The 2nd book in the Prince of Nothing series continues where the first book left off and continues the Holy War and the internal strife of all the characters introduced. The book is very much a characterization book with the plot serving as a vehicle. The characters are great, deep, complex, and meaningful. There is a lot of growth and changes that happen throughout the book. The plot carries on slowly, but that is never really a problem. Even though it is the second book in the world, R. Scott Bakker still introduces new concepts and world building in a similar way as the first book, by just throwing it at you. So far the series is complex story that sucks you in. ( )

This is a series that probably has to be read twice. Bakker does not hold your hand as he throws names, civilisations, cultures, religions and magic at you until you feel like it's just a tiny bit too much. At least, that's how this series makes me feel so far. I'm really enjoying the world building and the cast of characters, but I already know I will re-read this one day and hopefully manage to dig deeper and understand more.

I enjoyed the first book a lot and thought it was worth putting in the work, reading it slowly, referring to the glossary often. Amazing world building, thought experiments and a great cast of characters made it a treat. A difficult one, but still a treat. This sequel is a bit more predictable and linear. All of what happens is expected and there are no surprises.

It's possible that once I've read the third book and see how the series comes together, I might change my rating. ( )

Bakker continues his epic fantasy filled with astonishingly reflective characters, many of whom can somehow spend half a page on introspection between every other line of dialogue without it ever feeling anything but gripping and exciting to read. The titular ice-cold logician monk continues to both chill and impress me, the tortured wandering sorcerer breaks my heart over and over, the brilliant barbarian chieftain's internal war of pride and self-loathing reaches new heights, and the political machinations are both believable and complex while (somehow) never really taking up all that much space in the narrative. Meanwhile, the Holy War that is the framework of it all marches on, horrifically brutal and genuine in its depiction. I've no idea how the final volume could possibly deliver on the promise of this, which somehow takes every great element in the first novel and builds them to new staggering levels, but I'm really looking forward to finding out. ( )

I dropped out of this book after 200 of its 600 pages, and that kind of makes me sad.

I really liked the first book of The Prince Of Nothing trilogy: I read 52 books last year, and The Darkness That Comes Before was one of the 10 best.

This second installment is so much of a disappointment, I don’t even feel like explaining why. I’ll try anyhow, but I’ll keep it short.

(...)

Full review on Weighing A Pig ( )

Although everyone should be dead by now, based on the numbers, The Holy War continues. Surprisingly, despite the almost overwhelming details of the sub-characters and the explicit descriptions of the brutal acts of the combatants, Bakker seem to put you directly into the midst of the steady march to Shimeh. The trek across the desert almost made me thirsty. The special access Bakker gives the reader to the extraordinary deeds of the main characters, rips you out of the tedium and terror, and floats you like a sorcerer looking down on what is really happening. Still really good! ( )