Deadhouse Landing

Starred review from February 26, 2018
Esslemont fills this tremendous prequel to his Malazan Empire series with pirates, priests, warriors, mages and exiles. Princess Sureth of the Napan Isles watches her capital fall to the forces of her brother, Tarel; on neighboring Malaz, retired battle mage Nedurian senses something new in the wind. The assassin Dancer and his partner, Wu, a practitioner of rare shadow magic, plot to control Malaz, where they have recently arrived. Their chosen headquarters is the same building that the exiled and disguised Napan contingent uses as their base. The pirate admiral of Malaz, Mock, seeks to be recognized as a king by the new king of Nap, while his mistress, battle mage Tattersail, plans to become his official consort. Esslemont never stints on the combat or wizardry, delighting fans of truly epic fantasy. Maps, a dramatis personae, and sufficient backstory will help new readers feel right at home in this grand adventure. Agent: Howard Morhaim, Morhaim Literary.