Book Review: Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

Blurb: 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 Eirkson as a storyteller of breathtaking skill, imagination and originality--a new master of epic fantasy.

I give it 4 stars

My review

If you like Lord of the Rings, you may want to give Deadhouse Gates a try. This is epic fantasy on a massive scale. Intriguing and uniquely individual characters, a beautifully described world, a no holds barred view of the atrocities of war, and an interesting magical system make this a must read for any fantasy fan. The only reason this isn't a five star book for me, is because it was perhaps a little too complex and vast. There is so much going on in this book that the story often dwarfs the characters and for me characters are the most important part of a story. Still, this is a book I would highly recommend.

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Deadhouse-Gates-Malazan-Fallen-ebook/dp/B002S6UNRE/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375101063&sr=1-1&keywords=deadhouse+gates