Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

11 reviews

damjanotom's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

At first, Deadhouse Gates' intensity can be quite shocking and is most certainly intentionally so. At first this felt somewhat like torture-porn but as the book went on all of the events and the progression of each set of characters' arcs resolved into a nuanced reflection on the varied experience of living through and with prolonged trauma. Through this lens themes of war, grief, change, sexual trauma, and the roles of spirituality and information are all explored in ways that can often be shocking but felt nuanced nonetheless. Perspectives in character may have felt at first to be judgemental or disrespectful but provide depth to the discussion around the experience of trauma and how it changes those experiencing it and the way they interact and are perceived.

Outside of this, Deadhouse Gates presented some excellent genre stories including the main military fantasy storyline and a really engaging adventure storyline among others. A fairly heavy read with a lot of thematic meat on the bones but delivered through another tightly presented set of intertwined arcs.

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vivectelvanni's review

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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

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thepurplebookwyrm's review against another edition

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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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frogpheus's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.75

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sydalee's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book is BRUTAL. Please check content warnings before diving in.

I haven't figured out how to write reviews for Malazan books yet. The story is just so incredibly vast and complicated that I just can't even begin to explain what tf is happening in a short and succinct way. Deadhouse picks up shortly after the events of GOTM, but we're now on a completely different continent that has previously been conquered by the Malazan Empire. We do follow some familiar faces (Kalam, Fiddler, Apsalar, and Crokus), and we are introduced to a TON of new characters.

Everyone in this story is running for their lives for most of the book, and they are all fleeing through various plains and deserts on this continent. But even though there's no battle with a moon in the sky, there is still so much that happens to all of these characters during their flights. The Chain of Dogs storyline is the most heartbreaking thing I've ever read. I want to cry just thinking about it again. And the way Erikson wrote Felisin is also just devastating to read. She gets so much hate online, but she is just written SO well. Her storyline is truly just horrific to watch unfold in front of you.

Most of the book just kind of plods along, but Erikson makes up for that in the way he writes dialogue. He writes the funniest scenes, some characters say the most out of pocket things lol. And the ending!!! Gosh, the last quarter of GOTM and DG have both just been so much stuff happening at once to where you're just so hype to start reading the next book to see where in the world (literally) Erikson is going to take you next.

I did have to Google what the heck was going on in some scenes, and I still don't think I fully understand what Azath house is, but man, I'm just having a good time reading these and thinking about this world. I can't wait to get started on the next!

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froumts's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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josiah17's review against another edition

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challenging dark slow-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? Yes

3.0

For me, this was a downgrade from book one. I was more confused, cared less about the POV characters, and the world was just so grim that it became monotonous. Especially with Duiker's POV, who I really couldn't care less about.

But it didhad some good moments here and there. I simply hope book three is a return to form.

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syinhui's review

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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...

Mappo and Icarium. Coltaine and his Chain of Dogs.

The second installment is really where the grimdark finally shines. ✨
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.

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.

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,

"The Wickans! The Wickans! The Wickans!" 😭

Content Warnings

bcrowes11's review against another edition

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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

griffinthief's review against another edition

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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

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