Forge of Darkness: Book One of the Kharkanas Trilogy (A Novel of the Malazan Empire)

Steven Erikson

Sep 2012 · The Kharkanas Trilogy Book 1 · Sold by Tor Books

About this ebook

Now is the time to tell the story of an ancient realm, a tragic tale that sets the stage for all the tales yet to come and all those already told...

It's a conflicted time in Kurald Galain, the realm of Darkness, where Mother Dark reigns. But this ancient land was once home to many a power. and even death is not quite eternal. The commoners' great hero, Vatha Urusander, is being promoted by his followers to take Mother Dark's hand in marriage, but her Consort, Lord Draconus, stands in the way of such ambitions. The impending clash sends fissures throughout the realm, and as the rumors of civil war burn through the masses, an ancient power emerges from the long dead seas. Caught in the middle of it all are the First Sons of Darkness, Anomander, Andarist, and Silchas Ruin of the Purake Hold...

Steven Erikson entered the pantheon of great fantasy writers with his debut Gardens of the Moon. Now he returns with the first novel in a trilogy that takes place millennia before the events of the Malazan Book of the Fallen and introduces readers to Kurald Galain, the warren of Darkness. It is the epic story of a realm whose fate plays a crucial role in shaping the world of the Malazan Empire.


At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings and reviews

The author's style reminded me of Shakespeare in the use of double entendres, puns, and ironic humor in the dialogues as well as in the syntax employed. While I found the book very well-written, and I enjoyed the author's poetry as well as his philosophy on civilization, society, and human nature, I found the atrocities committed in the story, painted in vivid detail, to be too dark for my taste.

I think one of the most surprising things about this book is that it essentially invalidates the bulk of the lore we've learned from previous reads. All the myths and relationships of the ascendants are revealed as confused embellishments. A great read, and if Erickson's track record holds, not too long before the next book. For the time being, there's two more Esslemont books to read!

The relationships, the plot lines, the characters are all generally interesting and engaging. However, the absurd amount of empty philosophy at unfitting moments make this a very hard, boring read. The changes said philosophy brings to the characters just makes them stop making sense.

About the author

Archaeologist and anthropologist Steven Erikson's debut novel, Gardens of the Moon, was shortlisted for the World Fantasy Award. His New York Times bestselling series, 'The Malazan Book of the Fallen, has been hailed as a masterpiece of epic fantasy. He lives in Cornwall.