No Life Forsaken: The Second Tale of Witness: A Novel of the Malazan World

New York Times bestselling author Steven Erikson continues his beloved Malazan Book of the Fallen--the iconic epic fantasy series that has sold more than 1.5 million copies--with the second book in the thrilling Witness sequel series.

Return to the Malazan Empire!

A goddess awakens to a new world in the second thrilling book in the Witness series, continuing the iconic saga of the Malazan Book of the Fallen

Amidst the ashes of a failed rebellion in Seven Cities, new embers are flaring to life. There are furrowed brows at the beleaguered Malazan Legion headquarters in G'danisban, for it would appear that yet another bloody clash with the revived cult of the Apocalyptic is coming to a head.

Seeking to crush the uprising before it ignites the entire subcontinent, Fist Arenfall has only a few dozen squads of marines at his disposal, and many of those are already dispersed--endeavoring to stamp out multiple brush-fires of dissent. His soldiers are exhausted, worn down by the grind of a simmering insurrection. The last thing Arenfall needs is the arrival of the new Adjunct, fresh from the capital and the Emperor's side.

The man's mission may be to lend support to Arenfall's efforts . . . or stick a knife in his back. 'Twas ever thus, of course. That a popular commander should inevitably be seen as a threat to the Emperor--such is the fatal nature of imperial Malazan politics.

And what of the gods? Well, as recent history has proved, their solution to any mortal mess is to make it even messier. In other words, it's just another tumultuous day in the checkered history of the Malazan Empire.

Author: Steven Erikson
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 10/28/2025
Series: Witness #2
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9780765323606

About the Author
Steven Erikson is an archaeologist and anthropologist and a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. His Malazan Book of the Fallen series has met widespread international acclaim and established him as a major voice in the world of fantasy fiction. The first book in the series, Gardens of the Moon, was shortlisted for a World Fantasy Award. The second novel, Deadhouse Gates, was voted one of the ten best fantasy novels of the year by SF Site. He lives in Canada.