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The God Is Not Willing

Witness, Book 1

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The God Is Not Willing

Written by: Steven Erikson
Narrated by: Emma Gregory
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About this listen

New York Times bestselling author Steven Erikson continues the beloved Malazan Book of the Fallen with this first book in the thrilling Witness sequel trilogy, The God is Not Willing.

Many years have passed since three warriors brought carnage and chaos to Silver Lake.

Now the tribes of the north no longer venture into the southlands. The town has recovered and yet the legacy remains.

Responding to reports of a growing unease among the tribes beyond the border, the Malazan army marches on the new god’s people. They aren't quite sure what they're going to be facing.

And in those high mountains, a new warleader has risen amongst the Teblor. Scarred by the deeds of Karsa Orlong, he intends to confront his god even if he has to cut a bloody swathe through the Malazan Empire to do so.

Further north, a new threat has emerged and now it seems it is the Teblor who are running out of time. Another long-feared migration is about to begin and this time it won't just be three warriors. No, this time tens of thousands are poised to pour into the lands to the south. And in their way, a single company of Malazan marines . . .

©2021 Steven Erikson, Master Recording (P)2021 Penguin Books Limited. Produced by arrangement with Transworld Publishers, a division of The Random House Group Ltd. All rights reserved. Dark Fantasy Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction

What the critics say

“Erikson burnishes his reputation as a superior epic fantasy world-builder.... Erikson’s outstanding descriptive skills...enhance a complicated narrative that sweats the details. This is a treat both for Erikson’s returning readers and lovers of George R.R. Martin-style epic fantasy who have yet to discover his work.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“A master of lost and forgotten epochs, a weaver of ancient epics.” (Salon.com)

“A multilayered tale of magic and war, loyalty and betrayal. Complexly drawn characters occupy a richly detailed world in this panoramic saga.” (Library Journal)

All stars
Most relevant
Each of Erikson's Malazan novels covers more genres than the previous one.

The character development is brilliant, especially the Marines. They are the funniest, and deadliest, people in this book.

I want to give this more stars

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Dark fantasy just isn’t the same with an alto narrator. I don’t care about female vs male but I would have preferred a low tenor/baritone narrator like the Malazan series….

Female narrator

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Was an excellent story that both inspured emotion and surprised me on various occasions. Having just finished the Crippled God I was eager to jump into the Wittness series and it does not disappoint.
Erikson's pacing is also superb in this book as I know that is an often aired critique.

Following the main 10, amazing!

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One of his smaller huge novels,
I found the book a bit of a slower start, though not quite as “where the heck am I and who are all these people and what is all this gratuitous carnage?” as in the main Malazan series starter Gardens of the Moon. I love all the new marines and some old favourites. <no spoilers>
I was expecting more Karsa Orlong but I’m hoping we will learn what he is brooding about in the next book in the series. Write anything Mr. Erikson, I will read it.

This book was great Steven Erikson fare.

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