Forge of Darkness

Kharkanas Trilogy, Book 1

By: Steven Erikson

Narrated by: Daniel Philpott

Length: 31 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Steven Erikson entered the pantheon of great fantasy writers in 1999 with his debut, Gardens of the Moon. In the span of just 10 years, he completed his epic telling of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, collecting hordes of fans along the way. Now Erikson returns with a place for new listeners to enter the Malazan world, a trilogy that takes place at a time before the events of the concluded series.

Forge of Darkness takes listeners to Kurald Galain, the warren of Darkness, and tells of a realm whose fate plays a crucial role in the fall of the Malazan Empire and surrounds one of the Malazan world’s most fascinating and powerful characters, Anomander Rake. It’s a conflicted time in Kurald Galain, where Mother Dark reigns above the Tiste people. But this ancient land was once home to many a power...and even death is not quite eternal.

The commoners’ great hero, Vatha Urusander, longs for ascendency and Mother Dark’s hand in marriage, but she has taken another Consort, Lord Draconus, from the faraway Dracons Hold. The idea of this union sends fissures throughout the realm, and as the rumors of an inevitable civil war burn through the masses, something emerges from the long-dead seas. The Vitr - an ancient power that shakes the dormant and dying powers of the past. Caught in the middle of it all are the Sons of Darkness: Anomander, Andarist, and Silchas Ruin of the Purake Hold.

It’s a time of great strife as the past and the present of this warren boil with unfathomable alliances, great deceptions, and even greater passions...of both love and hate. This ancient tale within the world Erikson introduced in the Malazan Book of the Fallen should appeal to fans of George R. R. Martin for its characters and intrigue, but goes leaps further in the realm of the imagination.

©2012 Steven Erikson (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Not like the main series, but not bad

This book is good back story that further develops the Malazan universe as a whole. However its written differently than the main series which i could see some not appreciating. It starts very slow and it takes quite a while for the story to develop. Also i feel like if you dont already have a basic understanding of the malazan universe the book may make no sense. Anyways i hope he finishes the third book as i want to hear the end to this story. This book and The next one Fall of Light have grown on me and i have come to appreciate them for what they are

Narrator

So much more enjoyable then Michael Page. I enjoyed the book the story of the downfall of a civilization and perhaps the birth of something new. The show must go on.

Another excellent one in the overall series.

I do wish the narrators would listen to previous works so they are consistent with pronunciation of things like tiste, imass, etc. still, my favorite series of all time. Excellent stories and characters.

Incredible

absolutely incredible, what a follow up to Book of the Fallen. can't get enough and now I HAVE to reread the series again

Some of Eriksons finest, mispronounciation are jarring

Thoroughly enjoyed this story, some of Eriksons best writing I think and a lot of fun to see the origins of some of this universes greatest characters. It took me a bit to get used to yet another story teller for the Malazan world but by the end I was very much enjoying his pacing, and inflections on the story. All of the characters are some flavor of British, Irish or Scottish is seems which is different but I still wish there was more variance. Though it’s better than Page making everyone some kind of Indian. The part that bothered me enough so I can’t give the performance higher than a 3 was a few key mispronounciations, namely Tiste and Rake. At this point it shouldn’t take much digging to find the established ways to say these very important names.

Overall still very enjoyable though. Looking forward to the others

Narrator needs replaced.

narrator is tough to get through. Michael Page is the Malazan man! I wish he would do all books related to Malazan in anyway.

Dreary, hopeless story.

I read forge of darkness on recommendation. I found the world to be dreary and dark, focused on who had, is having or will have sex with whom. the only genuine pleasure in the book seems to come when they are killing or raping someone. The magic system is inscrutable and it is difficult to find a character I liked much less cared about. There is also not much action or development. it seems like it every interaction turns into a philosophical discussion. It may be that this is all a setup for future books but I found I no longer care.

Great book

loved the book. took me a few minutes to warm up to the narrator but then I couldn't get enough!

Excellent story, awful narration.

This book really fleshes out the story of the Tiste, and I would whole heartedly recommend it, where it not for the narration. I'm not much for reviews, but I have to share what was almost a deal breaker for me.

First of the bat is the pronunciation of often used names, like the Tiste, and it's a complete massacre. It feels throughly disrespectful to the work, especially given all the material available for reference.

The accents aren't too bad, but some are so jarringly out of place that it drags you out of the story. Would have been better, where they less distinct.

for any fan of the books of the fallen

the story is everything you’d expect from mr erikson’s malazan world building. a very enjoyable look into the beginnings of stories to which we are already endeared.
i had issue with the narrator giving so many characters scottish accents and not differentiating enough, and that the audio levels weren’t consistent.