I'm super glad to see you again!!!

La compagnie noire

Thank you so much for all the recommendations! Kinda new to the genre, but I just finished the two Abercrombie trilogies and LOVED them. So, I want more and don't know where to continue. 😊 Here's my question, though: as a female reader, I get rather annoyed when all female protagonists are prostitudes/assault survivors, when assault victims fall in love with their abuser, or similar sexist clichés. A little sexualised violence is fine by me if it serves a purpose for the story and isn't a cheap way to get some shock value... You know what I mean? Can any of you guys narrow down the list for me?

Hey friend!! I’m reading these now and I’m soooo happy you made these videos!

I was really unsure of this book. I mean...it was pretty damn good...but my GAWD...so much rambling...and I LOVE rambling...I even love pointless rambling...but there so much REPETITIVE POINTLESS RAMBLING...it really ruins some of the darkness and the atmosphere.

Something I haven’t seen people theorize on yet. Cnauir has no passing memory of his assault on Conphas. There’s a few explanations for this within the text. It fits the general description of madness in the story, but I don’t think that’s what it is. As most of Cnauir’s violent moments seem to be remembered later. We see Aurang possess Esmenet later in this same book; and yet she has a complete recollection of the events. Could this be Ajokli or Gilgaol interfering? Cnauir might have been pushed in that direction by more than just Kellhus and the Synthese.

You had me at "Michael Moorcock on steroids." 😂For real, though, I'm sharing this video with my mom, who introduced my to Michael Moorcock when I was either a teenager or maybe it was my early 20's. She influenced by reading a LOT, introducing me to Tolkien, Lovecraft, Moorcock, Dan Simmons, C.S. Friedman, and many others. Pretty sure she's gonna get a kick out of your suggestions. Also, I just found you this evening and am subscribing now! Can't wait to watch more of your videos.

I honestly think of Cnaiur as a foster-brother to Kellhus. He was raised more spiritually by Moenghus than his own father. Kellhus naming him Moe is almost like an acknowledgment its after Cnaiurs godfather. Its so cool how they show how Cnaiur was able to create his own Ordeal, and the theme of wars and nations as a leaders personal vehicle to confront someone they need to see (Kellhus using the holy war simply to talk to Moe etc.) Also cnaiur and kellhus weild their ordeals as the seeming pawn, cnaiur gains holy status because he is seen as a servant of the Consult/Lokung, but he betrays that. Kellhus gains holy status in part as a vessel for the celmomian prophecy, but he effectively betrays the ordeal when he parlays with the Dunsult, but also in his Absolute motivation

There are alot of interesting dualities. I think of the circumfix with Kellhus and Serwe, them being two sides of a coin of humanity. Thus you have Kellhus and serwe. Serwe being the innocence of man and kellhus the cunning. Then you have Kelmomas and samarmas intertwined. And THEN you have mimaras twins. Subject/Object

