892 reviews for:

House Of Chains

Steven Erikson

4.26 AVERAGE

adventurous mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous challenging dark slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

World building at it's finest. Just like the previous books, I have to stop and look up characters and read chapter summaries so I don't miss out on anything.
adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Deze recensie heb ik ooit voor SF-Terra geschreven:

Het Huis der Ketenen begint kort voor de gebeurtenissen in De Tuinen van de Maan. Maar het grootste deel van het boek speelt zich af na de overweldigende tragedie van de Hondenketen. Tavore neemt de plaats in van Coltaine en moet een wanordelijke en voor het grootste deel onervaren strijdmacht omsmeden tot een leger. Het rebellenleger van Sha’ik wacht in de woestijn rustig af wat er gebeurt.

Dit boek heeft vaart, spanning en een plot om je vingers bij af te likken. Hoewel het boordevol gebeurtenissen, diepere lagen en bizarre wendingen zit, lijkt het wel alsof het lezen steeds sneller gaat. In eerste instantie volgt het verhaal één persoon: Karsa Orlong. Verderop keert Erikson weer terug naar wat we ondertussen gewend zijn: een verhaal verteld vanuit meerdere figuren en meerdere locaties. Je moet er echt met je aandacht bijblijven, maar dat is het dan ook dubbel en dwars waard. De ketenen uit de titel komen op vele manieren terug, letterlijk en figuurlijk. Bovendien zijn die ketenen vaak al gesmeed in de eerdere delen. Ze drukken op de ziel van alle hoofdpersonen. Grimmig strijden zij ertegen, met soms bitter weinig succes. Het drakenspel krijgt er in dit boek een huis bij. Drie keer raden hoe het heet.
Ik kan me niet aan de indruk onttrekken dat werkelijk aan ieder detail gedacht is. Ieder karakter is zeer goed neergezet, reageert zoals bij het karakter past en heeft zijn eigen lijdensweg te gaan. Deprimerend zou je denken, maar toch is daar de humor die zo af en toe schijnt op duistere plaatsen. Ik word lyrisch van deze serie. Als dit zo doorgaat, dan komt de dag dat ik een van zijn boeken een 10 geef. Ik was nu al in de verleiding.
(Dit boek gaf ik een 9,5, meen ik me te herinneren)
adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Another great Malazan book, though I think it might be my least favorite of the first four. Still an above average read, just not quite as good as the previous books (for me). Still... I see me reading this series multiple times over the coming years.
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Third read: 4 down, 6 to go. o.O

The first 175 pages of this book deal exclusively with Karsa Orlong, the Toblakai guardian of Sha'ik. Here we learn of the events that led him to Leoman. Karsa is an arrogant shit, but he's a likable arrogant shit. I know many Malazan readers who cite Karsa as their favorite characters in the series. For me, I have too many favorites to pick a single favorite, but Karsa is certainly on that list. The remainder of the book resumes events immediately following those chronicled in Deadhouse Gates. The Chain of Dogs has ended with the deaths of all but a handful of survivors. Adjunct Tavore has assumed control of the Malazan forces and proceeds to march north to the heart of Raraku to confront the rebellion, wherein schemes and treachery abound. Overall, I think I have enjoyed the storyline chronicled in GotM and MoI more than the one in DG and this novel, but DG and HoC are still both great books. I have read some people who complain about Trull Sengar, but I really like his character, along with Onrack. If I remember correctly, Midnight Tides is essentially Trull telling the story of his people. Another complaint I've heard about this series is that some people feel like its basically like reading a superhero comic. There is some validity to that claim, but if you don't like unrealistic stories, why are you reading fantasy?

Previous review: This book primarily tells the story of Karsa Orlong, from his first steps on the path towards his perceived glory, to his first steps on his path to wisdom. This book also tells the intertwined story of Adjunct Tavore and her sister Felisin. They are on opposite sides of a fatal war, with a tragic conclusion. We also meet Trull Sengar for the first time in this book, and his story will comprise virtually all of the next book in the series. This series is a beast and I think in 4 books we have had three major plot lines to keep straight. There are ties between all the stories, but it is somewhat of a daunting task to keep everything straight. The next book will introduce yet another host of characters, in yet another land of this world. Definitely not a series for the faint of heart. Definitely an enjoyable experience if you put in the effort.
adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes