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The Aspect-Emperor #2
The White-Luck Warrior
A score of years after he first walked into the histories of men, Anasrimbor Kellhus rules all the three seas, the first true aspect-emperor in a thousand years.As Kellhus and his Great Ordeal march ever farther into the perilous wastes of the Ancient North, Esmenet finds herself at war with not only the Gods, but her own family as well. Achamian, meanwhile, leads his own ragtag expedition to the legendary ruins of Sauglish, and to a truth he can scarce survive, let alone comprehend.Into this tumult walks the White Luck Warrior, assassin and messiah both, executing a mission as old as the World's making . . .
720 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2011
191 people are currently reading
3468 people want to read
About the author
R. Scott Bakker
30 books2,210 followersRichard Scott Bakker, who writes as R. Scott Bakker and as Scott Bakker, is a novelist whose work is dominated by a large series informally known as the The Second Apocalypse which Bakker began developing whilst at college in the 1980s.
The series was originally planned to be a trilogy, with the first two books entitled The Prince of Nothing and The Aspect-Emperor. However, when Bakker began writing the series in the early 2000s, he found it necessary to split each of the three novels into its own sub-series to incorporate all of the characters, themes and ideas he wished to explore. Bakker originally conceived of seven books: a trilogy and two duologies. This later shifted to two trilogies, with the acknowledgement that the third series may yet also expand to a trilogy.
The Prince of Nothing trilogy was published between 2003 and 2006. It depicts the story of the Holy War launched by the Inrithi kingdoms against the heathen Fanim of the south to recover the holy city of Shimeh for the faithful. During the war, a man named Ansurimbor Kellhus emerges from obscurity to become an exceptionally powerful and influential figure, and it is discovered that the Consult, an alliance of forces united in their worship of the legendary No-God, a nihilistic force of destruction, are manipulating events to pave the way for the No-God's return to the mortal world.
The sequel series, The Aspect-Emperor trilogy, picks up the story twenty years later with Kellhus leading the Inrithi kingdoms in directly seeking out and confronting the Consult. The first novel in this new series is due for publication in 2009.
Whilst working on the Prince of Nothing series, Bakker was given a challenge by his wife to write a thriller. To answer this, he produced a science fiction thriller based around a serial killer who can control and influence the human mind. This book, Neuropath, was eventually published in 2008. Inspired, he wrote a second thriller titled The Disciple of the Dog in 2009.
The series was originally planned to be a trilogy, with the first two books entitled The Prince of Nothing and The Aspect-Emperor. However, when Bakker began writing the series in the early 2000s, he found it necessary to split each of the three novels into its own sub-series to incorporate all of the characters, themes and ideas he wished to explore. Bakker originally conceived of seven books: a trilogy and two duologies. This later shifted to two trilogies, with the acknowledgement that the third series may yet also expand to a trilogy.
The Prince of Nothing trilogy was published between 2003 and 2006. It depicts the story of the Holy War launched by the Inrithi kingdoms against the heathen Fanim of the south to recover the holy city of Shimeh for the faithful. During the war, a man named Ansurimbor Kellhus emerges from obscurity to become an exceptionally powerful and influential figure, and it is discovered that the Consult, an alliance of forces united in their worship of the legendary No-God, a nihilistic force of destruction, are manipulating events to pave the way for the No-God's return to the mortal world.
The sequel series, The Aspect-Emperor trilogy, picks up the story twenty years later with Kellhus leading the Inrithi kingdoms in directly seeking out and confronting the Consult. The first novel in this new series is due for publication in 2009.
Whilst working on the Prince of Nothing series, Bakker was given a challenge by his wife to write a thriller. To answer this, he produced a science fiction thriller based around a serial killer who can control and influence the human mind. This book, Neuropath, was eventually published in 2008. Inspired, he wrote a second thriller titled The Disciple of the Dog in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
August 1, 2022
A REAL CHOPPER
August 10, 2012
An Overwhelming experience. Its shocking how this, a work of words rises above, transcends words.
With this series Bakker has become Tolkiens lost, maniacally, diabolically perverted, philosophical twin. If Tolkien was the creator of fantasy as it stands today, Bakker is its proud defiler. This man is pure evil to write what he writes and still command the adoration and awe of the reader, in-spite of the disgust, in-spite of the awareness of the mutilation.
With this series Bakker has become Tolkiens lost, maniacally, diabolically perverted, philosophical twin. If Tolkien was the creator of fantasy as it stands today, Bakker is its proud defiler. This man is pure evil to write what he writes and still command the adoration and awe of the reader, in-spite of the disgust, in-spite of the awareness of the mutilation.
February 19, 2014
So, volume two of the “Aspect Emperor” series has come to a close and so far R. Scott Bakker still proves that he has the chops to pull off a multi-volume epic fantasy that not only uses the standard tropes in new and interesting ways, but that gives his characters depth, darkness, and complexity and does so with prose that is always enjoyable and sometimes downright exhilarating to read. I don’t think that I really *like* any of his characters (though Achamian, and to a lesser extent Mimara and even Sorweel, come close), but I find them all thoroughly intriguing, even when they are frustrating or repellent…or perhaps it’s because they are. Kellhus is still a fascinating cypher: a saviour who is chillingly amoral and manipulative, but whose ultimate aims and decisions on how best to reach them seem maddeningly right. Achamian, the ostensible hero of the tale, comes across at best as a petty cuckold hazarding ridiculous risks (for himself and others) for the sake of ill-feelings and wounded pride, and at worst as a monomaniacal menace who is little more than a tool that could lead to the utter destruction of all mankind. Kosoter and his pack of Sranc scalpers (esp. the mysterious Nonman mage Cleric) are always an intriguing bunch and watching their inner dissolution on the trail to the Library of Sauglish as they become pared down to a nub, leaving only their most essential (and repellent) characteristics is fascinating. I have to admit that I found the struggle for power at the heart of Kellhus’ empire in Momemn a little less captivating (probably because I find Esmenet a less interesting character than some of the others), but the glimpses we get into the dysfunctional and super-powered Dûnyain family (from “Uncle Holy” Maithanet right on down to dear little psycho Kelmomas) is always a fun train wreck to watch. And Sorweel, Serwa and Moënghus? Let’s just say I’m intrigued to see where and how the heck they end up.
While much of the story is devoted to either having two of the main plot threads cover huge distances of geography (Kellhus & the Great Ordeal and Achamian & the Skin Eaters) or another main thread devoted to plunging into the labyrinthine intrigues of the slowly dissolving imperial court (with Esmenet, Maithanet, and Kelmomas taking centre stage) and thus at times it can seem that not a lot happens in a relatively large span of pages, there are some really exciting, edge-of-your-seat type moments on display. Whether it’s the kick-ass fight that Cleric and Achamian have with in the bowels of the Library of Sauglish, or the psycho machinations of ‘little’ Kelmomas in the hidden mazes of the Imperial Palace, or the endless sea of hording Sranc inundating a portion of the Great Ordeal in the midst of the ruins of mankind’s first great empire, or even the somewhat confusing but thoroughly intriguing mystery of the White-Luck Warrior and his seemingly time-warped journey through the Three Seas, there’s more than enough to maintain a reader’s interest. The Cleric and Achamian thread was especially intriguing to me as the entire scenario seemed like some untold tale taken from _The Silmarillion_ and twisted in incomprehensible and often lurid ways. It was as-if went insane, lost his memory, and went adventuring with an even darker version of Túrin and his outlaw buddies and they just happened to stumble upon and had a magical slugfest in the heart of the ruins of Nargothrond.
Ultimately Bakker seems to strike a nice balance between moving the story forward and taking time to flesh out his characters and events. One could argue that some of the storylines don’t move forward (certainly geographically and sometimes plot-wise) as far, or as quickly, as one might wish, but ultimately I never felt bored with Bakker’s pace, or thought that he was sacrificing the story in the name of broadening his horizons or navel-gazing (I’m looking at you GRRM). Despite this nice balance, however, I still have a creeping fear that leads me to ask the question: Can Bakker wrap up this story in only one more volume given the relative leisure with which he has unfolded it to this point? As noted above I don’t in any way view his unhurried pace as a bad thing and I appreciated the way in which it allowed events to seemingly unfold organically and characters (even peripheral ones) to grow in interesting and realistic ways. It’s just that in looking back and seeing that approx. 2/3 of the apparent page count allocated for the story has been expended and then looking forward to see what he still needs to cover I really hope he isn’t forced to rush to the finish in order to reach the climax of the story in only one more volume. After all he is already working with a large cast, many with significant ties to the previous series who are still only beginning to be fully sketched out at this point. How will they develop? Should they have even been introduced? It's certainly nowhere near as bad as GRRM spinning out of control and adding viewpoint characters, locations, and subplots to an absurd degree, but is at least mildly analogous and makes me squirm a bit. Bakker’s also working with some pretty significant (and indeed numerous) plotlines that need to not only resolve, but also dovetail with each other to some extent, none of which seem to have their ultimate goal in sight yet. That being said, at the end of the day I have faith that he has the chops to pull it off...don’t let me down R. Scott Bakker!
Also posted at Shelf Inflicted
While much of the story is devoted to either having two of the main plot threads cover huge distances of geography (Kellhus & the Great Ordeal and Achamian & the Skin Eaters) or another main thread devoted to plunging into the labyrinthine intrigues of the slowly dissolving imperial court (with Esmenet, Maithanet, and Kelmomas taking centre stage) and thus at times it can seem that not a lot happens in a relatively large span of pages, there are some really exciting, edge-of-your-seat type moments on display. Whether it’s the kick-ass fight that Cleric and Achamian have with in the bowels of the Library of Sauglish, or the psycho machinations of ‘little’ Kelmomas in the hidden mazes of the Imperial Palace, or the endless sea of hording Sranc inundating a portion of the Great Ordeal in the midst of the ruins of mankind’s first great empire, or even the somewhat confusing but thoroughly intriguing mystery of the White-Luck Warrior and his seemingly time-warped journey through the Three Seas, there’s more than enough to maintain a reader’s interest. The Cleric and Achamian thread was especially intriguing to me as the entire scenario seemed like some untold tale taken from _The Silmarillion_ and twisted in incomprehensible and often lurid ways. It was as-if went insane, lost his memory, and went adventuring with an even darker version of Túrin and his outlaw buddies and they just happened to stumble upon and had a magical slugfest in the heart of the ruins of Nargothrond.
Ultimately Bakker seems to strike a nice balance between moving the story forward and taking time to flesh out his characters and events. One could argue that some of the storylines don’t move forward (certainly geographically and sometimes plot-wise) as far, or as quickly, as one might wish, but ultimately I never felt bored with Bakker’s pace, or thought that he was sacrificing the story in the name of broadening his horizons or navel-gazing (I’m looking at you GRRM). Despite this nice balance, however, I still have a creeping fear that leads me to ask the question: Can Bakker wrap up this story in only one more volume given the relative leisure with which he has unfolded it to this point? As noted above I don’t in any way view his unhurried pace as a bad thing and I appreciated the way in which it allowed events to seemingly unfold organically and characters (even peripheral ones) to grow in interesting and realistic ways. It’s just that in looking back and seeing that approx. 2/3 of the apparent page count allocated for the story has been expended and then looking forward to see what he still needs to cover I really hope he isn’t forced to rush to the finish in order to reach the climax of the story in only one more volume. After all he is already working with a large cast, many with significant ties to the previous series who are still only beginning to be fully sketched out at this point. How will they develop? Should they have even been introduced? It's certainly nowhere near as bad as GRRM spinning out of control and adding viewpoint characters, locations, and subplots to an absurd degree, but is at least mildly analogous and makes me squirm a bit. Bakker’s also working with some pretty significant (and indeed numerous) plotlines that need to not only resolve, but also dovetail with each other to some extent, none of which seem to have their ultimate goal in sight yet. That being said, at the end of the day I have faith that he has the chops to pull it off...don’t let me down R. Scott Bakker!
Also posted at Shelf Inflicted
July 18, 2016
Observational aside: I will rarely reread books. Once I finish a book it is usually off to the next one, with few exceptions. In this case the sixth book in the series, The Great Ordeal, is coming out soon, a book I have waited nearly five years for, and I wanted to give myself a refresher on the entire series before it was released. I don't recall the first time I read "The Prince of Nothing" trilogy but Goodreads assures me it was before I joined this website. Since then I have read literally hundreds of books and grown as a reader thanks to those books as well as thinking through those books when I write reviews. Over that time my sensibilities and critical eye has changed as well (I'd like to think for the better) so it was a rather enlightening exercise this return to a time in my reading life from before Goodreads (BGR?). With that rambling out of the way on to the review.
