@@mrsduncanthetall Yeah those parents might freak out lol.
@nightmarishcompositions4536
Жыл бұрын
Imo, this is one of the only fantasy series where the prose was just as gripping as the story, rather than being flowery for the sake of flowery. Every sentence was packed with meaning and contemplation, creating a haunting atmosphere of dread and anticipation with complex characters to guide the twisty narrative. It felt like a masterfully crafted psychological horror thriller set in a gritty fascinating world. Absolutely love it and wish it would get more attention. I feel the same way about the Manifest Delusions series by Michael Fletcher.
@ryan_d.v
2 жыл бұрын
I'm on The Judging Eye right now, I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF BAKKER! His prose is so beautiful
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
Agreed!
@Red21Viper
2 жыл бұрын
I am rereading the Judging Eye these days and I think he raises even more his level in these Aspect Emperor books. The writing and the atmosphere is so beautifully bleak and melancholic and ominous.
@samuraijim9243
2 жыл бұрын
Bakker's work deconstructs great works like LOTR and Dune but at the same time creates something that stands unique within the genre.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
Agree
@sirjezzumz
3 жыл бұрын
standard bakker stan checking in. We do our daily browse through the reviews section to see if anyone else has stumbled upon something they dont realise how much they will like!
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Glad you're here 😁
@HistoritorJimaldus
3 жыл бұрын
‘One cannot raise walls against that which has been forgotten’ :)
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Yesssss
@HistoritorJimaldus
3 жыл бұрын
The battle of Kiyuth is where this book grabbed me to the point where I could do nothing else but read until I finished it :)
@chaz9808
3 жыл бұрын
Damn the dialogue in this book is so well written
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
It truly is
@gundersonles
3 жыл бұрын
The Absolute best work of fiction I have ever read is The Second Apocalypse. Looking forward to your review all the way through!
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for checking it out!
@profesortrip
3 жыл бұрын
i think this is the most underrated (or underhyped) series on booktube so i'm glad to hear you talk about it, and i do think it's the most comparable to malazan in a lot of ways. hope you enjoy the rest of it. but those names tho :o :/ mindfck
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I think I'd agree!
@qaztim11
2 жыл бұрын
I wouldn't say its underrated, it's just for this specific series you need to have a certain amount of literary "baggage" in order to enjoy it. Having a bit of religious knowledge in combination with knowing some philosophy and psychology will make this series a lot more enjoyable. The books are also very slow at times, you could even call it the "Slog of slogs" and while it does work for the series, seeing all of the minutia of the Holy War and the Great Ordeal in the future really make you feel like you are on the same journey as the characters. It's also fair to say that a lot of the cast in this series will be unlikable for a lot of people, and the Esmenet going to the Holy War chapters might turn off a lot of readers with more sensitive dispositions, Bakker does not shy away from the sexual and abusive imagery, and while those scenes are extremely important to setting up the world, Consult and how the characters view women, which will be subverted and expanded upon in the other books, I love the trajectory of Esmenet and she evolves along the series, but it is not an experience that will be palatable to everyone.
@drawyrral
3 жыл бұрын
I can hardly wait for your take on the whole series. Kellus is one of my favorite fantasy characters.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
every time he is on page i am enthralled
@angelamccollister
3 жыл бұрын
That recap is something that more classic fantasy did in the 80s and 90s but it fell out of fashion in recent years. I wish it would come back.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I agree!!
@jasonep2
2 жыл бұрын
I discovered The Darkness That Comes Before during a visit to the library in 2004/2005. I saw it on the Recently Arrived shelf and read blurbs on the cover and it seemed intriguing, so I thought I'd give it a shot. He captured my attention right out of the gate with that wonderful opening sentence: "One cannot raise walls against what has been forgotten." (I'm a sucker for a great first sentence.) I was hooked after Kellhus's encounter with the Nonman in the prologue. The depth of world building, Bakker's excellent prose and the themes raised throughout the series are some of the reasons why his books have become some of my favorites. It fills me with joy to see videos like yours and Slowly Reds.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
I truly think it's one of the best lore/backstory for any series ever
@andrewhanson405
3 жыл бұрын
The Second Apocalypse is my favorite fantasy series of all time! For me Bakker's prose continues to improve as he matures as a writer that by The Unholy Consult he seems light years ahead of everyone else in the fantasy genre. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it as the series progresses. Hopefully you continue to enjoy it. The last three books of Aspect-Emperor are some of the darkest headiest stuff I ever read.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I'm excited to delve deep into the darkness 👀
@shadowtemple7426
2 жыл бұрын
I just finished the first book and I love it soooooo much.... already 150 pages into the next book
@Red21Viper
3 жыл бұрын
I found this because Bakker is my favourite author and you have a new subscriber. You did an excellent work on grasping everything that makes this book and Bakker distinct. I hope you will continue enjoying this, one of a kind, author. In my opinion he treads paths no one dared to in the history of the genre. Really thought provoking and unconventional staff. The second series, Aspect Emperor, was even better for me.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Wow thanks! I know he has a very loyal and dedicated fan base, I'm happy to finally dive in!
