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mrbear's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was... actually quite good!
There's a lot of little things that frustrate me about this series, and this book in particular (such as the vomit inducing dialoge between Arlen and Renna), but when you take a step back it's not hard to notice that the story here is actually quite well told. What I think this series does lack is precisely the "Game of Thrones" style of worldbuilding. As someone who doesnt particularly like GRRM's series, I must admit that it does a good job of bringing an entire world, rather than simply subsets, to life by having a vast array of characters. In this series, the world is basically two halves, with external cities and towns included but not very relevant to the main plotline (at least not in terms of characters). This detracts from the worldbuilding somewhat, since the impressive detail with which Brett paints the two main cultures is overshadowed by questions about why the other parts of the world are not also a part of the story, with their own story to tell.
I have other minor complaints, which I think are probably more just personal frustrations with the style than actual flaws in the book. This volume makes me want to recommend this series to fellow readers of the fantasy genre - there are setbacks in the series, but ultimately the story is impressive, unique, and very much worth reading.
There's a lot of little things that frustrate me about this series, and this book in particular (such as the vomit inducing dialoge between Arlen and Renna), but when you take a step back it's not hard to notice that the story here is actually quite well told. What I think this series does lack is precisely the "Game of Thrones" style of worldbuilding. As someone who doesnt particularly like GRRM's series, I must admit that it does a good job of bringing an entire world, rather than simply subsets, to life by having a vast array of characters. In this series, the world is basically two halves, with external cities and towns included but not very relevant to the main plotline (at least not in terms of characters). This detracts from the worldbuilding somewhat, since the impressive detail with which Brett paints the two main cultures is overshadowed by questions about why the other parts of the world are not also a part of the story, with their own story to tell.
I have other minor complaints, which I think are probably more just personal frustrations with the style than actual flaws in the book. This volume makes me want to recommend this series to fellow readers of the fantasy genre - there are setbacks in the series, but ultimately the story is impressive, unique, and very much worth reading.
subparcupcake's review against another edition
4.0
This is book 3 of 5 expected in the series, and it definitely shows. I loved Painted Man and Desert Spear. But this one? It didn't do nearly as well with me. It seemed to have suffered from the curse of the middle of a series. Slow slow slow... Lots of words and bouncing around, but not much actual progress. And then the ending.. Thankfully cliffhangers don't fill me with rage... If they do happen to fill you with rage? Don't read this yet. Wait for the next book to come out. This ends in a huge cliffhanger. You've been warned.
Despite the slowness I still enjoyed it. I'm still really digging the series as a whole and I'm still really looking forward to reading more. 3.5 stars rounded to 4 because I'm nice like that.
Despite the slowness I still enjoyed it. I'm still really digging the series as a whole and I'm still really looking forward to reading more. 3.5 stars rounded to 4 because I'm nice like that.
raijhu's review against another edition
3.0
The characters in this installment are much less annoying than the first two, but the trade of is that nothing really happens.
The last chapter was a banger though, so maybe next book?
The last chapter was a banger though, so maybe next book?
fpennbooks's review against another edition
1.0
I really tired to enjoy this book but it is just so dull.
The plot drags slowly focusing to much on history and not moving the plot forward at all.
I ended up giving up which is a shame as the first two books were great.
DNF
The plot drags slowly focusing to much on history and not moving the plot forward at all.
I ended up giving up which is a shame as the first two books were great.
DNF
noranne's review against another edition
3.0
Just tore through this book in one day only to realize it is #3 of a planned 5-book series. Ughhhhhhhhh I hate waiting!!
This one was definitely the weakest of the series, but it was obviously still good enough for me to give up an entire Saturday reading it. I think some of the characters really took a step backwards, here. Yes, Leesha, I'm looking at you. And Renna started out good, but started to get a little ridiculous pretty quickly.
This one was definitely the weakest of the series, but it was obviously still good enough for me to give up an entire Saturday reading it. I think some of the characters really took a step backwards, here. Yes, Leesha, I'm looking at you. And Renna started out good, but started to get a little ridiculous pretty quickly.
nenacall's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mwplante's review against another edition
4.0
With The Daylight War, Brett's Demon Cycle continues to make tantalizing reading, with plenty of fine set-up and regularly interspersed pay-offs. The secret to this lies in the attention Brett pays to characterization and backstory. Beware any character you think you have "figured out", because in the Demon Cycle that just means the author hasn't seen fit to pull the rug out from under you yet. For a "dark" fantasy, the Demon Cycle is profoundly humanist and even optimistic in nature. Yes, Brett delves the dark side of the human soul -- ensuring that the demons of the human heart are on the reader's mind just as often as the more literal demons that plague Ala -- but he's always ready with a spot of redemption or contextualization.
