Dancer's Lament
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.[1]
 | |
| Author | Ian Cameron Esslemont |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Steve Stone |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Path to Ascendancy |
| Genre | High fantasy |
| Publisher | Bantam Books (UK & Canada) & Tor Books (USA) |
Publication date | 25 February 2016 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 416 pp (Bantam UK hardcover edition) |
| ISBN | 0-593-07434-3 (Bantam UK hardcover edition) |
| Followed by | Deadhouse Landing |
Development
In a 2016 interview with The Critical Dragon, Esslemont states he intended Dancer's Lament to be a potential new starting point in the Malazan world. He goes on to say he has plans for three novels in the Path to Ascendancy series, but "the door is open" for further books.[2]
Plot
Dancer's Lament takes place before The Malazan Book of the Fallen. It tells the story of how Dancer and Kellanved meet and found the Malazan Empire.
Critical reception
Dancer's Lament received mostly positive reviews.
Bill Capossere called it "a highly entertaining origin story" that was "streamlined, tightly-plotted and structured."[3]
Fantasy Book Review gave it an 8 out of 10, calling it "a brilliant return to one of the most majestic and mystifying fantasy worlds ever to be created."[4]
The Quill to Live gave it an 8.5 out of 10, calling it "good, probably even great" but noting it falls short "due to its lack of heavy hearted scenes." [5]
References
- "Dancer's Lament". Ian C. Esslemont. 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- "In the Dragon's Den: Ian C Esslemont Interview". The Critical Dragon. 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- Capossere, Bill (2016). "Building an Empire: Ian C. Esslemont's Malazan Prequel, Dancer's Lament". Tor. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- Hill, Joshua S (2016). "Dancer's Lament by Ian C Esslemont". Fantasy Book Review. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- Mather, Andrew (3 July 2018). "Dancer's Lament – The Origins Of Greatness". Retrieved 25 July 2022.