Gardens of the moon - Steven Erikson

The vast Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, its subject states bled dry by interminable warfare, purges, internecine strife and clashes with Anomander Rake, Lord of Moon's Spawn, and the mysterious Tiste Andii. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet the Empress' rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his cynical squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, sole surviving sorceress of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to heal the still living and mourn the many dead. The Empress has other ideas. Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, still holds out against her and it is to this ancient and noble bastion of independence that she turns her predatory gaze.

However, it would appear the Empire is not the only player in this great game. A more sinister, shadowbound force is poised to make its first move, as Captain Ganoes Paran, aide to the Empress' Adjunct is about to discover. For he has been chosen for an altogether higher purpose - as harbinger of the gods themselves...

Conceived and written on an epic scale, Gardens of the Moon is a breathtaking achievement - a novel in which grand design, a dark and complex mythology, wild and wayward magic and a host of enduring characters combine with thrilling, powerful storytelling to resounding effect.