Kellanved's Reach

Last updated
Kellanved's Reach
Kellanveds Reach novel.jpg
Author Ian Cameron Esslemont
Cover artistSteve Stone
Language English
Series Path to Ascendancy
Genre High fantasy
Publisher Tor Books (USA) & Bantam Books (UK & Canada)
Publication date
2 April 2019 (US), 23 January 2020 (UK)
Publication place United Kingdom
Media typePrint (Hardback)
Pages352 pp (Tor US hardcover edition)
ISBN 9780765379498 (Tor US hardcover edition)
Preceded by Deadhouse Landing  
Followed byForge of the High Mage
(forthcoming) 

Kellanved's Reach is the third novel of the Path to Ascendancy series by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. Set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen , Kellanved's Reach tells the story of the founding of the Malazan empire. [1]

Contents

Development

In a 2016 interview with The Critical Dragon, Esslemont states he has three novels planned for his Path to Ascendency series. He goes on to state "the door is open" for further novels, and the series could "prove as long as it need be to tell its tale". [2]

In a March 2022 interview, Esslemont announced a fourth Path to Ascendancy book titled Forge of the High Mage. [3]

Plot

The novel chronologically takes place between Deadhouse Landing and Night of Knives. It continues the story of Dancer and Kellanved, their founding of the Malazan Empire, and eventual ascension.

Critical reception

Kellanved's Reach received positive reviews upon publication.

Bill Capossere calls it a "well-written prequel", praising the pace and plot of the novel compared to Esslemont's earlier works. [4]

Fantasy Book Review gave it a 9 out of 10, calling it a "fantastic addition to the trilogy" and describing it as "equal parts majestic, captivating, thrilling, funny, and mystifying". [5]

Publishers Weekly says "Esslemont’s weird magics, intense combat, and varied characters continue to put his work at the peak of epic fantasy" but notes "extensive cast of characters and the wide scope will prevent newcomers from being able to join the story in progress." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Erikson</span> Canadian fantasy author

Steve Rune Lundin, known by his pseudonym Steven Erikson, is a Canadian novelist who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist.

<i>Gardens of the Moon</i> Book One of Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steve Erikson

Gardens of the Moon, published on April 1, 1999, is the first of ten novels in Canadian author Steven Erikson's high fantasy series the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

<i>Malazan Book of the Fallen</i> Fantasy book series by Steven Erikson

Malazan Book of the Fallen is a series of epic fantasy novels written by the Canadian author Steven Erikson. The series, published by Bantam Books in the U.K. and Tor Books in the U.S., consists of ten volumes, beginning with Gardens of the Moon (1999) and concluding with The Crippled God (2011). Erikson's series presents the narratives of a large cast of characters spanning thousands of years across multiple continents.

<i>House of Chains</i> 2002 novel by Steven Erikson

House of Chains is an epic fantasy novel by Canadian author Steven Erikson, the fourth volume of his series the Malazan Book of the Fallen. It is a direct sequel to the second volume in the series, Deadhouse Gates.

<i>The Bonehunters</i>

The Bonehunters is the sixth volume in Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. The Bonehunters is a direct sequel to the fourth volume, House of Chains, and alludes to events in the fifth, Midnight Tides.

<i>The Crippled God</i>

The Crippled God is the tenth and final volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

Ian Cameron Esslemont is a Canadian writer. He was trained and has worked as an archaeologist. He is best known for his series Novels of the Malazan Empire, which is set in the same world as the Malazan Book of the Fallen epic fantasy series written by his friend and collaborator, Steven Erikson. Esslemont is the co-creator of the Malazan world.

<i>Night of Knives</i>

Night of Knives is the first novel of the Novels of the Malazan Empire series by Canadian author Ian Esslemont, set after the prologue, but before the main body of Gardens of the Moon, the first novel in the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

<i>Return of the Crimson Guard</i> 2008 novel by Ian Cameron Esslemont

Return of the Crimson Guard is a fantasy novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont, his second book set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, co-created with friend and colleague Steven Erikson. Chronologically, Return of the Crimson Guard takes place after the events in Erikson's sixth Malazan novel, The Bonehunters. Return of the Crimson Guard is the second of six planned novels by Esslemont to take place in the Malazan world, starting with Night of Knives and followed by Stonewielder.

<i>Orb Sceptre Throne</i> 2012 novel by Ian Cameron Esslemont

Orb Sceptre Throne is the fourth fantasy novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, co-created with Esslemont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson. Orb Sceptre Throne is the fourth of six novels by Esslemont to take place in the Malazan world.

<i>Assail</i> (novel)

Assail is the sixth and final volume of the Novels of the Malazan Empire series by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. The novel is set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, co-created with Esslemont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson.

The Kharkanas Trilogy is an epic fantasy series by the Canadian writer Steven Erikson. The series consists of three novels, two of which—Forge of Darkness and Fall of Light—have been published as of 2023. The series serves as a prequel to Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, and tells the story of the Tiste, Jaghut and Azathanai, three hundred thousand years before the Malazan Empire began its conquest on Genabackis, with a focus on characters such as Anomander Rake, Draconus, Hood, Gothos and K'rul. The series draws inspiration from the Shakespearean declamation style, and is framed as being told by one poet to another. It was received positively by critics as well as readers.

<i>Dancers Lament</i> 2016 novel by Ian Cameron Esslemont

Dancer's Lament is the first novel of the Path to Ascendancy trilogy by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. Set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, Dancer's Lament tells the story of the founding of the Malazan empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fonda Lee</span> Canadian-American author of speculative fiction

Fonda Lee is a Canadian-American author of speculative fiction. She is best known for writing The Green Bone Saga, the first of which, Jade City, won the 2018 World Fantasy Award and was named one of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time by Time magazine. The Green Bone Saga was also included on NPR's list, "50 Favorite Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the Past Decade".

List of complete works by Canadian fantasy fiction author Steven Erikson.

<i>Jade Legacy</i> 2021 fantasy novel by Fonda Lee

Jade Legacy is an 2021 fantasy novel by Fonda Lee published by Orbit and the sequel to Jade War, released on November 30, 2021. It is the third and final novel in The Green Bone Saga, which began with Jade City, and follows the surviving players from the end of Jade War as they plot a path for peace between nations and within Janloon's competing tribes, The Mountain clan and No Peak Clan, over jade distribution. Jade Legacy won the 2022 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel and the 2022 Aurora Award for Best Novel.

<i>Deadhouse Landing</i> 2017 novel by Ian Cameron Esslemont

Deadhouse Landing is the second novel of the Path to Ascendancy trilogy by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. Set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, Deadhouse Landing tells the story of the founding of the Malazan empire.

<i>The God Is Not Willing</i>

The God is Not Willing is the first novel of The Witness Trilogy by Canadian author Steven Erikson, set after the events of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Upon its release, the book was generally praised for its prose, narrative, and worldbuilding.

References

  1. "Kellanved's Reach". Ian C. Esslemont. 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  2. "In the Dragon's Den: Ian C Esslemont Interview". The Critical Dragon. 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  3. "Conversation with Ian Cameron Esslemont" (Podcast). Ten Very Big Books. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  4. Capossere, Bill (2019). "A Final, Welcome Return to the Malazan Empire's Early Days". Tor Books . Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  5. Hill, Joshua S; Tivendale, James (2019). "Kellanved's Reach by Ian C Esslemont (Path to Ascendancy #3)". Fantasy Book Review. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  6. Morhaim, Howard (2019). "Kellanved's Reach". Publishers Weekly . Retrieved 26 July 2022.