5 Stars

“He says... says such sweet things to give me comfort... He says that one of my seed will return, Seswatha. An Anasurimbor will return—” The High King winced and shuddered. Spittle hissed through clenched teeth.

“—at the end of the world.”



Darkness that Comes Before has long been one of my favorite novels. The Prince of Nothing Series by R. Scott Bakker truly revolutionized my reading habits. He introduced the harsh reality and grittiness of the adult world into the realm of fantasy. Goodbye to the do-good heroes and tired stereotypes straight out of a Dragonlance novel (I've read countless ones...). Bakker crafted a series that demonstrated fantasy can be so much more than just dragons, swords, and saintly heroes. I adored it 12 years ago, and upon rereading, I appreciate it even more.

What makes this book and series truly special is the intelligent portrayal of philosophy, religion, and morals within. This is world-building at its absolute finest. The story and themes are not straightforward and require careful digestion to be fully appreciated. This book and series are only suitable for those readers who relish a challenge and are willing to do some independent thinking. I loved it.

The characters are equally remarkable as the amazing environment they inhabit. Drusus Achamian (Akka), Kellhus, Cnaiür, and Esmenet are all beautifully developed and easy to identify with. Akka is clearly the protagonist here, and this is truly his story. That's saying a lot considering he shares the stage with Kellhus, a near-godlike man, priest, and warrior who commands every page he's on. I adored Akka, the spy, assassin, and sorcerer. Bakker has done something unique by creating a world where powerful sorcerers are not only reviled but also considered second-rate and damned. The societies in this world despise their very existence.

The Darkness that Comes Before is even better on a second read. I truly came to appreciate Bakker's writing style. Many rightfully compare this series to the legendary Dune due to the numerous parallels. I also see this series fitting in with another of my favorites, the Tales of Noreela by Tim Lebbon.


Kellhus—-

“Here you possess privileged knowledge, and yet no one believes you, while I possess nothing, and everyone insists that I have privileged knowledge.”

I'm now embarking on a reread of book two more than a decade later. If you don't mind a challenging read with great rewards and an equally excellent story, then the Prince of Nothing series is not to be missed. My advice to any new readers is to quickly peruse the appendix and familiarize yourself a bit with the names, places, and religions. Bakker doesn't stop to bring you up to speed, which can be frustrating at times.


AMAZING!!!!!

Updated review:

I firmly believe that I will not delete my previous negative review. This is because it serves as a valuable reminder to myself of how much a few years can change. If you find yourself disliking this book, it might be a good idea to do yourself a favor. Put it aside, let a few years pass, and then give it another chance when you have become a bit more mature. You might be pleasantly surprised.

My first dropped book of the year...

Ordinarily, I don't abandon a book until I've read at least half of it. However, with this particular one, I couldn't even reach that point. Once again, it seems as if the author has deliberately chosen the most difficult words he could find in the dictionary. I truly despise when authors do this, as I feel they are simply trying to show off. But in this case, that wasn't my main issue. The author employs a plethora of hard words, strange names, and profound philosophies, yet he fails to convey any meaningful message at all. I found myself reading page after page, only to realize that I was reading nothing but empty words.

Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this book.

3.5 stars

After finishing The White Luck Warrior, the latest installment in R. Scott Bakker's captivating fantasy novels set in the world of Eärwa, I found myself with a long wait ahead for the next book. Somehow, I wasn't quite ready to leave this dark and twisted realm. So, I decided to go back to the first series and give it a re-read.

Eärwa is a truly fascinating secondary world. In this place, the metaphysics of its religions are objectively true, and the consequences of not adhering to their complex moral codes are severe. It seems as if the entire world is damned, especially those who practice sorcery, which is seen as the ultimate mark of human folly, pride, and the greatest sin against the gods and their act of creation. Nearly every character in the novel suffers under the weight of this condemnation. There's a lot of damnation to go around, but very little in the way of atonement, forgiveness, or mercy. As I've said before, when not in the right mood, this can be an obstacle when reading Bakker. However, at the moment, I was fully immersed in Eärwa and decided to extend my stay for a while. It's at least as fascinating as it is dark.

