Forge of Darkness: Epic Fantasy: Kharkanas Trilogy 1

· Random House
78 reviews
Ebook
928
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

Now is the time to tell the story of an ancient realm, a tragic tale that sets the stage for all the tales yet to come and all those already told...

It's a conflicted time in Kurald Galain, the realm of Darkness, where Mother Dark reigns. But this ancient land was once home to many a power... and even death is not quite eternal. The commoners' great hero, Vatha Urusander, is being promoted by his followers to take Mother Dark's hand in marriage, but her Consort, Lord Draconus, stands in the way of such ambitions. The impending clash sends fissures throughout the realm, and as the rumors of civil war burn through the masses, an ancient power emerges from the long dead seas. Caught in the middle of it all are the First Sons of Darkness, Anomander, Andarist, and Silchas Ruin of the Purake Hold...

Steven Erikson entered the pantheon of great fantasy writers with his debut Gardens of the Moon. Now he returns with the first novel in a trilogy that takes place millennia before the events of the Malazan Book of the Fallen and introduces readers to Kurald Galain, the warren of Darkness. It is the epic story of a realm whose fate plays a crucial role in shaping the world of the Malazan Empire.

Now is the time to tell the story of an ancient realm, a tragic tale that sets the stage for all the tales yet to come and all those already told... It's a conflicted time in Kurald Galain, the realm of Darkness, where Mother Dark reigns. But this ancient land was once home to many a power... and...

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Ratings and reviews

78 reviews
Kevin Murphy
June 24, 2025
Erikson switches up his pace and prose after the main 10 Books of his Malazan Series to delve I to the mysteries and history of the Tiste People's. A very different style to these books as the Author shows his versatility and evolution - stick with it as the storytelling is no less epic but in some ways more soulful than the main 10. Absolutely cant wait for the final book when its written!
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jonas røed
December 14, 2019
Got to admit I was sceptic if I wanted to start the Kharkanas trilogy. Since I have read Malazan series already. But I found this book very good. Enjoyed it very much.
2 people found this review helpful
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Selena Carerra
December 27, 2013
I love this book, its an emotional roller coaster of brilliance. I love anomander rake.
3 people found this review helpful
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About the author

Archaeologist and anthropologist Steven Erikson is the bestselling author of the genre-defining The Malazan Book of the Fallen, a multi-volume fantasy that’s been hailed ‘a masterwork of the imagination’ and one of the top ten fantasy series of all time. The first novel in the sequence, Gardens of the Moon, was shortlisted for a World Fantasy Award. He has written several novellas set in the same world. Forge of Darkness was the first Kharkanas novel, taking readers back to the origins of what would become the Malazan Empire; Fall of Light continued this momentous tale.
A lifelong science fiction reader, he’s written a trilogy that affectionately parodies a long-running television series as well as Rejoice, a Knife to the Heart, a story of first contact.
Set in the world of the Malazan Empire, ten years after the events recounted in The Crippled God, The God is Not Willing heralded the start of a thrilling new series – The Tales of Witness – continued in No Life Forsaken. Legacies of Betrayal is the third book in this epic adventure.

Steven Erikson lives in Victoria, Canada. To find out more, look for him on Facebook: Steven Erikson – Author

Archaeologist and anthropologist Steven Erikson is the bestselling author of the genre-defining The Malazan Book of the Fallen, a multi-volume fantasy that’s been hailed ‘a masterwork of the imagination’ and one of the top ten fantasy series of all time. The first novel in the sequence, Gardens o...

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