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vivectelvanni's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Gore, and Sexual violence
panger97's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
If you go into this book expecting the exact sequel to Gardens of the Moon, you will probably be a bit lost again. We are introduced to a whole new set of characters, aside from a handful that are returning from the first book, but we are now in a new island setting, that of the Seven Cities isles. The world seems much more brutal compared to that of the first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Sexual violence
prahlad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
syinhui's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
It’s brilliant. It’s extraordinary.
At times, I would find myself utterly dumbfounded. My jaw slacked in shock and awe. Too thrilled and engrossed, I had to pause, and breathe, just to take it all in.
Still a difficult read but considerably way more enjoyable than Gardens of the Moon.
Did I say enjoyable? Scratch that.
DEADHOUSE GATES HURT. Hurts...
DEADHOUSE GATES HURT. Hurts...
Mappo and Icarium. Coltaine and his Chain of Dogs.
The second installment is really where the grimdark finally shines. ✨
Fun, right?
Fun, right?
As much as I want to make a *literary review* of this book, (which it definitely deserves) and I tried, but alas, I couldn’t. I’m not even sure if I could write a coherent review. But here we go… After finishing the book, my thoughts and feelings are as chaotic as the world of the Malazan Empire itself. There are already a lot of very articulate and informative reviews out there highlighting the strengths of this book. (superb worldbuilding, improved characterization, tighter plotlines and better dialogues etc…) If that’s what you’re looking for fellow reader, you might want to check those out.
I’m just going to speak from my personal reading experience. And that experience is one chock full of surprise, disbelief, wonder, outrage, grief, half-sobs and whimpers, occasional squeals and tiny shrieks of delight, and most of all – heart-wrenching pain and sorrow that established itself somewhere from the beginning to the end of the book.
I couldn’t wrap my head around the loss… the staggering loss of life. Annihilation of entire cities and peoples. Millenniums of harrowing history - obscured and forgotten only revisited through memories of tortured ghosts.
'The lesson of history is that no one learns.'
Duiker’s perspectives on the extraordinary, soul-scarring journey of the Chain of Dogs haunted me. Haunts me still…
'I saw one healer’s arm snap like a twig when he lifted a pot from the hearth. That frightened me more than anything I’ve yet to witness, Captain.'
Despite my heart being crushed by the bleak, gruesome, and grim atmosphere of the arcs, somehow, Steven Erikson is amazing and cruel enough to trample on those broken pieces with: COLTAINE. It’s almost impossible not to mention the man’s name in the same sentence as the word heartbroken. Believe me.
'The man leads an army that refuses to die. We’ve not lost a refugee to enemy action in thirty hours. Five thousand soldiers… spitting in the face of every god…'
The Jhag and the Trell. Two ancient wanderers. Companions.
One bound to an old vow. One in an unending search for answers. A tragic tale of friendship.
One bound to an old vow. One in an unending search for answers. A tragic tale of friendship.
After a time, as they walked on the plain, Icarium glanced at Mappo. ‘What would I do without you, my friend?'
The realization that came from that simple, innocent question is too terrifying.
It literally gave me goosebumps. No wonder Mappo flinched at that.
It literally gave me goosebumps. No wonder Mappo flinched at that.
Felisin’s arc (although not my favorite) is such a complex, multi-layered journey of survival and loss of innocence which profoundly shaped her character. In other books, it should be a coming-of-age story, I guess, but Deadhouse Gates twisted it into something way darker and more traumatic.
It's also very sad to see how capable characters such as Kalam and Fiddler be overwhelmed by helplessness and insignificance. I’m seeing the hero in them, but the world is just too harsh and brutal.
Heroism is stupidity. Futile even.
… the sapper was left trembling in the realization of his insignificance and that of all his kind. Humans were but one tiny, frail leaf on a tree too massive even to comprehend.
Kalam feared insignificance, he feared the inability to produce an effect, to force a change upon the world beyond his flesh.
The seemingly headlong plunge this journey had become was in truth but the smallest succession of steps, of no greater import than the struggles of a termite.
'Of course, Kalam wanted to save them! But he knew it was impossible! Only vengeance was possible!'
I love the few scenes we got with Shadowthrone. No matter how freaking shady he is. I can’t deny that the god is growing on me. Looking forward to loving and/or hating the guts out of that scheming giggly bastard. I'd also love to see more of Uncle Cotillion and the shadow folks (The Hounds, Apt and Panek, Iskaral Pust)
The god giggled again. ‘Cotillion will be so pleased, won’t he just.”
Hee hee!
I could do with a leisurely reread to catch the easter eggs and references I missed
but... I’m reeling here. Deadhouse Gates left such heaviness in my heart. I am ruined. Devastated.
YET so excited to dive into the next book! Peeking at Memories of Ice's character list, seems like we're back to the folks in Darujhistan, of course, with a plethora of new names added. Probably, key players. Yay!
On a last note,
but... I’m reeling here. Deadhouse Gates left such heaviness in my heart. I am ruined. Devastated.
YET so excited to dive into the next book! Peeking at Memories of Ice's character list, seems like we're back to the folks in Darujhistan, of course, with a plethora of new names added. Probably, key players. Yay!
