It’s the end of an era. Thanks to a robust running and commuting schedule, I’ve made it through all ten audio books in The Malazan Book of the Fallen series and now, all six Novels of the Malazan Empire.

Assail is a satisfying ending, not as satisfying as the two final Erikson books, but still a suitable ending. The glaciers of Omtose Phellack have receded from the continent of Assail leaving gold to be exploited. Themes of colonization and indigenous exploitation form the backbone of the narrative.

Into this world, multiple powers converge—or it wouldn’t be a Malazan novel, would it? As you probably have guessed by the title, elder races come together in a way that leads to a moment of realization for the Guard. With so many clues in earlier books, I half-anticipated the reveal, but the weight of it still hit hard.

What’s next? I could start Esslemont’s Path to Ascendancy, Erikson’s Kharkanas Trilogy or his Tales of Witness. It’s an embarrassment of riches for a Malazan reader with more novels on the horizon. For now, I’m going to take a break. It will make the return that much sweeter.

Esslemont, Ian C. Assail. Narrated by John Banks, audiobook ed., Random House Audio, 2017. Novels of the Malazan Empire 6.