[AllegedAlec]

Gardens of the moon is sort of required for Memories of Ice. A lot of the characters pivotal in Memories of Ice are introduced in the Gardens of the Moon.

If Malazan book of the fallen is for you, you'll know after reading book 2.

Although, in all honesty: I wouldn't start with Deadhouse Gates. Although it contains one of the best plotlines in the series, it also contains the worst character, and she drags stuff down a lot. Were it not for having read through the first book, I would've probably stopped because of her.