@mitchthegreat
3 жыл бұрын
0
@neilthompson5740
3 жыл бұрын
My favourite series of books. I will keep an eye out for your reviews on the next 6 books
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Awesome!
@mrsduncanthetall
3 жыл бұрын
Omg omg omg I really really wanted you to do this one .i will feel more comfortable once I hear your review
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I think you could like it!
@mrsduncanthetall
3 жыл бұрын
Ok so i heard you reference Bernard Cornwell.....did you started Wlc😍??? And did you cry?
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
@@mrsduncanthetall not yet!
@mrsduncanthetall
2 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork two months later....starting it today
@brentasmith
3 жыл бұрын
I'm so glad I decided to pick up this series this year. I'm now 2 books into the followup series and it looks like it might end up being a top 4 favorite series for me. And I honestly consider PoN and Aspect Emperor to be like 1 series even though there's a 20 year time skip in between.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
The fact there's more than just three books in this vast, rich world is what has me really fired up. All the amazing lore and history would be wasted on just 3 books. Really solid groundwork here in book one, I'm about ready to jump into book 2, hell I may even start tonight.
@HistoritorJimaldus
3 жыл бұрын
It’s my fave of all time
@CircesBooked
3 жыл бұрын
This sounds like my kind of book. I love the complexity that you described in this book. Im going to check this one out for sure.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
If you're into dense, complex fantasy then this one is for you. As long as you don't mind some super grim moments haha
@thatsci-firogue
3 жыл бұрын
I put all the other Fantasy series I've been reading, excluding Farseer, on pause to read Prince of Nothing and I don't regret it so far. I think I'm with you on Esmenet, though Achamian is also a strong contender for my favourite so far. Have about 150 or so pages left.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
It ends with a bang!
@thatsci-firogue
3 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork you weren't wrong
@TheBookCure
3 жыл бұрын
This was a fantastic review, Jimmy! You sold me on the book. While I do sometimes struggle with grimdark, the writing, the scheming, and just your level of enjoyment has convinced me that I should give this a try. I feel like this one is a book I always hear about - in the vaguest sense of the word - but don't actually see a lot of people discuss openly! So thanks for filling that fantasy gap :)
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
You would like this, I am almost 100% sure of it
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Also thanks!
@matthewdeancole
3 жыл бұрын
The next book, The Warrior-Prophet, is awesome.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I'm definitely going to start it soon
@BookishChas
3 жыл бұрын
This book sounds really good! It’s been on my shelf for a long time. I’ll probably tackle it next year.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Let's go!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
3 жыл бұрын
The political maneuvering you were talking about will probably be the ultimate selling point for me to pick this up!
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I'd love to see you review this tbh
@jojothepirate87
Жыл бұрын
Great video! I just found a first edition hardcover copy at my favorite used book store so I will be adding this to my book queue.
@thefantasynuttwork
Жыл бұрын
I am so jealous lol
@jojothepirate87
Жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork it has some highlighting in the front half of the book which hurts to see but I can't say no to a first edition.
@burnout02urza
Жыл бұрын
I always like the treatment of magic in this series. Mostly because of the cost: Eternal damnation. Like, when you put it against that, is magic really WORTH it? Not to mention that Chorae let you kill sorcerers instantly, and only non-magic users can wield them.
@thefantasynuttwork
Жыл бұрын
Yeah it’s so dope
@SubFlow22
2 жыл бұрын
Darkness That Comes Before / Aspect-Emperor, are my favorites, coming in JUST in front of Malazan Book of the Fallen. Absolute must-reads for those who aren't faint-of-heart. Bakker is MUCH darker than Erikson in my humble opinion, though both are masters of their trade.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
Oh for sure, the intent/messaging in Bakker's work is much darker and in some regards opposing
@milom5030
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this review! I've been thinking about picking this book up for quite some time, and now you convinced me to finally start reading it! I'll get to it asap after finishing my current read
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Let me know how you like it!
@theodoreconstantini2548
Жыл бұрын
Great passionate review.
@thefantasynuttwork
Жыл бұрын
🙏
@bookswithzara
3 жыл бұрын
I love the premise of this book but I’m nervous to jump in. I bought it recently so hopefully I’ll get to it soon. Great review, Jimmy!
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you 😊
@rommelmaldia5365
Жыл бұрын
I go to your channel to get recommendations on a new fantasy book to read. I am about done with the first book of the Under the Northern Sky and I don't think I will continue on, it isn't for me. I have finished the Dandelion Dynasty series, also recommended in this channel, which I thoroughly enjoyed. And based on your glowing review here, I think I have my next fantasy book in the queue. Thanks!
@thefantasynuttwork
Жыл бұрын
Yeah The Wolf isn’t bad but not very remarkable in pretty much anyway
@angelamccollister
3 жыл бұрын
I read this many years ago and loved it.
@shawnturpin197
3 жыл бұрын
A burned out sorcerer and crows with bald human heads? Oh hell yes!
