4.0 Stars
This post-apocalyptic military fantasy series comes to a solid finale installment. It has been a journey filled with intense action, captivating world-building, and complex characters. The story continues to unfold in a world that has been ravaged by some unknown cataclysm, where survival is the ultimate goal and the military plays a crucial role.
In this final installment, the author does a great job of tying up loose ends and providing a satisfying conclusion to the overall arc. The battles are thrilling, with vivid descriptions that make it easy to picture the chaos and destruction. The characters have grown and developed throughout the series, and their final fates are both emotional and fitting.
While the series as a whole may not be without its flaws, this finale installment is a strong ending that will leave fans of the genre satisfied. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic stories with a military twist.

Holy shit... 9.5/10

This score is truly astonishing. It implies an almost perfect performance or achievement. To reach such a high rating, one must have demonstrated exceptional skills, knowledge, or quality in the relevant area. It could be in academics, where a student has aced all the exams and assignments with remarkable precision and depth of understanding. Or perhaps in a sports competition, where an athlete has executed every move flawlessly, outperforming all the opponents. In the business world, it might mean a product or service that has exceeded customer expectations in every aspect, from functionality to customer service. A 9.5/10 score is not something that comes easily. It requires hard work, dedication, and a passion for excellence. It is a testament to the individual or team's ability to strive for the best and achieve it.

The philosophical and intellectual aspects of this book are truly remarkable, much like the first two installments of the series.

I found myself deeply sympathizing with Drusas Achamian. His character arc was both engaging and relatable, making it easy to invest emotionally in his story.

Kellhus, on the other hand, had a different effect on me. In the first two books, he left me in awe, but in this one, I couldn't help but curse his actions. His motives and decisions became increasingly complex and morally ambiguous, which added an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative.

The climax scene involving Cnaüir was everything I had hoped for and more. It was intense, thrilling, and kept me on the edge of my seat.

However, I must admit that the war scenes in Shimeh, especially those involving the sorcerers, were a bit of a mixed bag. Some parts felt unnecessarily long and even bordered on being boring. But overall, these minor flaws did not detract from the overall quality of the book.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to fans of the series and anyone who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging fantasy novels.

Read my full review here: https://leonahenry.wordpress.com/2014...

R. Scott Bakker, take a bow!

I have so much to rave about this book and this series in particular. It is, without a doubt, one of the most concise and yet one of the best series ever written. I place Malazan and Prince of Nothing on an equal footing. However, I won't go into a detailed review. Instead, I will simply say thank you to Mr. Richard Scott Bakker. He is the author who has the power to move my soul with his mere words. His writing is so captivating and engaging that it draws you in and doesn't let go. The characters are well-developed, the storylines are complex and interesting, and the world-building is simply amazing. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy literature. It is truly a masterpiece that will stay with you long after you've finished reading the last page.

The first book in this series didn't manage to win me over. However, the latter two volumes had me completely and utterly enthralled.

It is a fantasy series that is unashamedly dark. If you are someone who prefers authors who avoid the harsh realities of violence, war, and the periods in human history that most fantasy series take inspiration from, then you should stay a great distance away. But if you don't mind such things, or if you find that they actually help to draw you deeper into the fictional world, then I can tell you that in my entire lifetime, I haven't come across a better dark fantasy series. Glen Cook's Black Company comes a close second.

What's more, this series is also unapologetically intelligent. It's not intelligent in the way that many fantasy epics are, by using a lot of proper nouns without bothering to explain what they mean. This is intelligent fantasy partly because it deals with complex themes through complex characters, but mostly because it doesn't explain everything. Not every question is answered, and not every ambiguity is resolved. If that sort of thing bothers you, then these books are not for you.

As for me? Well, actually, this might just be my all-time favorite fantasy series.

I don't think I can express myself adequately after finishing The Thousandfold Thought. This book had one of the best and most satisfying end climaxes I have ever read. It's not easy to set such an ambitious story and manage to end it properly. The last chapters of this terrific trilogy were incredible. Homeric battles, revealing intellectual debates, and dramatic events all led to a devastating and bitter finale that ended the first part of this apocalyptic tale, leaving me numb and speechless.

At the same time, those final sentences foreshadow the darkness that comes in the next books, keeping my expectations at tremendous heights. The Prince Of Nothing trilogy is now one of my all-time favorites, if not in my top spot!

