Sample
  • Blood and Bone

  • Novels of the Malazan Empire, Book 5
  • By: Ian C. Esslemont
  • Narrated by: John Banks
  • Length: 26 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (484 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Blood and Bone

By: Ian C. Esslemont
Narrated by: John Banks
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $32.89

Buy for $32.89

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In the western sky the bright emerald banner of the Visitor descends like a portent of annihilation. On the continent of Jacuruku, the Thaumaturgs have mounted yet another expedition to tame the neighboring wild jungle. Yet this is no normal wilderness. It is called Himatan, and it is said to be half of the spirit realm and half of the earth. And it is said to be ruled by a powerful entity whom some name the Queen of Witches, and some a goddess: the ancient Ardata.

Saeng grew up knowing only the rule of the magus Thaumaturgs - but it was the voices out of that land's forgotten past that she listened to. And when her rulers mount an invasion of the neighboring jungle, those voices send her and her brother on a desperate mission.

To the south, the desert tribes are united by the arrival of a foreign warleader, a veteran commander in battered ashen mail whom his men call the Grey Ghost. This warleader takes the tribes on a raid like none other, deep into the heart of Thaumaturg lands. Meanwhile word comes to K'azz, and mercenary company the Crimson Guard, of a contract in Jacuruku. And their employer...none other than Ardata herself.

Ian Esslemont thrills again with another gripping entry into the New York Times bestselling Malazan World in Blood and Bone.

©2012 Ian Cameron Esslemont. (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about Blood and Bone

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    313
  • 4 Stars
    119
  • 3 Stars
    43
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    316
  • 4 Stars
    90
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    265
  • 4 Stars
    115
  • 3 Stars
    40
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It's the Crimson Guard!

If you loved the Malazan books these series are a must read. There are so many things left to explain or explore in this vast world. I'm so happy that Ian decided to write these books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

not my favorite

I'm a big fan of the series and have listened to them all in order. I just couldn't get into this one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent addition

This 5th book in this series starts somewhat slow but recovers about 100 pages in. I both listened and read this and found the characters well rounded and relevant to the larger scope. Looking forward to Assail…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very compelling characters in the story.

Especially like the ongoing saga of the Crimson guard. There are some great characters in the world of Malazan, it’s always enjoyable reading about them.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Searching through the jungle

I enjoyed this more than some of the other books in the series so far. Some of the characters were heavy hitters from the greater series, and their story lines were compelling at times. Some of the new characters kept me intrigued as well, but there's a lot of jungle to get through, and how the different parties endure can be slow going. All in all I thought it fairly well worth the journey.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Parallel plot story lines

Both Erickson and Esslemont are really good at writing one book that parallels with another!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not as captivating as other books in the series

A lot of characters where I would jusr tune out until I got to the ones I actually cared about.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not my favourite

Some important recurring characters make some appearances and although they have relatively major roles to play they end up having very little screen time. Some body horror elements and damp disease infested jungle pieces - that are reminiscent of 40k Nurgle - are pretty good if you like that sort of thing. The author definitely develops the land as a character and a trial that must be overcome (more so than any other Malazan book). And although it is a decent attempt it is not enough to save the book from bland main characters and a general lack of cohesion.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Underwhelming

The priestess is the only redeeming character in this book I can't push myself to finish.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The worst in series so far

There are a lot of POV from brand new character's and multiple storylines sadly 2/5 of them ultimately end up being dead ends. Really anticlimactic compared to how the previous entry in the series Orb, Scepter, Throne

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!