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
It's so awesome 😂
@atomicbutterflysupernova
3 жыл бұрын
Well - it's a great read, but it is a challenge to understand, I had to reread a lot of it and I still got a lot of stuff wrong. I thought a lot of it was some killer evil shit, but know that EVERYTHING in it has meaning, everything is significant, so the entertainment of it is secondary really. Don't give up on it, the glossary is so helpful and even more helpful is the FB Group and the TSA online forum. A great deal of the fun is talking about the story with others and man, I've encountered some very smart people to discuss it with and half the fun has been connecting with them and they helping me out understanding it ( and stuff they don't understand makes me feel better, hee hee! ). Anyways, it's an investment, but so worth it and there's a rich group of people you can connect with about it.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I can't wait to connect with more people on this one
@LaMarco0
2 жыл бұрын
You had me at "political maneuvering". I love palace intrigue! Although, I'm still not sure what the plot is.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
The plot is slow moving, but we are moving towards a massive holy war, and a possible apocalypse.
@AshtheViking
3 жыл бұрын
I read the first two books several years ago when we were assigned The Darkness that Comes Before in a Fantasy lit university course and Bakker came in to speak. It's been so long I need to re-read and finish the series.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
That's is so cool. I'd love to take that class!
@berentook
3 жыл бұрын
This has been on my radar for some time now, i might have to move it up.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I hope you like it!
@alynam82
3 жыл бұрын
This sounds good, I can enjoy some good grimdark. Definitely added this to my TBR for a 2022 read.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Hope you enjoy 😁
@nyarparablepsis872
2 жыл бұрын
Just finishing the book, and I agree with you, the prose is amazing! And the storytelling has me hooked. I am extremely excited that there are more books than just one trilogy by Bakker set in this world! Just wanted to chime in on the sexual abuse bits. I'm a survivor myself, and am typically not really a fan of reading things like that. However, even though Bakker's descriptions can be a bit graphic, he never writes the abuse gratuitously. I appreciate that the author decided to include such a difficult topic without wallowing in it for pure shock value. Anyways, subbed :)
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
This was a great comment. I really value hearing your thoughts on this book and appreciate you sharing your personal experiences. I'm sorry you went through that. I think Bakker gets better as he goes and hope you find the sequels as amazing as I have
@YourBrainonBooks
3 жыл бұрын
This sounds pretty sweet! I’ll have to check it out
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I'd enjoy hearing your take brother
@philmiller3813
6 ай бұрын
Great analysis TFN. I agree. I loved the book and number 2 and will read the third. I must add the glossary helped a lot. An excellent writer.
@thefantasynuttwork
6 ай бұрын
One of the best the fantasy genre has seen imo
@mattkean1128
3 жыл бұрын
This is one I've been curious about. You see a couple varying opinions out there.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
It's one that demands discussion
@thedrownedkingdomsaga7847
2 жыл бұрын
Amazing video Jimmy! I looked up reviews for this book as I will be reading it soon, and came across yours, so of course that's the one I watched! Great insights! Now I'm really jazzed for this read!
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
I appreciate it!
@HistoritorJimaldus
2 жыл бұрын
Dune was definitely an influence on Bakker :)
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
For sure!
@marzio7600
3 жыл бұрын
Be warned!! After reading Bakker all other novels will feel like you're reading the back of a cereal box. Yes it's that good.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
😂
@lorn6294
2 жыл бұрын
Facts.
@eduardobenassi3072
2 жыл бұрын
Damn dude 🤣 I just ordered the trilogy.
@cloud6182
2 жыл бұрын
Yes sir!
@sandz000
Жыл бұрын
so read gene wolfe then, i think he is the best follow up
@darren2880
3 жыл бұрын
Definitely picking this up soon
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Let me know what you think!
