Return of the Crimson Guard (Malazan Empire Book 2)

The Crimson Guard returns to Quon Tali, the heartland of the Malazan Empire, at a time when the empire is exhausted by warfare and fractured by betrayals and rivalries. Their arrival rekindles their ancient vow of undying opposition to the Empire. However, some members of the Guard's elite faction, the Avowed, pursue even greater power. As the Guard mobilize for war, Empress Laseen's generals and mages question her leadership, viewing her management of the Empire as weak. The situation raises questions about whether Laseen is losing control or has orchestrated events strategically. She may be using the uprisings to identify and eliminate the last remaining survivors from the era of her predecessor, Kellanved. The second book in the Malazan Empire series, this novel continues the story that leads into Stonewielder.