Unrelated but you basically look perfect for your personality lmao. The tattoos, the mole on your chin, your skinny, the hat, the long hair, the mustache idk man you just look how you sound if that makes sense 😂? Anyway, I have more than enough time to read books I just rather watch KZfaq and play video games all day (which I try to stop) because I have in fact been reading more. I have ADHD so reading is sorta hard for me but I combat this by just taking it slow and reading one chapter a day or setting a goal. It took me a a year to read The Hobbit which is absolutely wild lmao, but The Hobbit did in fact help me get used to long reading times because I’ve been reading for ~ exactly one hour for the past week which I’m very proud of and I’m not getting bored. The book I’m reading rn, I set a goal for my self to read 2 chapters a day and I’ll finish it by next Monday. I want to finish this book before next week because next week I’m going to start reading Berserk I recently got all the books for my birthday on the 3rd. And I’m a very specific guy in short reading Berserk would be more enjoyable for me. If I know school won’t be on the back of my mind and I’ll be going into summer, which is my favorite season and make me enjoy it more on top of that if you know the game Elden Ring (favorite game of all time) it’s DLC is also coming out during summer the 21st to be exact, so it would just be a great experience to read Berserk and play that at the same time. This leads me into this part of the video 11:21-12:13 that “more digestible” read for me will in fact be Berserk it is if not is as much disturbing and as horrific as Blood Meridian. Berserk is a manga and will be far far easier to read because it has pictures lol it will stimulate my brain 😅 (I’m partially joking by this, but it’s true). So I am going into Blood Meridian as a partly struggling reader. I have to read out load most of the time (I can read in my head just fine) but it’s just easier for me to read out loud, which will be a problem reading this book in particular because what if my family is near by and is like “WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY??” as I read the most abhorrent thing imaginable 😭😭. Obviously I’m joking i’ll just read those parts in my but reading out loud, It’s just helpful for me. But I won’t really let that stop me, because I can still read I will understand most of this book and if you’ve ever heard of the KZfaqr Wendigoon he has a 8 hour video just breaking down all of Blood Meridian so if I have a question I’m going there because I do in fact still want to read this book. I love realistic, absolute psychopathic, insane immoral villains they’re my favorite type. I want to see what makes Judge Holden the most vile villain in history that’s one of the main motivations for keeping reading in the first place other than the book being praised of course. If it wasn’t obvious already I also got Blood Meridian for my birthday and Junji itos Uzamaki and No longer Human AND Call of Cthulhu. Which in fact Wendigoon has breakdown of ALL of them, so I, set man if I don’t understand something or it’s to complex there’s no problem in seeking guidance or help? This summer is going to be one hell of an experience for me and I sure can’t wait to read all of these books, thanks for the review it was fair and informative. Sorry for the comment essay (I get it from my mom, I just over explain things and can’t stop talking) 😭🙏

Thomas is such a tragic character... I felt bad for lena so much after what happened and i also felt bad for covenant... Such a tragic incident.. Really blew my mind.

Those were nuclear weapons? Idk why but that part of the book I got a little lost on for some reason

I ordered the Trilogy today. I’m a big Malazan and Gene Wolfe fan, I hope this hits the spot!

Check out the way of kings if you havnt already

Yes. I also didn't like Finree for the same reasons! Thank you omg! Dude exactly. And sheee tells Bayaz, she done told him too !

This has got me majorly excited for this series 😂 need to finish a land fit for heroes and the broken empire before i can start. I may have to get some Michael Fletcher and anna smith spark read before too with how big the second apocalypse is

Halfway thru it, Soulcatcher is a pimp

Been getting further into Grimdark after reading Joe Abercrombie. Been reading a ton of Sanderson lately but have been wanting to get back into grim dark or Horror

This book sounds fucking sick

I searched for the best dark fantasy and this came up first. I clicked on it and I'm satisfied.

this has been AMAZING! Is there any more TSA content coming?

Just loved your review. I am just starting to read these books, and so far I am impressed. Thanks!

Some years ago I watched the anime adaptation. I really liked, and I was disappointed that the anime was not finished, it stoped after the battle in Pieta. So now I really want to read the Manga and experience the whole story. Thank you for your appreciations, man. Cheers.

Dope review dude, really enjoyed your video

Thanks for the review brother. After a long journey with Abercrombie, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, Michael Sullivan, B.T. Nerro, The Faithful and the Fallen, and sooo many more I have come to find I really enjoy the darker books on this 8 year journey of Audiobooks. I have been waiting and slowly debating on this book series. So far the first two chapters of Black Company don’t disappoint. I’m excited to find and older book that I haven’t dug into much.