@MacScarfield
2 ай бұрын
Finally have my list on references and notes ready: Apologies if I repeat myself from earlier comments!😅 (Part 1 of 2) Kellhus: A much more psychopathic take on Paul Atreides from “Dune” The Dunyain: Paul’s training from multiple “Schools”, such as the Mentats & the Bene Gesserit with name hinting at the Dunedain Rangers in “Lord of the Rings”, with elements of Stoicism, Pythagorean Philosophy, Nietzsche’s concept of “Ubermensch” & Zen Buddhism “I am not one more animal. (…) I am a man. I stand apart from these things.”: Referencing the Gom Jabbar Bene Gesserit Test from “Dune” “The way is too narrow, Father” (Matthew 7:13-14) Leweth saving Kellhus: So much for “Mr. Determinist”! “Arrows hissed by him. He picked one from the air and studied it.”: Pretty ninja of Kellhus! Nonman: The Elvish “Elder Races” of the Melniboneans and the Vadhagh of Michael Moorcock’s “Elric of Melniboné” and “Corum” stories, respectively Gnosis: Greek “Knowledge” Anagogic: Greek “Comparison”, Uplifting/Spiritual Psûkhe: Psyche, Greek for Soul Logos: Greek for Word, a “first/prime mover/movement” in several Ancient Greek philosophical schools, in Christianity title of Jesus and his relationship to God the Father: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Opening of the Gospel of John) Cishaurim: Order of Assassins, snakes on their shoulders akin to the Monstrous Mythical Persian King Zahhak, saffron robes akin to Buddhist monks, henna used in Muslim & Hindu Cultures Ensolarii: Solarii, Galactic currency in “Dune” Achamian: Inspired by the spies of John Le Carre? Trinkets: The claimed power of religious relics, combined with the Cold War “Balance of Terror” of Nuclear Armageddon? Nansur and the Imperial Saik: The Byzantine Empire & Orthodox Church under the Byzantine Emperor The Thousand Temples, Sumna & the Shriah: The Catholic Church with their Saints set in Rome & the Pope (Sumna: Soma? Drink/Food of the Hindu Gods in the “Rig Veda” & Narcotic in “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley) with some Hindu aspects (their multiple gods as aspects of one god/“highest principle”, Brahman) Inri Sejanus: Jesus (“Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum”-“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”) and Sejanus (confidante of Roman Emperor Tiberius, later executed for treason: Ben Jonson wrote a play about him, “Sejanus, His Fall”, and he appears in Robert Graves’ “I, Claudius”) Kian & the Fanim: Arabia & Islam The Scarlet Spires: The Kremlin (referencing the Cold War Soviets) and the Conan the Cimmerian OG short “The Scarlet Citadel”? Them joining a Holy War against the Fanim: Akin to the Communist Soviets allying with the Western Democracies against N@zi Germany? The Tusk: The Old Testament & the Stone Tablets of the Ten Commandments, with elements of the Hindu Rigveda Schools vs the Thousands Temples: St Augustine’s divide between the Secular and the Holy, which in Christendom lead to the Investiture Controversy (the “Holy” power of the Pope/Catholic Church against the “Worldly” power of the Holy Roman Emperor/various Kings), Luther’s “Two Kingdoms” Doctrine, “science vs faith” (Galileo Galilei & and the secular “separation of Church & State”), with aspects of the Crusades against “internal nonbelievers” such as the Cathars (the Albigensian Crusade), Jews (Progroms) and the heathens of the Baltic Sea (the Northern/Baltic Crusades) The “unity” of the Fanim: Might be referring to how in Islam with its legal origins, in contrast to Christianity, there is no tradition or doctrine of separating the secular and religion (however there are of course the Sunni-Shia division, several different schools of law and obviously local variations in the nature of state and religion) The No-God: An “Anti-God” (as in Satan, Antichrist, or Ahriman in Zoroastrianism)? Though likely also referring to the “No-Chambers” of “Dune” (which hides all that is inside from the prescience/precognition of Spice Melange. Possibly also referring to “Nous” (“(the) intellect/intelligence” in Ancient Greek, a “first/prime mover/movement” in several Ancient Greek philosophical schools) and the “Noosphere” (a theoretical Geological/Theological concept of a “final evolution” of the planetary biosphere into one “sphere of reason”)) Ancient North: The Fallen Western Roman Empire, the “Urheimat” of Indo-Europeans, the Vedic Culture of the Rigveda, the “worst year in history” 536 AD (volcanic ashes, little sunlight, harsh winters and starvation + possible comet: Possibly the inspiration for Norse Ragnarok, another “Armageddon”) ravaging Europe (especially Scandinavia “the womb of nations” as Jordanes put it, where many of Germanic peoples and nobles of Post-Roman Western Europe claimed ancestry from), the Bronze Age Collapse of the Civilizations in the Iliad and the Old Testament, as well as the many fallen kingdoms in “The Silmarillion”. The Great Library of Sauglish: The Library of Alexandria. “The Gnosis of the Nonmen Magi, the Quya”: Quenya from “LOTR”? The Tusk demanding sorcerers to be burned: Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 20:27 The Shriah’s calling for a Holy War: The Council of Clermont, where Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade in 1095 AD Synthese: Synthetic, a combination of two or more entities that together form something new/the creating of something by artificial means. In Hegel’s dialectical approach, a Synthesis unifies two earlier opposing concepts Hamoric Language: Ham, one of Noah’s three sons in the Old Testament, claimed ancestor of Africans Shemic Language: Shem, another of Noah’s sons, claimed ancestor of the Semitic speaking peoples, such as Jews and Arabs Zeüm: Zion, another name of Jerusalem, often used by Jewish Nationalists (Zionism), and by Rastafarians and Evangelicals referring to the promised rebuilt “New Jerusalem” in the Revelations of John the Apostle The Language of Shem-Varsi: Somewhat akin to Indo-Iranian, mother language of Iranian and Vedic Sanskrit (though IRL Semitic is not related to either languages) Nilnamesh: Parallels to India, with elements of Judaism and Classical/Mesopotamian/Canaanite Religion (multiple gods as in Hinduism, Classical Myth and Mesopotamian & Canaanite Religion (many of these with elements inherited from the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European Pantheon), and they keep to the faith that Inrithism developed out of, akin to Judaism) Galeroth: Medieval France/Celtic Gaul, Gallish-Gallic/Gaulish Maithanet: Inspired by the Myth of Prester John, a Christian King in Asia or Africa European Christians hoped to trade and ally with against the (Turkish) Muslims Shigek: Egypt/Mesopotamia (River with multiple tributaries, Old Kingdom, God-Kings, Ziggurats) The Eothic Guard of the Nansur Emperor: The Varangian Guard, the “Viking” Bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperor, as well as Goths and other Germanic Warriors serving Roman/Byzantine Rulers Nenciphon, Kian Capitol: Ctesiphon, Royal Capitol of the Iranian Parthian and Sassanid Empires
@mjdaniel8710
3 жыл бұрын
This is a really good series
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I'm digging it 🤘
@cairosilver2932
2 жыл бұрын
Bakker has said he is flexible on how people pronounce character names, it's up to the reader. Also probably ties into some of his themes though, because when you run into another reader and they say character X's name this way and you say it that way...there's an interpersonal hurdle to work out.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
I like that
@slowlyred2082
3 жыл бұрын
Alright 👍 Let's go!!!!!
