Deadhouse Landing: A Novel of the Malazan Empire (Path to Ascendancy, Book 2)

The best book based out of the Malazan universe. Highly entertaining. All of the point of view characters are compelling and the story pushes forward.I've read every single book in the Malazan universe. How I viewed the past couple Malazan Universe novels for context.Fall of Light (1/10) - I skipped over all the chapters featuring Emral Lanear because it felt a boring, entry-level philosophy montage. Barely finished the book. The worst book in the Malazan universe ever written IMO.Dancers's Lament - (9/10) - Very entertaining with a pace that kept pushing.Finished the book in about two days - couldn't put it down. If you enjoy fantasy books - do yourself a favor and read this immediately.Relative to other books in the fantasy genre this year - I put it above Age of Assassins by RJ Barker & Age of Swords by Michael Sullivan as my favorite book of the year. The only bad thing is the wait for the next book.

Extremely fun read! Don't expect the same tone and massive feel that you get from the main series... but you can expect a fun read that revisits some of your favorite characters and does them justice. I'd liken it to a reunion situation where it's not what the original series was but you end up very surprised how much you enjoyed it nonetheless.I'm happy to support Esslemont in continuing the Malazan universe and I've enjoyed watching him grow and blossom as an author. He's really become quite good! Not the mysterious, captivating intrigue I found in the main series by Erikson but a highly enjoyable prequel to those books that has it's own much lighter style. The prequel trilogy about Kharkanas that Erikson has written 2 books of is incredibly boring and I had to force myself to finish them (especially the first book). Esslemont is not on the same level as Erikson but has developed into someone who delivers a much more fun read than what Erikson is currently producing. I hope Erikson returns to form but in the meantime I'm happy that Esslemont is delivering quality books in the Malazan universe that I love! I'd love to see them both creating quality additions to the catalog for many years to come.

For fans of the series this is a well written "prequel". If you are not familiar with this series get book 1. I prefer this to the Erikson "prequels" he is now writing. I found the first of those close to unreadable although the second was much better. Erikson is always more difficult to read but many times more interesting. When the Malazan series started Erikson did all of the books and then Esslemont joined in. I have been rereading the Erikson books which need to be read at least twice to get everything in them. Esslemont's books have always been more approachable. In either event this is by far my favorite fantasy series and I can recommend reading all the books. I do think book 1 of the ascendancy is a good starting point but you can't go wrong reading the first book published which was by Erikson and then reading forward by dates published.

This book is the real beginning of the malazan empire. Previous book was about meeting of Dancer and Kellanved and how the two fellows learnt to work together. There was only one storyline about the two in Li Heng and that is too little for the book in the malazan universe (readable as it no doubt was).On the other hand in this book Dancer and Kellanved get things going on simultaneously in the Shadow and in the city of Malaz. Separate storylines about Dassem and Tayschrenn explain their early history and their abilities. In the end we see how and why Surly and her Napans alongside with Dassem, Tay, Dujek and Jack all come in the fold and so we can proclaim that the Malazan Empire is born.I have enjoyed this book mightily (it was undoubtedly better than Dancer's Lament), but i cannot say it was Esslemont at his best (like in Return of the Crimson Guard and Assail).So looking forward to Kellanved's Reach and hope it will be even better than Deadhouse Landing.

It’s good to see all your favourite characters back at the beginning before they were earth shattering talents. The author weaves an interesting story giving us an insight into the scheming of Kellenved, Dancer and his feud with Cowl, information regarding Surly, the Crust brothers, Dujek, and a very young Whiskeyjack.I’m really looking forward to the next book/books.

This series of books is fantastic for fans of the Malazan realm and cast of characters.I always enjoy authors who find a creative way to rediscover established characters in a way that allows the reader insight into their origins.Unlike some of the books by Erikson (which I love, but require a much greater commitment and attention to detail), this series of books is, for lack of a better term, an "easier" read. Fast paced, character driven, and rife with humour.Look forward to the third installment.

To say that I'm a huge fan of the Malazan series would be the understatement of the year. This is my favorite Fantasy series, period. Esselmont did a wonderful job integrating more of your favorite characters from the Books that take place after the Malazan Empire has already been established. I loved this book. I have been dying to know the history of how Kellanved, Dancer, Dassem, Dujek, Surly, and my favorite character WhiskeyJack all came together on Malaz Island. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I'll just say this. Brilliantly done Esselmont. I can't wait for the next book, it cannot come soon enough!

This book is the anti-Erikson. You get the origin of most major Malzan Empire characters, the origin of the empire, and a lot of info on relevant Wardens. All along with a fast moving easily understandable plot. The title even matches the story. If I have any criticism, it is that answers come almost too easily, but at this point, I guess we deserve easy.

