Malazan: Deadhouse Gates Review

Tolkien was a linguist and it shows. Erikson is an anthropologist and archeologist and somehow that's even more apparent.

I actually cried near the end of this book. "RELEASE HIM. PLEASE!"

Just wanted to add on ur comment of the chain of dogs ending, the refugees didn’t die. They were allowed into safety in the city. It was the forces that stayed behind to fight korbolo dom and his army that died. Coltaine, bult, the wickens and malazan 7th army. They fought to give the refugees time to get inside the city and then were slaughtered right outside of its gates, the refugees did make it to safety.

Four books in and this book is still my favorite with my two favorite lines that will never leave me. “Armour can hide anything until the moment it falls away. Even a child. Especially a child.” And “Children are Dying. The injustices of the world hide in those three words.” My god the beautiful sadness in those lines.

I was miserable with this book the first half. Then in the second half I fell in love with it. But I can certainly say it isn't for everyone. I'm 4 books in now and it remains my favorite. And I know the fans get mad at me for this, and the series may not be overall, but this book is extremely grimdark. It felt like a First Law book in a lot of instances.

“I see now that the unnamed soldier is a gift. The named soldier—dead, melted wax—demands a response among the living…a response no one can make. Names are no comfort, they’re a call to answer the unanswerable. Why did she die, not him? Why do the survivors remain anonymous—as if cursed—while the dead are revered? Why do we cling to what we lose while we ignore what we still hold? Name none of the fallen, for they stand in our place, and stand there still in each moment of our lives. Let my death hold no glory, and let me die forgotten and unknown. Let it not be said that I was one among the dead to accuse the living.” -Duiker

An honest heartfelt review is more meaningful than a perfectly organized-hit-every-plot-point one. I couldn’t agree more about how Erikson presents many angles of trauma and war but doesn’t tell you how to feel. I love that you took the time to deeply explore these different perspectives. Thank you, Merphy! 🤍

Hi Merphy, I really enjoyed your review. I am so pleased that you experienced that connection with Felisin. She is a wonderfully complex and well realised character. I hope that the rest of the series continues to engage and immerse you. If you are interested I have a discussion with Erikson on my channel about one of the humorous scenes in Deadhouse Gates.

Malazan and One Piece are 2 of my favorite series so I'm having a lot of fun watching you discover them both for the first time. :)

The first-time Malazan experience goes like this: during Gardens of the Moon you're completely lost until the very end, when you think you've kind of got a handle on the cast and what they're doing. In Deadhouse gates you're completely lost again because it's a new cast in a new place. Memories of Ice you begin to see there's a bigger picture for the series. In House of Chains you start thinking you can see that bigger picture. In Midnight Tides you're lost again because you're in a new place with completely new people again. It's not until Bonehunters that you actually start getting it. I wish I could read it all again for the first time.

this book broke me when I first read it. the final scene had so much pathos and beauty to it while also being extremely tragic. Steven Erikson is writing a poetic epic through malazan book of the fallen and i love it.

Me: Yeah, I'm reading the Malazan series. Friend: Cool, what's it about. Me: 1,000 yard stare

Deadhouse Gates is definitely one of those books that lingers with you. The ending is so viscerally sad and I remember just shutting the book and just staring at the wall while tears slowly fell. I’m on book 8 now and I’ve loved them all but Deadhouse Gates is definitely the most memorable and my favorite.

A major issue I see with a lot of people who try Malazan is that they go into it feeling like they’re owed explanations on everything. Erikson doesn’t let you into the characters heads, and follows the method of “show, don’t tell.” Just enjoy the ride and discover everything at the pace he wants you to.

I know you said that Erikson doesn’t force morality on the reader but compassion is one of the main themes of the series as a whole, which makes it insane how some readers perceive Felisin.

Really enjoyed this video, I love how heartfelt it was! I like to refer to Malazan as "Grimhope". Yes, the world is dark, but that doesn't mean you can't do something good.

It's such a relief to hear your thoughts on Felisin precisely echo my own. You may not understand the world of Malazan yet, but you certainly understand its characters and themes, which is ultimately the heart of the series. I've a feeling you're gonna increasingly love it going forward.

Thanks for the Felisin perspective. I didn't entirely get that people deal with abuse differently, and that her rudeness was one way to deal with it. I was always fixated on "that's not how I'd react", which I now know would be a harmful outlook. Waiting for your review of House of Chains (book four) to push me through finishing that book.

I love your Malazan reviews Merphy. It's funny how at the start, I thought one storyline was going to be boring. 'I don't know these people! There's not really anything magic going on!' But by the end I was totally invested and it was heart-wrenching.

It's a shame that Erikson isn't really commenting on YouTube videos anymore because I know he would have appreciated your grasp of the themes and your emotional honesty. These books can be a slog for various reasons, but there is a beautiful soul to them and they will be no crueller than is absolutely necessary. Hold the course!