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Hell yeah! I mentioned you at the end as the king of grim dark booktube haha 🤘
@narsil5024
3 жыл бұрын
TSA is really awesome I got into it because of red 🤟
@slowlyred2082
3 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork very generous of you 🙏. I'm so excited for you to continue this journey. It changed the game for me. I feel like I'm chasing that experience now
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
@@slowlyred2082 I get that feeling from book one, it's such a solid foundation!
@thatsci-firogue
3 жыл бұрын
@@slowlyred2082 you're the reason I'm reading this series. 🤘
@MacScarfield
2 ай бұрын
My list on references and notes ready (Part 2 of 2) Again apologies if I repeat myself from earlier comments!😅 Golgotterath: Golgotha (or Calvary, where Jesus was crucified) and Gorgoroth, “The Valley/Land of Terror/Horror/Dread/Fear”, a region of Mordor in “LOTR” and the Ered Gorgoroth range (“Mountains of Terror”) in Beleriand in “The Silmarillion”, as well as the Cthulhu Mythos Diety Gol-goroth created by “Conan the Cimmerian” creator Robert E. Howard Triamis the Great: Fusion of Alexander the Great (Conquest, deification, mutiny from soldiers), Augustus (First Roman Emperor, deification, long life), Marcus Aurelius (Both Warrior & Philosopher Emperor, written down a journal) & Constantine the Great (First Christian/Inrithi Emperor, unification under one emperor as “Gods steward on Earth/Earwa” Eärwa: Earth + Eä (the created world/universe of Tolkien) + Eär (“sea” in Quenya) + Eärwen (“Sea-maiden”, daughter of Olwë, wife of Finarfin, mother of Finrod, Angrod, Aegnor & Galadriel) The Fanim called to prayer with drum: The Islamic Muezzin combined with Japanese Taiko Drums? Kyraneas: Mix of the Bronze Age Mycenaeans fighting the Trojan War and the Ancient Greeks fighting the Persian Empire (Lovecraftian “300”!) Ceneian Empire: The Roman Empire, with elements of Alexander the Great’s Hellenistic Empire Scylvendi: Scythians, Huns, Mongols, Conan’s Cimmerians Number Sticks: “Alea iacta est” (“The die is cast”, Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon) + I Ching, Chinese Divination, using numbered sticks Heresiarch: Heresy+Patriach? 😆 Sapatishah & Padirajah: Satrap (Persian Governor/Petty King) + Padishah (Persian Royal Title, also one of the titles of the Galactic Emperor in “Dune”) & Padishah + Raja (Royal Sanskrit Title, found around India and Southeast Asia) Cneiur: Attila/Conan the Cimmerian with a pinch of Achilles (a Great Leader of a Warband feeling wronged by his High King?) The Scylvendi view on war as a sacred act: Akin to the Ancient Assyrians, the Indo-European Koryos, the Huns under Attila and the Mongols, with elements of Gnosticism & Buddhism (“the World is a lie”) 9th Column: The Famous “Lost” 9th Roman Legion (and possibly the infamous 5th Column, an inner enemy?) Black Sun as the Symbol of Nansur: The Black Sun is an symbol of the SS at their “Spiritual Temple” at Wewelsburg Castle (later used by Neo-N@zis and the Azov Brigade in Ukraine), the “Sol Niger” is a symbol in Alchemy (the first step to creating a Philosopher’s Stone), Sol Invictus was a Roman Victory Cult Diety and it might also reference “Black Hole Sun” Black and red streamers with prayers in gold: Akin to the multicolour Tibetan Prayer Flags, here in a victory parade Animal sacrifice: Dogs (unusual animal: The Roman annual “Supplicia canum”, Norse Blot and Santeria Sacrifice), Lion (Venatio: Roman Exotic Animals killed in Amphitheaters) Tydonni Men of the Tusk raiding Pharixas on behalf of the King of Cironj to repay defaulting on their payment for being shipped, condemned by the Shriah: The Sacking of Zara during 4th Crusade, to repay the Venetians, who were excommunicated by the Pope. (Ironically the Nansur Emperor congratulating the cunning King of Cironj, is in contrast to the 4th Crusade, which later sacked Constantinople backing a Byzantine claimant, as to gain his support and further repay the Venetians) The Vulgar Holy War (an intentional ironic title from Bakker there I recon: Common/offensive! 😅): The People’s (Peasants’/Pauper’s/Popular) Crusade Battle of Mengedda: Battle of Civetot (name: (Josef) Mengele+Megiddo (Ancient Site of multiple battles: The Egyptians defeating Syrian City States in the 15th Century BC (first detailed battle ever in history!), the Egyptians defeating the Kingdom of Judea in the 6th Century AD and the British and the Arabs defeating the Ottoman Turks in WW1: Also the site of the Biblical Endtime Battle of Armageddon (Variant of “har məgiddô”, Mount Megiddo In Hebrew) in the Revelations of John the Apostle) The “Mystery” of “Esmenet, the Whore of Summa”: “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth”/“The Whore of Babylon” prophesied in Revelations before Armageddon Mog: Gog & Magog from Revelations? Temple Prostitutes: A know feature of several Mesopotamian Cultures, such as Shamhat from the Epic of Gilgamesh, and the Temple Quarters of Astarte/Ishtar Poor Inrau…Sarcellus: Team Consult! 