The Unholy Consult by R Scott Bakker - the end to an incredible journey. SPOILERS AHEAD! 

Truth Shines

Keen for a read along

I love the times spent with Mirshoa. An unsung hero

"Awe is the heart aimed in all horizons". That might be my favourite Bakker quote. I just love it. No one else describes such abstract feelings so well. Its like he knows their secret code. But the quote of quotes here is the final sentence...so crushing. Count me in for the rereading. I am sure you will be shocked of the stuff you are going to discover anew. The connections. The hindsights and even things you missed out. I remember how numb I felt the first time I read it. How curious I was of what will happen and thus missing so many details. Spoilers people. Do not read further on 😁 Did you notice that Kellhus is "Hijacked"? Also, I would not bet on Kel coming again. He is nada. No-God. He is just vessel for the resumption of the No-God. Its so devastating. So futile. Also I never noticed that Cnaiur probably becomes Ajokli in his final scene. Its so great how Ajokli the God of deceit and hate is so connected to these embodiments of deceit and hate. Kellhus and Cnaiur. Bakker has so many layers that its like a cipher. That damned book is the bible of tribulations. You get to actually see how an Apocalypse begins. The terror of it. It has such dark moments. Somehow the ones I always think more have to do with Proyas. I feel he is an example of how men are deceived and his punishments and faults feel so powerful. The moment when he kills with bare hands Sibawul in that wild feat of anger and self loathing its so gruesome. "The King and the Leper" And then you have Kellhus making him a martyr. A scapegoat. And how some characters meet him in these last and biblical moments felt so touching to me. Cold Cnaiur who was always fond of him and more so, his teacher, Akka. My poor boy Prosha. I was devastated. Strangely there also some great moments of light. As you said, when Akka, Esmi and Mimara meet and how they try to survive this final dreadful stage. But the moment that always stands for me is Akka and pregnant Mimara finally resting on the hills surrounding Golgotterath beneath its shadow. Just before they enter its fields. Bakker has that ability to make such scenes feel like they are drawn out of some scriptural religious sacred tome. I just love these. Oh well enough of my chaotic ramblings. Thank you again for these great videos. It was very interesting to see you caring more and more for these books. Cannot wait for your next video. Have a great time

Mirshoa's death is one of my favorite scenes: "The malevolent Wracu regarded him by the incandescence of Isiramulis, rising higher and higher against the vast golden plane, so immense that the young man's body quailed beneath the skin of his shrill bravado, for where the soul hoped, the body knew..." Count me in for the reread!

Hopefully the slog continues. ❤

Great video Zara! I agree with your criticism that this book sometimes got too vague for its own good, but it is filled with so many emotional scenes that it's still my favorite of the series. This and The Great Ordeal have the most moments that I think back on. The final paragraph of the story is such a punch in the mouth. When I read it, I threw the book down and jumped out of the chair and paced back and forth for about 30 minutes charged with a bundle of emotions. Bakker has been dismissed as being a misogynist for so much of his career that it has been really interesting to hear yours and Johanna's thoughts on his character work with women. Although I think it can definitely be argued that it's not always perfect, it seems like a lot of the critiques are coming from people who haven't read the series or stopped at TDTCB. I had similar experience as you on how I view the fantasy genre and what I want out of it after reading this series. High fantasy is always marketed as a type of escapism that it is startling to see how affective it can be when it tries to challenge the reader instead. It's been really great following your journey with the series. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on No God hopefully soon😅

Will be rereading these at some point but need some distance. But like Malazan, expect to see a lot more of the details not worrying about the end. I have watched many a gory movie or anime but this is the only book I had to put down and walk away from for a few moments. Damn he can write. His ability to change gears in a scene, several with Proyas comes to mind. Or somehow make Kellhus more terrifying with each scene as you realize how he planned the whole thing. Or the complete reframing of the original prophecy. But yes, the arcs of Esme, Mimara and Sorwe are so good. It is the women who seem to try and break the cycle of destruction. And the last line is perfect. I am torn about more books.

Love to see anyone talk about Bakker's work, but I think you have a keen eye and mind so I look forward to listening to this!

Count me in for the re-read.

Excellent. For me, this was my favorite of the series. And my review of this book reflects just how much thinking it incited within me. There were so many dimensions to look at it from. But yeah, a lot of vague bits, too. Though I thought TGO was worse in this regard. I might join in on the reread. I mood read too much to say for certain.

Agree with the criticism re vagueness. Ah Sorweel... the god-chosen hero, but in a world/series where that means very little...

Ooh, fresh mea- I mean Bakker review!

I felt everything you said......up until the 3 minute mark, cause I'm only on Chapter 6. Ugh, are we gonna do now?!?! 😥. I am planning a re-read in Sept. Let me know if you'd be interested in doing a read-a-long.....maybe indepth dive.

The slog of slogs....

Wow!! What a ride. In the beginning of this book I was actually getting frustrated with Bakker's style, the meta, the abstract etc. I actually started questioning "why do I love this author so much?" But than, he hits me with some of the most amazing prose I have ever read. The structure of the end of this book, mirrored 1000 Fold Thought. Where we flash back to a battle during what can be seen as the most important scene in the series. I wasn't as bother by it this time. I could write 7 paragraphs about this book, but I will spare you. Excellent review Zara and you know I'm down for a read-a-long, just hit me up.

I can't believe I missed this. I finished on April 2nd 🎉. I loved this series too, and the Fandom is very welcoming and helpful (especially with some of the issues you mentioned). If Bakker never releases the No-God series, I'd be happy with this ending (but I hope he does). That final line is still stuck in my head. As for a reread, I'm most definitely interested.

Hey Zara, I dunno if you know yet but in case not a channel called The Newsload uploaded clips of a panel Bakker did in 2017 that gave some fantastic insights about the series.

Great review as always. One thing that struck me was your take on Serwa - you say that she supports Kellhus because family is blood and her Father is her Father? You see her as an honorable woman? To me, that sounds like a major misread of a character that is quintessentially Dunyain. Serwa supports Kellhus because he's the only man smarter than her, period. She's perfectly rational in her choice of allegiance, hitching her wagons onto his because he's the best bet that the World has. Filial loyalty doesn't come into it; she lays out her reasoning pretty clearly in her convo with Kelmomas. Even as a child, she realized that everything else was "false" (meaning arbitrary, meaning could be manipulated by her) and only Father was "real" (meaning beyond her ability to comprehend or control). Of the six kids, she might be the one that takes after Kellhus the most. (More than Kayutas as he's not one of the Few, but Inrilatas might be closer; impossible to tell.) The only human part of Serwa, the only bit of Esmenet's heritage that was recognizable, died with Sorweel. She broke down in tears there, an unforgivable loss of control for a Dunyain. But the next time we see her, she's perfectly compos mentis and leading the assault on Golgotterath; maybe *slightly* suicidal, given how he charges at every obstacle, but certainly giving 101% in support of Daddy's cause once more (even though she still doesn't fully understand it).

Out of curiosity, did you read the two short stories at the back of the book? If so what did you think of them?

This novel ending was disappointing. SPOILERS The way he kills kellus is just ridiculous, and after presenting a fantastic scenario (conquer the outside) to explore!! Let us “hate” him a little bit before killing him, i dont know….Kel as the nogod fits, just later I share the vagueness part. English is not my first language and sometimes i was not sure if i missed something or not.