I am rereading Malazan Book of the Fallen. Just started the fourth book, House of Chains.
The start of this book is the hardest for me to get through. The first couple of chapters are really boring to me and it's only after
spoiler
Karsa is captured and Torvald Nom is introduced
Edit: damn, is there no other spoiler option that just greys out the words? Edit2: Geez, I only just now realize this is not c/books but c/sciencefiction. Sorry if this post doesn't belong here then, haha.
Which deus ex plot elements are you talking about, specifically? I know some of the events in the books can be confusing, but most of it falls into place eventually.