The Darkness That Comes Before review
The Warrior Prophet review
The Thousandfold Thought review
The Judging Eye review
And we come to the last of the re-read in anticipation The Great Ordeal. Once again I am reminded of its pair in the Prince of Nothing trilogy, in this case The Warrior Prophet. Where The Judging Eye reoriented the reader to the new world order this book started to bring all the threads together and kicked the action into motion.
In this book the Great Ordeal continues north on a mission to save the world from an ancient evil that nearly brought about the Apocalypse. Before them is a literal ocean of Sranc (think Orcs, but soooooooooooo much worse) and leagues of desolate, abandoned land that offers little succor. Not the most promising prospect even with the lions share of Sorcerers form the Three Seas and the Aspect Emperor in tow. Bakker doesn't gloss over the many, many, MANY problems launching such a large campaign over such a long distance will incur. This particular story line finishes this book with a horrifying, yet cold logical conclusion that is the hallmark of so much of this series. It is ere we see some fantastic battle scenes.
Back in the imperial capital a divine conspiracy broils as the Outside has taken aim at Khellus's empire. To the Hundred (as the gods are known) Kellus is an abomination that must be expunged and they set into motion the White Luck Warrior, an agent that exists outside time who knows everything that will happen up to and including the murder of Khellus. There are also rebel elements from Khellus's many conquest threatening the Empire that are linked in, unknowingly, with the divine conspiracy.
Finally there is Aka's obsessive quest to discover Khellus's mysterious origins. He has fallen in with a less than stable group of Sranc Hunters led by a hard veteran and an Erratic Nonman sorcerer. It is a bit stressful to say the least, especially with his former wive's runaway daughter. They must traverse countless leagues under the lie that Aka maintains to keep them in line. The kind a lie that is liable to get him killed if it is discovered.
Once again Khellus is treated as a distant and closed off character. We see him only as the Aspect Emperor, the Husband of Esmenet, the man who stole Esmenet from Aka. We don't know his motivations are true goals, he is Dunyain, I am not sure he even qualifies as human any longer. We learn more about Dunyain culture and practices and it is truly alien and horrific. I can see why the gods might find offense in his existence.
Speaking of the gods, this series really delves into interesting theological ideas. Within this universe there does appear to be some sort of afterlife, though I read a lot about damnation there was very little about salvation. The Gods appear to be distant and wrathful and willing to condemn souls to damnation at the drop of the hat. It is a pretty bleak theology that adheres to the principle of "Might Makes Right". This is little to nothing mortals can do to thwart the Gods ultimate judgement...
...Except for that the Consult, the big bad guys, are trying. They believe if they reduce a world to a mere 144,000 souls the world can be closed to the Outside and the Gods. Of course that does require them to kill everyone else and, having done this on several other planets to no avail, there is no assurance this process will even work. But that isn't stopping them from trying again. Sor tof tough to know who to root for since on the one hand you have genocidal aliens and on the other you have jealous, petty, and wrathful deities.
All in all this was a great re-read, reminded me of a lot of stuff I had forgotten (I mean it has been five years since I last read it) and got me pumped for The Great Ordeal. I think I know where Bakker is going in this series. Where the first trilogy touched upon the many forms of control I think this series is going to explore free will and divine judgement. Should be a blast!
Now, on to the fun quotes!
Let's just hope they never unionize: It is not so much the wisdom of the wise that saves us from the foolishness of the fools as it is the latter's inability to agree. -Ajencis, The Third Analytic of Men
Always remember to check you privileged before passing judgement: "Nothing makes fools of people quite like a luxurious life...they confuse decisions made atop pillows for those compelled by stones...When they hear of other people being oppressed, they're certain they would do anything but beg and cringe when the club is raised..."
Like I said, a dismal theology: "You think we worship the Hundred because they are good? Madness governs the Outside, not gods or demons - or even the God! We worship them because they have power over us."
Beware of people in large numbers: "Men are fools at the best of times, but when they gather in mobs they lose whatever little reason they can claim when alone. Someone cries out, they all cry out. Someone bludgeons or burns, and they all bludgeon and burn. It's remarkable really, and terrifying enough to send kings and emperors into hiding."
Now that you mention it, yes, a little bit: "The Ciphrang [demon] bound about your girdle. Is it true you have walked the Outside and returned?"
"Yes."
"And what did you find?" "You worry I never returned. That the soul of Anasûrimbor Kellhus's writhes in some hell and a demon Ciphrang gazed upon you instead."
Sadly all to applicable to the real world: This one thing every tyrant will tell you: nothing saves more lives than murder. -Merotokas, The Virtue of Sin
Onwars to The Great Ordeal!
The Darkness That Comes Before review
The Warrior Prophet review
The Thousandfold Thought review
The Judging Eye review
And we come to the last of the re-read in anticipation The Great Ordeal. Once again I am reminded of its pair in the Prince of Nothing trilogy, in this case The Warrior Prophet. Where The Judging Eye reoriented the reader to the new world order this book started to bring all the threads together and kicked the action into motion.
In this book the Great Ordeal continues north on a mission to save the world from an ancient evil that nearly brought about the Apocalypse. Before them is a literal ocean of Sranc (think Orcs, but soooooooooooo much worse) and leagues of desolate, abandoned land that offers little succor. Not the most promising prospect even with the lions share of Sorcerers form the Three Seas and the Aspect Emperor in tow. Bakker doesn't gloss over the many, many, MANY problems launching such a large campaign over such a long distance will incur. This particular story line finishes this book with a horrifying, yet cold logical conclusion that is the hallmark of so much of this series. It is ere we see some fantastic battle scenes.
Back in the imperial capital a divine conspiracy broils as the Outside has taken aim at Khellus's empire. To the Hundred (as the gods are known) Kellus is an abomination that must be expunged and they set into motion the White Luck Warrior, an agent that exists outside time who knows everything that will happen up to and including the murder of Khellus. There are also rebel elements from Khellus's many conquest threatening the Empire that are linked in, unknowingly, with the divine conspiracy.
Finally there is Aka's obsessive quest to discover Khellus's mysterious origins. He has fallen in with a less than stable group of Sranc Hunters led by a hard veteran and an Erratic Nonman sorcerer. It is a bit stressful to say the least, especially with his former wive's runaway daughter. They must traverse countless leagues under the lie that Aka maintains to keep them in line. The kind a lie that is liable to get him killed if it is discovered.
Once again Khellus is treated as a distant and closed off character. We see him only as the Aspect Emperor, the Husband of Esmenet, the man who stole Esmenet from Aka. We don't know his motivations are true goals, he is Dunyain, I am not sure he even qualifies as human any longer. We learn more about Dunyain culture and practices and it is truly alien and horrific. I can see why the gods might find offense in his existence.
Speaking of the gods, this series really delves into interesting theological ideas. Within this universe there does appear to be some sort of afterlife, though I read a lot about damnation there was very little about salvation. The Gods appear to be distant and wrathful and willing to condemn souls to damnation at the drop of the hat. It is a pretty bleak theology that adheres to the principle of "Might Makes Right". This is little to nothing mortals can do to thwart the Gods ultimate judgement...
...Except for that the Consult, the big bad guys, are trying. They believe if they reduce a world to a mere 144,000 souls the world can be closed to the Outside and the Gods. Of course that does require them to kill everyone else and, having done this on several other planets to no avail, there is no assurance this process will even work. But that isn't stopping them from trying again. Sor tof tough to know who to root for since on the one hand you have genocidal aliens and on the other you have jealous, petty, and wrathful deities.
All in all this was a great re-read, reminded me of a lot of stuff I had forgotten (I mean it has been five years since I last read it) and got me pumped for The Great Ordeal. I think I know where Bakker is going in this series. Where the first trilogy touched upon the many forms of control I think this series is going to explore free will and divine judgement. Should be a blast!
Now, on to the fun quotes!
Let's just hope they never unionize: It is not so much the wisdom of the wise that saves us from the foolishness of the fools as it is the latter's inability to agree. -Ajencis, The Third Analytic of Men
Always remember to check you privileged before passing judgement: "Nothing makes fools of people quite like a luxurious life...they confuse decisions made atop pillows for those compelled by stones...When they hear of other people being oppressed, they're certain they would do anything but beg and cringe when the club is raised..."
Like I said, a dismal theology: "You think we worship the Hundred because they are good? Madness governs the Outside, not gods or demons - or even the God! We worship them because they have power over us."
Beware of people in large numbers: "Men are fools at the best of times, but when they gather in mobs they lose whatever little reason they can claim when alone. Someone cries out, they all cry out. Someone bludgeons or burns, and they all bludgeon and burn. It's remarkable really, and terrifying enough to send kings and emperors into hiding."
Now that you mention it, yes, a little bit: "The Ciphrang [demon] bound about your girdle. Is it true you have walked the Outside and returned?"
"Yes."
"And what did you find?" "You worry I never returned. That the soul of Anasûrimbor Kellhus's writhes in some hell and a demon Ciphrang gazed upon you instead."
Sadly all to applicable to the real world: This one thing every tyrant will tell you: nothing saves more lives than murder. -Merotokas, The Virtue of Sin
Onwars to The Great Ordeal!
April 15, 2020
Relentless, uncompromising, poetic and vicious epic. Madness, carnage, and exultation. A journey through nightmares and great deeds. Nothing compares to these books right now for me!
"A real chopper!"
"A real chopper!"
August 27, 2024
2024 Re-Read Update: I still agree with everything I said below and probably enjoyed this even more on a reread. I think I appreciate Sorweel's story more and his perspective as a true outsider/straight man. Oh and the last 2 chapters here are absolute gasoline and rival or surpass any other "sanderlanche" style ending that I have read.
The Aspect Emperor Quartet by R. Scott Bakker continues to be an outstanding work of fiction that is probably going to wind up being in my top 5 series of all time. When I say that I think it's important to say that I include Prince of Nothing in that as well because while I think Aspect Emperor has been more enjoyable it really couldn't exist without the foundation laid in Prince of Nothing. Even though there is a (I believe) 20 year time skip in between the series it really feels like one complete work, The Second Apocalypse.
What makes this particular book so good though? The same things that make all of these books good. Bakker's writing. His prose is absolutely fantastic. He can write about characters in these novels devolving into madness or doing the most insane and dark and dastardly things and make it seem poetic. I think White Luck Warrior has maybe some of the most difficult to read parts so far of any of these books in that the writing gets very dense and metaphorical, but while you may be questioning whether something is literally happening or not it's always a joy to read. If I do have one complaint though it's that Bakker sometimes will imply things instead of telling you, and it might go over your head unless you discuss the books with others or seek out discussion videos. If you're someone who likes that kind of storytelling though, but still like it to be a little more straight forward than Malazan this is going to be your jam.
In addition to the writing I'm so invested in the plot and characters of these books, and how they have grown and changed and how things have just escalated since The Darkness That Comes Before. There are some sequences in this book that absolutely blew me away as I was reading them (Wraccu anyone?) and some things that were clearly foreshadowed that I still didn't see coming. Also, while a lot of grimdark authors love to go down the road of less magic or magic disappearing from the world Bakker leans into magic, specifically combat magic, full bore. The magic users and battles in these books are absolutely insane. While it's still magic on the softer side with some explanations, but not too many hard and fast rules it is omnipresent and in heavy use. I love the way magic is used in this world.
I am sad I only have 2 more books left in these series before I'm done with Bakker's work. Reading these books as part of a one-a-month readalong is both great and frustrating. It's great because these books really benefit from discussion with other readers. It's frustrating because the desire to go ahead and immediately pick up the next one is almost impossible to fight off. I'm just hoping the final 2 books have the same level of quality as TJE and TWLW because if so it's going in my list of all time favorite series near the top.
The Aspect Emperor Quartet by R. Scott Bakker continues to be an outstanding work of fiction that is probably going to wind up being in my top 5 series of all time. When I say that I think it's important to say that I include Prince of Nothing in that as well because while I think Aspect Emperor has been more enjoyable it really couldn't exist without the foundation laid in Prince of Nothing. Even though there is a (I believe) 20 year time skip in between the series it really feels like one complete work, The Second Apocalypse.
What makes this particular book so good though? The same things that make all of these books good. Bakker's writing. His prose is absolutely fantastic. He can write about characters in these novels devolving into madness or doing the most insane and dark and dastardly things and make it seem poetic. I think White Luck Warrior has maybe some of the most difficult to read parts so far of any of these books in that the writing gets very dense and metaphorical, but while you may be questioning whether something is literally happening or not it's always a joy to read. If I do have one complaint though it's that Bakker sometimes will imply things instead of telling you, and it might go over your head unless you discuss the books with others or seek out discussion videos. If you're someone who likes that kind of storytelling though, but still like it to be a little more straight forward than Malazan this is going to be your jam.