😬 Esmenet saved from the villagers by a Shiral Knight: Yeay! The Knight turning out to be Sarcellus: Oh, no! (Esmenet & Sarcellus: Dark take on Esmeralda and Phoebus from Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”?) Akka’s dreams: Mix of collective PTSD with the ancestral genetic “Other Memory” of the Fremen Reverend Mothers in “Dune” Xinemus & Achamian discussing their tutelage of Proyas: “Heartbroken that a godlike child(…)has gone to such extremes”. The Indenture: The Oath by all the leaders of the “Princes’ Crusade” (with the exception of Count Raymond IV of Toulouse, later the first Count of Tripoli), to Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos to let him gain control of the territory they conquered, which they upheld until the Seige of Antioch. Many notable difference between Xerius III and Alexios I, most notably that unlike Xerius, Alexios was 1) the first Emperor of his Dynasty, 2) a competent general on his own, & 3) the historical First Crusade started after Alexios had requested aid from Western Europe through Pope Urban II against the Seljuk Turks, and as a such he played a much more active role in the launch of that holy war. Galeoth Potato (definitely not something in the Old World during the Crusades!) Liquor: Akvavit, Vodka & Moonshine Double Oh-Oh: Sarcellus, not human…😬 Killing a wolf as a rite of passage: Apache Both “The Architect” of the Consult and Moenghus described as having eyes a the “Nail of Heaven” while manipulating people, hm… “Sentiments, like a son’s love for his father, simply deliver us to the darkness, make us slaves of custom and appetite…I don’t love my father, plainsman. I do not love. If his murder will allow my brethren to pursue their mission, then I will murder him!”: Yup, Kellhus is definitely psychotic! 😬 Serwë: Serve Patridomos: Patriarch + Majordomo (head servant, “principal in the household”) The Bare-Handed Blade Block, Kellhus! Kellhus pretending to be a Prince of Atrithau, akin to the Myth of Prester John The Kidruhil: The Cataphracts of the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires (& Prince Imrahil & his Mounted Gondorian Knights?) Moënghus among the Cishaurim: Mallahet, the non-Kian Cishaurim, who also had eyes like the Nail of Heaven? The Scarlet Spire Spy Master being addicted to chanv: Similar to Baron Harkonnen’s Mentat Piter De Vries in “Dune” Thunyerus: Vikings/Varangians with Gothic features (the Thervingi, ancestors of the Visigoths settled the Lower Danube and the Dniester Rivers), headhunting as some Celtic tribes and the Samurai (captured heads shrunk as some Amazon tribes) Esmenet being named after the wife of a Prophet: Gomer, the prostitute wife of the prophet Hosea in the Old Testament Sarcellus and Skëos: Shapeshifting Skin Spies of the Consult! Nansur House of Congregates: Byzantine Senatorial Class. A priestly caste akin to the Hindu Brahmin Caste and Dumézil’s “Trifunctional Hypothesis” (of Indo-European Societies divided into three classes/castes: Priests, warriors-aristocrats & commoners)
@safinan8008
3 жыл бұрын
Good book review!! I don’t like too much grim dark books.... grim dark book has to be a great storyline then I will pick it up... happy reading to you! 📖😊👋🍁
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@trill_nathan
Жыл бұрын
I just finished the first book today, absolutely loved it. I was especially interested because I see it compared to Berserk. And yeah, going in with a comparison expectation is usually a recipe for disaster, but it worked well here. By far my favorite genre is dark fantasy that lets the horror aspect fully creep in. Between the No-God, the Giger-esque feel of the skin spy, and the Consult, I imagine I'm in for exactly what I want. I'm also super interested in Khellus. Strong Griffith vibes, particular after his reincarnation. Both characters just effortlessly amass people around them and its frightening but so fun to read
@thefantasynuttwork
Жыл бұрын
Oh dude Griffith and Kellhus are tightly coupled
@Red21Viper
Жыл бұрын
Cnaiur along with Kellhus has similar dynamics, characteristics and antagonism to Griffith with Guts
@trill_nathan
Жыл бұрын
@@Red21Viper I can definitely see that. Almost done with the 3rd book now
@Red21Viper
Жыл бұрын
@@trill_nathan that was fast. Hope you enjoyed. The sequel series is even better and more horrific in my opinion
@trill_nathan
Жыл бұрын
@@Red21Viper I am loving it! And great to hear. Can't wait
@MacScarfield
2 ай бұрын
“I am not one more animal. (…) I am a man. I stand apart from these things.” Yeah, Bakker is definitely making Kellhus reference "Dune" there with the words used about the Gom Jabbar Test of the Bene Gesserit. Also definitely felt a John Le Carre Spy Story influence (more disillusioned conmen and indifferent bureaucracies then James Bond action) with Achamian: The Scarlet Spires seems to me as as much a reference to the sorcerer’s fortress from the Conan the Cimmerian story of “The Scarlet Citadel”, as to the Soviet “Red Fortress” of Kremlin from a Cold War Spy Novel!
