Questions About The Darkness That Comes Before (The Prince of Nothing, #1)

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Answered Questions (5)

Thinking of giving this a go. However, I cannot incorporate fantasy w/ sci-fi. Is this novel one of those that does?

Orion_metalhead I read this when it came out and there were no sci-fi aesthetics at all. It reads at times like theology, at other times philosophy, and other times l…moreI read this when it came out and there were no sci-fi aesthetics at all. It reads at times like theology, at other times philosophy, and other times like swords and sorcery novels. It reads dustily.

Needless to say, but I was very impressed and to this day it is the book that ruined a lot of fantasy reading for me because several books afterwards, I couldn't find anything that really competed with the high-mindedness and I completely stopped reading fantasy for many years. (less)

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How many POVs does this book have?

Shane Duquette Many characters, minor and major, have their moment as the POV character, but by and large, the book is broken into just a few main points of view: th…moreMany characters, minor and major, have their moment as the POV character, but by and large, the book is broken into just a few main points of view: the sorcerer, the Emperor, the harlot, and the warrior.(less)

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Is there any sexual content in this book and is it explicit?

westly I guess it does have some sexual content, but it's not the main focus of the book. There are a few instances involving sexual violence, but they’re no…moreI guess it does have some sexual content, but it's not the main focus of the book. There are a few instances involving sexual violence, but they’re not graphic or lingered on for shock value. The book’s tone is really dark and grim, and the sexual content is usually more about the power dynamics and harsh realities of the world Bakker created, rather than being explicit or romantic.

If you’ve read The Wheel of Time, this definitely less focused on relationships and sex than that is. In that series, there’s more of a focus on romance and emotional connections, whereas in The Darkness That Comes Before, the sexual content is usually tied to more disturbing themes, like exploitation and control. While there are moments of sexual violence or tension, it’s not super graphic or explicit like some other fantasy books might be.

Basically, it’s there, but it’s not really the point of the story, and it’s handled with a lot more restraint.(less)

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I'm thinking of reading this novel because I love fantasy, but I'm not too sure because I fear disapointment. Withouth spoilers, what are the good points in the novel?

Shane Duquette This author is smart and he knows how to build suspense, so I found that this book felt real, felt serious, and made me want to learn more about the w…moreThis author is smart and he knows how to build suspense, so I found that this book felt real, felt serious, and made me want to learn more about the world … while at the same time putting me on the edge of my seat with excitement, quickly turning pages. It's a great fantasy book.(less)

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i am not a native english speaker but i've read other fantasy books without trouble (ASOIAF, Stormlight Archive,Wheel of Time etc.).Is this book more difficult (in terms of comprehension) ?

Shane Duquette I'd say the English is easier to understand than ASOIAF, harder than Stormlight, about the same as Wheel of Time. However, there are a lot of countrie…moreI'd say the English is easier to understand than ASOIAF, harder than Stormlight, about the same as Wheel of Time. However, there are a lot of countries, factions, and names to memorize, so I think everyone—regardless of their native tongue—is going to be overwhelmed by all the new words they need to learn. Once you're 200 pages in, though, that problem goes away.(less)

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Unanswered Questions (2)

I've read about 70% of this book. I think I'd like to keep reading but I have discovered a trend I don't like, namely, all female named characters are presented as whores in one way or another. The indecent empress mother, the old naive whore, the submissive tribal wife, the stolen slave concubine... Is this a trend in further books in the series, as well? It detracts from the epic.

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I'm thinking of reading this novel because I love fantasy, but I'm not too sure because I fear disapointment. Withouth spoilers, what are the good points in the novel?

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