A Fantasy Reader

The Judging Eye by R. Scott Bakker was one of my most anticipated read of 2009 (well for the first part of the year). Having greatly enjoyed the first trilogy from Bakker (Prince of Nothing ... like you don’t know... I think I will add a review soon), hopes were reaching the sky for the next one (The aspect emperor).

Well I loved it! It's a very good read. Still, I was somewhat just a little bit disappointed and I'll explain why. Don’t misunderstand me, I liked The Judging Eye a lot but I expected more, mostly with the story. Maybe I'm not patient enough. The epilogue of the first trilogy was giving us a very interesting glimpse of the evil "that comes before" (I would have liked to see more of the Consult and Inchoroi). Fortunately, I think that what I'm hoping for will come with the follow up.

20 years have passed, The Great Ordeal lead by the warrior-prophet Kellhus conquered the whole Three-Seas and is now marching toward Golgoterath. Within this ordeal, a young conquered prince is struggling. The wizard Achamian, in exile, is having new revelations in his dreams and setting on a quest for truth with the daughter of his lost love. The path is treacherous even with a Nonman and his acolytes. In Momemn, the empress is having great troubles with her sons and daughters. Even with the help of Maithanet, she struggles at the head of the empire while a cult is getting ready for the White Luck Warrior.

First, I think Kellhus has simply become much too powerful. I think this creates an unbalanced felling of power between the protagonists (I king of agree with Orson Scott Card about this kind of situation....). We’ve got Jesus with incredible magic. I know that within the story he is almost a God, but then, for example, why use an army to conquer a city when you can pull it down by yourself... At least he's cool :)

But even if the story is mostly given through the eyes of characters we already know, some new POV are very interesting. For instance, Kellhus deliciously bad “mother love longing” son Kelmomas and the king of Sarkapus son Sorweel POV are the best additions. I can’t say the same for Esmenet or Mimara though. This last one narrative is too different form the rest, but you get use to it. But Achamian! God I ache for Achamian! Here we have an awesome character. Give me more! His struggle (and the dreams of Seswatha) is what will be keeping you from putting the book down.

It’s not as engaging as the first trilogy but it's building up to be. At least, the crusades are over. And you really have to read Prince of nothing before in my opinion. Then you'll grasp more of this rich world. Even if this world is just a little bit too much like the old Middle-east from our real world... But anyway, my anticipation for The white luck warrior is very high.

Technically, I think that the only thing I disliked from The Judging Eye was that sometimes the chapters were too long. Give us more pace, faster switch from POV! Other than that, awesome writing, just a little less “philosophically-religious" that the first trilogy. The cover for the Penguin Canada print is just Ok but the map (I'm among those who loves them) and appendices are perfect.

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