Gardens of the Moon: Book One of The Malazan Book of the Fallen

The Malazan Empire faces internal collapse from endless warfare and infighting, while also battling the formidable Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii sorcerers. Empress Laseen maintains absolute control through her Claw assassins, despite widespread discontent among even her legions. Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his Bridgeburner squad, along with cadre mage Tattersail, survive the siege of Pale. Their respite is short-lived when Laseen sets her sights on Darujhistan, the last Free City of Genabackis. Yet the Empire is not alone in this conflict—shadowbound forces and the gods themselves begin to intervene in the unfolding struggle. This first book in The Malazan Book of the Fallen series features vast legions of gods, mages, humans, dragons, and other creatures determining the fate of the Empire.