Malazan Character Analysis: Malice

Race: Ascendant

Sex: Female

Faction: High House Dark

Overall Rating: 3.9

Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Arena Status: Active (S1)

In the vast, multi-layered universe of Malazan, there are characters whose arcs stand as pillars of chaos and tragedy. One such character is Malice, the "youngest" of Draconus' triplet daughters. Born alongside her sisters, Envy and Spite, Malice’s existence is defined by violence, manipulation, and deep dysfunction within her family. Yet, despite her connection to one of the most powerful beings in the Malazan cosmos, Malice's story is both brief and devastating, culminating in an ambiguous state of life and death that leaves her an unsettling figure in the series.

Malice

The Youngest of the Triplets: Innocence and Manipulation

Malice’s identity is shaped by her position as the last to leave the womb of the triplets. Described as smaller, weaker, and more vulnerable than her sisters, she occupies a lower position within their toxic dynamic. While Envy and Spite display sharp intellect and cruel cunning, Malice often appears as a follower, mimicking her sisters’ "malice" more out of fear and peer pressure than innate cruelty. Early in Forge of Darkness, Malice’s actions are driven largely by her sisters' influence, making her appear more like a victim than an instigator of the dark deeds they collectively commit.

However, it’s important not to mistake her vulnerability for innocence. Despite her relatively passive role early on, Malice is still capable of cruelty. Along with her sisters, she participates in torturing Arathan, their half-brother, in some particularly disturbing scenes. Yet, even in these instances, there is a sense that Malice’s actions stem from a need to fit in with her sisters rather than an intrinsic desire to harm.

This dichotomy of victimhood and complicity runs throughout her brief arc. Malice lacks the manipulative intelligence of Envy or Spite but compensates with an erratic, reactive nature. While her sisters constantly mock and dominate her, Malice seeks power in the only way she understands—through submission to their influence.

Death and Reanimation: The Price of Immortality

The turning point in Malice’s story comes when she is manipulated into her own death. Under the false pretense that dying would make her more powerful and allow her to mature beyond her sisters, Malice is strangled by Spite. This act of betrayal highlights the twisted dynamics of the triplets—each driven by a need to outdo and overpower the others, often through manipulation and violence.

Following her death, Malice remains deceased for some time while her sisters hide her body, attempting to cover up their actions. This phase of Malice’s story is crucial because it reveals not only the depths of cruelty within the family but also the consequences of immortality at such a young age. Malice, despite being an Azathanai-born and the daughter of Draconus, is still vulnerable to manipulation, and her death—though seemingly final at first—speaks to the deeper theme of death as a threshold for transformation in the Malazan world.

Malice’s reanimation is one of the most disturbing moments in her arc. Her return from death is not triumphant but grotesque. She emerges in a decayed, corpse-like state, no longer the frightened child manipulated by her sisters but something else entirely—an embodiment of death itself. Her reanimated form acts as a grim commentary on the twisted nature of immortality, where even the promise of rebirth is tainted by violence and suffering.

Malice’s True Death: Buried and Forgotten

Despite her brief return, Malice’s journey ends with, as of this writing, what can be assumed to be a definitive death. After her reanimation, her sisters—fearing the consequences of their actions—attempt to hide the stench of her decaying body by locking her in an oven.

At this point, it becomes clear that Malice’s potential may be forever lost. While her sisters continue their chaotic and destructive paths, Malice remains trapped in death, unable to truly participate in the broader Malazan narrative beyond the prequels. Her death is as final as it gets in the world of Malazan, where many characters defy death and return through complex magical means.

The Lost Potential of Malice

One of the most compelling aspects of Malice’s character is the sense of lost potential that accompanies her demise. As the daughter of Draconus, Malice’s bloodline ties her to some of the most powerful entities in the Malazan universe. Her siblings, Envy and Spite, go on to exert considerable influence in the series, using their cunning and magic to manipulate events to their advantage. Malice, however, never reaches that level of power. Her death marks the loss of what could have been an incredibly complex and powerful character.