These days, "dark fantasy" is nothing new. In fact, it's almost become a common trope in the genre. But I think Bakker may have been one of the earliest writers to explore this paradigm. His work may be "dark and gritty fantasy," but I don't think he strays as far thematically from the high fantasy tropes and idioms of Tolkien as many of his contemporaries. In fact, I think he may be one of the few writers in the field who has not only made use of them but done so in truly novel and interesting ways.

This first volume in Bakker's magnum opus, which currently consists of five books (with a sixth on the way and, I suspect, the possibility of at least one more trilogy to fully flesh out his ideas and stories), is an impressive debut novel. On my re-read, I did notice a few minor flaws that ultimately show how Bakker has grown as a wordsmith. One thing that stood out to me was his occasional tendency to over-explain things. However, I must admit that some of this may have been due to the fact that I already knew many of the details he was revealing, rather than any real fault in his prose. Still, the old adage "show, don't tell" holds true. I also found myself sometimes weighed down by the political and logistical details, which are understandably necessary if you're going to tell a story about a mass crusade of nations against an ancient foe. It's not something you can rush through if you want to do it justice, and many integral pieces need to be set up before anything can be set in motion. So, again, this isn't exactly a complaint, but rather an acknowledgment that my favorite elements of the book were not those centered on the larger ramifications and details of the Holy War, but rather those that focused on the characters.

I won't go into too much detail about the characters, so you can enjoy the revelations about them for yourself. But I do recall being struck, upon my first reading of the initial trilogy, by the way in which two particular figures seemed to embody one of the main ideas that I think Bakker was exploring: the concept of the Übermensch. In Cnaiür urs Skiötha, we see a sort of "true" Nietzschean superman, a man with superior physical and mental skills, driven by an overpowering will to overcome all obstacles and impose his will on the world. In Anasûrimbor Kellhus, the titular Prince of Nothing, we have something slightly different. He is the product of both a genetic breeding program and a highly sophisticated training process, designed to produce a human who is "conditioned" to be able to "set himself before" the myriad influences and deterministic elements of the world, such that he is both "truly free" and able to perceive the hidden motivations of others, thus wielding an almost inhuman influence over them. Following these two characters as they meet, come to understand how they fit into each other's lives and plans, and watch them interact not only with each other but with the world at large (and the Holy War that serves as the ultimate backdrop for the whole story) is a great deal of fun.

Besides these two supermen, the story is populated by a large cast of characters, both high and low. There's the dysfunctional, perhaps even psychotic, Ikurei family that rules the Nansur Empire and hopes to use the Holy War as a tool for their own ends. There's also Nersei Proyas, an idealistic young king who hopes to maintain the "purity" of the crusade. And then there are Sërwe and Esmenet, two women whose low-caste status belies the important roles they have to play in the greater story. Perhaps central to them all is the somewhat bumbling sorcerer Drusas Achamanian, a man of great eldritch power, plagued by insecurity and uncertainty, and driven by dark dreams of an ancient apocalypse to search for an enemy who may not exist but who could also be the hidden authors of the end of the world. These mysterious figures, the Consult, are perhaps Bakker's most interesting creation throughout the entire series. A play on the "ultimate evil" trope common to high fantasy (complete with a fabled "evil overlord" in the form of the enigmatic "No-god" Mog-Pharau), Bakker manages to make them into perhaps the most terrifying embodiment of evil I've ever encountered in the world of fantasy. Their origins, at least in the context of fantasy, are novel, and their methods are both insidious and far-reaching. We catch only glimpses of them as they try to remain in the shadows and act as the unseen instigators behind all that occurs, but those glimpses are both tantalizing and fascinating.

