Deadhouse Gates: Book Two of The Malazan Book of the Fallen

Steven Erikson

Feb 2006 · Malazan Book of the Fallen Book 2 · Sold by Macmillan

About this ebook

The second novel in the awe-inspiring Malazan Book of the Fallen series. "Gripping, fast-moving, delightfully dark, with a masterful and unapologetic brutality reminiscent of George R. R. Martin." -- Elizabeth Haydon

In the vast dominion of Seven Cities, in the Holy Desert Raraku, the seer Sha'ik and her followers prepare for the long-prophesied uprising known as the Whirlwind. Unprecedented in size and savagery, this maelstrom of fanaticism and bloodlust will embroil the Malazan Empire in one of the bloodiest conflicts it has ever known, shaping destinies and giving birth to legends . . .

Set in a brilliantly realized world ravaged by dark, uncontrollable magic, Deadhouse Gates is a novel of war, intrigue and betrayal confirms Steven Eirkson as a storyteller of breathtaking skill, imagination and originality--a new master of epic fantasy.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings and reviews

*SPOILER ALERT* This story is masterful. I love Erickson's quirky characters like Iskaral Pust. Pust reminds me of Scooby-Doo villains 😂, an "I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!" type of character. Erickson writes realistic, detailed soldiers, mages, men, women, and these cooky characters as well. The characters' inner monologues are powerful. The scene at Aren's Gate had me bawling my eyes out. The characters grapple with the horrors of war, enslavement, and rape on both sides. Erickson writes inner and outer battles incredibly well. I had to take what I call "imagination breaks" sometimes because it can be hard to imagine a fantastical world. The narrator is also amazing! He is able to retain over 50 distinct characters, some of whom suffer injuries affecting their speech or don't appear for long periods of time. He brings them all to life. He also does an excellent job with the regional accents. I'm amazed by his talent.

The scale and ambition of the book almost overwhelm on the first read, but the depth of the world created is matched by meticulous planning on Erikson's part. Read the book once to take in the story, then again after finishing the series to fully appreciate how the complex stories told in the book are all interwoven.

Another great fantasy book in the series. A much easier read than the first, in part because it is more localized to a subset of characters, but still not as easy as the third (which I just finished).

About the author

Steven Erikson was born in Toronto, grew up in Winnipeg, then lived in England for a number of years with his wife and son. They have since returned to Winnipeg. He worked for nearly twenty years as an anthropologist and archaeologist, as well as being a graduate of the Iowa Writer's Workshop.