The space between Return of the Crimson Guard and Stonewielder brings us from Quan Tali to Fist. Greymane and Kyle are trying to live anonymous lives. You can imagine how that works out.

This book builds (as all Malazan books do) to a confluence involving the elusive Stormriders, the cult of the Lady, Malazan forces (and betrayers), and an odd army of misfits led by a pacifist. Oh yeah, Kiska and ‘Jheval’ traverse warrens to search for Tayschrenn.

Every Esslemont book gets better. He’s more in command of his voice, darker and more horroresque than Erikson. As many critics have pointed out, the pacing of Stonewielder is superb.

There are still some frustrations to be aired. The Kiska/Jheval storyline never connects with the main plot, leaving it feeling like a parallel story awaiting a conclusion. The final confluence, while massive, felt lackluster at times. I was surprised when the epilogue rolled around because I assumed there was more to resolve.

Frustrations aside, I’m glad to be reading Esslemont alongside Erickson in the publisher’s order. The dual voices, like stereoscopic vision or stereophonic sound, add depth to an already ridiculously complex world.

Esslemont, Ian C. Stonewielder. Narrated by John Banks, audiobook ed., unabridged ed., Transworld, 2016. Novels of the Malazan Empire 3.