The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 9 books · 2004 to 2019

Ian Cameron Esslemont

FantasyEpic and high fantasyGrimdark

Ian Cameron Esslemont co-created the Malazan world with Steven Erikson. His Novels of the Malazan Empire fill in other continents, and the Path to Ascendancy trilogy tells how the thief Dancer and the mage Kellanved founded the empire.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip. Characters shared with Steven Erikson's books are linked.

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Who appears in which book

Click a name to follow that character from book to book, or a book title to see its cast.

LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Ian Cameron Esslemont books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

Novels of the Malazan Empire

6 books · Set in the Malazan worldEpic and high fantasyGrimdark
  1. 1Night of Knives2004CrossoverWith Kiska and TemperShadowthrone, Cotillion also appear in books by Steven EriksonBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Return of the Crimson Guard2008CrossoverKalam Mekhar also appears in books by Steven EriksonBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Stonewielder2010With GreymaneBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Orb Sceptre Throne2012CrossoverKruppe also appears in books by Steven EriksonBuy on Amazon
  5. 5Blood and Bone2012Buy on Amazon
  6. 6Assail2014Buy on Amazon

Path to Ascendancy

3 books · Set in the Malazan worldEpic and high fantasy
  1. 1Dancer's Lament2016CrossoverWith Shadowthrone and CotillionShadowthrone, Cotillion also appear in books by Steven EriksonBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Deadhouse Landing2017CrossoverWith Shadowthrone and CotillionShadowthrone, Cotillion also appear in books by Steven EriksonBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Kellanved's Reach2019CrossoverWith Shadowthrone and CotillionShadowthrone, Cotillion also appear in books by Steven EriksonBuy on Amazon

Characters

7 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

The Malazan Empire