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Return of the Crimson Guard

Novels of the Malazan Empire, Book 2

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About this listen

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 predecessor, Kellanved?

©2008 Ian Cameron Esslemont (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks, all rights reserved. Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Military Magic
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Most relevant
Let's see:
A powerful opening hook? - Nope.
Deeply developed characters? - Nope. Couldn't be bothered, a? I guess the sheer quantity of characters can compensate for their lack of depth... or not?
A captivating and structured plot with conflict? - Oh, there's conflict all wright, but a plot, the perpetual war between good and evil is not a plot, it's a... point of view.
Crisp? - What is that?
Purposeful dialogue? - No comment.
A satisfying, resonant conclusion? - I didn't get that far, I barely managed to swallow a book and a half, there's no way I'm chewing on four more.

An example of a bad book?

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A little chaotic perhaps, but this book gives a lot of insight into some of the Malazan worlds most intriguing characters; the crimson guard, laseen, dassem ultor and the old guard. Great climatic end and excellent performance.

Chaotic but engaging story

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