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The Malazan world is vast, complex, and richly imagined — created through the combined efforts of Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont. With several interconnected series spanning centuries of in-world history, newcomers are often overwhelmed by where to start. This guide breaks down every series in recommended reading order, with short synopses of each book, so you can fully immerse yourself in the epic without getting lost.
If you enjoy richly detailed epic fantasy world-building, Malazan is the gold standard — there is nothing else quite like it in the genre.
Malazan Book of the Fallen (Steven Erikson)
The core series. Ten volumes, originally published between 1999 and 2011, following the rise and fall of mighty empires, the interplay of gods and mortals, and the high-stakes personal journeys of an enormous cast of characters. Start here.
Buy the Malazan Book of the Fallen on Amazon.
- Gardens of the Moon — Introduces the sprawling empire and the war-torn world of Malazan. Political intrigue, ancient powers, and early skirmishes that hint at vastly larger conflicts to come.
- Deadhouse Gates — Follows the harrowing Chain of Dogs, a military retreat across a hostile land. One of fantasy’s greatest depictions of duty, sacrifice, and the brutal cost of war.
- Memories of Ice — Disparate factions come together against a common enemy. Military strategy fuses with mysticism and ancient lore in an unforgettable battle for survival.
- House of Chains — Shifting allegiances and sprawling journeys as characters face increasingly dire destinies. The mythology deepens significantly here.
- Midnight Tides — Steps away from the familiar empire to explore new peoples and distant lands. Provides essential context for the forces driving change across the wider Malazan world.
- The Bonehunters — The narrative intensifies. Legendary battles and iconic characters are pushed to their absolute limits against seemingly insurmountable odds.
- Reaper’s Gale — Multiple plotlines converge. Fate, retribution, and the inexorable march of destiny — mortal decisions carry cosmic ramifications throughout.
- Toll the Hounds — A mythic tone as divine beings and mortal champions clash. Introspective, morally complex, and unflinching about the price of war.
- Dust of Dreams — Part one of the concluding duology. Tensions build toward an ultimate confrontation as numerous storylines converge on the brink of collapse.
- The Crippled God — The explosive conclusion. The fates of gods and mortals intertwine in a dramatic resolution that reshapes the entire world of Malazan.
Novels of the Malazan Empire (Ian C. Esslemont)
Chronologically aligned with Erikson’s series, Esslemont’s six novels offer a complementary perspective on the empire’s rise — shedding light on events that are referenced but not shown in the Book of the Fallen. Best read interspersed with Erikson, rather than before or after.
Buy the Novels of the Malazan Empire on Amazon.
- Night of Knives — A prequel delving into the formation of the empire, revealing the early conspiracies and shadowy events that forged Malazan’s future.
- Return of the Crimson Guard — Military heroes, strategic exploits, and the empire’s early campaigns. Political machinations and warfare blend into a rich, complex narrative.
- Stonewielder — Deep-seated power struggles and legendary battles that form the backbone of the empire’s history, built on mystical foundations.
- Orb Sceptre Throne — Examines the balance between divine intervention and human ambition. Military strategy interlaced with arcane lore.
- Blood and Bone — A brutal chronicle of the empire’s formative conflicts, capturing the raw power dynamics and harsh truths of statecraft.
- Assail — Concludes the series, tying together political intrigue, ancient mysteries, and the relentless march of destiny that defines the Malazan Empire.
Bauchelain & Korbal Broach Novellas (Steven Erikson)
A darker, more macabre corner of the Malazan world. These novellas follow the infamous necromancer duo Bauchelain and Korbal Broach — a blend of horror, dark humour, and supernatural intrigue that is unlike anything else in the series. Can be read at any point.
Buy the Bauchelain & Korbal Broach novellas on Amazon.
- Blood Follows — The series opener. Bauchelain and Korbal Broach navigate a bleak and bizarre underworld where horror and wit walk hand-in-hand.
- The Healthy Dead — Weaves the supernatural with satirical commentary on life, death, and everything in between.
- The Lees of Laughter’s End — Eerie and darkly humorous, bringing existential questions through a twisted narrative lens.
- Crack’d Pot Trail — Absurdity blended with the darker corners of magic and mortality in the Malazan universe.
