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

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“That’s the horrible fact of sinners. We’re indistinguishable from the righteous.”

It’s been awhile since I’ve been so utterly enamored by the beginning of a fantasy series. Bakker pulls no punches as the reader is thrown into this world, making it feel like it’s truly lived in with a rich history. With influences from The Crusades, the dialogue between characters and their actions draw into question how people of different cultures and faiths can come together for the same goal. All of this is pulled together by compelling character, philosophical meditations on humanity, faith, history, and myth.

Beautiful, dark, and epic in scope, this promises to be a series I’ll return to again and again. 

“Faith is the truth of passion. Since no passion is more true than another, faith is the truth of nothing.”