THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PRINCE OF NOTHING BY R SCOTT BAKKER | NON-SPOILER REVIEW

[@AfriqanSimba]

Dope animation man, impressive editing as always

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching!

[@juliangomez3662]

You have a really interesting perspective on Kellhus as a character. I thought when he betrayed the lonely man on the mountain, he revealed himself to be a heartless anti hero from the start. He is a complete sociopathic manipulator, having studied the 43 muscles of the face under his extremist cult. I think you're supposed to be horrified by his meteoric rise. Great review! My #1 series

[@EpicTalez]

I initially saw his betrayal of Leweth as a sign that he was an anti hero willing to do what he needed to do even if it was difficult. As I read on, I learnt it wasn’t difficult. In fact it wasn’t an after thought of an after thought. Then when he started doing to characters that I was emotionally invested in, I was like WTF?!! That was when I got terrified. Thanks for watching! I appreciate your thoughts. You should check out my character analysis on him.

[@ColinsCornerYT]

My man! This is the first of your videos I’ve watched, idk how I haven’t seen you come up in my recommended videos before. This was amazing! I’m so glad I got to meet you last night and found your channel!

[@EpicTalez]

I am glad we met yesterday! I started off gushing about how much I loved the book like you said you don’t like 😂 but I am glad you watched and enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!

[@ColinsCornerYT]

@@EpicTalez haha I hope people didn’t think I meant that I just don’t like videos like that! I love seeing people’s passion and love for a series! Your animation is so amazing too, such high quality content. I’ll be working my way through your backlog my man 👍. Hope to get to talk to you again sometime soon!

[@EpicTalez]

@@ColinsCornerYT Thanks! I look forward to talking to you again.

[@GregStefaniuk]

Very cool stuff, Bem. I love your energy and presence! Great work!

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching!

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

Excellent stuff Epic!!! I feel I was rooting for Akka more in the PON series....more than I was Kellhus. Your minor issues with Kellhus may dissolve as you continue into the Aspect Emperor. Again awesome video my man.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching. I really need to read Aspect Emperor. I can’t wait!

[@dandrum1ify]

I wasn't a huge fan but your enthusiasm is definitely admirable. I love to see people enjoy books rather than drag them through the mud

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks! It’s definitely not for everyone but thanks for watching. What type of books do you read?

[@dandrum1ify]

@@EpicTalez I'm a huge Tolkien fan. My most recent favorites are The Powder Mage books by Brian McClellan and The Raven's Mark trilogy by Ed McDonald. I enjoy grimdark but I'm just kind of indifferent with Prince of Nothing. I'll read the series it's just not a priority

[@EpicTalez]

@@dandrum1ify Nice. I have heard good stuff about The powder mage. I can’t wait to read it.

[@victoriaimande18]

Great video! Great work! Weldone!

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching!

[@bancs95]

Really enjoyed the animation, good book review.

[@EpicTalez]

My gee! Thanks for watching man. I am glad you enjoyed!

[@AJPzaworld]

Ay, that opening animation was clean. Can’t wait for you to get into TAE, and to experience the KINO there.

[@EpicTalez]

I can’t wait as well. Thanks for watching!

[@NovRen19]

Phenomenal AJ well done!

[@earlpipe9713]

I think you may like it even more than the PON trilogy, as other characters' thoughts and feelings regarding Kellhus are a big focus within it. I know it helped me come to understand the character a lot more.

[@NovRen19]

@@earlpipe9713 well said!

[@BookishChas]

Dude your creative skills are on point with this! I’m hoping to read this soon. Stay epic my friend!

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching. I would love to hear your thoughts after you read it!

[@NovRen19]

This was fantastic guys....epic well done on the animation...love it!😊

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! It was a lot of fun to animate.

[@NovRen19]

@@EpicTalez I could absolutely tell.