In addition to the writing I'm so invested in the plot and characters of these books, and how they have grown and changed and how things have just escalated since The Darkness That Comes Before. There are some sequences in this book that absolutely blew me away as I was reading them (Wraccu anyone?) and some things that were clearly foreshadowed that I still didn't see coming. Also, while a lot of grimdark authors love to go down the road of less magic or magic disappearing from the world Bakker leans into magic, specifically combat magic, full bore. The magic users and battles in these books are absolutely insane. While it's still magic on the softer side with some explanations, but not too many hard and fast rules it is omnipresent and in heavy use. I love the way magic is used in this world.
I am sad I only have 2 more books left in these series before I'm done with Bakker's work. Reading these books as part of a one-a-month readalong is both great and frustrating. It's great because these books really benefit from discussion with other readers. It's frustrating because the desire to go ahead and immediately pick up the next one is almost impossible to fight off. I'm just hoping the final 2 books have the same level of quality as TJE and TWLW because if so it's going in my list of all time favorite series near the top.
June 18, 2012
Epic fantasy through the prism of Nietzschian philosophy, all rendered in compelling but exquisite prose. Highly recommended.
August 6, 2016
Fifty pages in, I realized I had come to approach this as a horror story rather than epic fantasy, as if I was reading Stephen King or the Lovecraft Unbound anthology. In the opening chapters, Bakker succeeds in making forests scary. Maybe if I'd seen the Blair Witch project or played that Slenderman game longer, this would not be news to me, but I grew up among friendly, sunlit trees. The same monumental gloom that pervades the Nonman fortress our intrepid heroes (or greed-driven antiheroes, either way) barely escaped in the last book lives on in the black forest of the Mop. Which is, by the way, overrun with Sranc. A Sranc is to a Nonman what Tolkein's Orcs were to the Elves, blasphemous parodies, except unfortunately for Bakker's characters the Nonmen are already twisted, creepy, and dangerous. The Sranc are even worse--bestial, violent, equal-opportunity rapists, and worst of all omnipresent in stunning profusion.
As if that weren't bad enough, it appears that the vision of Mimara's Judging Eye is in fact reliable. This disappoints me a little for reasons described in my review of the previous book, but also adds layers upon layers of metaphysical horror, as pretty much every character we know appears damned. Bakker's running a risk here of the reader giving up in sheer despair-induced apathy, but for now everything seems confused enough that there's still hope for some sort of emotionally satisfying conclusion for somebody, I suppose. But really there are a handful of characters who, if the series ends with them being dragged to hell, will have me perfectly satisfied if the No-God succeeds in shutting off this world from what has to be the vilest Heaven ever. Perhaps that's going to be the twist ending. If so, you heard it here first.
Speaking of which, I also placed a bet early in the book that Sorwheel was the White-Luck Warrior. This would provide purpose to his ambling subplot, and after all he is clearly subject to some interest from the goddess Yatwer. But was I right? If I was, I couldn't tell you, because of spoilers. Given the White-Luck Warrior appears to exist and move in time quite differently from ordinary people, his identity may be unprovable until the last pages anyway.
The White-Luck Warrior, whoever he is, is sent by the Gods against Anasurimbor Kellhus. Kellhus himself is after the Consult, servants of the No-God--so he is in fact doing something that would be helpful to the Gods, but the Gods themselves can't see this because they're blind to the machinations of the No-God. Thus the Gods have turned against Kellhus because he sees more than they can. Is this a metaphor for Kellhus and the Dunyain vs humankind in general? Quite probably.
Kellhus aside for the moment, if there was one Anasurimbor the White-Luck warrior were to succeed in killing, Kelmomas is very, very high on my list. He's a grating combination of whining five year old (Bakker depicts the whining so well I wonder if he has some of that in his life?) and sociopath about to stab you in the eyeball. I still can't figure out what the kid wants, since his beloved "Mommeeee" Esmenet is a mere mortal besides him, but he's not seeking world domination yet so in the scale of things, he just seems petty and bratty. Yes, it says something about this series that the "petty brat" commits murder via stabbing-in-the-eyeballs. I enjoyed the scene where big brother Inrilatas completely unnerved him, not because I like the grotesquely unhinged Inrilatas so much as I hate Kelmomas. But during a particularly tense scene, Esmenent and her companions spent all their time worrying about innocent little Kelli (to be fair, Esmenet is in fact a mere mortal compared to him and has no idea how bad he is) and completely forgot his much more interesting elder sister, Thelliopia. Thelli reminds me a bit of Luna Lovegood in a darker universe, with a penchant for designing her own clothes (with Luna-esque love for creative and glittery things, and if I'm gravely misremembering Miss Lovegood, my apologies) and also seeing to the truth at the root of all things, because she's an Anasurimbor. She also may be located on the autistic spectrum, although with the Anasurimbor influence it's hard to tell, and the characters wouldn't have the language to identify that anyway. At the least she's much less grating and far more interesting than Kelmomas, plus happens to be one of the few female characters without a history of prostitution. Don't get me wrong, sex workers deserve stories, too. But when I start noticing and perhaps planning a drinking game around how every woman in a story is depicted, that may be a call for change.
Yes, we get some additional sex worker characters, in a way that actually makes sense given the narrative and allows some reflective pathos on Esmenet's part. In justice, we also have the Swayal Sisterhood, who are really really awesome--the sorcery in general in this story has some amazing visuals. Also, Bakker does a solid job illustrating the mostly-male Great Ordeal covering up the threatening realization that women can be powerful enough to work sorcery by hiding it under facade of horniness and dirty jokes. Because when a woman is powerful enough to threaten you, you pretend she's only a ****, and presumably this makes you feel better. The Great Ordeal finds itself so enmired in awfulness and Sranc that I can even pity them despite how much this worldbuilding enjoys its casual misogyny.
Our moral compass Achaimian may turn out not to be a moral compass at all--his willingly leading most of the Skin Eater mercenaries to their deaths in pursuit of his Dunyain conspiracy theory perhaps should have tipped me off--but he and Mimara especially start going off the rails while in a Nonman-induced drug haze. There's also the lovely snarl of whether Achaimian, in being against Kellhus, is unconsciously serving the interests of Kellhus' enemies the Consult and the No-God. Mimara even wonders if her Judging Eye is revealing his damnation because he's a sorcerer, or because he's helping bring about the Second Apocalypse. This is a motive/effect snarl I haven't seen in any other novel (leave your suggestions in the comments if you have) and it will keep me with this series even if the grimdark sometimes gets grating.
Although while we're talking about motives, and Mimara, and depictions of women, the scene where Mimara tries to refuse the drug out of her mother's instinct (because having a fetus growing in your body automatically awakens maternal instinct, nevermind if your relationship with your own mother is strained because she sold you as a child into abuse so horrible and dehumanizing that you learned not to consider it abusive before you hit puberty)...I did a double-take strong enough to launch the book across the room. Really now?
It's perhaps a bit petty of me to harp on these casual slip-ups, but I guess reading almost 600 pages of such relenting grimdark (drawn on by delectable motive snarls and powerful imagery, my own drug of choice) will make you that much less charitable. It also became harder to deny that sometimes Bakker's gambles with prose get out of hand. I'm pretty certain in one instance things are described as at their "nadir" when they're actually at zenith (although his word choice in general is a masterpiece of the unexpected, so maybe I shouldn't assume). And then he writes of two characters releasing "black-haired grunting" and "high blonde cries," which if it was coming from a friend of mine would be a signal to gently stage an intervention. Perhaps with the help of the Eye of Argon.
The story ends with plenty of juicy cliffhangers, and I realize I have faith that this trilogy will be wrapped up in a more satisfying way than the first. If it takes a trilogy of trilogies to tell the tale of the Second Apocalypse, though, I'll be there the whole way, because reading these books is an experience like no other. Grunts with hair color aside, the epic scale and genuine creepiness become an addictive thrill. I'm always saddened to read the last few pages, while usually I love to gobble books as quickly as possible. Whether I'll be tagging the final book "apocalypses that weren't" hangs in the air. I could almost see Bakker writing an ending where the Consult wins--he's that brutal--and frankly I almost want to see it, because it would be just that awesome on an unparalleled scale. Also, the Gods are dicks and most of my favorite characters are damned anyway, so what do we have to lose?
This review is cross-posted from Story Addict.
As if that weren't bad enough, it appears that the vision of Mimara's Judging Eye is in fact reliable. This disappoints me a little for reasons described in my review of the previous book, but also adds layers upon layers of metaphysical horror, as pretty much every character we know appears damned. Bakker's running a risk here of the reader giving up in sheer despair-induced apathy, but for now everything seems confused enough that there's still hope for some sort of emotionally satisfying conclusion for somebody, I suppose. But really there are a handful of characters who, if the series ends with them being dragged to hell, will have me perfectly satisfied if the No-God succeeds in shutting off this world from what has to be the vilest Heaven ever. Perhaps that's going to be the twist ending. If so, you heard it here first.
Speaking of which, I also placed a bet early in the book that Sorwheel was the White-Luck Warrior. This would provide purpose to his ambling subplot, and after all he is clearly subject to some interest from the goddess Yatwer. But was I right? If I was, I couldn't tell you, because of spoilers. Given the White-Luck Warrior appears to exist and move in time quite differently from ordinary people, his identity may be unprovable until the last pages anyway.
The White-Luck Warrior, whoever he is, is sent by the Gods against Anasurimbor Kellhus. Kellhus himself is after the Consult, servants of the No-God--so he is in fact doing something that would be helpful to the Gods, but the Gods themselves can't see this because they're blind to the machinations of the No-God. Thus the Gods have turned against Kellhus because he sees more than they can. Is this a metaphor for Kellhus and the Dunyain vs humankind in general? Quite probably.
Kellhus aside for the moment, if there was one Anasurimbor the White-Luck warrior were to succeed in killing, Kelmomas is very, very high on my list. He's a grating combination of whining five year old (Bakker depicts the whining so well I wonder if he has some of that in his life?) and sociopath about to stab you in the eyeball. I still can't figure out what the kid wants, since his beloved "Mommeeee" Esmenet is a mere mortal besides him, but he's not seeking world domination yet so in the scale of things, he just seems petty and bratty. Yes, it says something about this series that the "petty brat" commits murder via stabbing-in-the-eyeballs. I enjoyed the scene where big brother Inrilatas completely unnerved him, not because I like the grotesquely unhinged Inrilatas so much as I hate Kelmomas. But during a particularly tense scene, Esmenent and her companions spent all their time worrying about innocent little Kelli (to be fair, Esmenet is in fact a mere mortal compared to him and has no idea how bad he is) and completely forgot his much more interesting elder sister, Thelliopia. Thelli reminds me a bit of Luna Lovegood in a darker universe, with a penchant for designing her own clothes (with Luna-esque love for creative and glittery things, and if I'm gravely misremembering Miss Lovegood, my apologies) and also seeing to the truth at the root of all things, because she's an Anasurimbor. She also may be located on the autistic spectrum, although with the Anasurimbor influence it's hard to tell, and the characters wouldn't have the language to identify that anyway. At the least she's much less grating and far more interesting than Kelmomas, plus happens to be one of the few female characters without a history of prostitution. Don't get me wrong, sex workers deserve stories, too. But when I start noticing and perhaps planning a drinking game around how every woman in a story is depicted, that may be a call for change.
Yes, we get some additional sex worker characters, in a way that actually makes sense given the narrative and allows some reflective pathos on Esmenet's part. In justice, we also have the Swayal Sisterhood, who are really really awesome--the sorcery in general in this story has some amazing visuals. Also, Bakker does a solid job illustrating the mostly-male Great Ordeal covering up the threatening realization that women can be powerful enough to work sorcery by hiding it under facade of horniness and dirty jokes. Because when a woman is powerful enough to threaten you, you pretend she's only a ****, and presumably this makes you feel better. The Great Ordeal finds itself so enmired in awfulness and Sranc that I can even pity them despite how much this worldbuilding enjoys its casual misogyny.
Our moral compass Achaimian may turn out not to be a moral compass at all--his willingly leading most of the Skin Eater mercenaries to their deaths in pursuit of his Dunyain conspiracy theory perhaps should have tipped me off--but he and Mimara especially start going off the rails while in a Nonman-induced drug haze. There's also the lovely snarl of whether Achaimian, in being against Kellhus, is unconsciously serving the interests of Kellhus' enemies the Consult and the No-God. Mimara even wonders if her Judging Eye is revealing his damnation because he's a sorcerer, or because he's helping bring about the Second Apocalypse. This is a motive/effect snarl I haven't seen in any other novel (leave your suggestions in the comments if you have) and it will keep me with this series even if the grimdark sometimes gets grating.
