The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting, and bloody confrontations. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins. For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze. But it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand....

Submitter's comments: Point of view characters include people of colour from all kinds of fantasy culture equivalents (african, asian, etc.). There's at lest one canon lesbian couple, bisexual characters, and one of the big heroes of the end battle is gay. Also, lots and lots of deep and commited friendships for the less romantically enchanted reader. Book 7 also includes an autistic PoV. However, all of this is worked into the story in such a way that it does not take centre stage (throw-away dialogue lines like 'Among the Meckros, men marry each other all the time.') and the sexual diversity only becomes apparent as the series goes on.