Had she survived, Malice might have developed her own powers, potentially becoming as dangerous and unpredictable as her sisters. However, her premature death leaves that potential unfulfilled, turning her into a tragic figure rather than a significant player in the larger events of the series. Her reanimation offers a brief glimpse of what could have been—her newfound aggression and detachment from mortality suggesting that she might have become something more fearsome than even her sisters. But ultimately, Malice is cut down before she can realize any of that potential.

The Themes of Death and Power

Malice’s arc serves as a reflection on the theme of death and power within the Malazan universe. While her sisters continue to scheme and wield their power over others, Malice’s story revolves around death and the consequences of seeking power through it. Her belief that dying would grant her more power speaks to a larger theme in Malazan: that the price of immortality and power often comes through suffering, trauma, and the stripping away of humanity.

In many ways, Malice embodies the notion of untapped power. Her death represents the unfulfilled potential that many characters in Malazan face, where power is always within reach, but the cost of grasping it is often too great. Her reanimation—an unsettling state between life and death—further complicates this theme, illustrating that not all who return from death emerge stronger or more capable.

Malice’s character arc is brief yet deeply impactful. As the "youngest" of Draconus’ daughters, she is overshadowed by her more powerful sisters, Envy and Spite, but her story of manipulation, death, and reanimation leaves a lasting impression. Her death at the hands of her own sisters and subsequent reanimation highlight the dark, tragic elements of immortality and power in the Malazan universe.

Malice's Raw Power

When evaluating Malice’s raw power across the defined subcategories—strength, magical ability, and combat prowess—her overall rating is 3.5 out of 10. While she carries the potential for power through her lineage, she never has the opportunity to develop or display any of it meaningfully before her death. Her role within Forge of Darkness is more defined by her manipulation and victimhood than by any personal exertion of power.

Strength

Malice does not exhibit significant physical strength in Forge of Darkness. Unlike some characters in the Malazan universe who wield brute force or combat-based might, Malice's actions do not show any substantial display of physical prowess. Her role within the narrative is more passive, often under the control or influence of her sisters. After her reanimation, Malice does manage to crush the skull of a woman, which is one of the few instances where her strength is apparent. However, this act seems more driven by rage than raw physical capability, and as a reanimated being, her physical limitations are unclear.

Magical Ability

Malice’s magical ability is underdeveloped and barely explored in the text. Despite her lineage as the daughter of Draconus, a figure deeply tied to the magical forces of the Malazan universe, Malice does not display any significant magical prowess. Her sisters, Envy and Spite, demonstrate more overt magical potential, but Malice never reaches that level of magical proficiency.

The only potential glimpse of power comes after her reanimation, when she returns in a grotesque, undead form. However, there is no explicit indication that this state grants her any magical abilities, and she does not wield spells, control elements, or demonstrate supernatural abilities.

Combat Prowess

Malice’s combat prowess is virtually non-existent in the text. She is manipulated and ultimately killed by her sisters, with no significant ability to defend herself or retaliate in a meaningful way. While many characters in the Malazan universe are defined by their martial skills—whether through swordplay, magic, or tactical brilliance—Malice does not demonstrate any of these attributes.

Even after her reanimation, when she briefly kills one of her sisters’ victims, this action appears more out of spite and reactionary aggression rather than combat skill. She does not show the tactical awareness or combat readiness seen in major players like Anomander Rake or Karsa Orlong. Her lack of combat training or instinct places her far below characters who are honed for battle across fantasy genres.

Malice's Tactical Ability

When evaluated across the subcategories of strategic mind, resourcefulness, and resource arsenal, Malice’s tactical ability is rated at 2.5 out of 10. This low rating reflects her lack of independence, inability to plan or adapt, and failure to command any significant resources or alliances. Compared to tactically skilled characters from other fantasy universes, Malice falls far short of the mark. Her story is a tragic one, defined more by her victimhood than by any personal tactical agency. As a result, she ranks near the bottom of the scale for tactical prowess.

Strategic Mind

Malice’s strategic mind is severely lacking, especially when compared to other characters across fantasy universes who exhibit formidable planning and execution in conflict scenarios. Malice does not engage in any meaningful strategy. Her decision-making process is largely influenced by her sisters, and she does not appear to have the foresight or inclination to plan for long-term outcomes.