Although while we're talking about motives, and Mimara, and depictions of women, the scene where Mimara tries to refuse the drug out of her mother's instinct (because having a fetus growing in your body automatically awakens maternal instinct, nevermind if your relationship with your own mother is strained because she sold you as a child into abuse so horrible and dehumanizing that you learned not to consider it abusive before you hit puberty)...I did a double-take strong enough to launch the book across the room. Really now?
It's perhaps a bit petty of me to harp on these casual slip-ups, but I guess reading almost 600 pages of such relenting grimdark (drawn on by delectable motive snarls and powerful imagery, my own drug of choice) will make you that much less charitable. It also became harder to deny that sometimes Bakker's gambles with prose get out of hand. I'm pretty certain in one instance things are described as at their "nadir" when they're actually at zenith (although his word choice in general is a masterpiece of the unexpected, so maybe I shouldn't assume). And then he writes of two characters releasing "black-haired grunting" and "high blonde cries," which if it was coming from a friend of mine would be a signal to gently stage an intervention. Perhaps with the help of the Eye of Argon.
The story ends with plenty of juicy cliffhangers, and I realize I have faith that this trilogy will be wrapped up in a more satisfying way than the first. If it takes a trilogy of trilogies to tell the tale of the Second Apocalypse, though, I'll be there the whole way, because reading these books is an experience like no other. Grunts with hair color aside, the epic scale and genuine creepiness become an addictive thrill. I'm always saddened to read the last few pages, while usually I love to gobble books as quickly as possible. Whether I'll be tagging the final book "apocalypses that weren't" hangs in the air. I could almost see Bakker writing an ending where the Consult wins--he's that brutal--and frankly I almost want to see it, because it would be just that awesome on an unparalleled scale. Also, the Gods are dicks and most of my favorite characters are damned anyway, so what do we have to lose?
This review is cross-posted from Story Addict.
October 28, 2025
Whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent
August 15, 2024
I've had a little break from Bakker in the last months... Part of that was caused by some difficulties I had with the transition from the 'Prince of Nothing' trilogy to the 'Aspect Emperor' tetralogy.
The writing was superb as always and I loved how he developed the concepts and played with the themes of the series further. Some choices regarding the way he told them - specifically within one or two POVs just didn't click with me at the time.
I wasn't worried at any moment, that my enjoyment would seize when continuing. And I was right to think so, because 'The White-Luck Warrior' was an absolute beast of a book.
Heartwrenching, thrilling, exciting and most of all brilliantly executed and narrated, Bakker hits all the spots he was so good at hitting in the first series.
There is so much delicious character-work here and how he weaves in the politics once again was on a level, only few authors reach.
Especially the plot with Esmenet and the children of Kellhus at the court in Momemn completely blew me away in these regards. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
'Aspect Emperor' really follows up the first series in a similar way to what the 'Dune' sequels do to their predecessor. It feels like a continuation of the idea proposed within the initial novel - or trilogy, in this case. Philosophical musings on a prophet-figure, religion and in the case of Bakker's work most of all free will and the degenerate nature of mankind.
Where Dune touches on dark topics about humankind within it's themes, Bakker dives in head-first, drinks the entire pool up and digests it in his intestines - sorts and delayers it for his readers (sorry for the bad analogy)
But how the two series approach their individual explorations still feels similar - only that in this case, it works in every conceivable way. Bakker nails it and even manages to nullify every accusation regarding "wallowing in misery" and dealing with his dark stuff in an inappropriate way.
But before I get into that, this was about the similarities of 'Aspect Emperor' and the 'Dune' sequels... I'm once again getting off track...
Whereas 'Dune' in my opinion has a pretty significant identity problem (except for 'Dune: Messiah' as I'll address in my review for that one), Bakker avoids this from the start. He has prepared his readers well enough for what's to come and doesn't need to cover up or neglect anything in the story we embark on here.
So while the focus on his philosphical explorations get to the forefront here, while the creation and building of events and complex plot lines get less and less traditional, it never feels like he is loosing track in any way - other than this review lol.
This is also what I feel like the main difference between Bakker's 'Second Apocalypse' and Erikson's 'Malazan' is. Bakker is more focused, follows a clearer path from beginning to end; still, he allows himself to wander and explore certain aspects and ideas he came up with, but it all ties into the main storyline of the series neatly.
I don't prefer either approach to the other, but since 'Malazan' famously for many people feels overcomplicated, directionless and therefore tedious at times (which I can understand but - as I said - don't agree with at all), this might be why many might find this series more appealing.
So again, give it a shot, Bakker is incredible.
Infamously though, the 'Second Apocalypse' is one of the darkest stories ever put to page. I've said in a lot of these reviews, that even if there is absolutely horriffic stuff happening and pretty much every trigger warning conceivable needs to be put before the series, I didn't feel it was at the highest level of thereof I can think of. Many people have claimed, though, that the darkness in the 'Second Apocalypse'runs deeper than just messed-up characters and experiences, shocking events and the likes.
I am not as deep into philosophy and philisophy-ingested fiction as I'd like to be (yet), and so it took a while longer than it needed for me to fully notice what Bakker was doing here.
And during 'The Judging Eye' and 'The White-Luck Warrior', I finally got his whole vision and what makes this series sooooo dark and depressing.
And I love it for what it is. Not only as it gets some really interesting insights into humanity that, while absolutely brutal, are really honest in my opinion.
And while a lot of people I've watched discuss the series and it's content online - people that are way more knowledgeble in both literature and philosophy than myself - disagree with a lot of concolsions, Bakker gets to, the debates and discussions alone make this one a masterpiece for me and one that's fascinating to engage with.
If you haven't read the series this far or haven't engaged with the author's vision in another way, I'd feel like it would be redundand to get into it deeper. The thesis alone, the questions he asks and the answers he delivers are, without context, without actually engaging on the journey yourself, not appealing in any way.
But how each reader individually consumes them, finds truths and falsehoods, destills meaning for themselves, is where the magic of Bakker's writing lie.
And after the developments the world, characters and plot were put through in 'The White-Luck Warrior', I am now fully engaged within the series again, in more aspects than the concepts and musings. I want to know how this all plays out. I want to know which disaster lies at the end of all of this.
Because if you think this has a happy ending, you have not been paying attention.
There is something even darker, even more devastating at the end of all of this, I can feel it and am brimming with anticipation.
So onward we go, the Great Ordeal marches. Next book should follow pretty soon.
I will not hide however, that the stupid formating of the books affects my buying habits with Bakker...
Holy shit this series looks TERRIBLE on the shelf. It's horrible! Oh, damn... Have I picked on a whole different way, Bakker is imbuing his themes onto the reader?
Is this all one big meta-comment?
Think I'm onto something here...
The writing was superb as always and I loved how he developed the concepts and played with the themes of the series further. Some choices regarding the way he told them - specifically within one or two POVs just didn't click with me at the time.
I wasn't worried at any moment, that my enjoyment would seize when continuing. And I was right to think so, because 'The White-Luck Warrior' was an absolute beast of a book.
Heartwrenching, thrilling, exciting and most of all brilliantly executed and narrated, Bakker hits all the spots he was so good at hitting in the first series.
There is so much delicious character-work here and how he weaves in the politics once again was on a level, only few authors reach.
Especially the plot with Esmenet and the children of Kellhus at the court in Momemn completely blew me away in these regards. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
'Aspect Emperor' really follows up the first series in a similar way to what the 'Dune' sequels do to their predecessor. It feels like a continuation of the idea proposed within the initial novel - or trilogy, in this case. Philosophical musings on a prophet-figure, religion and in the case of Bakker's work most of all free will and the degenerate nature of mankind.
Where Dune touches on dark topics about humankind within it's themes, Bakker dives in head-first, drinks the entire pool up and digests it in his intestines - sorts and delayers it for his readers (sorry for the bad analogy)
But how the two series approach their individual explorations still feels similar - only that in this case, it works in every conceivable way. Bakker nails it and even manages to nullify every accusation regarding "wallowing in misery" and dealing with his dark stuff in an inappropriate way.
But before I get into that, this was about the similarities of 'Aspect Emperor' and the 'Dune' sequels... I'm once again getting off track...
Whereas 'Dune' in my opinion has a pretty significant identity problem (except for 'Dune: Messiah' as I'll address in my review for that one), Bakker avoids this from the start. He has prepared his readers well enough for what's to come and doesn't need to cover up or neglect anything in the story we embark on here.
So while the focus on his philosphical explorations get to the forefront here, while the creation and building of events and complex plot lines get less and less traditional, it never feels like he is loosing track in any way - other than this review lol.
This is also what I feel like the main difference between Bakker's 'Second Apocalypse' and Erikson's 'Malazan' is. Bakker is more focused, follows a clearer path from beginning to end; still, he allows himself to wander and explore certain aspects and ideas he came up with, but it all ties into the main storyline of the series neatly.
I don't prefer either approach to the other, but since 'Malazan' famously for many people feels overcomplicated, directionless and therefore tedious at times (which I can understand but - as I said - don't agree with at all), this might be why many might find this series more appealing.
So again, give it a shot, Bakker is incredible.
Infamously though, the 'Second Apocalypse' is one of the darkest stories ever put to page. I've said in a lot of these reviews, that even if there is absolutely horriffic stuff happening and pretty much every trigger warning conceivable needs to be put before the series, I didn't feel it was at the highest level of thereof I can think of. Many people have claimed, though, that the darkness in the 'Second Apocalypse'runs deeper than just messed-up characters and experiences, shocking events and the likes.
I am not as deep into philosophy and philisophy-ingested fiction as I'd like to be (yet), and so it took a while longer than it needed for me to fully notice what Bakker was doing here.
And during 'The Judging Eye' and 'The White-Luck Warrior', I finally got his whole vision and what makes this series sooooo dark and depressing.
And I love it for what it is. Not only as it gets some really interesting insights into humanity that, while absolutely brutal, are really honest in my opinion.
And while a lot of people I've watched discuss the series and it's content online - people that are way more knowledgeble in both literature and philosophy than myself - disagree with a lot of concolsions, Bakker gets to, the debates and discussions alone make this one a masterpiece for me and one that's fascinating to engage with.
If you haven't read the series this far or haven't engaged with the author's vision in another way, I'd feel like it would be redundand to get into it deeper. The thesis alone, the questions he asks and the answers he delivers are, without context, without actually engaging on the journey yourself, not appealing in any way.
But how each reader individually consumes them, finds truths and falsehoods, destills meaning for themselves, is where the magic of Bakker's writing lie.
And after the developments the world, characters and plot were put through in 'The White-Luck Warrior', I am now fully engaged within the series again, in more aspects than the concepts and musings. I want to know how this all plays out. I want to know which disaster lies at the end of all of this.
Because if you think this has a happy ending, you have not been paying attention.
There is something even darker, even more devastating at the end of all of this, I can feel it and am brimming with anticipation.
So onward we go, the Great Ordeal marches. Next book should follow pretty soon.
I will not hide however, that the stupid formating of the books affects my buying habits with Bakker...
Holy shit this series looks TERRIBLE on the shelf. It's horrible! Oh, damn... Have I picked on a whole different way, Bakker is imbuing his themes onto the reader?
Is this all one big meta-comment?
Think I'm onto something here...
December 22, 2024
NB: There are spoilers galore in this review so be warned. Also be warned that I make no allowances for not having read the previous books so there are many allusions and references that will make no sense to the uninitiated.
R. Scott Baker continues to deliver on the promise shown in The Judging Eye and its predecessor series, The Prince of Nothing. As with the first book, this one follows three paths:
Momemn: As the Great Ordeal marches north and Kellhus cuts off all communication between it and the Empire, fissures continue to develop and widen. Fanayal, the deposed Fanim Padirajah, appears out of the desert to conquer Iothiah and by the end of the book is besieging the capital itself. Esmenet's hold on power is tenuous not just because she is a woman in a patriarchal society straight out of the Old Testament but because she is a damned woman - a "whore." But it's her obsession with her children (especially after Kelmomas murders Samarmas) that scares Maithanet into staging a coup. Outside of the Palace, the Cults, in particular Yatwer's, are increasingly vocal in their opposition to the Anasurimbor dynasty. The Hundred Gods cannot "see" the No-God or recognize its threat so they can only regard Kellhus as an enemy.
Bakker's theology is one of the more unique aspects of the series. Unlike Erikson's or Cook's idea of ascendant mortals, or Tolkien's Christian-derived Valar, the gods of Earwa (or the demons, if you're Fanim) know nothing of human suffering or compassion and appear to move in the world without regard to their worshippers.
The Momemn sections were the weakest parts of the book for me if only because Esmenet, the chief POV (the other being the sociopath Kelmomas), is such a cryer* and willfully obtuse. She was much smarter and better than this in The Prince of Nothing. Motherhood appears to have made her stupid since it's her refusal to recognize that her children are 1/2 Dunyain(!) that undermines her position as Empress.
