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nenacall's review
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
4.5
itsfreelancer's review
5.0
Back to the world where Arlen became the Warded Man.
15 years have passed and the respective kids of Arlen and Leesha have grown up. In the shadow of their parents' heroic deeds, both these kids and their friends are thrust into a war no one saw coming.
The Demon Cycle isn't just over yet.
I loved Olive. That's Leesha and Jardir's kid. They will ultimately be the main POV in the next books alongside Darin who's Arlen's kid. While Olive is as much of a princess thanks to Leesha being the leader and wife of Jardir, Darin is a wildling, a free spirit living in the wilds as his friends and family hunt demons at night.
Their two worlds are going to meet and it won't be pretty.
15 years have passed and the respective kids of Arlen and Leesha have grown up. In the shadow of their parents' heroic deeds, both these kids and their friends are thrust into a war no one saw coming.
The Demon Cycle isn't just over yet.
I loved Olive. That's Leesha and Jardir's kid. They will ultimately be the main POV in the next books alongside Darin who's Arlen's kid. While Olive is as much of a princess thanks to Leesha being the leader and wife of Jardir, Darin is a wildling, a free spirit living in the wilds as his friends and family hunt demons at night.
Their two worlds are going to meet and it won't be pretty.
joshhall13's review
4.0
Notes before full review written.
GOOD
- Very surprised, pleasantly, that a straight male author wrote so much inclusion. I've been reading since I was very young, and have so few mainstream fantasy/sci-fi books with characters that I can relate to on that level. I love it.
- I like the plot, even though there was nothing new introduced. In Demon Cycle, a new magic or new antagonist was introduced in each book. This book is... episodic in nature. Regardless of that small detail, the story is very enjoyable and quite happy to be immersed in this universe again.
BAD
- The narrators are doing a massive disservice to this beloved series (I'm counting Demon Cycle). Both are amateur-sounding, but the female narrator is particularly bad. She mispronounces so many words (ichor being the most common). Both narrators inflect the Krasian words wrong. It's clear they know zero about mid-eastern accents. The male narrator isn't great, but his voice suits Darrin, character, pretty damn well!
- These narrators have no idea how to say the "psssst" that Brett uses so commonly. It's grating to hear an out-of-place loud "PSSTSSSSST!" in my ear, when Brett very very obviously means the character to say "phssshhh, non-sense" or "psst" (quietly). CONTEXT IS EVERTYHING, NARRATORS. JEEEZ!!
- I am unreasonably upset about these narrators taking a beloved series and absolutely phoning in their performances. It's heartbreaking. I loved all 6 Demon Cycle books and the novellas too. If these narrators are kept for book 2, I will discontinue Nightfall Saga, sadly.
GOOD
- Very surprised, pleasantly, that a straight male author wrote so much inclusion. I've been reading since I was very young, and have so few mainstream fantasy/sci-fi books with characters that I can relate to on that level. I love it.
- I like the plot, even though there was nothing new introduced. In Demon Cycle, a new magic or new antagonist was introduced in each book. This book is... episodic in nature. Regardless of that small detail, the story is very enjoyable and quite happy to be immersed in this universe again.
BAD
- The narrators are doing a massive disservice to this beloved series (I'm counting Demon Cycle). Both are amateur-sounding, but the female narrator is particularly bad. She mispronounces so many words (ichor being the most common). Both narrators inflect the Krasian words wrong. It's clear they know zero about mid-eastern accents. The male narrator isn't great, but his voice suits Darrin, character, pretty damn well!
- These narrators have no idea how to say the "psssst" that Brett uses so commonly. It's grating to hear an out-of-place loud "PSSTSSSSST!" in my ear, when Brett very very obviously means the character to say "phssshhh, non-sense" or "psst" (quietly). CONTEXT IS EVERTYHING, NARRATORS. JEEEZ!!
- I am unreasonably upset about these narrators taking a beloved series and absolutely phoning in their performances. It's heartbreaking. I loved all 6 Demon Cycle books and the novellas too. If these narrators are kept for book 2, I will discontinue Nightfall Saga, sadly.
selise's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
crixyloo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
It's both suited for new readers as well as for the ones who have read the Demon Cycle series (naturally, there will be spoilers for that though).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
faybe's review
3.0
I was a little underwhelmed by this book. I was expecting big things after reading the painted man series, but this felt like it was aimed at a younger audience. A lot of teenage drama and finding yourself vibes.
There were also a lot of references to the history and characters in the previous books. It's been about 3 years since I read them so the overall story is clear, but trying to remember who different side characters were and how they were related to the new cast got a bit tiring.
It was super cool to have an intersex main character though. I will read the next one, but adjust my expectations a bit before going in.
There were also a lot of references to the history and characters in the previous books. It's been about 3 years since I read them so the overall story is clear, but trying to remember who different side characters were and how they were related to the new cast got a bit tiring.
It was super cool to have an intersex main character though. I will read the next one, but adjust my expectations a bit before going in.
cathy_bee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
libraryofflo's review against another edition
3.5
This reads as very classic fantasy to me, which I know is a matter of perception, but it does. While this is marketed as a separate series from Brett’s other works, having not read those beforehand, I do feel as though I am missing some of the backstory of the world, as this just throws you right into the action and I’m sure for anyone who had read them it would feel redundant but for someone just coming to this new series it was missing.
I do not think anything would have been lost if Olive and the others had been older, and in fact I think them being 15 or so makes this less effective for me because it becomes the children know better and all adults are stupid and can’t see what is happening, but I think that Olive’s naivety and how they had grown to conform to their mother’s wishes would have still worked with a 17-20 year old instead. I think Olive being intersex is an interesting choice when exploring gender expectations and the rigidity of these roles in different societies. I think that Olive being confined to presenting as a girl from such a young age and their mother’s fears of what would happen if they were found out is an interesting plot line.
I am very interested to see where this goes in the next book, as Olive now has that connection with the demons and knows what is planned. I think especially following what happened to Chadan and Micha, I think Olive will have a lot more to think on and experiencing that loss will have a heavy impact.
I do not think anything would have been lost if Olive and the others had been older, and in fact I think them being 15 or so makes this less effective for me because it becomes the children know better and all adults are stupid and can’t see what is happening, but I think that Olive’s naivety and how they had grown to conform to their mother’s wishes would have still worked with a 17-20 year old instead. I think Olive being intersex is an interesting choice when exploring gender expectations and the rigidity of these roles in different societies. I think that Olive being confined to presenting as a girl from such a young age and their mother’s fears of what would happen if they were found out is an interesting plot line.
I am very interested to see where this goes in the next book, as Olive now has that connection with the demons and knows what is planned. I think especially following what happened to Chadan and Micha, I think Olive will have a lot more to think on and experiencing that loss will have a heavy impact.