I love this series. In my humble opinion it is among the very best in the genre on many counts. However, there were a few points in this particular installment where the “purple prose” got so over the top that I couldn’t picture what was literally happening at key moments. If you’ve read much Bakker, you’ll know that his writing is extremely stylistic and sometimes verges on being overwrought. I normally enjoy it, but I think his editor failed to rein him in in a few crucial spots where he viciously sacrificed clarity for flowery word salad.

Bakker’s world building continues to amaze. In this regard, Prince of Nothing and Aspect Emperor are hands down the best fantasy novels in the last decade…maybe of all time. The setting is incredibly detailed, nuanced, and imaginative. The series and its predecessor, which is set in the same world, are populated with intertwined races and cultures, each steeped with a sense of history that not only permeates the story, but continues to influence the decisions of its characters. On a couple of occasions, the author expects us to remember terms or characters that are somewhat swallowed up by the glut of detail and the huge cast of characters. Not an all-together unique problem for dense epic fantasies, still there are a few instances where, as a reader, I was unmoved by character developments, because the character involved had blended into the background. Otherwise, I constantly find myself marveling at the richness of the world and the ambiance it lends the story.

While I’m on the subject of characters, it is tough to delve deeply into each head that is featured in this large cast. In the end, Bakker leans heavily on characters developed in the first series. Mimara being the only new character that really shines for me. Achamian and Mimara are great, deep characters whose relationship is complicated and interesting. Kellhus is not really human enough to feel like a character. He’s more like a monster or a force of nature. Sorweel, Esmenet, Kelmomas and others are less than riveting to me, and their arcs have important plot aspects, but they don’t viscerally hook me in the same way as Achamian and Mimara. In fact the plot and character arcs revolving around those left behind in the capital feel largely irrelevant. Knowing Bakker’s skillful hand, I fully expect that the story arc will tie them back in to the larger conflict in the series finale. Still, the whole business with the white-luck warrior and the one hundred gods feels a bit grafted on to a story that is otherwise cohesive and compelling. Don’t be mislead though, the core character conflicts are still interesting, even if most of them have begun to take a back seat to the sweeping plotline.

I rarely give out five star ratings, but most of Bakker’s work merits it in my opinion. Only the overwrought prose brought this one down a notch for me. On the whole, it is a great read with a good ending and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’d still highly recommend this series, and I look forward to its conclusion in the Unholy Consult.

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