@NaosSabot
2 жыл бұрын
Bakker is the greatest living fantasy author. Truth Shines! I read Bakker before grimdark was a category. So I read Abercrombie after completing the whole bakkerverse. Abercrombie reads like YA compared to bakker
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
I don't think Abercrombie is YA really at all, but yeah I love Bakker
@NaosSabot
2 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork YA only in comparison to Bakker, not YA in content. It's light fare.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
@@NaosSabot cool cool
@jeidelbergin
2 жыл бұрын
I got this book as a gift in 2009 but never read it cuz back then i was craving something more similar to Tolkien. Magic, different races and stuff like that. Didn't even know what grimdark was. Now I'm so Happy that i own it.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
That’s awesome!
@thatsci-firogue
7 ай бұрын
Hits different on a re-read.
@koleary1798
2 жыл бұрын
I have the PoN trilogy ready for me as soon as I wrap up Realm of the Elderlings before the end of the month (sickening thought). I read the first few pages of Darkness just to get a flavour of it; man you weren't kidding about those names! I'm not dyslexic but for whatever reason I have a super hard time remembering names. It'll be a real learning curve for the first book at least for me! Especially after Hobb and her wonderfully easy to remember characters, half of whom are named after virtues haha.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah it's a big switch lol
@chrisjzh
2 жыл бұрын
How do people pronounce Malazan? Love this series btw, absolutely gorgeous Fun fact - the major events in this story are lifted straight from the real First Crusade that took Jerusalem in 1102. The battles are the same, the sieges, the speech from the Pope (Shriah), the Vulgar Holy War (People's Crusade)
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
Oh very cool!
@chrisjzh
2 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork yeah he basically superimposed his crazy apocalyptic fantasy over the real history of what happens. The Nansur are the Byzantines etc it's all there. I only just realised it cause I read a book about the crusade, but Bakker has apparently been quite explicit about this the whole time
@MacScarfield
3 жыл бұрын
A bit of topic, but with your mentioning of GGK and Lions of Al-Rassan, I just wondered if you had read/planning reviews of other works by him? I have finished «Tigana» & «The Lions of Al-Rassan» and is halfway through A Song for Arbonne. Loved the world building/mythology and villains in «Tigana» and loved the characters in «Al-Rassan» from the very start! Just halfway into «Arbonne», but have already fallen in love with the major characters. Blaise’s scenes first with the Duke in the mountains and then with Rudel at his villa: Such wicked good writing!
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Hey good to see your comment showing GGK some love! I definitely will be reading his other stuff but not sure when. Will be doing publication order I think!
@ToddsBookTube91
6 ай бұрын
Dear Jimmy, I have only read The Darkness That Comes Before By Bakker. A big complaint of the story is there is sorcerers but not any magic in the books is this true as the series continues?
@thefantasynuttwork
6 ай бұрын
Nope, tons of magic and destruction coming in the following books
@ToddsBookTube91
6 ай бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork thanks Jimmy I appreciate it
@ajpend
2 жыл бұрын
Cool review.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!!
@jakebishop7822
3 жыл бұрын
Fine, I will read it
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
It's about time
@BooksWithBenghisKahn
3 жыл бұрын
Loved this review, and this just shot up my tbr for sure after seeing how well it landed for you! Is that cover not one of the ugliest fantasy covers you've ever seen though? Pretty hard to believe everyone involved was pleased with that goofy photorealistic face.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
It's such a bad cover and it's impossible to get all three books matching 😭😭
@shulgi582
3 жыл бұрын
Personally, enjoyed this lot more than Malazan. I do have some problems with the series, especially later on, but the finale is probably one of the best I've encountered so far. Definitely Erikson level of "HOLY FUCKING SHIT". Names are ridiculous. I dislike them sincerely. But they're also awesome. Kellhus is the original gigachad. Dune and Tolkien are Bakker's greatest influences outside some philosophers like, say, Hegel. Speaking of, philosophy is a big theme and probably together with Acts of Caine (he he) the best representation of it in the genre. Fuck Esmenet though : baseddepartment: Next book is my second favorite in the series. It also gets progressively darker.
