House of Chains

infobox Book |
name = House of Chains
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Steven Erikson
cover_artist = Steve Stone
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Malazan Book of the Fallen
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Bantam (UK & Canada) & Tor Books (USA)
release_date = 2 December 2002
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 1,021 pp (UK paperback edition)
isbn = ISBN 0-553-81313-7 (UK paperback edition)
preceded_by = Memories of Ice
followed_by = Midnight Tides

"House of Chains" is the fourth volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the "Malazan Book of the Fallen". "House of Chains" is also a direct sequel to the second volume in the series, "Deadhouse Gates".

The novel was the first in the series to be published in hardback, first appearing in the United Kingdom on 2 December 2002. A mass-market paperback edition followed on 3 October 2003. The first United States edition was a hardcover published on 22 August 2006.

Plot summary

"House of Chains" takes place immediately after the events of "Deadhouse Gates" on the subcontinent of Seven Cities. The Chain of Dogs - the evacuation of 50,000 Malazan civilians across 1,500 miles of hostile territory - has ended in disaster. Only a few thousand have reached the city of Aren safely and Coltaine and his entire 7th Army have been annihilated. Yet the Chain of Dogs has become a legend spreading across Seven Cities, cowing even those responsible for its destruction. Now Adjunct Tavore Paran has arrived at the head of the 14th Army, largely consisting of untried recruits. Their mission is to advance into the heart of the Holy Desert Raraku, the very heart of the rebellion known as the Whirlwind, and destroy Sha'ik and her forces once and for all. However, all is not well in Sha'ik's camp and rebellion threatens to destroy her army before the Malazans can. Meanwhile, a mighty warrior named Karsa Orlong descends from his mountain fastness on Genabackis, beginning a journey that will live in legend, and the thief Crokus and assassin Apsalar find themselves drawn into a desperate struggle for control of the Throne of Shadow. Finally, a warrior named Trull Sengar is rescued from certain death with news of a terrible new foe arising to trouble all the world...