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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Well, I kept putting off reading this book as in my mind the series was very silly: demons and tattoos and wards and faux-Islam culture... even though I thoroughly enjoyed it back when I read it. And it turns out I was being silly and snobbish, even though I should know better. The truth is, it's simply well-written fantasy, with exciting battles, and a unique magic system. So yes, recommended!
This hooked me way more than I thought it would! An interesting end to a series that I will more than likely re-read eventually.
I won this copy through a GR giveaway. It's an ARC copy, so I won't make any comments on spelling, grammar, etc.
I've LOVED this series. I think my issue with this one may be just because of my preferences. I don't care for battle scenes. And this book is two things. The first half is our main characters visiting anyone and everyone they've ever met, to tell them they're still alive and not to tell anyone because it's a big secret. The second half is a very long series of battles with demons. Detailed battles. Nonstop. So, I didn't enjoy this one all that much. So, if this isn't your issue and you love battle scenes, you'll probably super enjoy this one. It's just not my jam.
I've LOVED this series. I think my issue with this one may be just because of my preferences. I don't care for battle scenes. And this book is two things. The first half is our main characters visiting anyone and everyone they've ever met, to tell them they're still alive and not to tell anyone because it's a big secret. The second half is a very long series of battles with demons. Detailed battles. Nonstop. So, I didn't enjoy this one all that much. So, if this isn't your issue and you love battle scenes, you'll probably super enjoy this one. It's just not my jam.
It had been so long since I read the other books that I had no idea what was going on and I didn't care to reread and find out.
The POV flitted back and forth far too rapidly between too many characters, which I suppose at least tried to camouflage the fact that for the most part very little actually happened. The ending also felt very rushed.
Compared to the rest of this series, this finale was a huge disappointment.
Compared to the rest of this series, this finale was a huge disappointment.
This book took me almost 2 months to finish. Checking in at a whopping 856 pages, this is the fifth and final book in the main Demon Cycle series, although there are a number of side-stories that take place in the same world (including, The Great Bazaar and Other Stories, Bryan's Gold, Messenger's Legacy, and most recently Barren). I'm normally not into reading off-shoot stories, but The Demon Cycle is such an incredibly well-imagined world that I think I may end up reading all of these 'extras.'
But back to the book at hand, The Core is GREAT! It's been almost 3 years since I read the previous book (The Skull Throne) so it took a bit to jog my memory on all of the side characters. As I mentioned in my review of that book, I was a little frustrated with all of the politics, lack-of-action and minimal chapters devoted to the main characters. But right from the prologue, The Core is back with our heroes and is pretty much a non-stop, action-adventure the whole way through.
I'm amazed that after so many books, Peter V. Brett can still write about battles in a way that keeps them fresh and unique from all of the other battles that have come before. There was always a sense of danger and unexpectedness that I never really got from battles in other fantasy series (e.g. The Way of Kings or Mistborn).
I'm a bit sad to be finished with such a great series of books, but I think the story wrapped up in a very satisfying way. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for any future books by Peter V. Brett.
But back to the book at hand, The Core is GREAT! It's been almost 3 years since I read the previous book (The Skull Throne) so it took a bit to jog my memory on all of the side characters. As I mentioned in my review of that book, I was a little frustrated with all of the politics, lack-of-action and minimal chapters devoted to the main characters. But right from the prologue, The Core is back with our heroes and is pretty much a non-stop, action-adventure the whole way through.
I'm amazed that after so many books, Peter V. Brett can still write about battles in a way that keeps them fresh and unique from all of the other battles that have come before. There was always a sense of danger and unexpectedness that I never really got from battles in other fantasy series (e.g. The Way of Kings or Mistborn).
I'm a bit sad to be finished with such a great series of books, but I think the story wrapped up in a very satisfying way. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for any future books by Peter V. Brett.
By the time I got the book i had lost too much of the storyline. I may pick it up again eventually.
‘There will be swarm.’
The final war between humankind and demonkind is upon us. It has been inevitable since ‘The Desert Spear’ (Book 2), and while ‘The Daylight War’ (Book 3) and ‘The Skull Throne’ (Book 4) sometimes seemed to be taking a particularly circuitous route to inevitability, ‘The Core’ (Book 5) provides a near perfect finale.
I first read ‘The Painted Man’ (aka ‘The Warded Man’) (Book 1) in 2008 and have read each of the other novels as they’ve been published. Originally, I was expecting a trilogy but was happy to learn that there would be more.
But what is it about the Demon Cycle series that appeals? In this world, demons have ruled the night for centuries. Those humans that remain, scattered across the world, depend on fragments of magic to protect them. Those fragments – magic symbols tattooed onto the body of Arlen Bales (known as the Warded Man), and on the weapons of Ahmann Jardir (known as the Deliverer) provide the men with the means to fight back. But they need to work together. And, as the middle three books in this series show, there’s betrayal and distrust to be overcome. Can they win Sharak Ka (the final war against demonkind)?
‘The Core’s about to rise up again, and you need to be ready to fight, not just for Hollow County, but for the entire human race.’
In the Core, the Queen is breeding. A swarm is about to happen. Arlen and Jardir have a plan. A desperate plan which involves them travelling into the Core to try to stop the Swarm.
Much of the action takes place outside the Core. Leesha, Inevera, Ragen and Elissa need to rally the people of the Free Cities, as the demons become stronger and the attacks become more frequent.
‘Sing as if the world depends on it, for tonight it surely does!’
Tension builds as the action shifts between different key characters: can the Swarm be prevented, who will survive? There are no loose ends left at the end of this novel and while I could wish for (some) different outcomes, that might have been unrealistic of me. Especially in a fantasy novel 😉.
It is important to read the books of this series in order. While it might be possible to follow the story, the character development across the series is important, as is understanding the world Mr Brett has created. There’s plenty of tension in this final instalment, and lots of action with some epic and bloodthirsty battles.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
The final war between humankind and demonkind is upon us. It has been inevitable since ‘The Desert Spear’ (Book 2), and while ‘The Daylight War’ (Book 3) and ‘The Skull Throne’ (Book 4) sometimes seemed to be taking a particularly circuitous route to inevitability, ‘The Core’ (Book 5) provides a near perfect finale.
I first read ‘The Painted Man’ (aka ‘The Warded Man’) (Book 1) in 2008 and have read each of the other novels as they’ve been published. Originally, I was expecting a trilogy but was happy to learn that there would be more.
But what is it about the Demon Cycle series that appeals? In this world, demons have ruled the night for centuries. Those humans that remain, scattered across the world, depend on fragments of magic to protect them. Those fragments – magic symbols tattooed onto the body of Arlen Bales (known as the Warded Man), and on the weapons of Ahmann Jardir (known as the Deliverer) provide the men with the means to fight back. But they need to work together. And, as the middle three books in this series show, there’s betrayal and distrust to be overcome. Can they win Sharak Ka (the final war against demonkind)?
‘The Core’s about to rise up again, and you need to be ready to fight, not just for Hollow County, but for the entire human race.’
In the Core, the Queen is breeding. A swarm is about to happen. Arlen and Jardir have a plan. A desperate plan which involves them travelling into the Core to try to stop the Swarm.
Much of the action takes place outside the Core. Leesha, Inevera, Ragen and Elissa need to rally the people of the Free Cities, as the demons become stronger and the attacks become more frequent.
‘Sing as if the world depends on it, for tonight it surely does!’
Tension builds as the action shifts between different key characters: can the Swarm be prevented, who will survive? There are no loose ends left at the end of this novel and while I could wish for (some) different outcomes, that might have been unrealistic of me. Especially in a fantasy novel 😉.
It is important to read the books of this series in order. While it might be possible to follow the story, the character development across the series is important, as is understanding the world Mr Brett has created. There’s plenty of tension in this final instalment, and lots of action with some epic and bloodthirsty battles.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Overall I really enjoyed this series, though a Skull Throne got a little slow for me and I wish we had more time with Arlen and Jardir. But definitely in my top 15 of book series!
Honestly, for much of this book, it was a 3-star story. The satisfying ending bumps it up a star for me.
If I may be allowed the pun, the core of this story is Arlen and Jardir venturing into the demon-infested underground to confront the demon queen and win the day. (And more to the point, win the night.) So when we finally get to that point and the long tale comes to its conclusion, it is both exciting and a relief.
For me it seemed like the incessant internal bickering and politicking of previous novels was going to overwhelm the tale, but here at least those sequences were punctuated by action scenes both intimate and grand. As it turned out, those were all metaphors for the sorts of things which we face in the real world. The large, obvious problems that need our attention to solve, but we’re distracted by petty squabbles over inconsequential issues.
And unlike the real world, people here come to their senses or, if they refuse, are delightfully butchered by rampaging monsters from the underworld. But like the real world, good people are destroyed along the way as they strive for something better for everyone.
I guess you could say it’s complicated. Which is what you want in a sprawling Epic Fantasy that spans an entire generation.
If I may be allowed the pun, the core of this story is Arlen and Jardir venturing into the demon-infested underground to confront the demon queen and win the day. (And more to the point, win the night.) So when we finally get to that point and the long tale comes to its conclusion, it is both exciting and a relief.
For me it seemed like the incessant internal bickering and politicking of previous novels was going to overwhelm the tale, but here at least those sequences were punctuated by action scenes both intimate and grand. As it turned out, those were all metaphors for the sorts of things which we face in the real world. The large, obvious problems that need our attention to solve, but we’re distracted by petty squabbles over inconsequential issues.
And unlike the real world, people here come to their senses or, if they refuse, are delightfully butchered by rampaging monsters from the underworld. But like the real world, good people are destroyed along the way as they strive for something better for everyone.
I guess you could say it’s complicated. Which is what you want in a sprawling Epic Fantasy that spans an entire generation.