The fourth book adds more to the war zone as Steven Erikson starts telling the listeners about the duel of the highlanders and the lowlanders. The Highlanders started the war first and the lowlanders instead of running forged an army of their own and fought back bravely.
The war continued for ages and then finally things started to settle. But nothing is certain when the power is shifting from one side to the other. Two sisters during all of this have become rivals of each other. Each is bound to destroy the other so that she can take control over the whole of Malazan. Tavore is coming to the Seven Cities where the Empress still holds supreme and this time she is planning to end the war forever.
Sha’ik although has lost on some warfronts but it does not mean that she has gone down in power, her hordes also possess the same potential that was there before the war. They have hidden in the desert for a purpose i.e so that they can pounce on the enemy from behind. For the narration of this tussle between the two sisters, Michael Page was perhaps the best-suited narrator.
Michael gives equal time to both characters and this is what makes the narration superb. Starting this book means making oneself ready for a flavor like that of Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates. Don’t even think of blinking if you have started listening to this book. House of Chains is a story of the war in which no one is safe, peace will only be gained when one side is completely eradicated.
