A review by its_justine
The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker

5.0

The thoughts of all men arise from the darkness. If you are the movement of your soul, and the cause of that movement precedes you, then how could you ever call your thoughts your own? How could you be anything other than a slave to the darkness that comes before?

Well, this is simply one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s actually pretty difficult for me to write a review that will capture the grandeur of this story - which is probably why I initially threw five stars at it and walked away - but I think it’s time to give it a go.

The Darkness That Comes Before is the first installment in The Prince of Nothing series and is an intelligent, ambitious and complex recount of the beginnings of the great holy war that threatens the lands of Eärwa. Throughout its pages we embark on a crusade and witness events unfold through the eyes of multiple characters of highly varying backgrounds and beliefs. While the people of the land are focused on each other, an ancient group of magi lurks in the shadows and tirelessly works to bring about the return of an evil most no longer believe in. Of all the mysteries draping over Eärwa, a strange and enigmatic monk travels to the Holy city of Shimeh, seamlessly intertwining himself in the lives of many, his true intentions hidden beneath a refined and charming mask.

This story is intense, unrelenting and unforgiving, immediately immersing you in a world with millennia of history, where cultures, factions, religions, rituals, and more are described in minute detail throughout. Told in a beautifully poetic and philosophical prose, it took me some time to fully grasp the gravity and brilliance, but once I finally did, I became completely absorbed until the very end. It’s haunting and intriguing and dark, brimming with palpable peril and disturbing encounters. We’re introduced to a cast of absolutely deplorable, yet extremely interesting and well-developed characters and the change of point of view smartly gives us insight into the current status of all different parts of the world.

I feel like I’ve dipped my toes into a deep and bottomless ocean and cannot wait to continue on this journey. I know nothing I say will give this book the justice it deserves, so please just go and give it a read.