s Novels of the Malazan Empire are set in the same world as Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen.
Other Tor books by Ian C. Esslemont
Path to Ascendancy
Dancer’s Lament
Deadhouse Landing
Other books in the world of Malaz by Steven Erikson
Malazan Book of the Fallen
Gardens of the Moon
Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
House of Chains
Midnight Tides
The Bonehunters
Reaper’s Gale
Toll the Hounds
Dust of Dreams
The Crippled God
The Kharkanas Trilogy
Forge of Darkness
Fall of Light
Walk in Shadow*
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
An epic adventure in the extraordinarily imagined world of Malaz!
Esslemont’s epic fantasy series begins with the story of the night of the Shadow Moon, when the good people of Malaz are threatened with demon hounds and other, darker things. It was also prophesied that this night would witness the return of Emperor Kellanved, and there are those prepared to do anything to prevent this from happening…
Ian C. Esslemont co-created the world of Malaz with his friend Steven Erikson, and Esslemont’s Novels of the Malazan Empire are set in the same world as Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen.
Other Tor books by Ian C. Esslemont
Path to Ascendancy
Dancer’s Lament
Deadhouse Landing
Other books in the world of Malaz by Steven Erikson
Malazan Book of the Fallen
Gardens of the Moon
Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
House of Chains
Midnight Tides
The Bonehunters
Reaper’s Gale
Toll the Hounds
Dust of Dreams
The Crippled God
The Kharkanas Trilogy
Forge of Darkness
Fall of Light
Walk in Shadow*
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
3297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2017
108 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Ian C. Esslemont
18 books2,146 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 11, 2021
I'm not a huge fan of Novels of Malazan Empire by Ian C. Esslemont and here is why.
I think you can divide these six books into three categories. First one being "Books that take place before the MBotF", and it contains only Night of Knives. And well, Night of Knives is good. It definitelly gives us some context about one very imporant event, it has a lot of quality, but it is also short and it kind of lacks it's own flavor.
The second category would be called "Books that concludes storylines from the MBotF". I mean, all of them does, but I'm talking about the books that pick up major storylines and they almost feels like second parts of some MBotF books. Return of the Crimson Guard does that for Bonehunters and Orb Sceptre Throne for Toll the Hounds. Weirdly enough, RotCG is my least favorite of the series and OST is by far my favorite. I think that's because of the fact, that in RotCG Esslemont was still trying to find his footing, so there were some weird narrative choices, the strutcure didn't really work and it felt really chaotic. Otherwise, RotCG could be as good as OST.
And the third category, "Books that focus on continents, which hasn't been explored in original series" - Stonewielder, Blood and Bone and Assail. Esslemont is great with cultures, fantasy ideas, worldbulding and setting. However, in SW and BaB is feels like he is trying to introduce us to this whole new set on characters, he starts some plot lines, but then they are either rushed or just cut in the middle and we never come back to most of them.
So, there are many issues in these novels. Many pointless storylines, blend characters, dissapointing finales and failed promises. However, Esslemont is still a great author and I think it would be extremlly hard to do series of this format to anynone. So I'm really looking forward to reading Path to Ascendancy.
Overall I would still recommend this series to every Malazan fan. It has a lot of problems, but there is much more to like than to dislike.
I think you can divide these six books into three categories. First one being "Books that take place before the MBotF", and it contains only Night of Knives. And well, Night of Knives is good. It definitelly gives us some context about one very imporant event, it has a lot of quality, but it is also short and it kind of lacks it's own flavor.
The second category would be called "Books that concludes storylines from the MBotF". I mean, all of them does, but I'm talking about the books that pick up major storylines and they almost feels like second parts of some MBotF books. Return of the Crimson Guard does that for Bonehunters and Orb Sceptre Throne for Toll the Hounds. Weirdly enough, RotCG is my least favorite of the series and OST is by far my favorite. I think that's because of the fact, that in RotCG Esslemont was still trying to find his footing, so there were some weird narrative choices, the strutcure didn't really work and it felt really chaotic. Otherwise, RotCG could be as good as OST.
And the third category, "Books that focus on continents, which hasn't been explored in original series" - Stonewielder, Blood and Bone and Assail. Esslemont is great with cultures, fantasy ideas, worldbulding and setting. However, in SW and BaB is feels like he is trying to introduce us to this whole new set on characters, he starts some plot lines, but then they are either rushed or just cut in the middle and we never come back to most of them.
So, there are many issues in these novels. Many pointless storylines, blend characters, dissapointing finales and failed promises. However, Esslemont is still a great author and I think it would be extremlly hard to do series of this format to anynone. So I'm really looking forward to reading Path to Ascendancy.
Overall I would still recommend this series to every Malazan fan. It has a lot of problems, but there is much more to like than to dislike.
March 22, 2021
I read the entire Malazan series in proper order, as recommended by the Wertzone. Count me unimpressed. Far from the best fantasy series of all time, it's more like outtakes from what could've been....
While Erikson is unquestionably a better writer, Esslemont is much better at plotting. Maybe if they wrote together instead of alternating books the whole would've worked, although they still would have plentiful issues of attitude. But I addressed those in my review of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
Esslemont actually improved quite a bit as a writer. While Night of Knives is a complete mess at fanfic level, Assail is a really solid YA. He has two main story lines, one centering mostly around Tayschrenn's bodyguard Kiska and the other about the Crimson Guard. Both have their slumps yet eventually both are resolved to the reader's satisfaction, unlike the main series which is like an abandoned D&D campaign. I would've given the Malazan Empire more stars toward the end, but as a whole it only averages to two.
While Erikson is unquestionably a better writer, Esslemont is much better at plotting. Maybe if they wrote together instead of alternating books the whole would've worked, although they still would have plentiful issues of attitude. But I addressed those in my review of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
Esslemont actually improved quite a bit as a writer. While Night of Knives is a complete mess at fanfic level, Assail is a really solid YA. He has two main story lines, one centering mostly around Tayschrenn's bodyguard Kiska and the other about the Crimson Guard. Both have their slumps yet eventually both are resolved to the reader's satisfaction, unlike the main series which is like an abandoned D&D campaign. I would've given the Malazan Empire more stars toward the end, but as a whole it only averages to two.
June 8, 2019
Malazan fans, celebrate!
If you're a Malazan fan, this series is a must read! The continued storylines, back stories, and wrap ups are tremendous. Serious thank you to Esslemont.
If you're a Malazan fan, this series is a must read! The continued storylines, back stories, and wrap ups are tremendous. Serious thank you to Esslemont.
February 24, 2023
Not quite as enjoyable as Erikson's book of the fallen, but quite pleasant still. treat yourself the ballad of the Malazan empire!
July 26, 2024
Great companion stories to the Malazan series.
Great reads for filling in information gaps from the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Best of all is the final book answers the "whatever happened to Silverfox" question that has been hanging in the air for far too long.😁
Great reads for filling in information gaps from the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Best of all is the final book answers the "whatever happened to Silverfox" question that has been hanging in the air for far too long.😁
April 15, 2019
Good overall series just prefer Erikson's writing personally although this set was still good and explained a decent amount of things.
January 8, 2021
If anything I liked these better than the original Malazan novels - Esslemont might well be a better writer
October 26, 2021
Marking as read since I read all the constituent books.
They're all great of course.
They're all great of course.
August 23, 2022
A great contrast to the Book of the fallen series. A masterful world built, a great story. Totally worth the time.
March 1, 2023
Apt companion to the MBTF. Helps fill out the world and trust me, the details in this book will make you want to establish a new identity.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews