Recommendations based on Return of the Crimson Guardby Ian C. Esslemont

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Night of Knives

    by Ian C. Esslemont
    A dark and violent tale of magic, betrayal, and survival in the city of Malaz.

    Night of Knives takes place in the 24 hours leading up to the night of the " Shadow Moon", a night on which a prophecy promises the return of the Emperor. Kiska is a young and enterprising girl who ... (Wikipedia)

  2. The Bonehunters

    by Steven Erikson
    The Malazan Empire is in turmoil as the Bonehunters march towards Kolanse. War, betrayal, and magic ensue.

    The Bonehunters begins two months after the events of, House of Chains, . The Malazan Fourteenth Army has destroyed the army of the Whirlwind, and Adjunct Tavore Paran has executed Sha'ik. The ... (Wikipedia)

  3. Deadhouse Gates

    by Steven Erikson
    Epic fantasy adventure, chronicling the struggles of characters in a hostile, war-torn world.

    Deadhouse Gates begins a few months after the conclusion of Gardens of the Moon , though few characters and almost no settings bridge the two novels. The main action of Memories of Ice , the third ... (Wikipedia)

  4. Memories of Ice

    by Steven Erikson
    A tale of war and magic, as old enemies and new alliances clash in a battle for the fate of the world.

    Memories of Ice takes place simultaneously with the events of, Deadhouse Gates, , beginning about four months after the events of, Gardens of the Moon, . Dujek's 2nd army allegedly goes renegade, ... (Wikipedia)

  5. The Wise Man's Fear

    by Patrick Rothfuss
    Epic fantasy adventure of a young man's quest for knowledge, power and love.

    On the second day of his recounting the story of his life to Chronicler at the Waystone Inn, Kvothe continues the narrative commenced in, The Name of the Wind, , wherein a younger Kvothe pursues his ... (Wikipedia)

  6. Half a King

    by Joe Abercrombie
    A young prince's struggle to reclaim his rightful throne and avenge his father's death.

    The story follows the exploits of Yarvi, a young prince of Gettland with a disabled hand. When his father dies Yarvi is elevated to the throne but faces a struggle to keep it as others conspire to ... (Wikipedia)

  7. The Books of the South

    by Glen Cook
    A band of mercenaries travels to the southern continent to retrieve a powerful magical artifact. Betrayal and battles ensue.

    Marching south after the ghastly battle at the Tower of Charm, the Black Company is hounded by shadowy figures every inch of the way. The game is on: the Company versus the Shadowmasters, deadly ... (Barnes & Noble)

  8. The Thousandfold Thought

    by R. Scott Bakker
    The conclusion to the Prince of Nothing trilogy, following the Holy War's final battle and the fate of its survivors.

    The apocalyptic holy war comes to a head in this conclusion to the groundbreaking Prince of Nothing series and casts into question all the action that has taken place before. ... (Goodreads)

  9. Last Argument of Kings

    by Joe Abercrombie
    War-torn kingdom in chaos, as a ruthless ruler seeks to expand his empire.

    The end is coming. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him but it's going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and there's only ... (Goodreads)

  10. Sharp Ends

    by Joe Abercrombie
    A collection of stories featuring characters from the First Law Universe.

    Sharp Ends, is the ultimate collection of award winning tales and exclusive new short stories from the master of grimdark fantasy, Joe Abercrombie. Violence explodes, treachery abounds, and the words ... (Barnes & Noble)

  11. The White Rose

    by Glen Cook
    A quest for a legendary artifact, with a ragtag group of heroes fighting against an oppressive empire.

    The Black Company has taken refuge from the Lady in the Plain of Fear. Its magical, non-human denizens are powerful enough to daunt even her. Among them is Old Father Tree, a god manifesting itself ... (Wikipedia)

  12. The Darkness That Comes Before

    by R. Scott Bakker
    A tale of epic fantasy featuring bold heroes, treacherous villains, and a looming apocalypse.

    The first book in R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series creates a world from whole cloth-its language and classes of people, its cities, religions, mysteries, taboos, and rituals. It's a world ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Hero of Ages

    by Brandon Sanderson
    A hero's quest to save the world from destruction, discovering secrets of the past.

    The Hero of Ages is the prophesied savior of the Terris people, foretold to find and give up the power at the Well of Ascension , in a selfless act to save the world from the Deepness. However, the ... (Wikipedia)

  14. Magician: Apprentice

    by Raymond E. Feist
    A young boy's journey to becoming a master sorcerer, encountering magical creatures and powerful forces along the way.

    In the twelfth year of the reign of Rodric the Fourth, an orphaned kitchen boy named Pug is made an apprentice magician to the magician Kulgan in Crydee . A struggling student of magic , he rises to ... (Wikipedia)

  15. The Warrior Prophet

    by R. Scott Bakker
    The second book in the Prince of Nothing trilogy, following the Holy War as it marches towards Shimeh.