[@SockPuppet80]

Always good to see new Bakker appreciators online. I loved the little anime piece at the start, just one tiny correction - the Nonman doesn't say that he's *sealed* the ramparts of Golgotterath, he says he has *scaled* them. Also, he says "the great wars that *authored* this wilderness", not *offered*.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! Bakker is one hell of a writer. I am glad those are the only mistakes you noticed.

[@earlpipe9713]

They're not necessarily mistakes, as you were technically doing your own artistic adaptation after all.

[@andrewhanson405]

Great review! I love the creativity you put into it. Have you read Aspect-Emperor? Bakker starts spilling Kellhus's secrets in the final two books.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! I haven’t read Aspect-Emperor yet but I can’t wait. Bakker is one hell of a writer and he hits all the right notes for me.

[@areena_shrestha]

The skit was the highlight 🙌🏽

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks!

[@Red21Viper]

Loved the intro. These are my favourite books. Aspect Emperor even better. Reading more you will realise Kellhus is not the protagonist. Meta speaking he is more like an exploration tool for Bakker.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching. Kellus is such a well written character. It felt like I was exploring myself. It makes sense that Kellus was an exploration tool for Bakker!

[@iverenomole2022]

I'm impressed 👏 😎

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching!

[@WizardJim]

I'm so glad to see more and more attention being drawn to this series, and I hope you do another one on the Aspect Emperor series too. Your reservations about Kellhus are valid, but I think they are also intentional - you're not meant to like him, you're definately not meant to trust him, Kellhus and the Dunyain in general are not truly human. He just sees problems and solves them in such a way as benefits him the most, not because he is a cynic or a conman but just because that is the most efficient thing to do - to condition the world. Achamian and Esmenet and to a lesser extent Cnaiur were the real human protagonists to me. That is, until the Circumfixion - Kellhus lost control at that point, and it nearly killed him, and it made him into something that was no longer Dunyain even.

[@EpicTalez]

Kellus Is such an Epic Character. Very unique and I agree, very intentionally written I truly can’t wait to read AE. Have you read it yet?

[@WizardJim]

@@EpicTalez Oh yes, I've read it all and still live in hope that Bakker will one day release more.

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

@@EpicTalez I used to think he was rather unique until I read _Dune_ and realized Kellhus is essentially Paul Atreides. You certainly must read the Aspect Emperor. My favorite characters from the entire novel series are Cleric and Varalt Sorweell III.

[@qaztim11]

I love your intro animation, so sick. Would love to see alot of the moments in PoN and Aspect Emperor series in this style. Keep reading the series, Prince of Nothing is just the start, The Aspect Emperor series goes into WILD places. Kellhus and the Dunyain being way too perfect is a pretty big plot point in the other books, you are kind of meant to feel "off" about him the more and more you learn about him, i would say more, but you really should read the sequel series to witness it first hand

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! I really need to read Aspect Emperor. I just know I will love it. Kellus must have been so difficult to write. No character I have ever read made me feel the way he made me feel.

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

What if Kellhus is the antagonist though? ;) did you try to fit him into the classic hero’s journey character arc?

[@EpicTalez]

I didn’t try to fit him into the classic hero’s journey arc. In fact I love protagonist that don’t. His way of looking at people who were very human and I could relate too, scared me 😆 even though I couldn’t stop reading. One of the reason Kellus is such a great character is that he made me feel very uncomfortable. What would he see if he looked at me?

[@TheSassyLibraryFox]

Great review! I love the animations! As always! You have a gift! 😊

[@EpicTalez]

Heyyyy! How are you? Thanks for watching!!!

[@TheSassyLibraryFox]

@@EpicTalez Hey there! I'm fine, just been very busy lately. 😅 Thanks for asking! How are you doing!? 😊

[@aerialruin8568]

Thanks for the recommendations, Cheers from a fellow R. Scott Bakker fan.

[@EpicTalez]

Cheers! and thanks for watching!

[@owenheckmann6962]

What epic animation! You sum up Kelhus essentially immediately.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! I keep hearing there is a lot more to Kellhus’s character in the next series of books so I am excited to read more.

