The first tells the story of the Tiste race as they struggle to find their place in a society now divided into three factions — Andii, Liosan and Deniers — and which is on the brink of civil war.

Others have praised it for its timely social commentary, with one critic noting how on a deeper level it conveys the terror and awfulness of war, and how it can affect every individual, young or old.

He orders the Hust Legion, controversially, to bolster its ranks, after their massive loss from the poisoning at the hands of Hunn Raal, by recruiting prisoners from the mining pits.

The Azathanai, Grizzin Farl, also called the Protector, remains at Kharkanas for purposes unknown to anyone but newly befriended Silchas Ruin, to whom he reveals that by his presence alone he keeps away the wolves that are his kin who would look at the Tiste civil war as an opportunity to sink their teeth into something delicious.

Hundreds and thousands flock to Omtose Phellack, the home of the Jaghut civilization, to give answer to the impossible war that Hood has declared against Death.

Anomander Rake, accompanied by Caladan Brood, wanders the Burned Forrest in search for his brother Andarist, while Draconus, the Suzerain of Night, forges a sword that would defy Chaos.

Much like in Forge of Darkness, the focus falls more squarely on the personal, and through these individuals, Erikson gives a bigger picture of the massive convergences happening, which amounts to a far more Shakespearean tone, with comedy, love, and tragedy all thrown together.

[5] On February 28, 2012, Erikson confirmed in a reddit AMA session that the second novel in the Kharkanas Trilogy would be titled Fall of Light, and that it would be published a few years after Forge of Darkness.

[6] In a subsequent reddit AMA session held in 2014, Erikson revealed that he had spent an inordinate amount of time working on the second novel (in the Kharkanas trilogy), more than he'd done in any of his previous ones.

[13] The reviewer at the Critical Dragon stated that the novel builds on the ground established in Forge of Darkness, adding further depth and complexity to the world, while fleshing out the conflict and characters, which bodes extremely well for the third book, Walk in Shadow.