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Bradley's Reviews > Deadhouse Gates
Deadhouse Gates (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #2)
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While clearly a superior book, in my humble opinion, to the first Book of Malazan, I'm deeply disturbed by some of the turn of events at the end of the novel. Namely, WTF? Uggghhh. It makes me want to sit in silence for a while and try to digest it a bit, but no. A lot more things happen in this novel than just one man's (or many men's) reversal(s), be it choice and with so-called reason or utter desolation filled with a demon's pity.
I was initially worried that I'd be bogged down in too much war, but no, that wasn't even a concern for me this time. I was too invested in the characters, especially the Assassin and the Historian. The thief was fun and the author's penchant and focus on old dead civilizations and archeology serves him extremely well here. The explorations really got my heart pumping even as my mouth dried.
The refugees and the desperate march was particularly effective, too, but more than anything else, the promise and the fear evoked by the Whirlwind was very good.
Ancient armies fighting endless battles, the dead all around, and the mortal armies of the Empire and the defenders, made this war extremely pernicious and chaotic, even if the gods weren't throwing wrenches into the spokes of everyone's war machines. We even got to travel by sea and pirate with the best of them.
This novel may as well serve as the definition of Epic. The direction and the focus is always clear. The enormous cast, with all their hopeless desires, clash and collude on grand scales, while the plights stay close to the cuff.
Oh yeah, and who loves the dogs? That's right. It's me. And I loved every instance where the Coins of the realm became the downfall of (often extremely literally) of nobles and the other financial ministers; I was laughing with delight, even.
The deaths of the children were hard, but distance made a lot of it bearable. There's one scene with our fearless Historian that I'll never forget, even if I *know* it was a blatant attempt to tug at my heartstrings. It still worked like a freaking charm.
Do I love the series? Yes. I do believe I do. I need a slight break though! Very emotional.
:)
I was initially worried that I'd be bogged down in too much war, but no, that wasn't even a concern for me this time. I was too invested in the characters, especially the Assassin and the Historian. The thief was fun and the author's penchant and focus on old dead civilizations and archeology serves him extremely well here. The explorations really got my heart pumping even as my mouth dried.
The refugees and the desperate march was particularly effective, too, but more than anything else, the promise and the fear evoked by the Whirlwind was very good.
Ancient armies fighting endless battles, the dead all around, and the mortal armies of the Empire and the defenders, made this war extremely pernicious and chaotic, even if the gods weren't throwing wrenches into the spokes of everyone's war machines. We even got to travel by sea and pirate with the best of them.
This novel may as well serve as the definition of Epic. The direction and the focus is always clear. The enormous cast, with all their hopeless desires, clash and collude on grand scales, while the plights stay close to the cuff.
Oh yeah, and who loves the dogs? That's right. It's me. And I loved every instance where the Coins of the realm became the downfall of (often extremely literally) of nobles and the other financial ministers; I was laughing with delight, even.
The deaths of the children were hard, but distance made a lot of it bearable. There's one scene with our fearless Historian that I'll never forget, even if I *know* it was a blatant attempt to tug at my heartstrings. It still worked like a freaking charm.
Do I love the series? Yes. I do believe I do. I need a slight break though! Very emotional.
:)
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Reading Progress
May 26, 2015
– Shelved
May 26, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 24, 2016
–
Started Reading
March 26, 2016
– Shelved as:
fantasy
March 26, 2016
–
Finished Reading
December 31, 2016
– Shelved as:
2016-shelf
May 23, 2022
– Shelved as:
epic-fantasy
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Justine
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 26, 2016 11:56PM
If you plan on reading the rest of the series you should probably get used to saying, WTF?
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Quite! Oh I cried with this. Isn't the author an archaeologist?
Wtf indeed. It's an unforgiving world
Erikson is an archaeologist, yes, and I'm WTF because of a few spoilerish cliffhangerish character reversals at the end.The assassin's change of heart, for one, and the Historian's little encounter with a sad-eyed immortal, for another.
As a reader, I wanted a *bit* more payoff with the Empress, and I'd grown *way* too close with the Historian to be exactly happy with his fate.
I know the best advice is to be patient and see what happens with the rest of the series, which is why I'm perfectly willing to give this book an utter pass. I would NOT be this happy if I knew this was a standalone or if the general happiness of readers dropped suddenly after this one.
This is a case where I really must rely on the opinions of others to see me through. It's a problem for me when I get too invested. :)
Very unforgiving world, but damn interesting and magical, too, so strikes a very cool balance. :)
And there tends to be a lot of compassion and camaraderie throughout; even some, dare I say, hope
That's some of the strongest parts of he novel. Very true. Without that to counterbalance, it. Might have been too much. Fortunately, after recently reading The Prelapsarians, I have a stronger constitution for the rough stuff. :)
Nice review and I do agree with you on all aspects, very heart wrenching indeed. I kept repeating WTF a million times throughout the book but especially at the end! And I can't wait to read the next one, which I am keeping right next to me and looking at very fondly but like you I know I need my distance before picking that one up! :)
Wow, sounds like this book (series) has one epic scale!I was laughing with delight
Well, as the saying goes: Schadenfreude ist die schönste Freude (Schadenfreude is the best of all joys). xD
I'll get to it before very long, probably right after I sop up my tears. :)And yes, it has one hell of an epic scale. :)
And I love The Arabian Nights. Such a classic. :)
Don't get too attached to ant if the characters; Erickson's treatment of his characters makes GRRM'S look positively quaint by comparison.
Grrm! The sound we all make when we lose a character very special to us.Grrm! Grrm! *cry* Grrm.
Brad wrote: "Grrm! The sound we all make when we lose a character very special to us.Grrm! Grrm! *cry* Grrm."
Muhahahahaha! True. Although I know another author who started doing that (to me) way before GRRM!
There may be many precedents, but none quite as popular. At least recently. Though, why am I thinking of Guy Fawkes? Lol
*lol* "Remember, remember, the 5th of November ..."No, none as popular, that's true.
Also, what I find surprising is that we all think of GRRM immediately yet he hasn't killed off nearly as many characters as the show runners! xD
Main characters, that's true, but the fourth book was called A Feast For Crows for a reason. :)
Muhahaha. Well, the man just doesn't want his fans to be disappointed. ;P
I'm psyching myself up for it. :) Get a lot of SF reading in, then dive head first into the fantasy. :)
It was mine too, Scott. At least as far as I've gotten. (thru book 6)
I am planning on reading this eventually... Great review!
Thanks! And I wish you all the fun in the world! :)
I 5* Midnight but the following book became a huge favourite with one of the greatest characters ever.
If MC's keep dying off, I assume the real MC's are the settings and the gods. :)
Lol. There are survivors from book one.
What? Like two? Lol I kid... It just *feels* like everyone I cared about died. ;)
I love your review, but the book, not so much. It did get bogged down for me. I just read this one and I think I will leave the Malazan train now. Sanderson was never this much work ;)
No, Sanderson never was this much work. :) Or Brent Weeks. *sigh*
I too finished and sat in silence.
This book had such a sad ending. Probably the most emotional for me in the series so far. I'm on book 6 but I have a feeling it's going to have similar effects when I get to the end of it.
My final reaction was exactly like yours! Wonderful review for a great book!!!
This book was a wholesome destruction.
Nice turn of phrase. :) The automatic assumption that all things must be destroyed, the purity of it. :)