*Rereading note. The second time is even greater. I want to add that these books have one of the most heart-wrenching love stories. Peerless in the genre. It's truly a remarkable series that keeps pulling me back with its complex characters, engaging plot, and profound themes. I can't wait to see what the next installments have in store for me.

This is truly the best of the trilogy.

By far, it is the book in the trilogy with the best pacing.

The ending of this trilogy was extremely satisfying, yet it leaves you with a longing for more.

I still find the long narrations and breaks in the dialog somewhat annoying.

However, I still loved the trilogy as a whole.

I am eagerly anticipating starting the next one.

It's as if this trilogy has opened up a new world for me, and I can't wait to explore more.

The characters and the story have truly captured my imagination.

Despite the minor flaws, the overall experience has been wonderful.

I highly recommend this trilogy to anyone who loves a good adventure.

I'm sure they will be just as captivated as I was.

This was a truly fantastic conclusion to the trilogy.

However, there were some issues that couldn't be ignored. The pacing, for instance, was a bit off at times. Some character arcs were not handled as smoothly as one might have hoped.

When compared to other books, this particular installment felt rushed on several occasions. It could potentially be attributed to its relatively shorter length.

I had a longing to see Esmi's rise to power in this society described in a more captivating and compelling manner. In my opinion, she could have been given more agency to truly shine.

Nevertheless, the numerous twists and turns in the story kept me completely engaged and turning the pages, despite the rather dense writing style.

I also adored the fact that Bakker adopted Erikson's style of action scenes, where one experiences a lot of headhopping during high-action moments. This allows the reader to witness what is happening in different locations with various characters, adding a rich layer of depth to the narrative.

Despite all the complaints I had about this series, it undeniably remains one of the most memorable reading experiences of my life.

Being an exceptional saga, this third and final volume of the first trilogy, I found it inferior to the two previous ones.

The first half was really slow and boring. There were almost only metaphysical chats that repeated more or less the same concepts. Achamian, who pathetically repeated the same love thoughts. But there were also some emotional situations scattered in the first part.

Fortunately, however, the second half was a succession of events, a crescendo of epic and pathos. The magic came out in all its breathtaking cinematographic quality and the Holy War had its culmination in an exceptional way.

Everything is beautiful, except for the fact that the ending is practically not an ending, but remains completely open. I would have preferred it to close some questions better, give some more answers, but okay, the next quadrilogy will surely have what is still missing. It remains a beautiful saga, deep, complex and original like few others.

NOI. SIAMO. VIOLENZA.

"Il mondo sta per finire".

"Il fedele deve nutrirsi di illusioni in un mondo in cui tutti sono schiavi della ripetizione, dei baratri gemelli della consuetudine e dell'appetito. Un mondo in cui le fedi servono i potenti anziché la verità."

The survivors, having endured unspeakable trials such as hunger, thirst, condemnation, and deprivation, have now become children of a different nation. They have been measured and found lacking, their hopes reduced to ashes, sifted like sand between the fingers. Finally transformed, they reach the Holy City of Shimeh. Some arrive stronger, others broken, and still others bent. Each one knows who they are, but in truth, all are slaves to others.

The final test now lies before them. Led by the one who announces the end of time, the second Apocalypse, a prophet, a Messiah, or perhaps the king of deceptions, the one who rewrites the world to its very foundations and owns them all. He wields the power of words that emerge from the preceding darkness, like an adult among children.

"Tutte le nostre azioni si basano su ciò che presumiamo sia vero, su ciò che presumiamo di sapere. Condanniamo gli innocenti per renderli colpevoli. Eleviamo i malvagi per renderli santi."

This trilogy has rightfully earned a place of honor among the best fantasy sagas I have read. It is not an easy or immediate read, demanding special attention. It is slow and introspective, requiring the reader to engage deeply with its themes.

It is recommended for a mature audience seeking a challenge comparable to that offered by authors of the caliber of Erikson and Herbert. Truly, it is the best of its kind.

While the trilogy fully deserves five stars and a place in the pantheon of great works, this last novel has a risk in its initial part. It may be even slower, more philosophical, and with repetitions of concepts already expressed. However, it recovers magnificently in the finale, with notable plot developments and one of the most memorable battles.

-----------------------------------

WE. ARE. VIOLENCE.

"The world is coming to an end."

"The faithful must feed on illusions in a world where all are slaves to repetition, to the twin chasms of habit and appetite. A world where faiths serve the powerful rather than the truth."

