Reading order · 10 books · 1999 to 2011 · Set in the Malazan world
Malazan Book of the Fallen Books in Order
The Malazan Book of the Fallen is a ten-book epic fantasy, one of the largest ever written. It follows the soldiers of the Malazan Empire, gods, ascendants and ancient races across several continents, in a story told from many points of view. It is famous for its scale and its demanding, rewarding reading.
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Series facts
- Books
- 10
- Published
- 1999 to 2011
- First book
- Gardens of the Moon
- Latest
- The Crippled God (2011)
- Setting
- Set in the Malazan world
The reading order
Every Malazan Book of the Fallen book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
10 books · Set in the Malazan world
- 1Gardens of the Moon1999With Ganoes ParanThe Malazan Empire has conquered most of Genabackis, and only the city of Darujhistan remains free.Buy on Amazon
- 2Deadhouse Gates2000In the Seven Cities, a rebellion called the Whirlwind breaks out against the Malazan Empire, and a commander named Coltaine leads thousands of refugees on a desperate march across the continent.Buy on Amazon
- 3Memories of Ice2001On Genabackis, former enemies form an alliance against the Pannion Domin, a fanatical empire spreading from the south, while an ancient threat stirs.Buy on Amazon
- 4House of Chains2002With Karsa OrlongKarsa Orlong, a young warrior of the Teblor, sets out from his mountain home on a raid that changes his life, and the Malazan army under Adjunct Tavore marches against the rebellion in the Seven Cities.Buy on Amazon
- 5Midnight Tides2004With Tehol BeddictOn another continent, the Tiste Edur and the Letherii kingdom move towards war, and a bankrupt genius named Tehol Beddict plans to bring down an economy.Buy on Amazon
- 6The Bonehunters2006The Fourteenth Army pursues the last of the rebellion across Seven Cities, while gods and Ascendants gather and the power of the Crippled God grows.Buy on Amazon
- 7Reaper's Gale2007The Malazans land on the Letherii continent, as the Tiste Edur empire of Rhulad Sengar begins to crumble from within.Buy on Amazon
- 8Toll the Hounds2008In Darujhistan, old enemies and assassins stir, while in Black Coral, Anomander Rake and the Tiste Andii face a gathering storm.Buy on Amazon
- 9Dust of Dreams2009The Bonehunters march into the Wastelands of Kolanse, as other armies converge and ancient forces stir.Buy on Amazon
- 10The Crippled God2011In the final book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, the Bonehunters face their last battle, as gods and mortals converge to decide the fate of the Crippled God.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read the ten books in order, starting with Gardens of the Moon. Ian Cameron Esslemont’s Malazan novels fill in other parts of the same world.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Ganoes Paran | Karsa Orlong | Tehol Beddict | Fiddler | Shadowthrone | Quick Ben | Cotillion | Tavore Paran |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Gardens of the Moon | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | |||
| 2 Deadhouse Gates | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | |||||
| 3 Memories of Ice | MMajor | MMajor | ||||||
| 4 House of Chains | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |||
| 5 Midnight Tides | LLead | |||||||
| 6 The Bonehunters | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 7 Reaper's Gale | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ||
| 8 Toll the Hounds | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||||||
| 9 Dust of Dreams | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 10 The Crippled God | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor |
Characters in the Malazan Book of the Fallen books
15 characters from Steven Erikson’s chart, with the number of Malazan Book of the Fallen books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Ganoes ParanNoble-born officer | 4 | Gardens of the Moon 1999 |
| Karsa OrlongTeblor warrior | 4 | House of Chains 2002 |
| Tehol BeddictBankrupt genius of Letheras | 3 | Midnight Tides 2004 |
| FiddlerSapper and veteran sergeant | 7 | Gardens of the Moon 1999 |
| ShadowthroneKellanved, now god of Shadow | 7 | Gardens of the Moon 1999 |
| Quick BenBridgeburner wizard | 6 | Gardens of the Moon 1999 |
| CotillionDancer, now patron of assassins | 6 | Gardens of the Moon 1999 |
| Tavore ParanAdjunct of the Empress | 5 | House of Chains 2002 |
| Kalam MekharBridgeburner assassin | 4 | Gardens of the Moon 1999 |
| IcariumJaghut-blooded wanderer | 4 | Deadhouse Gates 2000 |
| Anomander RakeLord of Moon's Spawn, a Tiste Andii | 3 | Gardens of the Moon 1999 |
| KruppeRotund thief and dreamer of Darujhistan | 3 | Gardens of the Moon 1999 |
| Trull SengarTiste Edur warrior | 3 | House of Chains 2002 |
| WhiskeyjackSergeant of the Bridgeburners | 2 | Gardens of the Moon 1999 |
| Felisin ParanParan's sister, sent to the mines | 1 | Deadhouse Gates 2000 |