If you've spent any amount of time in the online book community, chances are you’ve come across Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson and wondered if this 10-book epic fantasy series is worth your time.
Malazan is my partner's favourite series of all time, and in January 2025, I finally agreed to buddy read it with him. 14 months later, I finished the final book, and I wanted to share my spoiler-free thoughts for those who are unsure if this series is going to be for them.
What is Malazan Book of the Fallen actually about?
One of the first things you need to know is that while the Malazan Book of the Fallen series is 10 books long, there are actually two authors who write books set within the Malazan World - Steven Erikson and Ian Esslemont.
On your first read-through, it's generally recommended to start with the core ten books (written by Erikson), then move on to the various prequels, sequels, and spin-offs (some of which are written by Erikson and some by Esslemont).
Malazan doesn't fit neatly into one subgenre of fantasy. It sort of falls under 'military' fantasy because you're following characters who are soldiers or marines. But there are also gods, elder beings, dragons, and races other than humans. There are conflicts between different groups of people, and events that have happened in the past are now having repercussions on the world today.
Book one, Gardens of the Moon, drops you into what feels like the middle of a story. In the first few chapters, you learn that the Malazan Empire was previously led by Emperor Kellanved; however, a new person is now in charge (Empress Laseen). You're not sure if Kellanved was betrayed. You're not sure if Laseen is now trying to get rid of people who were loyal to the old emperor. It's all left for you to piece together as you move through the series.
Why does Malazan have a reputation for being confusing?
Steven Erikson's prose is no more dense or descriptive than any other epic adult fantasy book I've read. However, Malazan is unique in that you are dropped into the world, and not much is explained to you. It's expected that you'll analyse the characters' thoughts and actions and draw conclusions from there. Sometimes you'll be correct, and sometimes you'll be wrong, and it took me a few books to get used to that.
What I loved about Malazan
The world-building is unlike anything I've ever read in fantasy. It spans multiple continents and has centuries of history, creating a setting that feels ancient.
Malazan also approaches its themes in a way that feels very intentional. The main theme of the series is 'compassion,' and you are presented with many characters who are morally complex. I almost stopped the series at the start of book four because a character was introduced who I found repulsive. In my opinion, they do things that are unforgivable. However, I kept reading and gradually came to understand that Erikson wasn't justifying this character's actions. Instead, it's expected that you look at what happened and think, why did this happen. How is this character's culture and background coming into this? Once I got into that mindset, it helped me to appreciate what this series is trying to explore.
The ending also wasn't as satisfying as I wanted it to be because there were certain things that I just didn't understand. I found it frustrating to know that I would probably enjoy this series so much more on reread.
With all that being said, what made the reading experience worth it for me was being able to discuss it with other people. I loved being able to talk to my partner about his favourite series, but I also enjoyed falling down rabbit holes on Reddit and seeing other people's reactions.
Why Malazan might not be for you
One of the main things I struggled with throughout the series is that there's no 'main' protagonist. There's also no 'central' group of characters. You jump POVs a lot, and I struggled to form a deep attachment to the majority of them. I felt very distant and struggled to care during some of the big emotional moments.
There are some pretty dark moments throughout the series, which I struggled with more than I was expecting. There's a lot of sexual assault, and while there were some instances that I felt were handled okay, there were other situations that I thought were handled badly.
The pacing is also slow and inconsistent, and requires a lot of patience. I kept detailed notes that I frequently referred back to.
Should *you* read Malazan?
If you've been thinking about picking up this series, but you've been feeling a little bit intimidated, the main thing I want to get across to you is that it's probably not as difficult to read as you're expecting. While Malazan feels unique in comparison to other fantasy series, I think that should be exciting rather than scary! If you're not enjoying the series by book three, I don't think you'll enjoy it overall.
There are certain chapters throughout this series that were so intense and unforgettable. Even months later, I can still vividly picture them.
Have you read Malazan Book of the Fallen?