The Great Ordeal: Here we continue to follow Sorweel. At the moment, he is protected from the Anasurimbors' Dunyain sight by Yatwer and has been accepted as a Believer-King, a believer in Kellhus's divinity and an ally, not a hostage. Sorweel believes he is meant to assassinate the Aspect-Emperor but when he becomes part of a hostage exchange with the Nonmen of Ishterebinth (the last Mansion in Earwa), all his assumptions are overturned.
These sections dwell on Sorweel's increasing confusion as he becomes a valued member of the Ordeal, comes to understand that its goal is "good," but still feels he must avenge his father and come to terms with what he thinks Yatwer wants.
I think Sorweel plays a similar role to Cnaiur, the Scylvendi chief from The Prince of Nothing. A "regular" mortal who can stand apart from Kellhus's manipulation. He's not as strong or unique a character as Cnaiur was, however. The Scylvendi was an implacable force of nature (shades of Karsa Orlong from the Malazan Book of the Fallen). The Sakarpi king is a naive boy whose protection comes from a enigmatic god's "blessing."
The Slog of Slogs: My favorite sections are those told from Drusus Achamian's and Mimara's POVs - their trek (accompanied by the Skin Eaters) across the Sranc-infested north to Sauglish's Great Library. Here, Bakker gives freest rein to his philosophical ruminations. Not for every reader, for myself it made fascinating reading and it didn't slow the story down at all.
In this first read, the theme that dominates is the myriad relationships between belief and reality. Examples include: The Ordeal's belief in Kellhus vs. what he really is (and what his motivations are); the Skin Eaters' belief in Achamian's motives vs. what his real goal is; Achamian's belief in what moves Lord Kosoter vs. the truth; Esmenet's belief in the love of her son, Kelmomas vs. Kelmomas's Dunyain nature; the belief of Yatwer's worshippers vs. her motives; (broadly speaking) the difference between the World vs. the Outside; or the nature of sorcery (which imposes the sorceror's beliefs on the World's reality, and explains why its practitioners are damned). And more permutations could be listed.
The Dunyain have, perhaps, come closest to true perception but at the expense of emotions like love and compassion. But, then, Bakker's cosmos bears greater resemblance to H.P. Lovecraft's uncaring, amoral universe than to Middle Earth. And - yet - souls are damned or saved and (judging from what Mimara sees with her "judging eye") saved by those very emotions that the Dunyain have eschewed and that the religions of Earwa barely recognize.
All three threads end in cliffhangers: In Momemn, Esmenet and Maithanet reconcile only to have Maithanet assassinated by the White-Luck Warrior, and the rebel armies of Fanayal appearing at the city's gates. The Ordeal ends with a bloodied but still intact host approaching Golgotterath, and Sorweel and the Anasurimbors Serwa and Moenghus journeying to Ishterebinth, which has become an ally of the Consult in the two thousand years since the First Apocalypse. The Slog ends with only Achamian and Mimara surviving to reach Ishual, only to find it a deserted ruin.
In all this I've hardly mentioned the titular "white-luck warrior" because he remains an enigma. Some parts of the Momemn sections are told from his POV. He exists both within and outside of the World and perceives everything that comes before and everything that comes after. In that sense, he's what the Dunyain aspire to be but his origins and motives remain unexplained (I see a set up for an exploration of free will vs. determinism in the final volume).
I have no idea where Bakker is going to end up with this series and so look forward to The Unholy Consult, which can't come out too soon for me.
Highly recommended.
* I'm surprised Esmi hasn't gone blind from all the tears she's shed (or collapsed from dehydration). I swear that every page mentions - at some point - tears or crying or incipient crying.
R. Scott Baker continues to deliver on the promise shown in The Judging Eye and its predecessor series, The Prince of Nothing. As with the first book, this one follows three paths:
Momemn: As the Great Ordeal marches north and Kellhus cuts off all communication between it and the Empire, fissures continue to develop and widen. Fanayal, the deposed Fanim Padirajah, appears out of the desert to conquer Iothiah and by the end of the book is besieging the capital itself. Esmenet's hold on power is tenuous not just because she is a woman in a patriarchal society straight out of the Old Testament but because she is a damned woman - a "whore." But it's her obsession with her children (especially after Kelmomas murders Samarmas) that scares Maithanet into staging a coup. Outside of the Palace, the Cults, in particular Yatwer's, are increasingly vocal in their opposition to the Anasurimbor dynasty. The Hundred Gods cannot "see" the No-God or recognize its threat so they can only regard Kellhus as an enemy.
Bakker's theology is one of the more unique aspects of the series. Unlike Erikson's or Cook's idea of ascendant mortals, or Tolkien's Christian-derived Valar, the gods of Earwa (or the demons, if you're Fanim) know nothing of human suffering or compassion and appear to move in the world without regard to their worshippers.
The Momemn sections were the weakest parts of the book for me if only because Esmenet, the chief POV (the other being the sociopath Kelmomas), is such a cryer* and willfully obtuse. She was much smarter and better than this in The Prince of Nothing. Motherhood appears to have made her stupid since it's her refusal to recognize that her children are 1/2 Dunyain(!) that undermines her position as Empress.
The Great Ordeal: Here we continue to follow Sorweel. At the moment, he is protected from the Anasurimbors' Dunyain sight by Yatwer and has been accepted as a Believer-King, a believer in Kellhus's divinity and an ally, not a hostage. Sorweel believes he is meant to assassinate the Aspect-Emperor but when he becomes part of a hostage exchange with the Nonmen of Ishterebinth (the last Mansion in Earwa), all his assumptions are overturned.
These sections dwell on Sorweel's increasing confusion as he becomes a valued member of the Ordeal, comes to understand that its goal is "good," but still feels he must avenge his father and come to terms with what he thinks Yatwer wants.
I think Sorweel plays a similar role to Cnaiur, the Scylvendi chief from The Prince of Nothing. A "regular" mortal who can stand apart from Kellhus's manipulation. He's not as strong or unique a character as Cnaiur was, however. The Scylvendi was an implacable force of nature (shades of Karsa Orlong from the Malazan Book of the Fallen). The Sakarpi king is a naive boy whose protection comes from a enigmatic god's "blessing."
The Slog of Slogs: My favorite sections are those told from Drusus Achamian's and Mimara's POVs - their trek (accompanied by the Skin Eaters) across the Sranc-infested north to Sauglish's Great Library. Here, Bakker gives freest rein to his philosophical ruminations. Not for every reader, for myself it made fascinating reading and it didn't slow the story down at all.
In this first read, the theme that dominates is the myriad relationships between belief and reality. Examples include: The Ordeal's belief in Kellhus vs. what he really is (and what his motivations are); the Skin Eaters' belief in Achamian's motives vs. what his real goal is; Achamian's belief in what moves Lord Kosoter vs. the truth; Esmenet's belief in the love of her son, Kelmomas vs. Kelmomas's Dunyain nature; the belief of Yatwer's worshippers vs. her motives; (broadly speaking) the difference between the World vs. the Outside; or the nature of sorcery (which imposes the sorceror's beliefs on the World's reality, and explains why its practitioners are damned). And more permutations could be listed.
The Dunyain have, perhaps, come closest to true perception but at the expense of emotions like love and compassion. But, then, Bakker's cosmos bears greater resemblance to H.P. Lovecraft's uncaring, amoral universe than to Middle Earth. And - yet - souls are damned or saved and (judging from what Mimara sees with her "judging eye") saved by those very emotions that the Dunyain have eschewed and that the religions of Earwa barely recognize.
All three threads end in cliffhangers: In Momemn, Esmenet and Maithanet reconcile only to have Maithanet assassinated by the White-Luck Warrior, and the rebel armies of Fanayal appearing at the city's gates. The Ordeal ends with a bloodied but still intact host approaching Golgotterath, and Sorweel and the Anasurimbors Serwa and Moenghus journeying to Ishterebinth, which has become an ally of the Consult in the two thousand years since the First Apocalypse. The Slog ends with only Achamian and Mimara surviving to reach Ishual, only to find it a deserted ruin.
In all this I've hardly mentioned the titular "white-luck warrior" because he remains an enigma. Some parts of the Momemn sections are told from his POV. He exists both within and outside of the World and perceives everything that comes before and everything that comes after. In that sense, he's what the Dunyain aspire to be but his origins and motives remain unexplained (I see a set up for an exploration of free will vs. determinism in the final volume).
I have no idea where Bakker is going to end up with this series and so look forward to The Unholy Consult, which can't come out too soon for me.
Highly recommended.
* I'm surprised Esmi hasn't gone blind from all the tears she's shed (or collapsed from dehydration). I swear that every page mentions - at some point - tears or crying or incipient crying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2021
A fantastic follow-up to The Judging Eye. It picks up immediately where the previous book left off, with the three central threads of the Skin Eaters, the Great Ordeal, and the Imperial politics at Momemn. I would say I preferred The Judging Eye slightly more, even though The White-Luck Warrior was consistently engaging simply because it didn't have a sequence as epically compelling as the journey through Cil-Aujas.
That said, I found the Sorweel sections more interesting than before as he starts to gain a position of higher respect within his group and become less passive of a character. He becomes less of a camera through which to view the Ordeal and more of someone who can majorly influence the story. Though, I found the start of his journey in the latter half to be less engaging than what came before, as his interactions became limited to only a few people.
The travels of the Skin Eaters with the Wizard and Mimara continue to be my favourite plotline. The evocative landscape descriptions coupled with the fracturing, disturbing group dynamics as they traverse the depths of the forest to the vast plains were arresting. The continuing travels didn't feel repetitive or boring since it involved interesting characters grappling with their experiences. Time seemed to become stretched and hazy. More information about Mimara's Judging Eye, as well as the overarching motivations of characters like the mysterious Captain and Cleric, are slowly unravelled. The bombastic conclusion to this with the Wracu was just amazing.
The Momemn thread fluctuates for me: I'm the most interested when we get more about the Anasurimbor children but the other parts with Psatma Nannaferi and the Kianese I find less compelling. The chapters involving Inrilatas, Kelmomas, and Maithanet were my favourite, the dialogue and conversation dripping with hidden implications and layers of subtext as they duelled with words. Some of the small White-Luck italics passages scattered throughout the book I found the hardest to discern what was happening, although the entire conceit of the White-Luck's existence is fascinating given his abilities from Yatwer and how his story left off.
Bakker's lyrical writing enhances an already fascinating story. The battle sequences, both mundane and magical, are quite insane. It reads like a horrifyingly compelling dream that you can't turn your eyes away from. The omniscient bird's eye perspective was something I struggled with in the first trilogy, and while it is hard to keep track of the various factions, it contributes to conveying the epic scale of these conflicts. The Ordeal battles in this book though, started to blend together for me.
Overall, this was another great Bakker book that maintained a consistent level of engagement with the plot and beautiful prose while escalating the story at a compelling pace. Some of the introspective elements were very insightful and others were harder to comprehend. The philosophies of various characters coming into conflict, especially some of the more inhuman characters, were a lot of fun although it also took some effort to parse exactly what epiphanies some characters had at times.
This felt like the most uniformly paced narrative so far. However, when I think of stand-out sequences, my mind doesn't immediately go to events in this book besides a few: the end of the Skin Eater plotline and some Anasurimbor conversations. Others such as the Ordeal battles blend together somewhat, so I think I prefer the other Aspect-Emperor books I've read thus far at the time of writing this review slightly more (The Judging Eye and The Great Ordeal).
That said, I found the Sorweel sections more interesting than before as he starts to gain a position of higher respect within his group and become less passive of a character. He becomes less of a camera through which to view the Ordeal and more of someone who can majorly influence the story. Though, I found the start of his journey in the latter half to be less engaging than what came before, as his interactions became limited to only a few people.
The travels of the Skin Eaters with the Wizard and Mimara continue to be my favourite plotline. The evocative landscape descriptions coupled with the fracturing, disturbing group dynamics as they traverse the depths of the forest to the vast plains were arresting. The continuing travels didn't feel repetitive or boring since it involved interesting characters grappling with their experiences. Time seemed to become stretched and hazy. More information about Mimara's Judging Eye, as well as the overarching motivations of characters like the mysterious Captain and Cleric, are slowly unravelled. The bombastic conclusion to this with the Wracu was just amazing.
The Momemn thread fluctuates for me: I'm the most interested when we get more about the Anasurimbor children but the other parts with Psatma Nannaferi and the Kianese I find less compelling. The chapters involving Inrilatas, Kelmomas, and Maithanet were my favourite, the dialogue and conversation dripping with hidden implications and layers of subtext as they duelled with words. Some of the small White-Luck italics passages scattered throughout the book I found the hardest to discern what was happening, although the entire conceit of the White-Luck's existence is fascinating given his abilities from Yatwer and how his story left off.
