Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Welcome back everyone! I’m the Book Guy, and today we're discussing the final Malazan sub-series we haven’t talked about yet, Path to Ascendancy.

This series is by Ian Esslemont. And these are his prequel novels, about the young Emperor Kellanved, and the assassin Dancer, as they fight to build the mighty Malazan Empire.

These prequels are often overlooked by Malazan fans. And yet I think they just might be the best place to start Malazan! They’re easy reading, fast paced, and focus on a small cast of characters. And they provide essential backstory to the Malazan world.

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00:00 Intro
02:40 The Concept
04:11 Different Style and Scope
06:47 Three Types of Plotlines
09:59 Character Writing
12:42 Connections to the Wider World
14:48 Themes
16:35 Reading Order
18:25 Channel Updates