Deadhouse Gates (Book 2 of The Malazan Book of the Fallen)

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Erikson’s characters might not appeal to everyone, and I know plenty of folk who’d argue that they couldn’t relate to a single one.

Set in a brilliantly-realized world ravaged by anarchy and dark, uncontrollable magic, Deadhouse Gates is the thrilling, brutal second chapter in the Malazan Book of the Fallen. As a Wickan – a horse-centric tribe who battled the encroaching Malazans for years before eventually allying with them – he’s not exactly a crowd favourite. I was never quite as invested in the story as I would have liked to be, and the romances were god awful.First released in 2000 in Great Britain and Canada, it was published by Tor in 2005 for the United States. The sweet lil’ fishergirl possessed by the Patron of Assassins and then slipped into the Bridgeburners as their creepy-arsed new recruit? We are introduced to Duiker, the Imperial Historian, who recounts the March of Dogs of the great general Coltaine, who tasks himself with protecting the Malazan refugees in their attempt to reach safety across an entire continent. Coltaine rejects an offer from Korbolo to let the refugees cross the river, but the nobles and refugees cross anyway and Korbolo sends archers on floating bridges to kill them.

I'm still not particularly attached to any character, which makes it a bit difficult to continue reading. Big, bad, brutal – from the moment we first meet him, shackled alongside Felisin, it’s clear that the apparently thuggish Baudin is a stone-cold killer. The Trygalle Trade Guild arrives via warren to provide food and water from Dujek and friends in Darujhistan and a bottle for Coltaine to crush against his chest when the time comes ("never underestimate the Empress"), and all present realize that Dujek's alleged treason is false and he fights alongside his former enemies against the Pannion Seer at the Empress's behest.Coltaine's Wickans defeat one of Kamist Reloe's tribes, though outnumbered seven to one, thus convincing Duiker that Coltaine means to do more than merely flee the rebellion. And good ol’ Bult, with his mangled face and crude-but-loveable manner, is right behind his beloved clan leader every step of the way. I remember saying to myself through the first