[@PsyKotyK]

Im on book 2 and the series so for is extraordinary . Not the easiest to read but its deep

[@EpicTalez]

The warrior prophet was my favourite. Everything Bakker writes it deep. Thanks for watching.

[@jimbelaco4]

This guy knows. What an insane series.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching. This is one of my favourite series of all time!

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Wow! Next level review 😮. Very cool.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! It’s one of my favourite series.

[@Osyrous]

Solid work! And thanks for the suggestion, cant wait to read this series with the boys. Any other suggestions for new readers?

[@EpicTalez]

I wouldn't say this is for a new reader but if you can keep up with it. It’ll definitely be worth it. I would say that if you wanted to read Grimdark for a beginner, you should read the First Law. The first book is called the blade itself.

[@yuaimande2719]

I Ditto lot of things you said. Like, DITTO. I loved a lot of characters throughout the story, even ones that i hated at first. I mean from the Swazond to the Faceless men and the bird that was some sort of diety and then the emperor down to his family and a lot more others. It eas back to back uniqueness and i value that highly. Like you had said, i really had a problem with Khellus's... perfection. The difference in characters is what births fans; Your conviction Your beliefs You reaction to both of those. And then your dialogue pattern as a reflection for or against what i listed above. But for Khellus it was like... everyone else was perfect. And really the only problem that poses is that people find it easier to connect with characters who suffer because everyone has some grey areas in thier life time. But khellus felt like, 'um i am this perfection. Personally if i were Khellus, happiness might be something i would see as just another emotion. And also something that influences my decisions. So, happiness would be a weapon i would use whenever i saw someone smiling. Happiness would be a weapon because i understand it to a level that is breathtakingly beautiful. That Is Khellus for EVERYTHING. I LOVED THE BOOK So much information in it sometimes i had to switch books then come back to understand some scenes or give my mid a break from description of a scene, illustration, interaction, a figure of speech i was not too sure about at the time or a narrative. Loved your Video, once again! Keep it UP!

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching bro. I love your analysis. Kellus gives a lot to think about.

[@sochiazuh]

I like the point about having qualms with a perfect character. Given the space of two sequels, you should have enough room to let the character falter and grow. Thanks for sharing. Will check this out. ❤

[@EpicTalez]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I prefer to experience a characters trials and tribulations before they become “perfect”. It helps me relate with them better.

[@MichaelRSchultheiss]

My favorite books by my favorite author. You have excellent taste, and you do make an interesting point about Kellhus as a protagonist. I see him as an anti-hero, and a particularly clever subversion of the Chosen One trope in epic fantasy. To a considerable degree, the story is about his manipulation and conquest of other major characters, though Cnaiur effectively resists him from the start.

[@EpicTalez]

Cnaiur. What a character. It felt more like he was outsmarted by Kellhus but not manipulated. Thanks for watching!

[@void.sawyer]

Hell yes bro. I totally agree. This was my favorite series dude. Next to A Song of Ice and Fire. This series though has some scenes throughout this trilogy and the following quadrilogy(?) that i still think back on and shudder. Very very dark deep dive into the nuances of social structures, religion, philosophy. Its so good.

[@EpicTalez]

I agree it's so good. It changed my perspective on storytelling and some general axioms of thought I have. It's a great book of philosophy, religion and ideas. Some of the best that fantasy has to offer.

[@void.sawyer]

Second comment: i too would only read a chapter at a time bc each one was so nuanced and or heavy that i had to process it with time and space away from the world.

[@EpicTalez]

You can comment as much as you like. I can't wait to reread it and catch everything I missed the first time. If you want to join the reread or the books after the original trilogy, join the discord, let's do it together. Thanks for watching man.

[@TheRuralpoet]

Hey man, nice analysis. I try to watch book critiques with an open mind but went into this hoping you loved the series as much as me... Regarding kellhus , have you started the second trilogy? If so it's likely you won't like him so much after those books imo . Cheers !

