Midnight Tides

Did You Know?

• Reviewers have described the series as the most significant work of epic fantasy since Stephen R. Donaldson's The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.
• Publishers Weekly remarked that the novel largely deals with the calm between storms.
• The first American edition was released on 17 April 2007.

Plot summary

After a great battle between the K'Chain Che'Malle and an alliance of Tiste Andii and Tiste Edur, the Tiste Andii leader Silchas Ruin is betrayed by Scabandari, who is named Bloodeye by Silchas. Scabandari kills the surviving Tiste Andii to prevent future threats. Millennia later, the Tiste Edur tribes, united by the Warlock King, prepare to negotiate a treaty with a delegation from the Kingdom of Lether, while Lether itself awaits a prophecy that the King will become Emperor at the Seventh Closure. The Warlock King sends Trull Sengar and his brothers Fear, Binadas, and Rhulad to recover a sword. They are attacked by Soletaken wolves called the Jheck; Rhulad takes up the sword and is killed. The brothers return with his corpse, but the body refuses to release the sword, causing a feud with the Warlock King. Rhulad is resurrected by the Crippled God, becomes his servant, deposes the Warlock King, seizes control of the Edur, expels the Letherii delegation, and prepares for war. Hull Beddict, formerly of Lether, swears allegiance to Rhulad. Tehol Beddict evacuates non-citizens from Lether and outwits his partners, while his brother Brys Beddict maintains order and allies with an ancient god. King Diskanar crowns himself Emperor, but Letherii forces are routed. The Azath House, dying, entrusts an undead child named Kettle with feeding it blood. Bugg, a manservant with extensive knowledge, offers her guidance, and later deals with beings that escape from the Azath House.