Deadhouse Gates

Title: Deadhouse Gates

2nd book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen Series

Author: Steven Erikson

Unlike Erikson's first book in this series, this book gives the readers a more intimate view of the Malazan Empire. The story is told through the point of view of a few selected characters. Erikson still lapses with his habit in the first book of switching to one point of view to another in the same paragraph or chapter. Deadhouse Gates is more compact, more personal and more emotional than Gardens of the Moon. The book foreshadows what is to become of the empire.

Here we meet new players along with familiar characters from the first book. It focuses on five main stories, although they are only a small part that makes up the plot of the series. Each story is told in one unique perspective, the most notable of which is Duiker's narrative of Coltaine's march. The other narratives revolve around the following characters: Icarium, who the readers will meet for the first time. His story is told from the perspective of his friend Mappo; Felisin, who is mentioned in the first book as one of Paran's sisters; Kalam's journey to attempt to assassinate the Empress; and the journey of Apsalar, Fiddler and Crokus. The objectives are not so clear to the trio at first though.

Among these five journeys we see a triangle that will foreshadow future events in the lives of the characters. As mentioned in the first book, Apsalar was once possessed by Cotillion. Her conflicting memories will force her to choose what kind of life she wants to lead after such a discovery. This marks the one side of the triangle. The characters are faced with problems in which finding the solution is not as easy as selecting one from the other available choice. 

Kalam finds that he has conflicting loyalties between his homeland and the Empire that he serves. When he has finally confronted the Empress, he found that the solution is not as easy as it seems. The same goes for Mappo who is torn between his duty and his love for his friend. Kalam and Mappo make up another side of the triangle. Decisions still must be made as long as one is aware of the consequences. Mappo is in a way betraying the task given to him for the sake of friendship. The same goes for Kalam. Although it was not stated in the book, I think he realized that killing the Empress will not undo the past and will just make things more complicated. That to rule an empire, one must be both brutal and merciful. 

The last character to complete the triangle is Felisin. In the early parts of the book, she is shown to be content with her situation. She endures because she knows no other way. She embraces pain because she thinks that is all she will ever get. This conviction is strengthened when she is chosen as Sha'ik Reborn. She thinks she is renewed because she found support in her convictions and she found a way to finally get her revenge. However she does not realize that this is not a renewal. She does not yet fully comprehend the role she is about to take, yet she accepts it. Unlike the other characters in the triangle, she has resigned to whatever fate has given to her, and relying on her strength and experience to endure the consequences.

My favorite part of this book is Duiker's account of Coltaine and his army. The characters insights makes a powerful narrative that is unmatched (in my opinion) in this series. The fact that it is told from his perspective alone makes it brilliant. The reader gets to look at war from the point of view of a scholar and a soldier who participates in the events first hand. Duiker's observations switch from an objective assessment to a personal reflection of the horrors of war. The reader is forced to reflect about the events and how it relates to them.

The book also provides a more detailed description of the Azath and the shapeshifters. Fewer ascendants are mentioned in this book, which makes it more colorful because most of the characters are humans. The fighting scenes are better than Gardens of the Moon, although there isn't much to be said about Erikson's knowledge in tactics. There is also a good lengthy fight scene involving Kalam and assassins, as well as battles in the sea. 

There is only one flaw I have observed. Towards the end of the book, Erikson should have at least provided a short paragraph from the point of view of soldiers within the walls of Aren as they looked upon their comrades outside. I do not see any point in resurrecting Duiker as well, although it was not intended at the start. The character loses its purpose and his death becomes meaningless, although he carries the first-hand account of the journey.

I think it was a well-written book. The maps and geographical descriptions of the battle scenes are easy to picture out. His development of the characters are much better and more in-depth than the first book. One thing I like most is that it did not involve a lot of non-human races and gods, therefore it was a more personal and emotional experience. It's a sad book too. Erikson was able to capture the different faces of what a person can become when pushed to the limits. He has shown that there can be cowards and heroes among us.