Scan barcode
thechaotictbr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and War
damjanotom's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Slavery
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
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
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.
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
cosmicpootz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
If Coltaine has 1000 fans I’m 1 of them. If Coltaine has 100 fans I’m 1 of them if Coltaine has 10 fans I’m 1 of them. If Coltaine has 0 fans…he better be reborn via some fucking soul eating crows or imma cry thank you so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, and War
sydalee's review against another edition
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Rape, Violence, Murder, and War
nanitiq's review against another edition
4.0
This is the Grimdark fantasy series you are looking for. It checks all the boxes you want in a grimdark book, with a fascinating world that does truly feel unique in the fantasy realm. Does anything happening make sense yet? No. Do I feel like I have a good grasp of the world after 2 books into the series? Yeah not really. But if you want something that you can go down a rabbit hole with and you want to commit lots of time and effort to a story, this is the series for you.
These books are complex. I very much recommend using the wiki's chapter by chapter synopsis as you are reading or this PowerPoint from https://twitter.com/SonAnomander
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-Rqhn-lK66YQKPwZQNbHmuCLBc0d7zwvRLUJFkM3s50/edit?usp=sharing
It may sound silly but I have missed a lot of things that I did not realize until I checked the powerpoint. I was following along as I finished a chapter.
These books are complex. I very much recommend using the wiki's chapter by chapter synopsis as you are reading or this PowerPoint from https://twitter.com/SonAnomander
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-Rqhn-lK66YQKPwZQNbHmuCLBc0d7zwvRLUJFkM3s50/edit?usp=sharing
It may sound silly but I have missed a lot of things that I did not realize until I checked the powerpoint. I was following along as I finished a chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and War
sonias's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Violence, and War
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, and Rape