On a last note,
"The Wickans! The Wickans! The Wickans!" 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual violence
ilereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Secondo volume molto più violento ed intenso del precedente. Dopo "La Dimora Fantasma" posso dire di essermi fatta finalmente un'idea della scrittura di Steven Erkson e del tipo di storia che vuole raccontare; una storia cruda che non fa sconti a nessuno, senza dei veri protagonisti e in cui è molto difficile riuscire a capire chi è l'eroe e chi il cattivo. Come nel primo romanzo, seguiamo diversi filoni narrativi; il più coivolgente per me è stato senza dubbio il viaggio della Catena dei Cani di Coltaine nel suo disperato tentativo di portare in salvo migliaia di fuggiaschi malazan ad Aren, l'unica città non ancora caduta nelle mani dei ribelli. Un viaggio estenuante, quasi impossibile e che riserva un finale sconvogente e agghiacciante. Facciamo poi la conoscenza del sacerdote senza mani Heboric e della sorella minore di Ganoes Paran, Felisin, un personaggio molto controverso che spesso fa scelte abbastanza discutibili ma per me giustificate dalla terribile situazione di schiavitù nelle miniere in cui si ritrova. Tra i vecchi personaggi ritroviamo Kalam, Crokus, Apsalar e il Violinista. Forse nel complesso l'ho trovato un po più lento del primo volume, anche per la mole, ma si riprende con una parte finale spettacolare.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
gilchrist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Abortion
bcrowes11's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Murder
Don't get hung up on the names of people too much. Use the map to follow where you are, and just focus on the story being toldbadmc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.5
Hook, line...
This book was hard to wade through because, as one reviewer aptly put it, it's about "sad people in a desert". It's also about war in a desert, sexual violence in the mines, and betrayal in the places that are in-between. We follow a wide range of characters, whose destinies get tangled up together with the upheaval of Seven cities, who rise with the Whirlwind to oppose the Malazan Empire and slaughter its citizens that occupy them.
I am sad we didn't get to see more of the Seven cities, because I really loved Darujhistan in the first book, but alas, we were stuck in Raraku desert, magical warrens, ruins, and Azath house for the most of the book. Oh, and the mines, of course. The POV of young girl (a child, really) that gets raped repeatedly, gets addicted as a way to power through it, develops Stockholm syndrome, and then becomes poisonous to the people that want to help her was torturous for me: the real (or imagined) betrayal she meets at every turn really killed my motivation and is the reason it took me almost 20 days to finish the book. I mean, we have enough of the slut shaming, disbelief, and guilting women and girls in the real life, I really struggle with it in book format, especially when I see some of the reactions to the depiction that just underline the misogyny that was shown here (I applaud Erikson for showing this form of depression and PTSD, as rage and hatred). On the other hand, we follow sturdy historian who chronicles the accomplishments of a barbarian war chief (I cried over this!), two friends with complicated past that broke my heart, a soldier you can depend on, and an assassin that seeks answers and gets more than he bargained for. We also get to see a plethora of characters, gods, creatures, and hints of the fate of civilizations and races past.
It is a sprawling saga that will have to be read more than once for the nuance and backstory to really sink in. There are some plot holes, the plot meanders everywhere, some characters don't have the chance to grow or to get fleshed out enough for you to care for them (I want more Apsalar, and Crokus was somehow diminished), and it would help to get a better sense for the slaughter we witness (a mass of bodies, blood, and guts stop being shocking, make me care!), but this book made me feel all the feels, and for that, I love it.
This book was hard to wade through because, as one reviewer aptly put it, it's about "sad people in a desert". It's also about war in a desert, sexual violence in the mines, and betrayal in the places that are in-between. We follow a wide range of characters, whose destinies get tangled up together with the upheaval of Seven cities, who rise with the Whirlwind to oppose the Malazan Empire and slaughter its citizens that occupy them.
I am sad we didn't get to see more of the Seven cities, because I really loved Darujhistan in the first book, but alas, we were stuck in Raraku desert, magical warrens, ruins, and Azath house for the most of the book. Oh, and the mines, of course. The POV of young girl (a child, really) that gets raped repeatedly, gets addicted as a way to power through it, develops Stockholm syndrome, and then becomes poisonous to the people that want to help her was torturous for me: the real (or imagined) betrayal she meets at every turn really killed my motivation and is the reason it took me almost 20 days to finish the book. I mean, we have enough of the slut shaming, disbelief, and guilting women and girls in the real life, I really struggle with it in book format, especially when I see some of the reactions to the depiction that just underline the misogyny that was shown here (I applaud Erikson for showing this form of depression and PTSD, as rage and hatred). On the other hand, we follow sturdy historian who chronicles the accomplishments of a barbarian war chief (I cried over this!), two friends with complicated past that broke my heart, a soldier you can depend on, and an assassin that seeks answers and gets more than he bargained for. We also get to see a plethora of characters, gods, creatures, and hints of the fate of civilizations and races past.
It is a sprawling saga that will have to be read more than once for the nuance and backstory to really sink in. There are some plot holes, the plot meanders everywhere, some characters don't have the chance to grow or to get fleshed out enough for you to care for them (I want more Apsalar, and Crokus was somehow diminished), and it would help to get a better sense for the slaughter we witness (a mass of bodies, blood, and guts stop being shocking, make me care!), but this book made me feel all the feels, and for that, I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture
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
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