Return Of The Crimson Guard: A Novel of the Malazan Empire (Malazan Empire Novels (Unnumbered)) (Novels of the Malazan Empire, 2)

Casting thrilling new light onto an extraordinary creation, this is the second epic fantasy novel from the co-creator of the Steven Erikson world of Malaz. The return of the mercenary company the Crimson Guard could not have come at a worse time for the Malazan Empire. Driven by constant warfare, weakened by betrayal and rivalries, many see the grip of Empress Laseen beginning to weaken as conquered kingdoms and principalities test their old independence. Into this gathering civil war on Quon Tali, the Empire's homeland comes the Guard. And with their return comes the memory of their hundred-year-old vow - undying opposition to the existence of the Empire. Yet rivalries and betrayals stalk the Guard as well; elements of its elite, the Avowed, scheme to open paths to even greater power, and ancient potent entities, Ascendants, also lend a hand exploiting all sides to further their own arcane ends. Meanwhile, a swordsman, Traveller, and his companion Ereko, move from one strange encounter to another in a mysterious dance meant ultimately to bring the swordsman to a final confrontation from which none has ever returned. As the Crimson Guard gathers from around the globe, Empress Laseen faces a more immediate threat from the generals and old commanders of her predecessor, Emperor Kellanved, who have lost patience with what they see as Laseen's mismanagement. Yet there are hints that Laseen may be using the uprisings to draw out and finally eliminate these last irksome survivors of her predecessor's rule.

the Return Of The Mercenary Company, The Crimson Guard, Could Not Have Come At A Worse Time For A Malazan Empire Exhausted By Warfare And Weakened By Betrayals And Rivalries. Indeed, There Are Those Who Wonder Whether The Empress Laseen Might Not Be Losing Her Grip On Power As She Faces Increasing Unrest As Conquered Kingdoms And Principalities Sense Freedom Once More. Into The Seething Cauldron Of Quon Tali--the Empire's Heartland--marches The Guard. With Their Return Comes The Memory Of The Empire--and Yet All Is Not Well With The Guard Itself. Elements Within Its Elite, The Avowed, Have Set Their Sights On Far Greater Power. There Are Ancient Entities Who Also Seek To Further Their Own Arcane Ends. And What Of The Swordsman Called Traveller Who, With His Companion Ereko, Has Gone In Search Of A Confrontation From Which None Have Ever Returned? As The Guard Prepares To Wage War, So Laseen's Own Generals And Mages, The 'old Hands', Grow Impatient At What They See As Her Mismanagement Of The Empire. But Could Laseen Have Outwitted Them All? Could She Be Using The Uprisings To Draw Out And Finally Eliminate These Last Irksome Survivors From The Days Of Her Illustrious Predecesor, Kellanved?

publishers Weekly

nearly 100 Years Ago, The Crimson Guard Vowed They Would Not Die Until They Destroyed The Malazan Empire. In This Riveting Sequel To 2009’s Night Of Knives, The Time Has Come For That Vow To Be Fulfilled. The Empire Has Been Stretched Too Far, Too Thin. Empress Laseen Is Boxed Up In Unta, The Imperial Capital, While The Conquered And The Conquerors Clash On The Seti Plains. At Last The Call Comes For The Crimson Guard To Re-form And Add Their Undying Forces To The Melee. In A Long, Bloody, Explosive-filled Battle To End All Battles, Esslemont Handily Outdoes Series Cocreator Steven Erikson, Evoking The Gore And Grit Of The Battlefield While Cannily Expanding The Labyrinthine Malazan World And Untangling The Wickedly Intertwined Stories Just Enough To Keep Readers From Feeling Lost. (apr.)

As the Crimson Guard, sworn enemies of the Empire, gathers itself from around the globe, Empress Laseen faces more immediate threats. To feed her wars she has bled dry provincial garrisons across Quon Tali and now regional nationalists see their chance. Behind their insurrections stand the veteran commanders of Laseen's predecessor, Emperor Kellanved. Meanwhile, a swordsman, Traveller, and his companion Ereko, move from one strange encounter to another in a mysterious dance meant ultimately to bring the swordsman to a final confrontation from which none have ever returned