Fall of Light

Fall of Light is the first book in the Kharkanas Trilogy, which is a prequel series to Erikson's main Malazan Book of the Fallen. While it can be read independently, its deep lore and complex narrative are often more appreciated by readers already familiar with the Malazan universe.

This novel maintains Steven Erikson's characteristic multi-perspective narrative and philosophical depth, but it often delves into more introspective and poetic language, focusing heavily on character psychology and the origins of key figures from the Malazan world.

No — it ends mid-crisis. The Kharkanas Trilogy is unfinished; the concluding volume, Walk in Shadow, has not yet been published as of 2025.

Fall of Light is the first installment of a trilogy and concludes with many plot threads still open, setting the stage for the subsequent books in the Kharkanas series. Readers should expect a continuation of the story rather than a full resolution.

Opinions divide. It is longer, denser, and more claustrophobic. Readers who love Forge of Darkness generally persist; those who found the first volume slow may struggle.

A Bonecaster — a shaman of the T'lan Imass — whose appearance connects the Tiste civil war to the Imass' own story. Her role becomes central in the unreleased third volume.