Stonewielder

Greymane, a former Malazan Fist, believed he had escaped his past, seeking a quiet life in Falar running a swordsmanship school. Yet, a new Emperor on the Malazan throne is obsessed with the Empire's failed invasion of the Korel subcontinent, unearthing ancient secrets from Unta's vaults that revive the ominous name 'Stonewielder' and ensuring Greymane cannot remain hidden. Simultaneously, in Korel, Lord Protector Hiam leads the beleaguered Stormguard against the resurgent, ancient threat of the sea-borne Stormriders, their defenses crumbling under relentless assault. As Hiam fights a desperate war, Korel is further ravaged by internal strife: the cult of the Blessed Lady, long protectors against the Riders, now instigates a brutal religious war against its rivals. Amidst this spiraling chaos, a local magistrate investigating a series of gruesome murders uncovers a far more ancient and terrifying crime that has tainted the very essence of the land. Esslemont expertly intertwines these threads of imperial intrigue, desperate warfare, and ancient evil, adding another rich layer to the sprawling Malazan saga.