The survivors, having endured unspeakable trials, reach the Holy City of Shimeh. Some are stronger, some broken, some bent. All are slaves to others.

The final test awaits them, led by the one who announces the end of time.

"All our actions are based on what we presume to be true, on what we presume to know. We condemn the innocent to make them guilty. We elevate the wicked to make them saints."

This trilogy is a remarkable work of fantasy, not easy or immediate, but slow and introspective.

It is recommended for a mature audience looking for a challenge like that of Erikson and Herbert.

The trilogy deserves five stars, but this last novel may be slow and repetitive at first, only to recover with great plot developments and a memorable battle in the end.

When Tolkien penned his once-in-a-generation blockbuster trilogy, a significant portion of his success can, of course, be attributed to his sheer creative willpower. He spent nearly a lifetime crafting a world with languages, traditions, and histories that span as long as (or even longer than) our own.

However, Tolkien's success was also due to his utilization of millennia-old myths that have endured even in the age of the scientific and industrial revolutions. One aspect that many overlook - and this is not to undermine Tolkien's achievements - is that while he is undoubtedly the father of modern fantasy and has given a voice to hundreds of writers who might otherwise never have been published, he is not the originator of fantasy itself.

For fantasy and myth are as ancient as humanity. Just consider cave art from the Neolithic age.

Why are we still drawn to fantasy?

Is it to escape? Or is it to experience life in an alternate world where fairies and elves roam freely?

It is more than that. If fantasy were merely pure imaginative escape, then it would be indistinguishable from any other form of fiction.

Fantasy is an inherent response to the loss of meaning in our scientific and industrial age.

R. Scott Bakker, the author of the work I am writing this meandering review for, has stated this himself before.

Fantasy almost always contains some kind of magical element precisely because, while in real life today, anyone who claims to believe in magic would be labeled a nut, we are not too distant from an era when magic and a belief in the supernatural pervaded nearly everything. And we still have not come to terms with that fact in our collective consciousness.

Every single culture in the world has had creation myths to explain their origins, and a couple of centuries of rapid scientific progress have not eradicated that longing from our minds.

Science, in its explanations of the origins of everything from rocks to thunderstorms to comets, has revealed that we live in a far colder and more impersonal world than we once believed.

5,000 years ago, a comet or shooting star was seen as an omen from the gods. Now, there is an empirical, proven explanation.

But in that explanation, we are left with a startling reality - our own attempts at meaning, our own truths, our own religions, seem small and insignificant, and we fear our tiny place in the cosmos, although most of us rarely express this fear verbally.

This is Bakker's fundamental premise in his Prince of Nothing trilogy.

His Kellhus character is less of an anti-Christ and more of a non-Christ. Kellhus is above men and inwardly laughs at their childishness. He belongs to a sect that has spent millennia perfecting logic and reasoning and dismissing emotion.

Kellhus enters Bakker's world - a more brutal and grimdark version of Middle-earth - after complete seclusion, and he realizes that men are mere children in the grand scheme of things.

To illustrate Bakker's point, if Kellhus were to enter our world, he would observe that a person born in India would identify as Indian and hold at least some of the collective cultural and spiritual beliefs shared by Indians, while someone born in, say, Japan, would have at least some of the cultural and spiritual beliefs common to the Japanese. The same goes for any country, really. Russia, Germany, the UK, Morocco, and so on.

You see, Bakker is suggesting through his Kellhus character that we (humans) believe that we are right and that our cultural and spiritual experiences are the correct ones.

We say things like "those people? They're so backwards! Their beliefs are false! They don't know the truth!"

While the people on the other side of the metaphorical (or real) oceans that divide us say the same about us.

But who is right in the end?

We all believe that we are the right ones. That our experience is the best.

Kellhus recognizes this fact in the world he enters and coldly manipulates it, using an entire holy crusade to achieve his own ends.

Bakker's work is not only nihilistic, as that would likely seem cheap. It is one of the few fantasies that actually attempts to analyze the post-truth world we inhabit.

The battle scenes, although not usually occurring at crucial plot points (which I actually appreciate), are incredible. The only work whose battle scenes I can personally think of that rival Bakker's are those in Pressfield's Gates of Fire.

No one has ever surpassed Tolkien when it comes to depth and world-building, and Bakker has not either, but he has taken an admirable approach at least in his subversion of truth in his fantasy world.

Overall, it is just an outstanding fantasy work that I can safely say stands far above the rest.

Oh.

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