Deadhouse Gates (Paperback)

You really can describe this series like a motorcycle, it just keep accelerating to breakneck speeds.

This book takes place on an entirely different continent under Malazan rule, and concerns some new characters (amongst which is Ganoes Paran's youngest sister Felisin), but also has a few Bridgeburners (Kalam & Fiddler), and other known names from the 1st book (Apsalar/Sorry, Crokus, and Moby). While the scope of characters grows ever larger, so does the plot. It is in this book that you can see the slow and gentle weave of the story threads for the whole series. Like I have said in other reviews, Erikson is purposely using each subsequent book to make characters grow personally. Some complaints about GotM were that he doesn't spend the time to make you care about characters, but he TOTALLY is....he just didn't do it in one book. I think he knows he has 10 books to make this series, and to be honest with the complainers.....when you watch a two hour movie, do you fall in love with the personalities (or even KNOW them well) in the first 10 minutes? No sir, you do not. Example of how this works effectively. Fiddler in the first book was a fellow Sapper with Hedge, and they spent their time getting excited about munitions, and grumbling about soldiery ect. Not too much there right? Well that's because Fiddler takes a lead role in DHG and you get to know him down to his core in this book (and get to know Hedge in a similar fashion in the 3rd book Memories of Ice). He's taking his time, and I for one find that REFRESHING!

This book has many great aspects (and I would liken this to "Empire Strikes Back", it is quite dark in overall tone), but the heart and soul of this book is the "Chain of Dogs" storyline. Told mostly from Imperial Historian Duiker's POV, it is the story of an untested Fist of the empire having to move his army across an entire continent (over 200 leagues I believe) while all the while defending 300 thousand Malazan refugees fleeing rebellion in the Seven Cities. Armies of the Apocalypse at his heels continuously, and innner strife amongst those refugees, all the while having to invent and confound to get these people to safety. It is absolutely heart rending, and is one of the most amazing pieces of writing. If GotM was incredible, DHG trumps it. Erikson keeps getting better and better with every book.

Better than Martin and Hobb combined.

Set shortly after the connected events of "Gardens of the Moon", the narrative follows a number of characters (some we have already met) with individual motives, travelling in groups throughout the civil-war-torn continent of the Seven Cities (Genabackis returns in Book 3). This is a land with different dynamics and changing allegiances. There is enough intrigue and incident to keep the reader interested, no, obsessed with each group, especially Coltain's March.

What I truly love about Deadhouse Gates is that not only has Erikson recaptured the spirit of Book 1, but has written Book 2 with a plotline that accelerates and doesn't let go. I felt I read the last 300 pages faster than I had ever read before.

Don't have any doubts about continuing this series, it is masterfully written. Erikson attempts to be huge in scope, and he actually succeeds - moreso than anyone since Tolkien. He is the new 'High Fist' of epic fantasy. Treat yourself.