Hello brother hope youre well ✌️ I subbed to you a month ago checking out reviews on Bakkers the prince of nothing. Ive since bought his first 3 books in that series. Yet to read them. Everyone keeps banging on about Abercrombie...he's as good as G.R.R.Martin or better most say. High praise. So i bought the first law trilogy. Started the blade itself ( his first ever novel ) and after 10 pages im like...im a better writer than this guy...after 100 pages...im not a better writer than this guy but he's a poor mans Martin on the D list of immitators. After finishing the blade itself and realising Joe writes fascinating characters i read the next 2 and they just got better and better. Just finished Best served cold and i was blown away. Utterly superb novel by a writer who just gets better and better. Hes right behind Martin for me in fantasy authors terms. Still no Martin ( but who is ) and light on the world building but theres no denying Abercrombie is legit. Ps. There is magic in this book. The Magi who's tracking Monza down to kill her. That scene where the thug tosses the gold coin while his crew are about to kill said Magi, only for him to essentially stop time briefly to eviscerate them. Loved that character. Loved them all. Starting the prince of nothing soon...i need some meat on the bone...bloody. Love your work on Utube. You have charisma in a sheep like world. All the best Daz

Excellent recommendations, thanks!!!

Really enjoying this book

I picked this book because of your top list video, so this review is ironic as hell having just finished this tome and found it fantastic.

This guide just made me read The Lies of Locke Lamora and it is fantastic! I just found out that book 4 in the Gentleman Bastards Sequence has been "coming soon" since 2016! Oh, for Fu<k's sake! I should have taken the blurb on this cover by GRRM as an omen of yet another series that Sanderson will have to finish. At this point I only want to read fantasy series by authors that are already dead and their series are finished, by Sanderson or on their own but, DONE! F-me!

Good review!👍👍👍📚🤖🚀🐲

This book got me back into reading after....15 years. The narrative is gripping,events heartbreaking and as stated by the uploader,everytime you get back to the book, you kinda "re-hook" yourself into the story...like , everything is always so clearly well crafted for the reader. Just amazing,five stars, dank,magnifique .

Very happy to see videos from you again. And that you talked about your impressions on the whole series because I wanted to hear you talk about Season 4. And indeed that conversation of Eren-Reiner was powerful and so well done in the anime.

Thanks for taking the time to do this video. I'm not an avid reader, but I wanted to see what Grimdark is about and picked up The Blade Itself after seeing some recommendations. Going to make note of these, especially the first-person books.

Yo Mark, you good brother? I've been re-reading Second Apocalypse (doing White-luck Warrior soon) and I'll always be grateful and indebted to you for introducing me to this mad motherfucker of a series you beautiful blackhearted bastard 🖤

Did not really like it. The Heroes is best of the standalones followed by Best Served Cold. Red Country is at the bottom of the barrel for me.

Inchoroi remind me a little bit of the Yuuzhan Vong from Star Wars, with the whole skin grafting.

You should read Children of Hurin which is a novel taken from the Silmarillion. Edited by Tolkiens son. Phenomenal tale and probably Middle-Earth at its grimmest.

This review was tits. Loved it.

Which series in the Second Apocalypse is your preffered series ?

Fast paced action book. Art I heard was good. Is Lancelot in it? As long as story flows good I should like it. Ordered all 5 volumes.. Fast pace like Luthor Strobe.

I gave up with this book but think I'll buy it again and give it another try after your great commentary

Just picked up the book for a dollar. Thanks for the review.

Beyond Redemption was my inspiration for the first GM'ing I did in D&D and Pathfinder, criminally unrecognized greatness

no Better Dark novel Then Elric. maby Stephen King that Writer Was inspired By Moorcock Novels

Slowly Red, I love your passion, I have watched this a couple of times and it has been an excellent catharsis on the series. I am a slave to the darkness that comes before.

Miss your videos man.

This guide is missing The Vagrant Trilogy by Peter Newman, other than that, pure awesome, youve read the best stuff ive read & more & you are passionate abt it in a great way. Wish knew ppl like you irl to nerd out.

Just wanted to say thank you Mark for promoting this series. It took me awhile to read it finally, so I've had this video queued up for a year or so. 😊 I am really enjoying Bakker's take on fantasy. There are so many layers here. I can see why people re-read this series. Can't agree more with you on that bad ass 🎤 drop ending.

I dnf'd after priest of Lies. The ending sucked... The Battle harden Veteran loses His values because of a Woman that was never in to him. What a simp