I know that in some circles, "world building" is a bit of a dirty word. But I think it's absolutely essential to the genre, and when done well, it doesn't detract from the story but rather enhances it and allows the reader to more easily suspend their disbelief. I think Bakker does an outstanding job in this regard (aside from the already noted slight tendency to over-explain in some places), and he only gets better as you progress through his books. I don't want to say too much more, because if you have the stomach for truly dark fantasy (explicit violence and sex are prevalent throughout the story), you're in for a treat, and you should experience the revelations as they unfold in the narrative. All in all, this is a highly commendable first volume upon which much more will be built. If you're a lover of fantasy with the stamina to persevere through a high page count across multiple books and multiple series, then I highly recommend it.

This was truly a disappointment.

I have a general penchant for epic fantasy, but this particular author seems to be firmly convinced that having absolutely no exposition whatsoever is perfectly acceptable when it comes to creating a world. However, that simply isn't the case.

If we consider a scenario where there are 8 distinct countries and nationalities, a handful of nobles, a number of peasants, 12 different factions within each nationality, 5 different schools of magic, 3 different major religious beliefs, some characters being humans and others perhaps not (the ambiguity is rather frustrating), and all these elements are named with the most unfamiliar and off-putting tripe names one can imagine (even within the context of fantasy), then it becomes imperative for the author to provide the reader with *something* that can serve as a guide to understanding what the heck is going on.

Without any form of explanation or orientation, the reader is left floundering in a sea of confusion, unable to fully engage with the story or make sense of the complex world that has been created. It's a missed opportunity to build a rich and immersive fictional universe.

I've made an attempt to read this continuously for three years. Each year, I picked it up with the hope that this time it would capture my interest. However, year after year, I found myself unable to truly engage with it. It seems that no matter how hard I try, it just doesn't click with me.

Despite my lack of interest, I'm glad that others are able to enjoy it. It's wonderful to see that something can bring so much pleasure and satisfaction to different people. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it has value and meaning for those who love it.

I'll continue to explore other books and genres in the hopes of finding something that speaks to me on a deeper level. But for now, I'll simply appreciate the fact that this particular work has found its audience and is making a positive impact on their lives.

Hate women? Well, if that's your stance, then this book might just be the one for you. Don't like too much character depth? No problem! Here, you'll find characters that are as shallow as a puddle. Want a bland, medieval-ish backdrop to some tedious political "drama"? Look no further! The setting is just what you need to bore yourself to tears. Believe in the meritocracy? Great! Because in this book, only the rich and powerful seem to have any worth. Hate poor people? That's okay too, as they are hardly given any attention or respect.

This book is a perfect fit for those who have these particular preferences. It offers a world that is devoid of any real substance or meaning, a place where the only thing that matters is power and wealth. So, if you're looking for a book that will make you feel superior and allow you to escape into a world of mediocrity, then look no further. This is the book for you!

When I embarked on this book, I truly had no intention of picking it up. I had just completed another book and was at a loss as to what to begin next. I think I picked up three or four books, but none of them really captivated me. I saw that some people were doing a readalong for this on Mike's Book Reviews discord, and since I had purchased the books a while ago at Half Price Books, I thought, "Why not?" even though it wasn't really on my radar. This goes to show that you never know what will resonate with you because, despite being told that this is a very dense philosophical series, it instantly drew me in.

The book gets off to a great start with a very interesting prologue that does an excellent job of setting the scene and raising some really intriguing questions about the world. We then jump forward a couple of thousand years, and this is where the strength of the book truly comes to the fore, which is the in-world politics. This book has multiple factions, all of which are very well-developed and interesting. Each one has its own set of rivalries, whether they are political, religious, or both. The author does an outstanding job of having all of these factions interact and maneuver against each other against the backdrop of a Holy War that draws heavily from our own Earth history. It is all extremely well done. I called it some of the best politics in a series that I've read since I read A Song Of Ice and Fire, and I still stand by that.

