I have to say the first Gardens of the Moon. Yes it lacks the polish of MOI but for unbridled fantasy and an explosive story, SE has really never beaten his first. From Rake to his battle with the demon lord to Kalam & Ben vs the TA assasins. Only in that book do you get the impression that the empire might not win. The others (those with the empire) there is always a sense that no matter what the empire will always prevail.