In one notable event, her sisters, Spite and Envy, manipulate her into believing that her death would grant her greater power. This suggests that Malice lacks the critical thinking skills required for survival or tactical planning. She is too easily swayed by others and does not show signs of independent decision-making that would elevate her to even a mid-tier tactical thinker. This lack of agency in her actions and decisions dramatically lowers her standing in this category.

Resourcefulness

Resourcefulness, the ability to adapt and use limited assets to one’s advantage, is another area in which Malice is severely deficient. Throughout the narrative, she is not shown to be able to solve problems or turn the tide in unfavorable situations. When Spite kills her, Malice is helpless in the face of her demise and must rely on reanimation rather than any personal tactical effort to recover from the situation.

There are no instances where she successfully uses resources—either people, environments, or personal attributes—to overcome obstacles. Her resurrection appears more as a consequence of dark powers beyond her control rather than a reflection of her own resourcefulness. The lack of adaptability and resourcefulness is stark.

Resource Arsenal

In terms of resource arsenal, which refers to access to tools, information, alliances, or unique skills that can be leveraged in various situations, Malice’s standing is minimal. Her only real “resource” is her connection to her sisters and their twisted familial bond. However, this connection is a double-edged sword, as her sisters manipulate her for their own gains, ultimately leading to her death. She does not wield influence over others, nor does she command forces or knowledge that could be tactically useful.

Where other fantasy characters are able to leverage armies, magic, or deep wells of knowledge, Malice has no such tools at her disposal. Her status as a reanimated being does not seem to grant her any unique tactical advantages, as she is essentially a victim of her circumstances and the whims of her sisters. The absence of any real resource arsenal severely limits her tactical potential.

Malice's Influence

Across the subcategories of persuasion, reverence, and willpower, Malice’s influence remains minimal. She neither commands the respect of others nor demonstrates any notable leadership or manipulation abilities. Her susceptibility to external influence, particularly from her sisters, and her inability to assert her own will leaves her at a low ranking of 3.0 out of 10 in terms of influence.

Persuasion

Malice's capacity to persuade or manipulate others is almost non-existent. Unlike her sisters, Envy and Spite, who are much more adept at manipulation, Malice does not demonstrate any notable skill in this area. She is, instead, easily influenced by her siblings, particularly when Spite convinces her that death will make her more powerful. This manipulation underscores her susceptibility to others rather than any persuasive ability of her own.

Reverence

Malice commands no reverence, either through deeds or reputation. As the youngest daughter of Draconus, she should, in theory, hold some level of inherent respect or fear due to her lineage. However, her actions (or lack thereof) do not inspire awe, fear, or respect from those around her. In fact, her sisters, Spite and Envy, actively mock her and use her as a tool in their games, suggesting that even within her own family, she commands little to no reverence.

Willpower

Willpower, or the ability to resist external influence and maintain agency, is another area where Malice is lacking. Her actions are almost entirely driven by her sisters’ manipulation, as they convince her to participate in cruel acts and, ultimately, trick her into allowing her own death. This highlights a severe lack of personal agency, as she is too easily swayed by those around her. After her death and subsequent reanimation, there is no indication that Malice becomes a more independent or stronger character. She remains a passive participant in her own fate.

Malice's Resilience

Overall, Malice’s resilience is middling in comparison to other fantasy characters across universes. While her immortality bolsters her longevity and she displays a passive capacity to return from death, her physical and magical resistance leave much to be desired. Her rating of 6.0/10 reflects a being that is resilient in some key ways but lacks the endurance, magical defenses, and physical durability that more powerful or experienced characters possess. She is not indestructible, but her immortality and possible return leave open the potential for greater resilience in the future.

Physical Resistance

Physical resilience for Malice is somewhat paradoxical. She dies at the hands of her sister Spite and, though she is reanimated afterward, she remains fragile compared to her more dominant sisters, Envy and Spite. When her reanimation fails to make her more powerful or physically imposing, she becomes the subject of cruelty, eventually being burned and locked away. However, this entire sequence highlights an important point: she survived the act of murder and returned to life, however briefly. For a mortal character, this would be an incredible feat of resilience, but in the larger context of fantasy characters, especially in a universe filled with immortal beings, her fragility leaves her toward the lower-middle end of the scale.