Bakker's lyrical writing enhances an already fascinating story. The battle sequences, both mundane and magical, are quite insane. It reads like a horrifyingly compelling dream that you can't turn your eyes away from. The omniscient bird's eye perspective was something I struggled with in the first trilogy, and while it is hard to keep track of the various factions, it contributes to conveying the epic scale of these conflicts. The Ordeal battles in this book though, started to blend together for me.
Overall, this was another great Bakker book that maintained a consistent level of engagement with the plot and beautiful prose while escalating the story at a compelling pace. Some of the introspective elements were very insightful and others were harder to comprehend. The philosophies of various characters coming into conflict, especially some of the more inhuman characters, were a lot of fun although it also took some effort to parse exactly what epiphanies some characters had at times.
This felt like the most uniformly paced narrative so far. However, when I think of stand-out sequences, my mind doesn't immediately go to events in this book besides a few: the end of the Skin Eater plotline and some Anasurimbor conversations. Others such as the Ordeal battles blend together somewhat, so I think I prefer the other Aspect-Emperor books I've read thus far at the time of writing this review slightly more (The Judging Eye and The Great Ordeal).
May 11, 2013
I always find books like this difficult to review, because I acknowledge whilst I enjoyed it, most people would find it pretty tiresome. The premise, of Neitzschean superman let loose in a medieval Near East with a singular mission to prevent The Apocalypse may raise an eyebrow or two, and when it comes to the super-powers of the Anasurimbor Bakker resorts to a fair amount of hand-waving and obfuscation. It works because it does, and like the Believer-Kings, you just have to accept it. We take it on board - the premise is fascinating. It's not really a fantasy novel at all - more speculative fiction with a medieval bent; Dune with swords.
The homage/subversion of the Fellowship trope (A wizard whose wise because, like Socrates, because he knows nothing etc)is probably the strongest arc of the new series, plumbing the Ancient North you'll remember from the dreams of the first trilogy. This is brilliantly accomplished, but a little too Tolkein. Bakker's answer to the Elves, the mad Nonmen are a brilliant look at how ugly immortality can be, and this delves into their world. It's Apocalypse Now meets Lord of the Rings, and its brilliant. The other arc, featuring Kellhus' lengthy march to Golgotterath to squish the Consult is the true Slog of Slogs, and reminiscent of the Holy War of the first series - Bakker's descriptions of warfare are inspired: somehow brutally realistic and the airy stuff of the heroic epic in one. Sorweel remains my favourite character of the series, and by far the most human. However, the plotting back home on the Andiamine Heights is badly accomplished, glib and ultimately meaningles. It's just a plot arc to fill space and increase the stature of Kelhus all the more.
Stylistically, it is dark. People say A Song of Ice and Fire is dark, but this series makes ASOIAF look like an episode of The Tweenies. Bakker is controversial, yes. He plays with the unheimlichkiet with reckless abandon, and the Inchoroi are a disturbing bunch - when people aren't being raped in their wounds by Sranc their faces are coming apart in tendrils, or they're eating each other or selling their children into prostitution. Bakker takes the latest craze for grimdark to the nth degree, with all the slavery and crushing depression that necessitates. It is a little infantile, and it grates.
The prose is purple in the extreme. A lot of people will find that off-putting, and even I, a sucker for the over-long sentence find it grates. (Also, Mr Bakker, please never use the phrase 'death came swirling...'. Your editor must have missed how often you use it, and honestly it is total shit.) The wanky in-universe philosophy stuff gets on my nerves (I never read the quotes that open the chapters) and breaks the character's sense of voice persistently. They exist because Bakker has a universe-sized axe to grind about all the silly little things we untermenschen believe in - I suppose the price we pay for grandiose literature is a grandiose ego.
It's a thrilling read because it's big, it's new, and it's no-holds-barred. The world being at stake is normally a cliche, but Bakker takes that trope so seriously, with such back to the wall tension, that it works. There's realism - of a sort.
But don't be deceived - the Bakkerverse has very little to redeem it. There are no laughs in The Second Apocalypse. No Joe Abercrombie or Pratchett quips, no GRRM gentle irony. It's the closest thing to a medieval dystopia you'll read. All loves end in betrayal, all faith is an illusion, and nothing is really worth fighting for anyway - except that the fate which befalls you if you fail is so unimaginably awful.
The homage/subversion of the Fellowship trope (A wizard whose wise because, like Socrates, because he knows nothing etc)is probably the strongest arc of the new series, plumbing the Ancient North you'll remember from the dreams of the first trilogy. This is brilliantly accomplished, but a little too Tolkein. Bakker's answer to the Elves, the mad Nonmen are a brilliant look at how ugly immortality can be, and this delves into their world. It's Apocalypse Now meets Lord of the Rings, and its brilliant. The other arc, featuring Kellhus' lengthy march to Golgotterath to squish the Consult is the true Slog of Slogs, and reminiscent of the Holy War of the first series - Bakker's descriptions of warfare are inspired: somehow brutally realistic and the airy stuff of the heroic epic in one. Sorweel remains my favourite character of the series, and by far the most human. However, the plotting back home on the Andiamine Heights is badly accomplished, glib and ultimately meaningles. It's just a plot arc to fill space and increase the stature of Kelhus all the more.
Stylistically, it is dark. People say A Song of Ice and Fire is dark, but this series makes ASOIAF look like an episode of The Tweenies. Bakker is controversial, yes. He plays with the unheimlichkiet with reckless abandon, and the Inchoroi are a disturbing bunch - when people aren't being raped in their wounds by Sranc their faces are coming apart in tendrils, or they're eating each other or selling their children into prostitution. Bakker takes the latest craze for grimdark to the nth degree, with all the slavery and crushing depression that necessitates. It is a little infantile, and it grates.
The prose is purple in the extreme. A lot of people will find that off-putting, and even I, a sucker for the over-long sentence find it grates. (Also, Mr Bakker, please never use the phrase 'death came swirling...'. Your editor must have missed how often you use it, and honestly it is total shit.) The wanky in-universe philosophy stuff gets on my nerves (I never read the quotes that open the chapters) and breaks the character's sense of voice persistently. They exist because Bakker has a universe-sized axe to grind about all the silly little things we untermenschen believe in - I suppose the price we pay for grandiose literature is a grandiose ego.
It's a thrilling read because it's big, it's new, and it's no-holds-barred. The world being at stake is normally a cliche, but Bakker takes that trope so seriously, with such back to the wall tension, that it works. There's realism - of a sort.
But don't be deceived - the Bakkerverse has very little to redeem it. There are no laughs in The Second Apocalypse. No Joe Abercrombie or Pratchett quips, no GRRM gentle irony. It's the closest thing to a medieval dystopia you'll read. All loves end in betrayal, all faith is an illusion, and nothing is really worth fighting for anyway - except that the fate which befalls you if you fail is so unimaginably awful.
January 6, 2023
4.5. Will post more once I’ve reflected on it.
Read
April 23, 2025Why I Read This:
R. Scott Bakker is one of the most powerful writers out there.
My Impression:
I feel bruised by this book. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this book traumatised me.
The previous instalment, The Judging Eye, involved an arduous quest where Achamian and Mimara search for the root of the Aspect-Emperor’s power. The White-Luck Warrior continues this ‘slog’ through the wastes – now termed ‘the slog of slogs,’ and it is as if we are following these doomed souls down an eternal staircase into Hell.
Other characters undergo their own slogs, the common experience of all being the stripping away of protections–physical, emotional, social and psychic–so the demonic sulphur of this horrendous universe leaves none unscathed.
This is an incredibly confronting book where the cruellest forms of violence are ever present. The shadowy Aspect-Emperor (a kind of inverted Christ figure in previous books) remains utterly remote, sharing with his closest disciple the only piece of wisdom he bothers to impart – that gods engage with forces so sizable and abstract that concepts like love become mere tools to manipulate lesser beings.
Through the following epigraph, Bakker considers the problem of the god’s eye perspective (making Herbert’s The God Emperor of Dune seem utterly benevolent):
“Gods are epical beings, not quite alive. Since the now alludes them, they are forever divided. Sometimes nothing blinds souls more profoundly than the apprehension of the whole. Men need recall this when they pray.”
The Non-Man who accompanies Achamian and Mimara on the slog represents such a perspective: unanchored, amnesiac, and as a result of this divorce from the personal, utterly immoral. The story makes us consider the impact of godly knowledge (or absolute surveillance) without love and goodly feeling. It is a type of abuse. The Aspect-Emperor possesses a penetrating intellect, yet he has mined every mystery and has come away with dust.
The White-Luck Warrior is the most nihilistic of Bakker’s works yet two small sparks of light dance in our periphery – the concept of The White-Luck (attunement to the natural flow of event and will) and The Judging Eye (compassionate moral judgement). There is a moment in the novel that echoes Christ’s plea to forgive those who crucify him, a truly horrifying scene that questions the limits of compassion and forgiveness.
Damnation as a punishment for such crimes brings no victory. To seek revenge only damns the revenging soul. The world that Bakker presents is utterly bleak and I left this book needing to treasure the light, the goodness in people that is often taken for granted. It surprised me to read Bakker’s dedication, in this book, to his wife and young daughter. Such beings would be torn to shreds in the world he has created.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this novel is that the demonic behaviours witnessed here are recognisable in our world today. Each day there are examples in the news of people whose souls must appear as black and shredded when viewed with The Judging Eye as they do on the slog. The problem of evil remains unsolved and unremedied – that is what Bakker leaves us with. It is a weight to bear.
Craft-Related Notes:
-Despite my negative feelings, I keep reading. Why? Bakker’s writing is so poetic, so keenly observant of the darker aspects of the human condition that it resonates with a degree of truth rarely found in fiction. Dostoevsky and Herbert are in the same category, I would say.
- In Bakker’s work, the intellect is oriented toward perpetual revelation. Search the word ‘realised’ in Bakker’s novels and you will see how important realisation is to his storytelling.
R. Scott Bakker is one of the most powerful writers out there.
My Impression:
I feel bruised by this book. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this book traumatised me.
The previous instalment, The Judging Eye, involved an arduous quest where Achamian and Mimara search for the root of the Aspect-Emperor’s power. The White-Luck Warrior continues this ‘slog’ through the wastes – now termed ‘the slog of slogs,’ and it is as if we are following these doomed souls down an eternal staircase into Hell.
Other characters undergo their own slogs, the common experience of all being the stripping away of protections–physical, emotional, social and psychic–so the demonic sulphur of this horrendous universe leaves none unscathed.
This is an incredibly confronting book where the cruellest forms of violence are ever present. The shadowy Aspect-Emperor (a kind of inverted Christ figure in previous books) remains utterly remote, sharing with his closest disciple the only piece of wisdom he bothers to impart – that gods engage with forces so sizable and abstract that concepts like love become mere tools to manipulate lesser beings.
Through the following epigraph, Bakker considers the problem of the god’s eye perspective (making Herbert’s The God Emperor of Dune seem utterly benevolent):
“Gods are epical beings, not quite alive. Since the now alludes them, they are forever divided. Sometimes nothing blinds souls more profoundly than the apprehension of the whole. Men need recall this when they pray.”
The Non-Man who accompanies Achamian and Mimara on the slog represents such a perspective: unanchored, amnesiac, and as a result of this divorce from the personal, utterly immoral. The story makes us consider the impact of godly knowledge (or absolute surveillance) without love and goodly feeling. It is a type of abuse. The Aspect-Emperor possesses a penetrating intellect, yet he has mined every mystery and has come away with dust.
The White-Luck Warrior is the most nihilistic of Bakker’s works yet two small sparks of light dance in our periphery – the concept of The White-Luck (attunement to the natural flow of event and will) and The Judging Eye (compassionate moral judgement). There is a moment in the novel that echoes Christ’s plea to forgive those who crucify him, a truly horrifying scene that questions the limits of compassion and forgiveness.
Damnation as a punishment for such crimes brings no victory. To seek revenge only damns the revenging soul. The world that Bakker presents is utterly bleak and I left this book needing to treasure the light, the goodness in people that is often taken for granted. It surprised me to read Bakker’s dedication, in this book, to his wife and young daughter. Such beings would be torn to shreds in the world he has created.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this novel is that the demonic behaviours witnessed here are recognisable in our world today. Each day there are examples in the news of people whose souls must appear as black and shredded when viewed with The Judging Eye as they do on the slog. The problem of evil remains unsolved and unremedied – that is what Bakker leaves us with. It is a weight to bear.
Craft-Related Notes:
-Despite my negative feelings, I keep reading. Why? Bakker’s writing is so poetic, so keenly observant of the darker aspects of the human condition that it resonates with a degree of truth rarely found in fiction. Dostoevsky and Herbert are in the same category, I would say.
