House of Chains

Did You Know?

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

Synopsis

House of Chains opens before the events of the three preceding books. Karsa Orlong, a powerful Teblor warrior, descends from his mountain home on Genabackis to wage war on civilization. This campaign leads to his brothers' deaths and his own capture by the Malazan Empire. Transported as a slave to Seven Cities, Karsa befriends the rebel Leoman of the Flails. Together they escape Malazan custody and journey to the holy desert of Raraku to join Sha'ik. There, Karsa is identified as the Toblakai who appeared earlier in Deadhouse Gates. The narrative then jumps forward to the immediate aftermath of Deadhouse Gates. The Chain of Dogs, a desperate evacuation of fifty thousand Malazan civilians across fifteen hundred miles of hostile land, ended in the annihilation of the entire 7th Army and its heroic commander Coltaine. Yet their sacrifice saved nearly thirty thousand refugees. This event has become a legend across Seven Cities, intimidating even those who orchestrated its destruction. Now Adjunct Tavore Paran arrives in Seven Cities leading the 14th Army, composed mostly of inexperienced recruits. Her orders are to march into the Holy Desert Raraku, the core of the Whirlwind rebellion, and crush Sha'ik and her followers. Meanwhile, Apsalar and Crokus, who now calls himself Cutter, have completed their mission and returned to Apsalar's childhood home. After Rellock dies, Cotillion recruits Cutter to guard the true throne of shadow on the isle of Drift Avalii from the Tiste Edur. Apsalar reluctantly accompanies him. There they fight alongside Andarist, brother of Anomander Rake, other Tiste Andii, and later a Malazan force that includes a mysterious figure called Traveller. They succeed and leave the island, eventually staying with the high priest of shadow Iskaral Pust and his wife. Following a conversation with Cotillion, Apsalar disappears, agreeing to serve him, while Cutter does not.