Magical Resistance

Malice potentially benefits from a baseline resistance to magical or supernatural elements due to her lineage. However, within Forge of Darkness, there is no evidence that Malice exhibits any significant capacity to withstand magical attacks or resist supernatural forces. Her reanimation after death suggests some form of magical resilience—perhaps an inherent aspect of being connected to Draconus and the Azathanai—but this is more passive and unintentional than a reflection of any active or learned skill on her part.

Longevity

This is where Malice’s resilience gains most of its points. As the daughter of Draconus, Malice is functionally immortal, as are her sisters. Her immortality is not tied to natural lifespans but to the metaphysical laws governing the Azathanai. This means that, barring extreme circumstances, she would persist indefinitely. Despite her apparent death, there’s always a possibility that she could resurface in some form, particularly given her connection to powerful, immortal beings.

Malice's Versatility

Malice’s versatility is notably limited, earning her a 4.5/10 rating. Her reactive nature, lack of adaptability, and absence of significant skills or hidden advantages make her far less versatile than many other characters across fantasy universes. While her immortality and reanimation hint at some potential, her overall arc and fate restrict her development, keeping her from being a truly versatile character. Her adaptability to circumstances is stunted by her reliance on her sisters, and she lacks the independent initiative or broad range of abilities that typically define high-scoring versatile characters in fantasy settings.

Adaptability

Adaptability measures a character's ability to adjust to different situations and challenges. For Malice, this trait is rather underdeveloped. Throughout the story, Malice appears more reactive than adaptive. She follows the lead of her older, more domineering sisters, Envy and Spite, and rarely acts independently. Her willingness to be manipulated by them, even allowing herself to be strangled with the belief that it would make her stronger, is a clear sign that she struggles to navigate her circumstances with any autonomy. This reactive nature limits her adaptability.

Luck

Luck in fantasy contexts often refers to characters whose improbable successes can’t be explained by skill alone. In Malice’s case, she has no demonstrated instances where fortune or chance plays a significant role in her survival or actions. While her temporary reanimation could be seen as a stroke of luck in that she was not permanently dead, it was short-lived and did not alter her situation for the better.

Shaved Knuckle in the Hole

The "shaved knuckle in the hole" represents a hidden advantage or secret skill that a character can use in a dire situation. Malice doesn’t exhibit any notable secret abilities or hidden strengths throughout Forge of Darkness. Her temporary reanimation might have seemed like a last-ditch surprise to her sisters, but it did not come with any significant power boost or new ability. Given that her fate is sealed early in the narrative and she does not develop into a character with hidden strengths or last-resort abilities, Malice lacks the “shaved knuckle in the hole” trait.

Malice's Alignment

Malice, like her sisters Envy and Spite, demonstrates little respect for rules, order, or societal expectations. Raised in a context of immortality and privilege, she views the world as something to be manipulated for personal gain or amusement. Her willingness to participate in murder, including her own, indicates a disregard for any form of order or societal structure, even among her own family. Furthermore, her lack of adherence to any moral code, and her susceptibility to the whims and manipulations of her sisters, place her firmly in the chaotic category. She acts impulsively and without concern for consequences, especially when encouraged by Envy and Spite.

In contrast to characters who follow rules (lawful) or adhere to some form of ethical code, Malice operates with total disregard for order. Even her death and subsequent reanimation, while a dark reflection of her chaotic nature, show no attempt to impose structure on the world around her. She does not seek power to control, but rather acts out of momentary desires and whims, making her a true representation of Chaotic.

Malice’s alignment on the Good-Neutral-Evil axis is undeniably Evil. Though she begins the narrative as the youngest and least independent of her sisters, she quickly becomes complicit in their cruelty. Her reanimation, though brief, only deepens her malevolent tendencies. After returning from death, she brutally crushes the skull of the house surgeon, Atran, who had earlier overpowered her sisters. This act of violence is entirely unnecessary for self-preservation, as the danger to her and her sisters had passed. Instead, it demonstrates a malicious streak that defines her character arc.