- In Bakker’s work, the intellect is oriented toward perpetual revelation. Search the word ‘realised’ in Bakker’s novels and you will see how important realisation is to his storytelling.
December 30, 2024
The White Luck Warrior is the second installment of Aspect Emperor series, the continuation of Prince of nothing series. After the event of The Judge Eyes, Follow three main story lines by
Achamian, Esmenet and Sorweel, the horse king. Delve into three parts, the story unfolds what the great ordeal was marching into Agongornea, and the riots had happened in Shimeh, also Achamian was searching for the coffers in Sauglish. In the end of the story, Archamian and his daugther, Mimara reached Isulor where is Anasûrimbor Kellhus, Dûnyain's home.
TWLW is as exhilarating as the previous sequels of the second apocalypse series. Its philosophic, thought-provoking, contemplative that has mind-blowing effect on my reading experience. It means this book is not a easy read as his previous installments of the series, First It requires me to pause when I was reading any implications or metaphors of philosophy in the contexts; second, this is a challenge book which requires you take the hints of what occurred in the story, and visualizes the scenes, which are morbid or horrendous to readers.
but I think the most difficult part for me is the vocabularies; the vocabularies R. Scott Bakker crafts in the second apocalypse series. To me, barely memorize those words, they're difficult to be pronounced and spelled. This is why the series always a challenging read to me, albeit this is rewarding to me after finished each book In the series; because I am really engrossed in this complex, exquisite in emotions with the characters and delicate writing. The series is really unusually gorgeous in grotesque way which may be related to macabre scenario.
we are able to see more activities of No-God Minions, and the conflict in Shimeh after Kellhus set off to Agongornea. vividly describe the magic battles with Sranc or other unhuman creatures. I think some plots are a bit meandering to follow. and sometimes I was bewildered by what the plots going. Sorweel is the POV of the great ordeal, and he becomes one of the major POV after TJE, I like also not very fond of the POV; sometimes his POV proffers the information which confused me.
The Gods and No-God are enigmatic in this series, they are subtle and usually be interpreted or be treated as truth not just omnipotent entities. the metaphors of those gods and the No-God are the crucial pivot of the story and this is one of the confusing part when I was reading this series.
The Noman, Cleric is the tragic longevity being in Earwa world, he became Erratic and as a wayward mercenary that was accompanying Archamian to the Coffers and ultimately had been driven to his own demise due to his long-suffering memories. PS, I didn't expect this world has dragon, it seem the dragon is the plot device to prevent Archamian know the secret of Dûnyain and a philosophic figure rather than a villain.
Do we know the purpose of living? Do we have our freedom? Or we simply are the device of the bigger machination is always the question of the series. Even for Kellhus, he may just be a tool for the greater use.
In sum, this books indeed has done something innovative. It's incredulously gruesome and bleak world which characters suffer and condemn themselfe, ene of the epic series with horror vibe to reading.
Achamian, Esmenet and Sorweel, the horse king. Delve into three parts, the story unfolds what the great ordeal was marching into Agongornea, and the riots had happened in Shimeh, also Achamian was searching for the coffers in Sauglish. In the end of the story, Archamian and his daugther, Mimara reached Isulor where is Anasûrimbor Kellhus, Dûnyain's home.
TWLW is as exhilarating as the previous sequels of the second apocalypse series. Its philosophic, thought-provoking, contemplative that has mind-blowing effect on my reading experience. It means this book is not a easy read as his previous installments of the series, First It requires me to pause when I was reading any implications or metaphors of philosophy in the contexts; second, this is a challenge book which requires you take the hints of what occurred in the story, and visualizes the scenes, which are morbid or horrendous to readers.
but I think the most difficult part for me is the vocabularies; the vocabularies R. Scott Bakker crafts in the second apocalypse series. To me, barely memorize those words, they're difficult to be pronounced and spelled. This is why the series always a challenging read to me, albeit this is rewarding to me after finished each book In the series; because I am really engrossed in this complex, exquisite in emotions with the characters and delicate writing. The series is really unusually gorgeous in grotesque way which may be related to macabre scenario.
we are able to see more activities of No-God Minions, and the conflict in Shimeh after Kellhus set off to Agongornea. vividly describe the magic battles with Sranc or other unhuman creatures. I think some plots are a bit meandering to follow. and sometimes I was bewildered by what the plots going. Sorweel is the POV of the great ordeal, and he becomes one of the major POV after TJE, I like also not very fond of the POV; sometimes his POV proffers the information which confused me.
The Gods and No-God are enigmatic in this series, they are subtle and usually be interpreted or be treated as truth not just omnipotent entities. the metaphors of those gods and the No-God are the crucial pivot of the story and this is one of the confusing part when I was reading this series.
The Noman, Cleric is the tragic longevity being in Earwa world, he became Erratic and as a wayward mercenary that was accompanying Archamian to the Coffers and ultimately had been driven to his own demise due to his long-suffering memories. PS, I didn't expect this world has dragon, it seem the dragon is the plot device to prevent Archamian know the secret of Dûnyain and a philosophic figure rather than a villain.
Do we know the purpose of living? Do we have our freedom? Or we simply are the device of the bigger machination is always the question of the series. Even for Kellhus, he may just be a tool for the greater use.
In sum, this books indeed has done something innovative. It's incredulously gruesome and bleak world which characters suffer and condemn themselfe, ene of the epic series with horror vibe to reading.
June 13, 2022
I read a lot of this whilst travelling across Central Europe and climbing many steep hills/mountains. Some of the phrases that kept me going included: “the coffers, lads!” “No sobbers! No limpers!” “The slog of slogs!”. If you know, you know.
All 3 main stories moved along at a good clip, with significant developments in all. This series continues to be grim, unpredictable, philosophical and full of memorable quotes. I’m eager to see where it goes next.
All 3 main stories moved along at a good clip, with significant developments in all. This series continues to be grim, unpredictable, philosophical and full of memorable quotes. I’m eager to see where it goes next.
August 21, 2016
Even for Scott Bakkers' high standards, this was an amazing book. Epic, Rewarding, Delicious.
May 26, 2025
Definitely has reached the levels of one of a kind series out there in sff but I still feel like I need a shower after each book.
July 7, 2011
The originality is back!! For those disappointed in Bakker’s previous book, The Judging Eye—due to its complete knockoff of Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring— Bakker more than redeems himself with The White Luck Warrior. Only Bakker can get away with combining the extremely bizarre and grotesque, while remaining philosophical and intellectually stimulating. This book has it all: an evil, murderous child infatuated with his mother, sranc who couple with the dead in the most gruesome way imaginable, an Empress consumed with power to the point of losing her original self, a non-man who supplies a drug to his followers and in return gains worship, a damaged whore who can open her “third” eye and see the sins and damnation of her fellow companions, a wizard who has forsaken his school, his god and his wife and has let his desire to gain vengeance overtake his higher thinking skills, and a young warrior who can communicate with an Earth goddess—Yatwer—bent on assassination. Bakker manages to combine high level action with graphic battle sequences, all the while showing the emotional strain and psyches of the people involved.
This book is wonderfully written and full of interesting twists.
Go read the book. It is fantastic. Bakker remains a master of fantasy. I can’t wait till the last book comes out.
This book is wonderfully written and full of interesting twists.
Go read the book. It is fantastic. Bakker remains a master of fantasy. I can’t wait till the last book comes out.
March 7, 2024
2024 reread:
I had forgotten quite a bit of the developments in this one, and thought a plot beat that happened in another one, happened here instead. Fitting, since this one features ruminations on memory pretty heavily, when focused on the slow of slogs. Aka’s journey, along with the great ordeal, have problems of scarcity. Starvation and sustenance, coupled with the non man’s identity being kept by someone else in the party. Reminding him of who he is and what he has done. A really interesting take on a species that is so long lived, they unravel the thread of their memory.
Then, another trope with a bent, with a wild and strange dragon and an epic fight. The development of the judging eye and the fall and rise of Esmenet as empress, and the continued development of the white luck warrior. Evil is predominately featured and explored. From incest to withholding nourishment of many, many kinds, to the depravity mankind corkscrews into when, and sometimes because, they do not understand their nature or their mind. Man as an animal is on display, and civilization has sorely lacked in humanity’s development.
Things of the past begin to repeat too. It’s 20 years later and “fate”, as well as the fickle, weak memories of humanity are showing an awful cycle on display, cheerfully nudging that pit you had developed in your stomach from the previous trilogy, into something larger. Or maybe not. I’ve read some reviews blindsided by the ending of the series. I’m not sure what they thought they were reading, though.
So much happens in this second book! Lots of reveals, twists and turns, and epic battles. The slower section from the previous book with Esme was groundwork for a much more interesting story, which was the only so-so parts of the previous novel.
In the recorded books version on audible I find the narrator fairly inconsistent. Sometimes great, other times lapsing into this weird dramatic voice. Maybe he thinks he’s making slower sections more interesting or something but it’s annoying. Luckily the story is so good the annoyance of the narrator didn’t matter to me much.
I had forgotten quite a bit of the developments in this one, and thought a plot beat that happened in another one, happened here instead. Fitting, since this one features ruminations on memory pretty heavily, when focused on the slow of slogs. Aka’s journey, along with the great ordeal, have problems of scarcity. Starvation and sustenance, coupled with the non man’s identity being kept by someone else in the party. Reminding him of who he is and what he has done. A really interesting take on a species that is so long lived, they unravel the thread of their memory.
Then, another trope with a bent, with a wild and strange dragon and an epic fight. The development of the judging eye and the fall and rise of Esmenet as empress, and the continued development of the white luck warrior. Evil is predominately featured and explored. From incest to withholding nourishment of many, many kinds, to the depravity mankind corkscrews into when, and sometimes because, they do not understand their nature or their mind. Man as an animal is on display, and civilization has sorely lacked in humanity’s development.
Things of the past begin to repeat too. It’s 20 years later and “fate”, as well as the fickle, weak memories of humanity are showing an awful cycle on display, cheerfully nudging that pit you had developed in your stomach from the previous trilogy, into something larger. Or maybe not. I’ve read some reviews blindsided by the ending of the series. I’m not sure what they thought they were reading, though.
So much happens in this second book! Lots of reveals, twists and turns, and epic battles. The slower section from the previous book with Esme was groundwork for a much more interesting story, which was the only so-so parts of the previous novel.
In the recorded books version on audible I find the narrator fairly inconsistent. Sometimes great, other times lapsing into this weird dramatic voice. Maybe he thinks he’s making slower sections more interesting or something but it’s annoying. Luckily the story is so good the annoyance of the narrator didn’t matter to me much.
April 11, 2012
Here's a extract from my review, full link: http://afantasyreader.blogspot.ca/2012/04/white-luck-warrior-review.html
When I read the Prince of Nothing several years ago, I was awestruck at the dimension of the characters, the depth of the plot, the ingenious, tangible and inflated world building and the philosophical/anthropological exploration found in the protagonists insights while they marched to war. I read that this last aspect (mostly so in the author's case) is seen for some as an author who is overreaching, spreading to far into the complex breakdown of the human psyche, desires and passions but I tend to disagree. You really don't have to be overly learned to enjoy Bakker's work. Still, as I'm sure I'm not alone, I probably missed on some principle dissection and have to admit that the prose can get tiresome and wander mostly around suffering which could draw away its share of potential readers.
Concerning The White-Luck Warrior, like its predecessors, I delightedly found an intricate work of thoughtful, lengthily descriptive and engaged epic Fantasy. There are times while reading the book that I felt a hundred miles away from the common tropes like the prophetical farm boy looking for a special artefact to help him in fighting the evil wizard but the roots are still presents and, stripped off of Bakker's particular touch, it remains true in its foundations to the references of epic Fantasy. The hero is turned out into several all-powerful or inspired human beings with a couple of dubious beacons at their head and the evil wizard is Mog-Phaurau, the No-God. Although, the humans themselves could be the greatest evil of all...
To move the plot forward, the threads found in WLW are the same that started in The Judging Eye. There is no new major point of view and in the end, it's basically (and I know some may have grown tired of the term) a bridging novel. Many trilogies have them and this is not an exception. Still, the ending of the book is satisfying but I'll get to it later. The stotylines follow specifically Achamian and Mimara, Sorweel and co, Proyas and Kellhus, Kelmomas and Esmenet and finally a point of view of a point of view (you have read correctly).
That one is the actual namesake of the book, the White Luck Warrior himself. Frankly, I'm quite perplexed as to the reason behind that choice for the name of the book. There are only three apparitions of the 'thing' and they could be considered as epigraphs. The principle of a being seeing himself living and acting while grasping all the possibilities these actions could take him to is unorthodox and complicated. Still, we should see more of him in the following book and he could become more interesting or at least, a puzzling perspective or variable.
May 20, 2016
First of all - I rate Bakker's The Darkness that Comes before as one of my favourite trilogies of all time.
