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Return of the Crimson Guard

by Ian C. Esslemont

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Malazan Empire (2), World of Malazan (Malazan Empire 2), Malazan Chronology (12)

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7132231,571 (3.64)31
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. nbsp; 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? nbsp; 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?… (more)
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» See also 31 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 22 (next | show all)
This one took me a long time to really get into. I barely remembered the Crimson Guard from the main series, so most of the characters were new, different, and there was an extra layer of confusing to have almost no continuity from the "first" book in the same series. It was a decent entry into the series by the end, but there is a lot that remains very unexplained. As is very often the case in this world, for better or worse. ( )
  jercox | Jun 2, 2021 |
There sure is hell is a Crimson Guard, i'm just not there yet on the returning part. ( )
  Raykoda3 | Sep 25, 2020 |
There sure is hell is a Crimson Guard, i'm just not there yet on the returning part. ( )
  sigma16 | Dec 5, 2019 |
There sure is hell is a Crimson Guard, i'm just not there yet on the returning part. ( )
  sigma16 | Dec 5, 2019 |
"Very well, court clerk. Here is my judgment upon the case that said self-important appellants are so keen to bring before me to the exclusion of all else I may have to attend to. Said plot of land of property is to be divided exactly in half and fifty percent given to each parts - Even if said property constitutes a slave. Am I understood?"
- Mallick Rel, Return of the Crimson Guard

After reading [b:Night of Knives|458394|Night of Knives (Malazan Empire, #1)|Ian C. Esslemont|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327981918s/458394.jpg|446887], this book was another great view into the Malazan Empire. I love the way the characters from the previous book are appearing again, and I absolutely love the way some other characters from the "main" Series make an appearence, too. I can't go into much details, to avoid spoilers, but oh my god I love the wickans!

Additionally, the book also provided a much needed view into the Crimson Guard, and although those parts of the story weren't always the best, I still enjoyed reading them.

My problems with the book boil down to the problems I have had with every single on of the books: I sometimes can't keep up with the amount of characters, especially if they all have pretty similar names. Again, Esslemont has managed to give each important character a special trait that makes them recognizable (For example, hating horses), and that helps a lot. But still, if you only read 50 pages a day and do it while you are tires, it's probably your own fault if you can't keep up.

Rating? Well, I was about to give 4 1/2 stars again, and usually I round them down to four. But screw that. I hereby add all the half stars I could never give all the other books and pile them on this one. I enjoyed the book, even with all the small flaws, and what more can you ask? ( )
  malexmave | Oct 3, 2019 |
Showing 1-5 of 22 (next | show all)
Return of the Crimson Guard had the feel of an author that has just leaped headlong into a raging current known as the Malazan Empire. It's a bumpy ride one filled with crests and troughs, but in the end it's well worth it.
added by sdobie | editSF Site, Dominic Cilli (Nov 15, 2009)
 

» Add other authors (1 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Ian C. Esslemontprimary authorall editionscalculated
Stone, SteveCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
This, the first of wars, paroxysmed for time unmeasured. Ever Light thrust yet dissipated, and ever Night retreated yet smothered. Thus the two combatants locked in an ever-widening gyre of eternal creation and destruction. Countless champions of both Houses arose, scoured the face of creation in their potency, only to fall each in turn, their names now lost to memory.

Then, in what some named the ten thousandth turn of the spreading whorl of the two hosts, there came to the shimmering curtain edge of battle one unknown to either House, and he did castigate the combatants.

'Who are you to speak thusly?' demanded he who would come to be known as Draconus.

'One who has moved upon the Void long enough to know this will never end.'

'It is ordained,' answered a champion of Light, Liossercal. 'Ever must one rise, the other fall.'

Disdainful, the newcomer thrust the opponents apart. 'Then agree that this be so and name it done!'

And so both Houses fell upon the stranger tearing him into countless fragments.

Thus was Shadow born and the first great sundering ended.

Myth Fragment
Compendium Primal, Mantle
Dedication
This novel is dedicated to the first Winnipeg gang of Treherne Room and the second of Rick's Place. For all those afternoons and evenings honing the trade.
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The eruption had wounded the world.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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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. nbsp; 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? nbsp; 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?

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