Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Average Customer Rating:

Long but worth it

Customer Rating:

If you like your fantasy black and white, then this series/book is NOT for you. If you are a fan of Dan Abnett, Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan or Terry Goodkind then I would suggest that you steer clear of this book. That said; as several other reviewers pointed out, this series is quite unique in not presenting any faction heroically or villanously, with characters from various parts of the narrative in direct political opposition for entirely understandable reasons. This book also does a good job of using a number of minor characters to bridge the gap between the first and second books, and while there is considerable new information about the background of the world in this book, it is an extension of things hinted at in the first book. It feels like you get this new knowledge organically and not through exposition. I particularily enjoy that the series presents magic (divine and arcane) as powerful, but not to such an extent that it mocks the efforts of non-magic users. The only reason that I am not going to rate this book a 5, is that I felt that a particular appearance to deliver vital supplies to various plot strands (I can't say much more without spoiling the book badly) smacked of blatant deus ex machina. I would also like to warn all people that buy this book, that the Third book in the series is "Memories of Ice" and NOT "House of Chains" as shown on the inside cover of the latest printing of "Deadhouse Gates".

People need to read them ALL!

Customer Rating:

I can understand some of the other reviews about complexity and you dont get any feeling for the characters (so far) im on toll of the hounds the latest and i love all the characters. After reading through them, so MUCH about each character is spread out over all the books you cant understand the characters properly until you have read at least the first 7 books. By house of chains i was thinking "aahhhh so thats why he behaves like that" or "i see, thats what happened to them all those years ago" ive found that fantasy series like this one are impossible to review properly until you have read the series, yes 1 book might be better than another and yes 1 of the books might wander of in a different direction, you have to take the story in as a Whole. for those that have given up i pity you because you will miss out on in my opinion the greatest fantasy books EVER to be written. As for the deadhouse gates i also agree that the felisin bit was abit rubbish and boring mainly because i dont like girly weak characters and also im not to keen on women characters in fantasy books, their always made out to be weak moaning useless wenches (with the exception of felisins sister Tavore, but shes a lesbian so thats probably why she isnt like the normal female Characters :P ) plus when it comes to swords and shields i just cant take female characters seriously (sorry i just cant, they dont go together in my opinion). But the Chain of dogs section in this book is quite simply amazing one of the best bits of the whole series so far if you ask me, brilliant!(i actually threw the book across the room in outrage at the end of it). All in all if you buy this book buy them ALL dont judge the WHOLE series from one book, its not fair.(look at lord of the rings, the first book is boring but the second two are MILES better!)

A candidate for best fantasy ever	Customer Rating:
Erikson has produced an all time masterpiece work with this book. Buy it, read it and never think of being put off by people who criticise its "slow" start. There is nothing else that need be said.

A Stunning Epic

Customer Rating:

This book is the second in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series and it deffinatly lives up to the standards set by the first book, however if you are looking to experience a book along the same story line as the first you will be disssapointed. The story changes view to a different part of the Malazan empire this time, however it retains several of the great characters from before. It does start off a little slowly, but in all fairness it contains very few drab chapters and many that will keep you thirsting for more. You will find yourself challenged by this book and the outcome of the story. Many times you find yourself waiting for something more to happen, a cliche twist in the tail, when Erikson has allready finished the chapter in manner both suprising and inspiring.

walk with the chain

Customer Rating:

ok let me start by saying that when i first started to read this book i was a little dissapointed. where was whiskeyjack and the bridgeburners. the only ones to make it were kalam, quick ben, fiddler, crokus and sorry. but i stuck with it as it seemed unfair to dismiss it so quickly andwas i ever rewarded for my patience. it is almost equal in brilliance ot the gardens of the moon but on a slightly different level. this book focuses on the rebellion occuring in a differen area of the malazan empire to what we saw in the first book, and contains broadly two story paths. one is the story of a young girl who has been exiled. and the other focuses on a new commander of the armies of the malazan empire in this area and his ability to become a great commander. of course all hell break loose and then we see the true gem of this story, the struggle for survival in the face of impossible odds. read it and you'll see what i mean also has a truly heartbreaking ending, you know whats gonna happen but you wish somene would do something. all in al a great book, not quite as great as the original but thats hardly fair seeing as the first was amazing in every way. wait till you hit book 3. probably the best in the series.