Blood and Bone is the fifth novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. It is set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, a ten-volume epic fantasy series by Esslemont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson. Esslemont and Erikson co-created the Malazan world in the 1980s.
Publisher's summary
In the western sky the bright emerald banner of the Visitor descends like a portent of annihilation. On the continent of Jacuruku, the Thaumaturgs have mounted yet another expedition to tame the neighbouring wild jungle. Yet this is no normal wilderness. It is called Himatan, and it is said to be half of the spirit-realm and half of the earth. And it is said to be ruled by a powerful entity whom some name the Queen of Witches, and some a goddess: the ancient Ardata. Saeng grew up knowing only the rule of the magus Thaumaturgs -- but it was the voices out of that land's forgotten past that she listened to. And when her rulers mount an invasion of the neighboring jungle, those voices send her and her brother on a desperate mission. To the south, the desert tribes are united by the arrival of a foreign warleader, a veteran commander in battered ashen mail whom his men call, the Grey Ghost. This warleader takes the tribes on a raid like none other, deep into the heart of Thaumaturg lands. While word comes to K'azz, and mercenary company the Crimson Guard, of a contract in Jacuruku. And their employer... none other than Ardata herself.
Front matter
Acknowledgements
It is with gratitude that I acknowledge my time at the University of Minnesota, where I was encouraged to pursue my interest in nineteenth-century travel writing, colonial texts, and the myths of imperialism. I hope to return to this rich material some day. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
Maps
Dramatis Personae (as found in books)
- click here for extended Dramatis Personae
Thaumaturg Villagers
Himatan Villagers
The Mountain Bandits
Of the Thaumaturg
- Golan, Commander of the Army of Righteous Chastisement
- U-Pre, Second in command
- Thorn, Principal Scribe of the army
- Waris, An officer of the Army
- Pon-lor, A newly trained Thaumaturg
- Tun, An overseer of the Army
- Surin, The Prime Master of the ruling Circle of Masters
Servants of Ardata
- Rutana, A witch
- Nagal, A warrior
- Citravaghra, The 'man-leopard'
- Varakapi, The 'man-ape'
Of the Tribes of the Adwami
- Jatal, A prince of the Hafinaj
- Andanii, Princess of the Vehajarwi
- Ganell, A chief of the Awamir
- Sher' Tal, Horsemaster of the Saar
- Pinal, Horsemaster of the Hafinaj
- The Warleader, A mercenary commander
- Scarza, His lieutenant
Of the Crimson Guard Avowed
- K'azz D'Avore, commander
- Shimmer, a captain
- Gwynn, a mage, once of Skinner's company
- Lor-sinn, a mage
- Turgal
- Cole
- Amatt
Of the Disavowed
- Skinner, captain
- Jacinth, Lieutenant
- Mara, a mage
- Petal, a mage
- Red, a mage
- Shijel, weaponmaster
- Black the Lesser
- Hist
- Leuthan
Of the Malazan Mercenaries
- Yusen, captain
- Burastan, lieutenant
- Murk, a mage
- Sour, a mage
- Ostler, a soldier
- Tanner, a soldier
- Dee, a soldier
- Sweetly, a scout
Others
- Ardata
- The Queen of Dreams, also known as the Enchantress, T'riss
- Ina, a Seguleh, of the top thousand fighters, the Jistarii
- The Witch Queen, also known as the Queen of Monsters, Ardata
- Old Man Moon, an elder
- Ripan, one of his offspring
- Sister Spite, daughter of Draconus
- Osserc, a Tiste Liosan, worshipped by some as a sky god
- L'oric, son of Osserc
- Gothos, a Jaghut
Plot summary
Prologue
Trivia
While it was being written, Blood and Bone held the working title of City in the Jungle.[1]