The Judging Eye

November 3, 2008
Twenty years after the events of 2007's The Thousandfold Thought
, nations unite in a holy war to prevent the No-God's apocalyptic resurrection. Aspect-Emperor Kellhus seems a benevolent messiah, but may be only a power-hungry demagogue. Exiled wizard Drusas Achamian's quest to expose Kellhus as a fraud could be a bitter cuckold's folly or the world's best hope. The Empress Esmenet juggles belief in her husband's godhead with grief for his lack of human attachment. Her bitter, abandoned daughter Mimara—an ex-prostitute, like her mother—begs Achamian to teach her sorcery, though the Judging Eye curse sends her visions of damnation. Bakker's lush language sometimes achieves poetry, but his plotting is less original; minor and nonsexualized female characters are conspicuously absent; and new readers will struggle with the intricate politics and history.

December 15, 2008
Twenty years after the events described in "The Prince of Nothing Saga" ("The Darkness That Comes Before"; "The Warrior Prophet"; "The Thousandfold Thought"), the Aspect-Emperor rules a New Empire forged of war and prophecy. Yet new turmoil arises as the Emperor's fitness to rule and his divine descent are called into question by some factions and punished as heresy in others. Bakker's attention to detail and his depiction of a society modeled after those of ancient Asia should attract fans of the trilogy. Complex characters and intricate plotting make this a good choice for most libraries.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2008
First installment of a new epic fantasy trilogy, set 20 years after Bakker's Prince of Nothing series.

Anas ûrimbor Kellhus, the Aspect-Emperor of the Three Seas, has gathered a vast army to prevent the Second Apocalypse. Forced to join this holy war, conquered King Sorweel finds himself unwillingly affected by Kellhus's overpowering charisma. Meanwhile, Empress Esmenet maintains a shaky hold on the imperial court, threatened by assassins, religious dissent and her seven-year-old son Kelmomas, a murderous psychopath gifted at covering his tracks. In a distant land, Drusas Achamian, the exiled Wizard who still resents Kellhus for taking away Esmenet, seeks the enigmatic Aspect-Emperor's birthplace in hopes it will shed light on his motivations. Not much actually happens in this book. Bakker's poetic, almost baroque work appeals to a cerebral, patient reader willing to stick around and see what he has in mind. (Hopefully, that reader has already completed the prior trilogy; the synopsis included here is not entirely sufficient.) The author spends more time developing intricate philosophies and emotionally resonant characters than in advancing the plot, which concludes with a Mines-of-Moria sequence that, while extremely atmospheric, still feels like a cheat for such an accomplished writer as Bakker.

Best left to his devoted fan base; others may not have the stamina.

(COPYRIGHT (2008) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2009
Bakkers new trilogy begins 20 years after the conclusion of the Prince of Nothing in The Thousandfold Thought (2006). All-seeing Aspect-Emperor Kellhus is leading a second war, the Great Ordeal, against the Consult. While his army scythes forward, subjugating once-proud nations, others plot to contest his domination. Nannaferi, of the Cult of Yatwer, awaits the Goddess White-Luck Warrior, prophesied to destroy Kellhus. Young King Sorweel of conquered Sarkarpus seeks to defy the invaders while traveling with their army. Exiled schoolman Achamian and Mimara, a witch with the Judging Eye, begin a dangerous trek to discover Kellhus true nature. Kellhus wife, Esmenet, navigates the brutal politics left in her care, while son Kelmomas manipulates those around him. A challenging read, dizzying in scope, written in rather elevated discourse, and featuring an effective but difficult narrative structure, this is essential for Prince of Nothing fans. Newcomers to Bakker may be overwhelmed by the myriad plot lines, characters, cultures, and nations, and should, perhaps, backtrack to The Darkness That Comes Before (2005), Prince of Nothing, volume one.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)