Also, to pull off that kind of thing without making it dull, you have to have really good characters and writing. Both of these elements shine here as well. As far as the writing goes, there were some passages that I read two or three times, not because I had a hard time understanding, but just because what was being conveyed was so well put that I wanted to soak it in. At the same time, I wouldn't necessarily call it beautiful or descriptive. It's just thought-provoking and tonally perfect for the story and world. As for the characters, each one is well-developed and fleshed out and adds something to the narrative. I think my two favorites were probably Akka and Kellhaus. Kellhaus, in particular, is an extremely fascinating character. He is both mysterious and possesses one of the most interesting skill-sets among the characters I have read in fantasy. I'm not sure if it's magic per se or not, but it's extremely interesting in how it is used in the book. There is another very interesting character named Cnauir, who is a barbarian type character, but is much more interesting and layered than any character of that archetype has any right to be.

All of that being said, there are some drawbacks. First, Bakker turned it up to 11 in this series with the fantasy names and locations. All of the character names and places have crazy spellings and useless umlauts and accents over letters that aren't pronounced per the appendix in the book. I easily adapted, but at first, it was a lot to take in. Also, I think if you're really a plot-focused reader, you might struggle here. While there is a plot, the plot really is the political games being played over the Holy War. If you're a reader here for twisty-turny plot developments, you'll probably be disappointed. Also, I'm very character-focused, but the ending seemed slightly anti-climatic even for me.

Additionally, this is an extremely dark and brutal world. Human lives aren't worth very much. Slave and peasant lives are worth even less. The world is also extremely patriarchal, even if I think the two female POVs are well done in the context of the world. Just know what you're getting into here. Experienced grimdark readers shouldn't have a problem. Personally, I loved the serious dark tone, and while the book was indeed philosophical, I didn't find it difficult to read whatsoever. Bakker is dealing with big ideas and themes, but he doesn't go the Erikson route of purposely making things hard to understand.

Final thoughts: This book exceeded my expectations by a lot. I really have no idea why the average rating on Good Reads is so low. Maybe because people went in expecting more action, or maybe they were put off by some of the brutality. Neither was a concern for me. Given this was very much a part 1, I'm excited to see where the story is heading.

Update after reread: I enjoyed this even more on my reread, and it is a book/series that benefits from one. I didn't need to spend nearly as much time focusing on trying to learn the characters and factions and was able to catch details I missed before. There are quite a few things that foreshadow later events. Also, I found myself having a better understanding of the philosophical elements and themes. This series is an all-time favorite for a reason.

The Darkness That Comes Before is a book that I initially didn't have high expectations for, given the mixed reviews I'd heard. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it, despite having a few gripes.

The writing is excellent, with a slow pace that allows for a deep exploration of the politics and characters. The prologue sets the stage well, introducing bits of lore, magic, and history that pique the reader's interest.

The majority of the novel focuses on the political intrigue between nations and Schools of sorcery during the build-up to a Holy Way to reclaim Shimeh. The politics is the standout feature, feeling both sensical and real, with clearly defined motivations for all the players and intriguing character dynamics.

The book sets up many elements for future installments, chronicling the political conflicts before the main events of the Holy War. While it can be repetitive in the early chapters, the overall story comes together well by the end. The atmosphere is dark and grim, and the philosophical discussions are thought-provoking.

The book follows several characters, including Achamian, a sorcerer spy, and Kelhus, a fascinating character with unique abilities. The worldbuilding is impressive, with detailed descriptions of the various nations, magical schools, and cultures. The characters' inner dialogues add depth to their characterization, although none of them are entirely likeable.

Overall, The Darkness That Comes Before is a solid introductory book with great prose, interesting characters, a rich world, and philosophical musings. While there are some pacing issues and minor plotlines that didn't hold my interest, it's a promising start to what looks to be an engaging series.

\\n  “The thoughts of all men arise from the darkness. If you are the movement of your soul, and the cause of that movement precedes you, then how could you ever call your thoughts your own? How could you be anything other than a slave to the darkness that comes before?”\\n

\\n  “Faith is the truth of passion. Since no passion is more true than another, faith is the truth of nothing.”\\n

\\n  “One cannot raise walls against what has been forgotten.”\\n

Today I talk to you about "The Darkness That Comes Before", the first book of the "Prince of Nothing" trilogy written by the Canadian author Richard Scott Bakker between 2003 and 2006.

