Prince of Nothing Books in Order
The Prince of Nothing trilogy is a dark, philosophical epic fantasy about a holy war. Anasûrimbor Kellhus, a monk raised to master his own mind and read every face, leaves his remote monastery to find his father, while the sorcerer-spy Drusas Achamian watches the signs of an ancient apocalypse returning.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Series facts
- Books
- 3
- Published
- 2003 to 2006
- First book
- The Darkness That Comes Before
- Latest
- The Thousandfold Thought (2006)
- Setting
- Set in Eärwa
The reading order
Every Prince of Nothing book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
- 1The Darkness That Comes Before2003With Anasûrimbor Kellhus and Drusas AchamianAnasûrimbor Kellhus, a monk of the Dûnyain, raised in isolation to master reason and reading faces, leaves his hidden monastery to find his father.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Warrior Prophet2004With Anasûrimbor Kellhus and Drusas AchamianThe Holy War marches south across the desert, and Kellhus’s power over the men around him grows as more and more believe him to be a prophet.Buy on Amazon
- 3The Thousandfold Thought2006With Anasûrimbor Kellhus and Drusas AchamianThe Holy War nears its end as the army marches on the holy city of Shimeh, while assassins strike, rulers fall and Kellhus prepares to confront his father.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read the trilogy in order, starting with The Darkness That Comes Before, before the Aspect-Emperor books.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Anasûrimbor Kellhus | Drusas Achamian | Esmenet | Cnaiür urs Skiötha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Darkness That Comes Before | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor |
| 2 The Warrior Prophet | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor |
| 3 The Thousandfold Thought | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor |
Characters in the Prince of Nothing books
4 characters from R. Scott Bakker’s chart, with the number of Prince of Nothing books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Anasûrimbor KellhusDûnyain monk | 3 | The Darkness That Comes Before 2003 |
| Drusas AchamianSorcerer-spy of the Mandate | 3 | The Darkness That Comes Before 2003 |
| EsmenetCourtesan who rises high | 3 | The Darkness That Comes Before 2003 |
| Cnaiür urs SkiöthaScylvendi chieftain | 3 | The Darkness That Comes Before 2003 |
Crossovers with R. Scott Bakker’s other series
- Aspect-Emperor: Anasûrimbor Kellhus also appears in 4 of its books; Drusas Achamian also appears in 4 of its books