@shulgi582
3 жыл бұрын
The sorcerous battles - best I've ever read Top 5 beatiful prose material, too. Definitely more similar to GGK for me. Erikson is much more... dramatic about... well, absolutely everything.
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I loved reading your thoughts. He is a gigachad 😂
@shadowtemple7426
2 жыл бұрын
You don't like the names? The first time I read the name "Kumrezzer" I was like yessssssssss
@deanryanmartin
10 ай бұрын
The title of this book sounds unique. It sounds evil to a point that you can realize that there is an understandable reason why it is evil.
@zacturf-n-sports6203
2 жыл бұрын
Joe Abercrombie, the faithful and the fallen is amazing by John gwynn, Beyond Redemption. Never heard Malazahn pronounced that way, but I like it!! I could care less bout races though, it’s more culture that interest me. Thanks for your review
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure, thanks for checking it out!
@laurasalo6160
11 ай бұрын
@11:30 i thought you said "misuse of the sexual nature" and i was thinking: I want some of that!
@thefantasynuttwork
11 ай бұрын
Hahaha
@neutral_narr
Ай бұрын
Interesting since I am still a novice in the genre I would like to know if I can read this series without LOTR.
@thefantasynuttwork
Ай бұрын
Absolutely
@HakolBeseder09
3 жыл бұрын
Brace yourself when you get to Aspect Emperor
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
I've heard it's a trip
@HakolBeseder09
3 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork Indeed and beyond i should say
@tia_lenay
Жыл бұрын
I am having a hard time getting through this one! But I feel I should keep pushing.....should I keep going?!
@thefantasynuttwork
Жыл бұрын
If you want! Book two is much better imo
@tia_lenay
Жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork the way you described The aspect emperor in one of your other videos is what makes me want to continue.
@muttineni03
3 жыл бұрын
Very well thought out review, honestly don't see many reviews on this series, but it's grabbing lot of attention lately, I'm currently reading The Last Argument of Kings and loving it very much, Why do you think it's dense and in what way, I've been thinking about this book since longtime but I've heard it's dense but not sure it's because of plot or prose?
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
Prose is not too dense, it's the world building and the sheer amount of characters and locations who all have their own cultures, etc. Plus the names are ridiculous lol
@muttineni03
3 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork Wow sounds very interesting, I always have hard time with names in fantasy world's 😁
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
@@muttineni03 same, where's all the Bob's at in these worlds 😂
@muttineni03
3 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork lol a Bob could lighten up a bleak world like this 😀
@Red21Viper
3 жыл бұрын
@@muttineni03 one small hint from an Old world person. I am Greek and I find the names easy to cope with. Very interesting too. They fit to the world building. Bakker uses a lot ancient germanic names and mostly eastern Mediterranean and eastern, Iranian or Indian. Guessing from your name I think you ll find them relatable too.
@aysseralwan
3 жыл бұрын
I'm glad you liked it. I for my part couldn't get into it tho I read the whole book I surrendered at book 2 of the trilogy cuz I couldn't root for a single person especially Cnaiur and Kellhus were disgusting people from start to finish and they were too prominent roles so I dnf'd
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
That's totally fair
@EricMcLuen
3 жыл бұрын
Great, more books to pick up along with some Wurts....
@thefantasynuttwork
3 жыл бұрын
My bad 😂
@ajpend
2 жыл бұрын
I think the series is called "The Prince of Nothing".
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
Ah, I missed the The lol
@anyname4306
2 жыл бұрын
Are you secretly a strongman?^^ Those are some serious thick arms.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
Hahah I do workout a lot and such
@anyname4306
2 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork My respects :)
@Lolofield
2 жыл бұрын
haha i'm losing my mind at your syllable emphasis. They might be correct but I've always pronounced Erikson's books MAL-uh-ZAN and Bakker's line of kings an-ASU-rim-BOR.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
I'm the dumbest guy I know so don't mind my inability to speak 😂
@Lolofield
2 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork never heard the authors say the names so you might be right for all I know
@currangill430
2 жыл бұрын
Littlefinger: Knowlege is power Bakker: Magic is power In all seriousness I think I will like this series! Is this the series that people consider really rapey?
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
There's a lot of assault in these books
@currangill430
2 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork I read the first chapter. It reads a lot like poetry and the names are stupid hard to pronounce 🤣
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
@@currangill430 it's extremely dense and complicated. I found the names very hard to remember lol I gave characters nicknames 😂
@currangill430
2 жыл бұрын
@@thefantasynuttwork 🧐
@jasper4365
2 жыл бұрын
non-man are elves? how? they can't be killed with swords and command the srank and wear capes of humanfaces and heavy armor, does not sound elvish to me.
@thefantasynuttwork
2 жыл бұрын
Certainly not a one for one, just through discussions I've read it's the connection I've seen made
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