- The Wurms of Blearmouth — Further eerie escapades where the boundaries between the living and dead blur in unexpected ways.
- The Fiends of Nightmaria — Horror and humour merge as the duo’s peculiar adventures continue through supernatural realms.
- Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords — The capstone to the novella series, wrapping up the duo’s arc with macabre wit and dark fantasy.
The Kharkanas Trilogy (Steven Erikson)
Set thousands of years before the main events, the Kharkanas Trilogy explores the ancient origins of the Malazan universe — the birth of gods, the founding of races, and the primordial power struggles that echo throughout every other series. Recommended after completing the Book of the Fallen.
Buy the Kharkanas Trilogy on Amazon.
- Forge of Darkness — Lays the mythic foundations of the world. Introduces the early struggles for power and the shaping of divine legacies that echo throughout later ages.
- Fall of Light — Examines the profound consequences of ancient choices, revealing the cost of hubris among gods and mortals alike.
- Walk in Shadow (forthcoming) — Expected to further illuminate the mysterious forces at play in the ancient past. Highly anticipated by fans of the wider lore.
The Path to Ascendancy Series (Ian C. Esslemont)
A prequel series providing the backdrop to the founding of the Malazan Empire, highlighting the early lives of pivotal characters whose legacies shape everything that follows. Best read after the main Book of the Fallen to fully appreciate the context.
Buy The Path to Ascendancy on Amazon.
- Dancer’s Lament — Unfolds the beginnings of a character who will emerge as a cornerstone of the Malazan mythos. A journey marked by personal tragedy and nascent ambition.
- Deadhouse Landing — A closer look at the early days of the empire’s formation — fate, ambition, and the harsh realities of carving out a dominion.
- Kellanved’s Reach — Chronicles the ascension of one of Malazan’s most influential figures, connecting personal narratives with the broader geopolitical shifts that define the empire.
The Witness Trilogy (Steven Erikson)
Set after the events of The Crippled God, the Witness Trilogy explores the long-term consequences of the main series’ ancient conflicts. Characters navigate a reshaped world order, balancing the remnants of divine influence with human resilience. For dedicated readers who want more after the Book of the Fallen.
Buy The Witness Trilogy on Amazon.
- The God is Not Willing — Opens the post-epic narrative with a focus on the lingering effects of past battles on a transformed world.
- No Life Forsaken — Continues the exploration of a changed world where old legends still inform new struggles. Rebuilding, redemption, and the ongoing interplay between gods and men.
- (Untitled third novel — forthcoming)
Complete Combined Reading Order
For readers who want to experience the entire Malazan narrative — both Erikson’s and Esslemont’s works — in publication order:
- Gardens of the Moon
- Deadhouse Gates
- Memories of Ice
- Blood Follows
- House of Chains
- Midnight Tides
- The Healthy Dead
- Night of Knives
- The Bonehunters
- The Lees of Laughter’s End
- Reaper’s Gale
- Return of the Crimson Guard
- Toll the Hounds
- Dust of Dreams
- Crack’d Pot Trail
- Stonewielder
- The Crippled God
- Orb Sceptre Throne
- The Wurms of Blearmouth
- Forge of Darkness
- Blood and Bone
- Assail
- Dancer’s Lament
- Fall of Light
- The Fiends of Nightmaria
- Deadhouse Landing
- Kellanved’s Reach
- The God is Not Willing
New readers should start with the core series (Malazan Book of the Fallen) before branching out into the prequels and novellas — the wider universe is significantly more rewarding once you have that foundation.
Final Thoughts
The Malazan universe is one of the most ambitious projects in fantasy fiction — layered storytelling, complex characters, and epic battles between gods and mortals on a scale that no other series matches. It asks a lot of its readers, particularly early on, but the payoff is extraordinary.
If the density of Malazan appeals but you want something slightly more accessible first, try Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy — The Blade Itself is an excellent warm-up for grimdark fantasy at its finest. For readers drawn to Malazan’s China Miéville-esque weirdness and world-building ambition, Best Books by China Miéville is worth a look too.
Dive in — and be patient with Gardens of the Moon. It gets better.