Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

7 reviews

thepurplebookwyrm's review against another edition

Status: DNF at 35% (chapter 9).

Reading vlog: https://youtu.be/d4fAamkop3M?si=23OsmFaB-4JjqZSx.

It's not you, Malazan Book of the Fallen, it's me (okay it's a little bit you too, let's be real). But yeah, I have needed to "git güd" at DNFing for a long time, and this series is as good a place to (properly) start as any – though it still feels weird, and wrong, to my pathologically perfectionist self. :/

I don't hate Malazan's world-building; I actually find it somewhat interesting and engaging. But the way it has, so far, been unfolding within Mr Erikson's storytelling just isn't enough to compensate for the utter disinterest I feel towards the plot – or rather plot threads – the characters or even the crumbs of broader theming I've managed to pick up. I just do not care, about anything or anyone in the, once again, actual story of Malazan (and literature, for me, has to and always will be a storytelling art form). And given my current state of (relatively) severe burnout, my ability to trudge through boredom and indifference for the sake of 'lore RAFO' has essentially been nullified. As an ideas- and concepts-driven reader, if a story's ideas and concepts can't pull me forward, then it's plot absolutely has to, and... it's just not, here. So it's time to pack it in!

Honestly, if Malazan's creators and/or the fandom ever puts out a lore companion book, I'd be happy to check it out because, to reiterate: I didn't find the world-building uninteresting, ultimately. I'd probably check out a graphic novel or, heck, video game adaptation of this series as well, if that ever became a thing. Also side note: the RPG origins of Malazan are kinda obvious if you know what to look for. Not that that's necessarily, in and of itself, a bad thing, mind you. But I don't think I really like that formula, personally. Different strokes for different folks and all that. ✌️

PS: also the whole desert setting thing, with regards to Deadhouse Gates specifically... eh, I allowed it for Dune, but I just couldn't with it here.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body horror, Gore, and Sexual violence

lvl52_grant's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I went into this book a little apprehensive, because I was so invested in the characters and plot of the first book, I wasn't so interested in a book on another continent with a different plot. However, once I got in, I was hooked once again. Erikson's characters are either: so real and human, or just weird little guys and it's so fun to see them interact. There were a few plotlines that were continued and those were satisfying, but the real highlights were four of the new characters: Mappo, Icarium, Coltaine, and Duiker. These were the characters that made me think and feel, and not always positive, but they were real. I'm now actually sad to be leaving these characters and to return back to Genabackis, but I'm sure they will show up again as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Drug abuse, Excrement, and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

nice_frogboy's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

this book is great, particularly the Chain of Dogs plotline, but i think Steven Erikson's mission statement "... [to] create a culture without gender bias so there would be no gender-based hierarchies of power... a world without sexism" is a bit risible in light of the Felisin plotline. you can't say that and then write a 15-year old girl to be on the receiving end of more sexual abuse than anything George R. R. Martin's written. that's just not how that works.

i have written a two line play to describe my feelings on this matter

[IN A WORLD WITHOUT GENDER-BASED HIERARCHIES OF POWER]
Felisin: i saved your life
Heboric: damn. you are a straight up motherfuckin dick pig

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body horror

pinkfloydian's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, and Rape

griffinthief's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pedophilia and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Abortion

catsy2022's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Sexual content

danielleor's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation