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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Skip the first 300 pages and this book is better than the first. As someone who did not enjoy the obsession with excessive depictions of sexual violence in the first book, I appreciated how Brett attempts to redeem some of the events that befell the main characters. So much more context is given to Leesha's journey and thought process.
In general, Desert Spear is much better at pacing than The Warded Man. Warded Man almost seems like a prequel novel in my opinion--some of that backstory is important, and some of it was strangely paced and selected. Here, we get a much better idea of Rojer and some of the secondary characters.
I'm ambivalent on the portrayal of the southern desert folk; whenever fictional people groups have this much of a resemblance to Middle Eastern people and also are depicted as a violent and honor-bound culture, I proceed with caution. Will definitely keep an eye on how Brett continues with them.
In general, Desert Spear is much better at pacing than The Warded Man. Warded Man almost seems like a prequel novel in my opinion--some of that backstory is important, and some of it was strangely paced and selected. Here, we get a much better idea of Rojer and some of the secondary characters.
I'm ambivalent on the portrayal of the southern desert folk; whenever fictional people groups have this much of a resemblance to Middle Eastern people and also are depicted as a violent and honor-bound culture, I proceed with caution. Will definitely keep an eye on how Brett continues with them.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
I rated the first book rather poorly because I ended up reading the majority of the series before I reviewed "The Warded Man". It's safe to say that the original book seemed to have gotten the bulk of the editors attention and the remaining books were left to ransack whatever they could.
Arlen, the only interesting character, is absent for the majority of this book, and only shows up briefly in scenes after the midway point.
The cast adds a few new characters to the list, in no particular order, here's what they're about.
Jardir was briefly an antagonist in the first book where he betrays Arlena and takes his magical spear forcefully, and leaves him to die in the desert, thus jumpstarting Arlen's whole Warded Man schtick. The author really wants you to emphasize with Jardir, so the first 200 or so pages are about his meteoric rise from being a weak boy being raped by an older boy, to the big strong man raping his rapist and consensually sleeping with someone new from his giant harem every other night. Jardir is not a character, he is a foil to Arlen, a distorted mirror image, and everything in his chapters is there to adamantly support that. Whether it's the "Chosen One" plotline, the mock Islam "Warrior culture, subservient women" schtick, or the near constant self doubt that we're "supposed" to empathize with.
Inevera, Jardir's first and highest ranking wife, is a plot device. Whenever something needs to happen in the plot, Inevera rolls her demon dice and then it happens off screen. It's great. >:/
Abban is a decent character, he was crippled at a young age while in the boy warrior training with Jardir, he's greedy and abrasive, but he has to be to survive since the warrior culture that the Krasians practice hate everyone who can't hold a spear and die for nothing. He's grounded, and provides some much needed context and pov's into the culture and world of the Krasians.
Renna briefly made an appearance in the first book as the girl Arlen first shared a kiss with while he and his father stayed the night at a farm house while transporting his dying mother. Renna is now much older, a young adult, and... How the fuck do I even put this? Her dad, the hick farmer, forced her older sister into "doing wifely duties" after his wife died, and then she ran away with Arlen's dad Jeph. Then the same thing happened to her second oldest sister until she got married off. Now, it's Renna's turn to get repeatedly raped by her father. So, that happens for quite a while until she finally snaps and kills him, and when she tells the town what happened to her, they call her a liar and put her up for execution... Until Arlen saves her and then they become a thing.
These books are unnecessarily cruel. They are past the point of grim or edgy, they're just, what? Fetishization? I don't know, why else would there be so many different variations of "this character gets raped".
0/5.
Arlen, the only interesting character, is absent for the majority of this book, and only shows up briefly in scenes after the midway point.
The cast adds a few new characters to the list, in no particular order, here's what they're about.
Jardir was briefly an antagonist in the first book where he betrays Arlena and takes his magical spear forcefully, and leaves him to die in the desert, thus jumpstarting Arlen's whole Warded Man schtick. The author really wants you to emphasize with Jardir, so the first 200 or so pages are about his meteoric rise from being a weak boy being raped by an older boy, to the big strong man raping his rapist and consensually sleeping with someone new from his giant harem every other night. Jardir is not a character, he is a foil to Arlen, a distorted mirror image, and everything in his chapters is there to adamantly support that. Whether it's the "Chosen One" plotline, the mock Islam "Warrior culture, subservient women" schtick, or the near constant self doubt that we're "supposed" to empathize with.
Inevera, Jardir's first and highest ranking wife, is a plot device. Whenever something needs to happen in the plot, Inevera rolls her demon dice and then it happens off screen. It's great. >:/
Abban is a decent character, he was crippled at a young age while in the boy warrior training with Jardir, he's greedy and abrasive, but he has to be to survive since the warrior culture that the Krasians practice hate everyone who can't hold a spear and die for nothing. He's grounded, and provides some much needed context and pov's into the culture and world of the Krasians.
Renna briefly made an appearance in the first book as the girl Arlen first shared a kiss with while he and his father stayed the night at a farm house while transporting his dying mother. Renna is now much older, a young adult, and... How the fuck do I even put this? Her dad, the hick farmer, forced her older sister into "doing wifely duties" after his wife died, and then she ran away with Arlen's dad Jeph. Then the same thing happened to her second oldest sister until she got married off. Now, it's Renna's turn to get repeatedly raped by her father. So, that happens for quite a while until she finally snaps and kills him, and when she tells the town what happened to her, they call her a liar and put her up for execution... Until Arlen saves her and then they become a thing.
These books are unnecessarily cruel. They are past the point of grim or edgy, they're just, what? Fetishization? I don't know, why else would there be so many different variations of "this character gets raped".
0/5.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Compared to the first book, this one I have a complicated relationship to. I had to start several times to get through the first arc - I simply lost interest. I get that Brett might have realised "oh, I need to build op this character from the first book, because he is important", but I'm not sure spending the first 3rd of the book doing that was the best choice.
It doesn't help that I find the Krasian culture pretty... off-putting. It seems pretty Islamophobic and I have a hard time caring for any of the characters.
Then there's the other half, which I enjoyed more, but not without reservations. I did not particularly enjoy Leesha in this book. Rojer was okay, but the real stars are Arlen and Renna. I do enjoy the Worldbuidling and Brett's writing style in general - especially during action scenes and when he finds time to slow down and have some character moments. Arlens/Renna plot after Angiers gripped me and would be reserving of a higher rating, but the other stuff just dragged the book down.
It doesn't help that I find the Krasian culture pretty... off-putting. It seems pretty Islamophobic and I have a hard time caring for any of the characters.
Then there's the other half, which I enjoyed more, but not without reservations. I did not particularly enjoy Leesha in this book. Rojer was okay, but the real stars are Arlen and Renna. I do enjoy the Worldbuidling and Brett's writing style in general - especially during action scenes and when he finds time to slow down and have some character moments. Arlens/Renna plot after Angiers gripped me and would be reserving of a higher rating, but the other stuff just dragged the book down.
I haven't read the begining of this series so this is my introduction to it. Good writing, a little melodramatic when it need not be. Creative details, a little cliche.
The prophecies tell of a deliverer. One who will unite the people and battle demons to the core.
The demonic adversary kills as the saviour is awaited.
This action packed sequel continues to increase the intrigue of this world. In this one we split off into different settings. Basically following two storylines.
We are introduced to the southern deserts where Ahmann Jardir has proclaimed himself the deliverer. The problem being the northerners are already proclaiming one of their own.
Never one to shy away from anything these two cultures seek one another out.
Turns out though that our hero has headed back to his former stomping grounds. This as he tries to find his humanity and former self due to the core pulling him to join demonkind.
We also get a little bit of intelligence and order from the demons. This making them an even bigger threat going forward.
So in all a pretty great follow up. Did like the first one a little better.
The demonic adversary kills as the saviour is awaited.
This action packed sequel continues to increase the intrigue of this world. In this one we split off into different settings. Basically following two storylines.
We are introduced to the southern deserts where Ahmann Jardir has proclaimed himself the deliverer. The problem being the northerners are already proclaiming one of their own.
Never one to shy away from anything these two cultures seek one another out.
Turns out though that our hero has headed back to his former stomping grounds. This as he tries to find his humanity and former self due to the core pulling him to join demonkind.
We also get a little bit of intelligence and order from the demons. This making them an even bigger threat going forward.
So in all a pretty great follow up. Did like the first one a little better.
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is peak dark fantasy
For the first 15% of this book I was not gripped, I was confused, "why are we so focused on this Jardir guy" "why are we looking at him from a kid" "oh shit there's Abban, Arlen's friend from the Great Bazaar and the first book" and after that 15% point, something changed, this whole new environment, culture, characters and story that didn't interest me at all before...is super interesting now 👀 I can't even pinpoint it, I just realised at one point I was no longer impatient for Arlen's chapters, I was enjoying and wanting to read more of Jardir's chapters.
So, who is Jardir? He's the guy that betrayed Arlen and stole The Deliverer's Spear from the first book, and he is now leader of those people. If Arlen is one side of a coin, Jardir is the other. Both he and Arlen are two possibilities of the Deliverer prophesised to return one day and unite the people against the demons.
Peter V. Brett didn't just slap a "villain" on a page that was generic and one-dimensional and evil just because the author wrote him to be evil, he took a character who is supposed to be the antagonist, fully fleshed him out, made us grow up with him very much how he made us grow up with Arlen in the first book. And so now we know what drives him, what he has been through, what he wants and what motivates him.
Now when you look at Arlen, who we went through a similiar journey with in the first book, we directly compare him to Jadir, because both of them have the same goal, they have the same quest, they're both potentially the subject of this prophecy of the Deliverer, and so now not only are you looking and trying to figure out which one really is the Deliverer, but you're also looking to see which one should be The Deliverer and who would actually succeed.
Despite Jardir's barbaric culture, and despite how much of a piece of shit he has been, there is an understanding of him and an empathy towards him, as he never stood a chance being who he is and he is also manipulated by his first wife for most of his life. Despite all that, we could still connect with him, because he genuinely does want to do better.
Renna's arc in this book was fucking wild, I'll say no more, because her arc was so horrific and feel there is no way I could faithfully and respectfully discuss it 👀
While I'm still enjoying Leesha's character, I wasn't a huge fan of her arc in this book as it feels like her character has just turned into "I'm hot, anyone who looks at me wants me" which means her journey is typically comprised of someone lusting after her and love triangles, which I think is weak storytelling and I'd prefer more depth and adding some more complexity to her character.
Roger felt unused this book slightly, which was inevitable considering where the focus was brought in this book, which I'm okay with.
A lot of loose ends from the first book was either touched on or concluded and it was quite emotional 🥹
Overall I enjoyed this just as much as the first book!
Now onto book three! 😈
For the first 15% of this book I was not gripped, I was confused, "why are we so focused on this Jardir guy" "why are we looking at him from a kid" "oh shit there's Abban, Arlen's friend from the Great Bazaar and the first book" and after that 15% point, something changed, this whole new environment, culture, characters and story that didn't interest me at all before...is super interesting now 👀 I can't even pinpoint it, I just realised at one point I was no longer impatient for Arlen's chapters, I was enjoying and wanting to read more of Jardir's chapters.
So, who is Jardir? He's the guy that betrayed Arlen and stole The Deliverer's Spear from the first book, and he is now leader of those people. If Arlen is one side of a coin, Jardir is the other. Both he and Arlen are two possibilities of the Deliverer prophesised to return one day and unite the people against the demons.
Peter V. Brett didn't just slap a "villain" on a page that was generic and one-dimensional and evil just because the author wrote him to be evil, he took a character who is supposed to be the antagonist, fully fleshed him out, made us grow up with him very much how he made us grow up with Arlen in the first book. And so now we know what drives him, what he has been through, what he wants and what motivates him.
Now when you look at Arlen, who we went through a similiar journey with in the first book, we directly compare him to Jadir, because both of them have the same goal, they have the same quest, they're both potentially the subject of this prophecy of the Deliverer, and so now not only are you looking and trying to figure out which one really is the Deliverer, but you're also looking to see which one should be The Deliverer and who would actually succeed.
Despite Jardir's barbaric culture, and despite how much of a piece of shit he has been, there is an understanding of him and an empathy towards him, as he never stood a chance being who he is and he is also manipulated by his first wife for most of his life. Despite all that, we could still connect with him, because he genuinely does want to do better.
Renna's arc in this book was fucking wild, I'll say no more, because her arc was so horrific and feel there is no way I could faithfully and respectfully discuss it 👀
While I'm still enjoying Leesha's character, I wasn't a huge fan of her arc in this book as it feels like her character has just turned into "I'm hot, anyone who looks at me wants me" which means her journey is typically comprised of someone lusting after her and love triangles, which I think is weak storytelling and I'd prefer more depth and adding some more complexity to her character.
Roger felt unused this book slightly, which was inevitable considering where the focus was brought in this book, which I'm okay with.
A lot of loose ends from the first book was either touched on or concluded and it was quite emotional 🥹
Overall I enjoyed this just as much as the first book!
Now onto book three! 😈
I'll have to read the print version of this book--I think I'm becoming an audiobook snob. While Pete Bradbury might have a pleasing, slow, low and deep and voice, it does not bode well for engaging the listener. I found myself straining toward the speakers in my car, as I constantly adjusted the volume. If I have to work at listening, I'm not going to. I'll read the print version of this book instead. I really enjoyed [b:The Warded Man|3428935|The Warded Man (Demon Cycle, #1)|Peter V. Brett|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354571949s/3428935.jpg|6589794] so I know I want to continue with the series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No