Return of the Crimson Guard cover art

Return of the Crimson Guard

A Novel of the Malazan Empire

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Return of the Crimson Guard

By: Ian C Esslemont
Narrated by: John Banks
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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 the Malazan Empire. Drained by constant warfare, betrayals and rivalries, many see the grip of Empress Laseen weakening. Conquered kingdoms and principalities test their old independence.

Into this fermenting civil war on Quon Tali - the empire's homeland - comes the Guard and the ingrained memory of their vow of undying opposition to the existence of the empire. Yet rivalries and betrayals plague the Guard as well - elements of its elite, the Avowed, scheme to open paths to even greater power. Ancient, powerful entities, Ascendants, also seek to exploit all sides to further their own arcane ends. Meanwhile, a swordsman called Traveller and his companion, Ereko, move from one strange encounter to another on a mysterious path that will lead the swordsman to a confrontation from which none has ever returned.

As the Crimson Guard gathers itself for its assault on the empire, the empress faces more immediate threats. Feeding her wars has bled dry provincial garrisons across Quon Tali, and now regional nationalists see their chance to break free. Behind their insurrections stand the veteran commanders of Laseen's predecessor, Emperor Kellanved. These powerful generals and mages, the Old Hands, have lost patience with what they see as Laseen's mismanagement and have chosen one of their own to replace her.

Yet there are hints that Laseen may be using the uprisings to draw out and finally eliminate these last irksome survivors of her predecessor's rule....

©2016 Ian C. Esslemont (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks
Epic Epic Fantasy Fiction Fantasy War Wizardry

What listeners say about Return of the Crimson Guard

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Expanding world

Like Erickson, Esslemont is infuriating in the information he holds back, which along with a grand imagination and well rounded characters, kept me reading well into the night.
Despite this I learnt a lot from this book only touched on in Erikson’s tomes, for those that love the Malazan world it is well worth the read and the convergence at the conclusion is worth the perseverance.

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On par with Erikson

Major improvement from night of knives. Felt like a perfect continuation from Erikson's the Bonehunters

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Great storytelling

A well read audio book, it has a wonderful story by Ian C Esslemont that captures the imagination

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story, horrible narration

Great novel, excellent author, terrible narrator. Took me months and many sessions to get through it. No continuity of pronunciation from other Esslemont audio books, nor the accents nor type of voice between characters. I would of thought continuity of books to be the goal, not trying to make it ‘your own style’. I’ll keep an eye out for this narrator so I don’t purchase any more of his. Sorry about it

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