"The Darkness That Comes Before" is a complete novel, an Epic Fantasy that takes up the classic canons of the genre, adding atypical elements closer to the Grim-Dark such as the black morality of some characters, the crudeness of certain situations and the historical verisimilitude of the worldbuilding. Visionary when it was released, still extremely relevant today.

Let's talk about the worldbuilding that to define as deep is an understatement. Extraordinary in its complexity, rich in historical references (related to the First Crusade), political, philosophical and religious. It's incredible how many reflections and concepts are incredibly contemporary, so much so that it makes the reader himself think about the everyday life that surrounds him.

The magic system and the protagonists reflect the breadth of the worldbuilding. The first is very rich in philosophical thought, while the second are endowed with a psychological three-dimensionality that I rarely had the opportunity to read. A diverse and varied cast of characters that the author does not fail to develop and deepen, highlighting their humanity. Fallible, tormented, doubtful, defeated, egocentric, victorious.

As I was telling you, a complete story that conquered me page after page. Don't stop at the initial difficulties, everything will be explained and the final glossary gives a big hand in understanding the historical background.

A cult book, a masterpiece, essential in bookstores.

Where no paths exist, a man strays only when he misses his destination. There is no crime, no transgression, no sin save foolishness or incompetence, and no obscenity save the tyranny of custom.

Fantasy holds the promise of presenting a murky world that remains unspoiled by the ennui brought about by technology. It is a world that has the potential to deliver something approximating the epic, if not the heroic. There is a subset of the grimdark genre that is monochromatic. Fortunately, this particular work is not of that kind, despite attempts to paint it as bleak misogyny.

The opening thirty pages of this work read like a prose poem, one might think of Cormac McCarthy in his East Tennessee milieu. However, matters then stall as the dreaded task of world building has to take place through stilted conversations. This is never a pleasant experience. What we have here is Nietzsche in the guise of Casper Van Dien strolling along the Silk Road while Steve Runciman screams that the Crusades were a murderous lie. There is also an abundance of magic. The races are humanoid, so the story is closer to Braudel than to The Witcher. Once the basic elements are established, the political aspect becomes less expository, and the endpoint of the crusade and the prophecy coincide. This is the first installment of a trilogy, and undoubtedly, the various pieces have yet to be fully utilized beyond a mere sounding gesture or movement. I must say, I am intrigued. 3.3 stars

This book brings to my mind Gardens of the Moon in numerous aspects. As a reader, you are immediately thrust into the action and into a world filled with countless tribes, races, religions, and gods. There is no gentle guidance; you have to pick up clues as you progress. There is an abundance of fighting and smiting, yet this novel struck me as more reflective. Still, there is a Holy War unfolding. Just like in Erikson's Malazan saga, everyone's motives are unclear - perhaps a realistic touch, but it frustrates me as a reader. Why do they desire this fight? What is the intended outcome? Neither series provides these answers for me.

As in many fantasy worlds, many of the names are not easy to pronounce. This author has a penchant for umlauts and circumflexes, and I'm not sure how to interpret them. It's not overly crucial in the grand scheme, but it crossed my mind whenever I came across one of these names, pulling me out of the story.

Perhaps it's due to the constant stream of this type of fantasy that I've read over the past few years while working on this reading list, but I'm growing rather tired of world-spanning battles. I keep believing that there must be a more interesting plotline than war. When I figure it out, I'll let you know.

Book number 423 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.

I will be delving into the various layers of this book for some time. However, my initial thoughts are: what on earth.

It will require multiple rereads to truly understand the situation I've gotten myself into. I was hoping for some profound, tragic emotional trauma, bloody and spicy onscreen violence or exploitation, cannibalism, PTSD, and gritty, bleak, and dank settings.