Empires are usually born from great deeds and mighty events, order and victories rather than chaos and shadows. But a new power now stands on the brink of realisation. A crew of renegade Napans have washed ashore on remote Malaz Island and formed an alliance of convenience with a mad mage and an assassin. From the mainland comes a swordsman without equal. On neighbouring Kartool Island a high priest in the cult of D'rek is betrayed and seeks a new home where he can belong. Great powers are drawn to Malaz City, where a new empire will be born when it is least expected and, at its heart, lies the mysterious ruin known as the Deadhouse.Dancer's Lament, the first novel in the Path to Ascendancy series, introduced the characters of Wu and Dorin, whom history will remember as Kellanved and Dancer, Ammanas and Cotillion, Shadowthrone and the Rope. That book chronicled their first meeting, their first acquaintance with Dassem Ultor, the Mortal Sword of Hood, and their first explorations of the mysterious Realm of Shadow. Deadhouse Landing is its direct sequel but in many respects is the book that I think more established Malazan fans were expecting first time out.Deadhouse Landing is, simply put, the story of how Kellanved and Dancer recruited their "old guard" of friends and allies and took control of Malaz Island. It turns out this was less pre-planned than previous novels indicated, with Kellanved and Dancer's rise to power emerging from a sequence of improvisations, holding actions and comedies of error, most of them stemming from the idiocy of those who try to oppose them.This is, remarkably, a slightly shorter book than Dancer's Lament (already one of the shortest books in the Malazan canon) but one that has a much bigger cast. As well as Dancer and Kellanved, the book focuses on the Napan refugees led by Princess Sureth (now reduced to a reluctant barmaid named Surly), Dassem Ultor's journey from Li Heng to Malaz City via a chance meeting with the Seguleh, the misadventures of the priest Tayschrenn in Kartool and the long-suffering indulgences of Tattersail, the mage-mistress of Mock. These are all major figures from the Malazan novels, legends we meet now in their younger days when they were far less wise, less seasoned and more human. We also see some pretty major events alluded to in later books, such as Kellanved's first entry to the Malaz Deadhouse and the running battles through the streets of the city with various criminal gangs.These struggles in the Malaz City criminal underworld feel a bit overindulged, but at the end of the book makes it clear why we are spending so much time with these knife-hands and thugs, as many of them also show up in Steven Erikson's novels (particularly the early ones), almost all under different names.Prequels can often feel creatively stifled, the author stymied by the import of actually depicting events which later books talk about as hushed legends. Esslemont has no such reluctance here. Instead, as with Dancer's Lament, this book fairly overflows with enthusiasm and energy. We lose the tight focus of the earlier novel on just three core characters, with the story rotating through a larger number of characters, with less time for each one. But Esslemont makes this work with short and punchy chapters which relate the story with relentless inevitability.The book doesn't have too many weaknesses. One Malazan fan-favourite villain shows up but doesn't really accomplish anything. His story feels like it could have been dropped in favour of more focus on one of the other storylines, but then this isn't a long book and his total number of pages in the novel isn't very high. Others may complain that too many characters in this book show up to be previously-established Malazan characters from the chronologically later novels, but then that's kind of the point. These are the events that drew the "old guard" and many other famous faces together, so that's less of a bug and more of a feature.Ultimately, Deadhouse Landing (****½) is another tight and enjoyable read, all the best for its focus and short length even as it describes the mighty events that shaped the Malazan Empire. It builds on the very fine foundation stones laid by Dancer's Lament. The third book in the Path to Ascendancy series has the working title Kellanved's Reach and should be out in late 2018 or early 2019.

We are now getting more of the characters we recognize as the pair collect various oddballs to themselves and we get some insight into Surly.The various magical confrontations and characters are interesting especially the way the Hounds are dealt with.The ending goes in the direction that it had to eventually for the empire building.A fun read with some battles and politics and magic.

Great series, Esslemont is expanding an interesting idea whilst Erikson seems mired in the dullest part of the Malaz world/lore. Finished the first book too quickly and same again here. Never thought the two writers would swap positions but for me this is the man to look forward to at the moment.

another great contribution from Esslemont to the Malazan world. The long mysterious characters of emperor and dancer get fleshed out, but not as much as I hoped. Whilst you get some parts of their story filled in I don't feel that they get much character development.The story is entertaining, of everyone Tatersail is the most interesting to follow through but really this one is for those that love the lore of the world rather than seeing the characters become how they will be.

A great follow up to Dancers Lament. The beginning of an empire is truly started here. I had many laughs. Great fight scenes. I got goosebumps at the thought of some scenes.A must read for all fans of the Malazan world. In addition, this trilogy may be a good starting point into the series. Once complete, read A Night of Knives then Garden of the Moon and all should be fairly straight forward from there.