Fall of Light by Steven Erikson

Before the Malazan Empire, there was a time that set the stage for all those tales yet to be told ... The winter is bitter. Civil war threatens Kurald Galain for the warrior Urusander's army has begun its march on the city of Kharkanas. Led by the ruthless Hunn Raal, it intends to cast aside Mother Dark's consort, Draconus, and set Urusander himself on the throne beside the Living Goddess. Those who would stand in the way of the rebels lie scattered and weakened - leaderless since Anomander went in search of an estranged brother. In his stead, Silchas Ruin resolves to gather the Houseblades of the Highborn families to him, and to resurrect the legendary Hust Legion, but time is not on his side. Far to the west, an unlikely army musters. It seeks an enemy without form, in a place none can find. And yet Hood's call has been heard and the long-abandoned city of Omtose Phellack is now home to a rabble of new arrivals: Dog-Runners from the south, Jheck warriors, and blue-skinned strangers from across the Western Sea have come to offer Hood their swords. From the distant mountains and isolated valleys of the North, Thel Akai arrive to pledge themselves in this seemingly impossible war. Soon, they will set forth with weapons drawn under the banners of the living in pursuit of Death itself. Such events presage chaos, and now magic bleeds into this realm. Unconstrained, mysterious and savage, it begins to run loose and wild and following its scent, seeking the places of wounding and hurt - new and ancient entities gather. In a world becoming rotten with sorcery, can honour truly exist?

Fall of Light continues a fascinating story, it mostly maintains Erickson's faster pace and clarity, builds out a world of mystery, and weaves an awesome and tragic origin to the Tiste people (as we have come to know them) that have captivated so many readers of Malazan Book of the Fallen. First off: Characters. Erickson writes characters of such variety. Staying with them as they experience life, as they struggle, as they reflect, as they cope, as they fail - its a hell of a journey. Your understanding of these people will fold in on itself by books end. It is stunning work, these characters are frighteningly real in their imperfections and their inner strengths. The story has a wandering eye at time's including events one would not expect at first, but getting to witness these legendary figures and events was a pleasure. Every aspect of the world building was a grand slam, it is a big reason I fell in love with MBotF and it has only gotten better. The books focus on political necessity, honor, duty, ambition, and love are not always on the surface, but neither are they hidden too deep. And if lessons are to be learned of these themes, they are not what one would expect, especially one unaccustomed to Erickson's critical subversions and thoughtful interrogations of our myths. Fall of Light is a tragedy, it is a descent into an inevitable doom, and the ride was captivating and engaging (in that order) the whole time. I wish to share this story with my friends, and I am eagerly awaiting the final book.