    "Book Two of The Prince of Nothing" finds the Holy War continuing its inexorable march southward. But the suspicion begins to dawn that the real threat comes not from the infidel but from ... (Goodreads)

  16. Chasm City

    by Alastair Reynolds
    A journey through a post-apocalyptic city, uncovering its lost secrets.

    The once-utopian Chasm City -a doomed human settlement on an otherwise inhospitable planet- has been overrun by a virus known as the Melding Plague, capable of infecting any body, organic or ... (Goodreads)

  17. Starship Troopers

    by Robert A. Heinlein
    A futuristic military drama, exploring the consequences of war and human nature.

    The novel opens with Rico aboard the corvette transport Rodger Young (named after Medal of Honor recipient Rodger Wilton Young ), , serving with the platoon known as "Rasczak's Roughnecks". The ... (Wikipedia)

  18. Consider Phlebas

    by Iain M. Banks
    A thrilling space opera about a galactic war between two powerful civilizations.

    The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans ... (Goodreads)

  19. Hyperion

    by Dan Simmons
    Epic science-fiction story of a journey to the distant planet Hyperion.

    In the 29th century, the Hegemony of Man comprises hundreds of planets connected by farcaster portals. The Hegemony maintains an uneasy alliance with the TechnoCore , a civilisation of AIs . Modified ... (Wikipedia)

  20. The Black Company

    by Glen Cook
    Mercenary soldiers of a legendary company face the trials and tribulations of war.

    The series follows an elite mercenary unit, The Black Company, last of the Free Companies of Khatovar, through roughly forty years of its approximately four-hundred-year history. Cook mixes fantasy ... (Wikipedia)

  21. The Slow Regard of Silent Things

    by Patrick Rothfuss
    A solitary journey into the depths of a mysterious underground realm.

    Deep below the University, there is a dark place. Few people know of it: a broken web of ancient passageways and abandoned rooms. A young woman lives there, tucked among the sprawling tunnels of the ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Lies of Locke Lamora

    by Scott Lynch
    A band of con-artists in a bustling fantasy city, testing the limits of loyalty and justice.

    The Gentleman Bastards are masters of deception, disguise and fine cuisine. Father Chains, their "garrista" (leader), is a priest of the Crooked Warden, the god of thieves. He buys troublesome youth ... (Wikipedia)

  23. Pawn of Prophecy

    by David Eddings
    A young man must accept his destiny and fulfill an ancient prophecy to save the world.

    A magnificent epic set against a history of seven thousand years of the struggles of Gods and Kings and men - of strange lands and events - of fate and a prophecy that must be fulfilled! THE ... (Goodreads)

  24. The Forever War

    by Joe Haldeman
    A soldier's story of the horror of war and its consequences in the far future.

    The monumental Hugo and Nebula award winning SF classic— Featuring a new introduction by John Scalzi,The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand—despite the fact that the fierce ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. Royal Assassin

    by Robin Hobb
    A journey of self-discovery and growth, as a young man discovers his hidden powers and learns to use them.

    Fitz has survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin, but is left little more than a cripple. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant ... (Goodreads)

  26. The Gathering Storm

    by Robert Jordan
    Epic fantasy adventure featuring battles between the forces of good and evil.

    The series' storyline has been leading up to the "Last Battle" ( Tarmon Gai'don )—a fight between the forces of Light and Shadow. According to prophecy in the series the primary protagonist Rand ... (Wikipedia)

  27. A Memory of Light

    by Robert Jordan
    Epic story of the last great battle of the world, with a hero's journey to save it.

    In the prologue, the armies of the Westlands assemble in preparation for, Tarmon Gai'don, , as do the forces of the Shadow. The Forsaken Demandred stages a raid on the city of Caemlyn, sending ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Assassin's Quest

    by Robin Hobb
    A daring quest to save a kingdom from a powerful evil, with the help of magical powers.

    FitzChivalry Farseer is raised from the dead with Wit magic, becoming more wolf than human. Only Burrich and Chade know he survived his tortures in Regal 's dungeons. They help Fitz regain his ... (Wikipedia)

  29. The Magicians

    by Lev Grossman
    A coming-of-age story of a young man's journey to a magical world, learning to wield its power.

    The, New York Times, bestselling novel about a young man practicing magic in the real world, now an original series on, SYFY,“,The Magicians, is to Harry Potter as a shot of Irish whiskey is to a ... (Barnes & Noble)

  30. Queen of Sorcery

    by David Eddings
    The second book in the Belgariad series follows Garion and his companions as they continue their quest to defeat the evil god Torak.

    The Trail of Prophecy... Legends told of how the evil God Torak had coveted the power of the Orb of Aldur, until defeated in a final battle. But prophecy spoke of a time when he would awake and again ... (Goodreads)