I have read the three books last year and the worldbuilding was quite interesting, but the characters and the story didn't impress me much.  Everyone of the main plot characters was a lightly altered stereotype of typical fantasy characters, and only a few of the other characters had a lightly interesting backstory.
There was no feel of tension when I read the novels and after the first book it became a slog. In the end the books were put to the shelves and I didn't waste another thought on it.
It's sad because Barnes had good ideas and systems, but the story wasn't very enthralling for me.

I have just finished the book and I must say, I have mixed feelings about it.
Maybe I should wait until I have finished my reread of the book and clearly understand some things better, but I have to write about it now 

In my opinion, Bakkers writing style improved significantly since the first book, but sometimes it is a little bit too...much, I think.
Ok, english isn't my native language, but I haven't had such problems understanding most of the language in the last 5 books.
In The Great Ordeal however, I read an entire passage with Sorweel in Isterebinth the first time and understand absolutely nothing of it . I have to analyze and reread most of the sentences to understand the meaning of it. A second example is the nuke explosion in Dagliash. Only after the second time I had a rough idea about what happened.

And I think, the whole "soul" thing was a little bit too overdone. Everyone seems to see or read the soul of his or her opponent. Be it Kellhus, Mimara or some other protagonists, every person talks and thinks about souls all of a sudden. I know it is a very important theme in the books, but in the first trilogy it wasn't so....mmhhh... should I say "in your face" like in The Great Ordeal.

Overall I like the new book, the story is still fascinating, the characters interesting, but I miss some of the clearer writing about the inner thoughts of the protagonists in the first books.
Anyway, Bakker is my favourite writer at the moment, and none of the other fantasy books I have read in the last few years could match my enthusiasm about the series. I can hardly wait for the Unholy consult

Should I reread the whole book a little bit slower to grasp the style a little bit better? I am a little bit too nostalgic about the first trilogy? Should I celebrate Bakker's unique ornate writing style rather than criticise it?
What are your opinion about my points? I gladly await some response

Ha, the Shirt have brought me a beer for free on the last local festival.
For a few minutes I was waiting in the line at the bar and when it was my turn, the barkeeper looked a few moments at my shirt and said:"Ok, this is your beer, for free, because I like your t-shirt! It looks very cool"
Never had a beer tasted so good in this hot summer
Fifteen years ago I have walked the whole day in various shirts from the strangest and craziest Heavy-Metal Bands with dark paintings, silly flamewaves or some other stupid thing, but I have never earned a beer with one.
So... I have got my merest fraction

Interesting list, I absolutely LOVE the internet 
papyromancy - by folding paper, especially paper money
GREAT

I loved Cnaiur in the first trilogy, his character is absolutely great.
My second vote would go to Conphas, I love his thoughts and plans, when we are in his POV.
In the second troligy, I found Inrilatas lines quite enjoyable, sadly he has only a few scenes, before he was taken from us.

Good points, Bolivar. It makes sense to use the sranc hordes as a "buffer". The last inchoroi may only have had one priority in the last centuries: The resurrecting of the no-god to gain their ultimate victory over Eärwa.

Fantastic job, the map is looking really nice.
Maybe with a darker colouring for the background or the mountains and stylised fonts it would fitting the gritty atmosphere of the series a little better

Mmmmhhh, that discussion leads me to the old question: "What is so special about Eärwa?" Why do the inchies think, it is their PROMISED world, like Wutteät says?
Is it the presence or the interaction with the Outside? Or maybe the using of sorcery by the population of Eärwa?
So many questions, whirling around in my head, when I click on a thread here.