[@EpicTalez]

I am starting the second trilogy very soon. Thanks for watching!

[@leehunts4327]

I honestly always saw Kellhus as an antagonist. He’s as terrifying as the Consult. His emotional appeal comes from how he affects other characters. I would also say that he is an anti-character. Is he even human?

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! Kellus is a very compelling character. I can't wait to read the next three books. I have been told that to understand Kellus better, I need to read them.

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

I really liked these books, but I enjoyed the continuations, _The Judging Eye_ and _The White Luck Warrior_ the most. _The Great Ordeal_ was pretty good and unfortunately the final novel was entirely rushed and all of his excellent ideas suffered from the broader stroke writing and the condensed timeline. I sent him a message for how I imagined what he planned for the next book or books, but obviously he isn't going to respond to some random Johnny online, but I do hope he finishes the series. One of you criticized Kellhus for being too perfect and I had always really liked how original and powerful he seemed. And then I read _Dune_ and felt that, whether Bakker was aware of it or not, Kellhus is essentially Paul Atreides.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! I am glad you enjoyed it. I am so excited to read the next three books. Most people who have read the books tell me O need to. The comparison between Paul and Kellhus is a discussion that I have seen a lot. It is well known that Dune influenced The Prince of Nothing. I prefer the Messiah complex in Dune but the prince of nothing is one of my favourites. Thanks for watching!

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

@@EpicTalez An important book you should consider reading before reading the next trilogy is Cormac McCarthy's _Blood Meridian_ . Bakker quotes _Blood Meridian_ a couple of times, if I remember correctly, in his books. _Blood Meridian_ is one of the most important novels written, in my opinion, and its themes are prevalent in _The Aspect Emperor_ . Enjoy, and certainly looking forward to your responses on the next portion of the series. Let's keep our fingers crossed for Bakker to finish the next series. He was at the Zaudunyonicon talking about skirting the line between making his books more accessible/marketable vs. writing the way in which he finds satisfying and loves to write. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZPQi6OlrNdmfdU

[@EpicTalez]

@@jasonuerkvitz3756 I actually read Blood Meridian 2 months ago. It’s on my all-time list. Such brilliant writing. I want to read it again a few times because I feel like I missed a lot but the book is just brilliant.

[@erenja3ger871]

I definitely understand what you meant about kelhus. In book 2 i wanted him to lose. I was happy when akka lost the debate but alas it was not to be. Kelhus is a character I hate but love on an intellectual level. The things he does and how he outsmarts people are jaw dropping. In the final parts when Cnaiur sees Moenghus he thinks about how it's even possible for a father to become an imitation of the son and not the opposite. Weirdly enough I never saw him as a gary stu. I think it's because Kelhus and the Dunyain are so far removed from the world in general. They are like thr consult but rather than flesh they are obsessed with the mind. Everyone in the story paid for their folly barring Kelhus and it's probably because his morality is far removed from what is human. What he does is not bad in his eyes and common sense. If he "paid" for anything he won't learn from it and just use it as a lesson on how to avoid it. I have not read aspect emperor but I think Kelhus is meant to be a savior figure as opposed to an antichrist figure which is what I originally thought

[@EpicTalez]

You said it. You describe some of the things I had in mind when I was creating the video. Thanks for watching! I do a whole character analysis on him. You should check out that video.

[@JackAaron]

Is Kellhus really the protagonist though? I'd say he's more of a deconstruction of Christ with superhuman abilities. He's not supposed to be relatable. The protagonist seems to me to really be Achamian.

[@EpicTalez]

@@JackAaron Thanks for watching. I see Kellhus as the protagonist because he moves the plot of the story. He is surely a deconstruction of Christ from a twisted perspective. I have only read the first three books but Achamian is constantly a victim of circumstance. Things are always happening to him. He isn’t happening to anything important unlike Kellhus so it’s difficult for me to perceive him as the protagonist. Just analyzing it here makes me want to read it again. Thanks for watching!