And I have to say when Judging Eye came out I was most disillusioned. Where D.T.C.B was populated with strong characters and forboding, The Aspect Emperor seems bogged down in the petty factitions that previously formed the background of Bakker's writing but wasn't the key focus.
White Luck Warrior does improve on the Judging Eye however. More of significance happens, each of the three story arcs makes a leap worthy of a stand alone novel, even if Bakker appears to be falling into the fantasy trap of dragging his epic into more and more books.
See, I was dissapointed when the first trilogy didn't really feature much on the second apocalypse - now that Aspect Emperor chugging along, I'm feeling the same dissapointment as it becomes apparent this trilogy is merely an interlude. The revelations seem only self important, the tension feels contrived and if I hadn't enjoyed D.T.C.B then I don't think I would have related to any of the characters at all.
Of course much of this rant is due to high standards - White Luck Warrior is high powered fantasy, highly recommended and I still can't wait for the next one.
edit 2016: Re-read in prep for upcoming The Great Ordeal.
It's funny what a bit of time and experience will do for a reader. In many ways The White Luck Warrior reads the a better second half for The Judging Eye, which I liked for seeing where the characters went, but wanted more action than catching up after 20 years. White Luck delivers on the action part and has tonnes of action to satisfy any hard core fantasy fan. The twists are in my opinion even more powerful than GRR Martin's at times because the cast is less diluted with characters. And as gritty as Martin's work is Bakker pulls far less punches and in my opinion disturbs on almost every level (not sure if thats a compliment or not)
Weirdest thing - wasn't really much white luck warrior involved (assuming I didn't miss a metaphor somewhere and the warrior isn't a new character). Which exemplifies the best thing about this book in generating to many freaking questions one cannot wait to get them answered.
And I have to say when Judging Eye came out I was most disillusioned. Where D.T.C.B was populated with strong characters and forboding, The Aspect Emperor seems bogged down in the petty factitions that previously formed the background of Bakker's writing but wasn't the key focus.
White Luck Warrior does improve on the Judging Eye however. More of significance happens, each of the three story arcs makes a leap worthy of a stand alone novel, even if Bakker appears to be falling into the fantasy trap of dragging his epic into more and more books.
See, I was dissapointed when the first trilogy didn't really feature much on the second apocalypse - now that Aspect Emperor chugging along, I'm feeling the same dissapointment as it becomes apparent this trilogy is merely an interlude. The revelations seem only self important, the tension feels contrived and if I hadn't enjoyed D.T.C.B then I don't think I would have related to any of the characters at all.
Of course much of this rant is due to high standards - White Luck Warrior is high powered fantasy, highly recommended and I still can't wait for the next one.
edit 2016: Re-read in prep for upcoming The Great Ordeal.
It's funny what a bit of time and experience will do for a reader. In many ways The White Luck Warrior reads the a better second half for The Judging Eye, which I liked for seeing where the characters went, but wanted more action than catching up after 20 years. White Luck delivers on the action part and has tonnes of action to satisfy any hard core fantasy fan. The twists are in my opinion even more powerful than GRR Martin's at times because the cast is less diluted with characters. And as gritty as Martin's work is Bakker pulls far less punches and in my opinion disturbs on almost every level (not sure if thats a compliment or not)
Weirdest thing - wasn't really much white luck warrior involved (assuming I didn't miss a metaphor somewhere and the warrior isn't a new character). Which exemplifies the best thing about this book in generating to many freaking questions one cannot wait to get them answered.
January 9, 2023
Continuing on with, what is in my opinion, the best fictional series ever written, I have finished book five of the Second Apocalypse series and book two of the Aspect-Emperor trilogy. 'The White Luck Warrior' is a bit different than previous installments in the series because it is far larger in scope. Whereas in those novels the overall plot can feel a bit claustrophobic (being an appeal to these books overall), this novel carries us across several distinct areas and scenarios, all incredibly unique and terrifying.
Continuing with the harrowing journey of the Skin Eaters, we are introduced to "the Mop", a massive and ancient deadly forest. In addition to this we are re-introduced to expanding plot lines in Momemn with House Anasurimbor, as well as the Great Ordeal on the Istuyli Plains. Beyond this the reader also gets introduced to ancient Kuniuri and the notorious Sauglish later on in the story. Overall 'The White Luck Warrior' feels like a much larger, cohesive and epic read.
This novel is filled with intricate plots and surprising twists and turns so I don't want to say too much, but what I can confidently say is that this is yet another masterpiece from the brilliant mind of Bakker. I almost do not want to read on for fear of finishing this series...but of course, I will surely continue on very shortly.
Continuing with the harrowing journey of the Skin Eaters, we are introduced to "the Mop", a massive and ancient deadly forest. In addition to this we are re-introduced to expanding plot lines in Momemn with House Anasurimbor, as well as the Great Ordeal on the Istuyli Plains. Beyond this the reader also gets introduced to ancient Kuniuri and the notorious Sauglish later on in the story. Overall 'The White Luck Warrior' feels like a much larger, cohesive and epic read.
This novel is filled with intricate plots and surprising twists and turns so I don't want to say too much, but what I can confidently say is that this is yet another masterpiece from the brilliant mind of Bakker. I almost do not want to read on for fear of finishing this series...but of course, I will surely continue on very shortly.
September 29, 2022
And we are back on the track! After The Judging Eye, which I enjoyed less than the original trilogy, The White Luck Warrior assured me, that R. Scott Bakker still can reach those hights.
This book was stunning. The philosophy, the tention, the atmosohere, the characters (even the new ones), the action, the darkness, the prose.. OH, THE PROSE!
I am all in now. I am absolutely amazed by R. Scott Bakker's world. There are layers upon layers and he just keeps on adding new ones.. and I really do not know what to say more not to repeat my previous reviews. Maybe just that I am enxious to read the next book.. and yet, I am scared, because I can already feel the death coming swirling down.
Second best book in the series so far, 9/10.
This book was stunning. The philosophy, the tention, the atmosohere, the characters (even the new ones), the action, the darkness, the prose.. OH, THE PROSE!
I am all in now. I am absolutely amazed by R. Scott Bakker's world. There are layers upon layers and he just keeps on adding new ones.. and I really do not know what to say more not to repeat my previous reviews. Maybe just that I am enxious to read the next book.. and yet, I am scared, because I can already feel the death coming swirling down.
Second best book in the series so far, 9/10.
January 12, 2014
Ths first half of this book was only 4 stars but the second half brought it home to a definite 5. Kellhus is one of the best book characters ever and I still have no idea whether he is our hero or the baddy! Consequently I do not know about any of the other characters either. Is the White Luck Warrior going to be a saviour or an assassin - or both? Is Akka ever going to actually achieve anything? And what about that evil little boy sitting in a half empty palace eating dead bodies (quickly while they are still warm). I guess he is definitely a baddy. Can't wait for the next book.
December 15, 2025
My favorite book in the Second Apocalypse series SO FAR. The battles, the character development, the lore, the tolkien nods, etc. were just incredible. This book was excellently paced and never had a dull moment. Here are some non-spoiler quotes from it that I loved:
"She can see it all, intuitions bundled into the wrinkled architecture of his skin, the squint about his eyes, the cuts across his knuckles. Sin and redemption, written in the language of a flawed life. The oversights, the hypocrisies, the mistakes, the accumulation of petty jealousies and innumerable small selfish acts. A wife struck on a wedding night. A son neglected for contempt of weakness. A mistress abandoned. And beneath these cankers, she sees the black cancer of far greater crimes, the offences that could be neither denied nor forgiven. Villages burned on fraudulent suspicions. Innocents massacred.
But she also sees the clear skin of heroism and sacrifice. The white of devotion. The gold of unconditional love. The gleam of loyalty and long silence. The high blue of indomitable strength.
Sutadra, she realizes, is a good man broken down, a man forced, time and again, to pitch his scruples against the unscalable walls of circumstance forced. A man who erred for the sake of mad and overwhelming expediencies. A man besieged by history. Regret. This is what drives him. This is what delivered him to the scalpers. The will to suffer for his sins."
___________________
"Arrogance is ever the patron of condemnation. Though most all men lived in total ignorance of the ironies and contradictions that mortared their lives, they instinctively understood the power of hypocrisy. So they pretended, laid claim to an implausible innocence. To better sleep. To better condemn. The fact that everyone thought themselves more blameless than blameworthy, Ajencis once wrote, was at once the most ridiculous and the most tragic of human infirmities. Ridiculous because it was so obvious and yet utterly invisible. Tragic because it doomed them to unending war and strife."
______________________
" "But now look at us," he booms down to their astonished shadows. "Diminished. Perpetually foundering. Lost without memories. Persecuted as false. Hunted by the very depths we warred to uncover, the very dark-ness we sought to illuminate."
He hangs above them. He lowers his radiant gaze. His tears burn silver with refracted light. Thunder crashes, a thousand hammers against a thousand shields.
"This is the paradox is it not? The longer you live, the smaller you become. The past always dwarfs the present, even for races as fleeting as yours. One morning you awaken to find now more than a this very moment ... little spark in a cavern. One morning you awaken to find yourself so much ... less ..."
Incariol, she thinks. Ishroi
"Less than what you wanted. Less than what you once were." "
___________________
"But the paradox, some would say tragedy, of human existence is that we so easily raise our lives about absence. We are bred for it. Men are forever counting their losses, hoarding them. There is meaning to be found in victimization, and no small justification. To be wronged is to be owed, to walk among debtors wherever you go."
____________________
""There are many fools, Sorwa, men who conceive hearts in simple terms, absolute terms. They are insensible to the war within, so they scoff at it, they puff out their chests and they pretend. When fear and despair overcome them, as they must overcome us all, they have not the wind to think ... and so they break.""
"She can see it all, intuitions bundled into the wrinkled architecture of his skin, the squint about his eyes, the cuts across his knuckles. Sin and redemption, written in the language of a flawed life. The oversights, the hypocrisies, the mistakes, the accumulation of petty jealousies and innumerable small selfish acts. A wife struck on a wedding night. A son neglected for contempt of weakness. A mistress abandoned. And beneath these cankers, she sees the black cancer of far greater crimes, the offences that could be neither denied nor forgiven. Villages burned on fraudulent suspicions. Innocents massacred.
But she also sees the clear skin of heroism and sacrifice. The white of devotion. The gold of unconditional love. The gleam of loyalty and long silence. The high blue of indomitable strength.
Sutadra, she realizes, is a good man broken down, a man forced, time and again, to pitch his scruples against the unscalable walls of circumstance forced. A man who erred for the sake of mad and overwhelming expediencies. A man besieged by history. Regret. This is what drives him. This is what delivered him to the scalpers. The will to suffer for his sins."
___________________
"Arrogance is ever the patron of condemnation. Though most all men lived in total ignorance of the ironies and contradictions that mortared their lives, they instinctively understood the power of hypocrisy. So they pretended, laid claim to an implausible innocence. To better sleep. To better condemn. The fact that everyone thought themselves more blameless than blameworthy, Ajencis once wrote, was at once the most ridiculous and the most tragic of human infirmities. Ridiculous because it was so obvious and yet utterly invisible. Tragic because it doomed them to unending war and strife."
______________________
" "But now look at us," he booms down to their astonished shadows. "Diminished. Perpetually foundering. Lost without memories. Persecuted as false. Hunted by the very depths we warred to uncover, the very dark-ness we sought to illuminate."
He hangs above them. He lowers his radiant gaze. His tears burn silver with refracted light. Thunder crashes, a thousand hammers against a thousand shields.
"This is the paradox is it not? The longer you live, the smaller you become. The past always dwarfs the present, even for races as fleeting as yours. One morning you awaken to find now more than a this very moment ... little spark in a cavern. One morning you awaken to find yourself so much ... less ..."
Incariol, she thinks. Ishroi
"Less than what you wanted. Less than what you once were." "
___________________
"But the paradox, some would say tragedy, of human existence is that we so easily raise our lives about absence. We are bred for it. Men are forever counting their losses, hoarding them. There is meaning to be found in victimization, and no small justification. To be wronged is to be owed, to walk among debtors wherever you go."
____________________
""There are many fools, Sorwa, men who conceive hearts in simple terms, absolute terms. They are insensible to the war within, so they scoff at it, they puff out their chests and they pretend. When fear and despair overcome them, as they must overcome us all, they have not the wind to think ... and so they break.""
March 9, 2023
That was wild. Wow.
October 7, 2025
First... this book laughed at me for reading all the previous books by explaining what happened in a couple of pages...making me think; jep that's all that actually happened so far...
Ahum...That being said...
This book was amazing!
Ahum...That being said...
This book was amazing!
September 9, 2024
Another masterpiece by Bakker. Nothing left to say really.
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