While she might initially be portrayed as the weakest and most manipulated of the three sisters, her participation in acts of cruelty, and her own brutal tendencies, show that she takes pleasure in harming others without remorse or hesitation. Her acts are not driven by a desire for power or any larger ambition but by sheer malice and cruelty. This senseless violence, devoid of purpose or honor, solidifies her position as Evil.

Given the lack of recent information about Malice, we will classify her as an ascendant in line with her sisters, Envy and Spite, who have been confirmed as ascendants and Soletaken. However, it is important to note that Malice’s status as a Soletaken remains unverified, as we lack sufficient evidence to support the claim. The ambiguity surrounding Malice’s parentage—whether the Azathanai status from Draconus, their father, would transfer to her—is compounded by the uncertainty regarding their mother. It is unclear whether the sisters share the same mother, and while some evidence suggests their mother might be Olar Ethil (T'lan Imass Soletaken), other evidence suggests Sheltatha Lore (Tiste Edur Ascendant Soletaken) and this remains speculative. Therefore, Malice is best classified as an ascendant, a being who may possess immortality and great power, but whose full capabilities are not fully known due to her limited appearances and her apparent death in the storyline. Pride and Prophecy keeps an updated character alignment matrix across all planes of existence.

Malice's Trophy Case

PPET Rankings

Season	Rank
2 (2024-2025)	TBD (of 204)

Overall Conclusion on Malice and Position Across Planes of Existence

Upon re-evaluating Malice's power, influence, and overall status as a fantasy character, it's clear that our initial assessment—aligning her closely with her sisters, Envy and Spite—was deeply flawed. Malice, though certainly an intriguing character with a unique backstory, does not present the same level of power or influence as her sisters, and the textual evidence simply doesn't support a higher ranking. With this correction, we now place Malice at a 3.9, which is significantly below average across the vast spectrum of fantasy characters.

The initial ranking of Malice as comparable to her sisters came from a surface-level understanding of her familial ties and a loose assumption that, as the daughter of Draconus and sister to Envy and Spite, she would hold a comparable status in terms of raw power. However, unlike her sisters, who have clear evidence of ascendant and Soletaken status, Malice’s brief appearances offer little to no indication that she wields any formidable power on her own. The most notable event is her tragic reanimation after her death, but this does not directly translate into evidence of magical prowess or strength.

She is murdered by her sisters, manipulated into a state of weakness, and ultimately stuffed into an oven. Her lack of active agency or noteworthy displays of combat prowess further undermines her potential as a character with raw power or influence. The limited textual evidence suggests that she is more of a victim than a figure of ascendant significance, leaving her severely underwhelming in terms of both power and resilience.

That being said, Malice's fate remains somewhat open. The completion of the Kharkanas trilogy may change the trajectory of her story entirely. If she re-emerges in future books, particularly with a more active or powerful role, our current understanding of her potential could be overturned. There is room for speculation that Malice’s status as an ascendant or potential connection to the Azathanai heritage from Draconus could grant her untapped abilities. However, without any further textual evidence, such speculation remains purely hypothetical.

In evaluating Malice through the lens of the definitions we adhere to, her performance is mediocre at best. She scores poorly on all critical aspects of fantasy character analysis. Little to no evidence of strength, magical ability, or combat prowess. She exhibits no significant strategic thinking or resourcefulness. Despite her ties to powerful figures, Malice is not an influential character in her own right. Her actions are driven by her more powerful sisters, and she lacks autonomy. Though reanimated after death, she is easily overpowered and does not recover from her sisters’ manipulation. She shows no adaptation or flexibility across her limited storyline. Given these factors, 3.9 is a fair rating. Malice is simply not a major player in the Malazan universe, at least not with the current information available. Pride and Prophecy keeps an updated power ranking across all planes of existence. This will only be sortable on desktop viewing. The below table shows a summary within the same plane of existence of this article.