Brett's cultures show this streak of universal worth as well. While Krasia can at times start to sound like a neo-con fever dream, and Arlen can begin to look an awful lot like an arrogant 16-year-old who's just discovered atheism and/or politics, Brett often takes care to reign things in. One scene in The Daylight War, for instance, has an incresingly reform-minded but still deeply religious Jardir offering an impassioned and convincing defense of religious dietary restrictions. Brett demonstrates a firm grasp on the worth and remarkable fluidity of human lifeways, keeping both the characters and cultures in his novel vibrant and colorful.
And unlike so much of fantasy writing, it isn't just the men in Brett's novels who learn and grow; Brett has shown an increasing determination over the course of the Demon Cycle that women shouldn't have to play second fiddle to the men in fiction -- perhaps the influence of his daughter. Here in book three, we find a vast array of varied and fully-developed ladies battling and schemeing right alongside the men.
If all this character and world-building wizardry isn't enough, the action scenes of The Daylight War are even more excellent than in previous installments (particularly the rather talky Desert Spear) as the unique magic system continues to unfold and gain in complexity. What started as the rather simple system of wards has flowered into a more complex pantheon of fantastic artifacts and abilities by book three. Brett's demon bestiary has been similarly extrapolated along logical but no less imaginative lines from previous installments, making humanity's adversaries increasingly interesting and menacing.
I would say that this book has some pacing issues, but perhaps these are unavoidable given the ground Brett has to cover with three big cohorts of characters to follow, in addition to tackling a lush backstory for the heretofore mysterious Inevera. In any event, the pacing is improved over The Desert Spear, particularly in the climactic phases, which are markedly more satisfying than the previous book's somewhat abrupt concluding episodes. We've finally returned to (and surpassed) the explosive grandeur of The Warded Man's Battle of Cutter's Hollow.
Overall, I have to say Brett has proven himself a character builder and world craftsman of high caliber, and The Daylight War showcases his most adroit deployments of this skill to date. I can feel the series kicking into high gear, and I can't wait for book four.
Brett's cultures show this streak of universal worth as well. While Krasia can at times start to sound like a neo-con fever dream, and Arlen can begin to look an awful lot like an arrogant 16-year-old who's just discovered atheism and/or politics, Brett often takes care to reign things in. One scene in The Daylight War, for instance, has an incresingly reform-minded but still deeply religious Jardir offering an impassioned and convincing defense of religious dietary restrictions. Brett demonstrates a firm grasp on the worth and remarkable fluidity of human lifeways, keeping both the characters and cultures in his novel vibrant and colorful.
And unlike so much of fantasy writing, it isn't just the men in Brett's novels who learn and grow; Brett has shown an increasing determination over the course of the Demon Cycle that women shouldn't have to play second fiddle to the men in fiction -- perhaps the influence of his daughter. Here in book three, we find a vast array of varied and fully-developed ladies battling and schemeing right alongside the men.
If all this character and world-building wizardry isn't enough, the action scenes of The Daylight War are even more excellent than in previous installments (particularly the rather talky Desert Spear) as the unique magic system continues to unfold and gain in complexity. What started as the rather simple system of wards has flowered into a more complex pantheon of fantastic artifacts and abilities by book three. Brett's demon bestiary has been similarly extrapolated along logical but no less imaginative lines from previous installments, making humanity's adversaries increasingly interesting and menacing.
I would say that this book has some pacing issues, but perhaps these are unavoidable given the ground Brett has to cover with three big cohorts of characters to follow, in addition to tackling a lush backstory for the heretofore mysterious Inevera. In any event, the pacing is improved over The Desert Spear, particularly in the climactic phases, which are markedly more satisfying than the previous book's somewhat abrupt concluding episodes. We've finally returned to (and surpassed) the explosive grandeur of The Warded Man's Battle of Cutter's Hollow.
Overall, I have to say Brett has proven himself a character builder and world craftsman of high caliber, and The Daylight War showcases his most adroit deployments of this skill to date. I can feel the series kicking into high gear, and I can't wait for book four.
nicopernicus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joshhall13's review against another edition
5.0
What a cliff hanger ;)! Pretty much need to see if the next book is done. Really hope it is after that ending.
*edit. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 2015 for the next book? I wish I had the magical sense to know if I'll really enjoy a series... like this one... and wait until the full series has been written. 1-3 years between installments is like a form of slow torture. Very very slow. wah.
*edit. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 2015 for the next book? I wish I had the magical sense to know if I'll really enjoy a series... like this one... and wait until the full series has been written. 1-3 years between installments is like a form of slow torture. Very very slow. wah.
aliceboule's review against another edition
3.0
There is something about this installment that I liked less. It might have to do with the gratuitous violence. Up to this point, the violence has always served a purpose, but now... I hope the next one reverts to the former ones.