Books like Deadhouse Gates (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 2) by Steven Erikson

Deadhouse Gates, the second volume of Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen, follows the Malazan Empire as it struggles after the turmoil in Darujhistan. The prophetess Sha'ik rallies an army in the Holy Desert of Raraku for the prophesied Whirlwind uprising, a conflict of unprecedented scale and savagery that threatens to reshape the Empire’s destiny. Meanwhile, internecine struggles unfold: Felisin of the House of Paran seeks vengeance while struggling with her slave life; the Bridgeburners—fabled soldiers—plot to recover the god‑possessed Apsalar and confront Empress Laseen. Factional leaders such as Coltaine of the 7th Army must force through desperate battles to protect refugees, and the ancient wanderers Mappo and Icarium carry secrets that may destabilize the fragile world of magic and war. Set in a richly detailed world torn by political collapse and unbridled sorcery, the novel expands the series’ sweeping scope, weaving epic battles with intricate political intrigue across its vast continents.

First publish date: 2000