Deadhouse Gates (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #2) in The Bridgeburners

Mar 14, 2011 Ardwulf rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My full (Spoiler-free except for one pretty tiny thing) review can be found on video at .
TL/DR on that: This book is amazing - and just as amazing on a re-read. Five stars with zero hesitation. If you are so inclined, however, you may want to look at content warnings - this is a dark and brutal read. ...more

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Dec 19, 2010 Asgar rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, five-star

EDIT - I just finished Memories of Ice, the sequel that is actually set in the same time frame as Deadhouse Gates. For those critics and readers who claim that Deadhouse Gates is just a chaotic mess of random events and rife with desultory cases of deus ex machina: you are sorely wrong. If you read on, you will realize that every event, even the smallest little details you don't remember, has a meaning, and every occurrence has an origin. Nothing is random or superficial, everything is perfectly ...more

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Mar 28, 2011 Jason rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, epics, world-of-malazan

Of all the books I've read so far within this series, this one has stayed with me more than the others--MEMORIES OF ICE comes close, but it doesn't slam your heart into your throat like this novel.

There is a lot of plot lines weaving in & out of this novel but the backbone story of this book is the tale of Coltaine's Chain of Dogs--the journey of a rag tag army on a retreat across never-ending leagues of merciless desert from one city to another. Coltaine's forces were defeated by the Malazan Em Of all the books I've read so far within this series, this one has stayed with me more than the others--MEMORIES OF ICE comes close, but it doesn't slam your heart into your throat like this novel.

There is a lot of plot lines weaving in & out of this novel but the backbone story of this book is the tale of Coltaine's Chain of Dogs--the journey of a rag tag army on a retreat across never-ending leagues of merciless desert from one city to another. Coltaine's forces were defeated by the Malazan Empire & given the choice to either join up or be cast to the four winds (executions, slavery, etc.). Reluctantly, Coltaine accepts the title of Fist & allows his remaining proud warriors to be absorbed into the ranks of the Malazan Empire's armies. He is to lead a retreat which not only involves his army but the charge of protecting hundreds of thousands of civilians who have been thrust upon him by the Empress. It is an epic journey & one which will be full of deadly challenges. Furthermore, it is a novel which is established on a different continent within Erikson's world & takes place during & after the events of the first novel of the series, GARDENS OF THE MOON.

On top of this, an apocalyptic cult, The Whirlwind, is boiling within the endless desert of Raraku, led by Sha'ik who wants to destroy the Malazan Empire.

Again, Erikson has woven a rich tapestry of epic fantasy--one which rivals others in every way (plot, subplots, characters, world building, etc.)--& proves there can be so much more within the genre by thinking outside the box. He avoids cliches like landmines & by doing so sets the bar of quality fantasy much higher than those of his peers. He makes me want to read epic fantasy--to invest my reading time into it & know it was time well spent.

The tale he tells of Coltaine's Chain of Dogs is powerful--full of drama that reminds one of the epic films like Spartacus, El Cid or Lawrence of Arabia--it's that massive in scale! In a fantasy hack's typewriter, the pages would be trite & full of cliches. Erikson transcends cliche by providing lots of action & not just having characters go on quests or stand around pontificating their causes or philosophies (though he does briefly fall into this ditch in his later novel, HOUSE OF CHAINS, but should be excused due to the fact it helps move the epics plot forward). Coltaine's march becomes one of legend & haunts the future books with its lessons of honor, dignity, loyalty & betrayal.

I could go on for endless hours & paragraphs about how great this book is, but I'll let you read it for yourself. The ending is one of the greatest in all of fantasy--one which will without a doubt mess with your emotions & this is a very rare occurrence within the genre. I wish more fantasy epics were like this.

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Feb 24, 2011 Aaron Singleton rated it really liked it

Shelves: sf, fantasy

DG is book 2 of The Malazan Book of the Fallen series and follows a few of the characters from the first book while introducing many new ones. It also introduces us to a new part of the world: Seven Cities, a kind of fantasy version of our own Middle East.

I have nothing negative to say about this book. I fell in love with Erikson's world and characters because of it. While I enjoyed GotM, this book was the one that hooked me. Everything about it is a cut above its predecessor. Its structure is ...more

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Feb 04, 2011 Ana Barbuta rated it it was amazing

One of my favourite books in the Malazan series and fantasy literature in general. It is incredibly gripping and sparks off strong emotions in the reader (ok, I cried really hard at the end). The main plot is simpler than most other Malazan books, but the twists and turns still make you hold your breath in places. A beautiful and very sad tale.

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