Deadhouse Gates

Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 2

By: Steven Erikson

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Length: 34 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

In the vast dominion of Seven Cities, in the Holy Desert Raraku, the seer Sha’ik and her followers prepare for the long-prophesied uprising known as the Whirlwind. Unprecedented in size and savagery, this maelstrom of fanaticism and bloodlust will embroil the Malazan Empire in one of the bloodiest conflicts it has ever known, shaping destinies and giving birth to legends.....

Set in a brilliantly realized world ravaged by dark, uncontrollable magic, this thrilling novel of war, intrigue, and betrayal confirms Steven Erikson as a storyteller of breathtaking skill, imagination, and originality - a new master of epic fantasy.

©2006 Steven Erikson (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Give me the evocation of a rich, complex, and yet ultimately unknowable other world, with a compelling suggestion of intricate history and mythology and lore. Give me mystery amid the grand narrative. Give me a world in which every sea hides a crumbled Atlantis, every ruin has a tale to tell, every mattock blade is a silent legacy of struggles unknown. Give me, in other words, the fantasy work of Steven Erikson." (Andrew Leonard, Salon)

Epic and a much smoother ride.

Still a tough "read" but the performance is second to none. The themes, visuals and imagination here are amazing. Some of the scenes will stick with me forever. I find I still struggle to understand what is going on at points but that is mainly because of the way I listen (i.e not carefully) so I miss much of the hints and nuance. Rewarding and worth it.

What a wonderful adventure

The tale is expertly spinned. High adventure at its finest. The reading added to the excitement with excellent voice acting.

Imagination beyond belief!

I cannot begin to express the mysterious imagination and creativity that has been put into this novel. I can't wait for the next eight books. the fist pumps from joyous surprises and incredible adventure giving to comedy, to tears etc., is everything one would expect after reading the first novel in this book series by Steven Erikson. it was a great ride. I await the new inventions and mysteries in this unique fantasy. Steven Erikson carved out for himself and I believe will be recognized as one of History's most imaginative and creative authors.

The Chain of Dogs Marches On!

Would you listen to Deadhouse Gates again? Why?

Yes, not for a while, but yes. This book is long and honestly it has a pretty emotional story that can be a bit taxing. But it is fantastic, and I would gladly listen to it again.

What other book might you compare Deadhouse Gates to and why?

It has sections that are very reminiscent of some of George R.R. Martin's work. I've struggled to draw comparisons to other works for Erikson's writing.

What about Ralph Lister’s performance did you like?

Lister is fantastic at defining voices for the various characters. He is excited when he should be, sarcastic when needed, and overall just a very well conveyed voice. I never struggled to understand the meaning of words during the performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and no. The book is fantastic, however with some of the events that happen a couple breaks were necessary.

Any additional comments?

Great title, and a fantastic sequel to Gardens of the Moon. If you struggled through Gardens, I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy Deadhouse more.

Simply amazing!!!!!

Best of all the Malazan fallen books, and the others a literary gold. This book will provoke all emotions of the reader without a dull moment. Ericson is a master, take the time to listen several times.

Fantasy at it's phenomenal best

This book as a read? Incredible. This book read to you? Beyond that. Purchase. Download. Listen. Immerse. Enjoy.

Finally

Finally a real EPIC series to capture my mind & imagination, I'm loving these! just stick with it,go look at the WikiMalazan to help clear any confusion & once you grasp all the characters & places etc,you will be rewarded

Greatness

Love this series sofar. I hope it stays this entertaining..Two books in to this wonderful world I hope it just keeps getting better..

Better than the previous book in some ways

This series is so weird! The sequel has a mostly new cast of characters, magic and scenarios. I’m impressed by the authors creativity.

The ramp up to payoff is longer than Gardens of the Moon, though and you’re left wondering at times why you should care about characters and write them off. The conclusion to their stories at the moment are deeply fascinating, though.

It seems like the story is making more sense so we’ll see if the sequel can be more of a direct continuation.

Amazing!

Loved it. Couldnt stop listening. Drove me crazy at the conclusion, it was very well written.