The God Is Not Willing

Did You Know?

• Erikson stated in a 2019 interview that he intends for The Witness Trilogy to be a single novel split into three volumes.
• Erikson found The God Is Not Willing more difficult to structure than his previous works.
• In July 2024, Erikson stated that the series was expanding to four novels.

Plot

A decade after the events of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, a Malazan marine company is dispatched to the remote Silver Lake region in northern Genabackis. The Teblor warrior Karsa Orlong is now a near-mythic figure, and his three children, Rant, Delas, and Tonith, grapple with his formidable legacy. When Lieutenant Pores leads the Malazan 9th Company into the area, it reignites old conflicts between settlers and the native Teblor tribes. With ancient forces stirring, the marines must maintain a delicate peace while facing the prospect that Karsa Orlong might return.

Reception

The novel received positive reviews upon publication. Bill Capossere from Tor.com described it as a lean, sharply honed, and powerful addition to what he considered the preeminent fantasy universe of recent decades, noting the little ways Erikson shows a changed world. Fantasy Book Review gave it a 10 out of 10, calling it beautiful, captivating, and a high-water mark for literature. Grimdark Magazine awarded 8 out of 10, deeming it a worthy next step after the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Publishers Weekly gave a starred review, praising the descriptive prose and details.