Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
The Core is close to four stars for me, but considering it in context as the final book in the series, I'll keep it at three.
The Core details the journey of Arlen, Renna, Jardir, Shanvah, and Shanvat into the core to destroy the demons, hopefully forever. It also shows the precarious battles waging on the surface with multiple povs - Leesha, Elissa, Ragen, Briar, Ashia, Inevera, Abban, Hasik, Asome...and I'm sure one or two others I am forgetting.
If you've read the entire series, and haven't yet read The Core - if you've really enjoyed all the previous books, you will really enjoy this. If there are some things are have been irking you, then they'll continue in the final installment.
In reading The Core, I was reminded of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. It's a beloved series, but known for it's high number of characters, deep world-building, and stretched out plot-lines. Considering where the series started with The Warded Man, it has greatly expanded in its scope.
The Core has multiple povs. I enjoyed reading all of them as they occurred and didn't feel the urge to skim any certain characters, even though looking back over the book as a whole I wasn't so sure they were all necessary.
Renna, who previously annoyed me, was pleasantly entertaining and I was invested in her actions. Arlen has rather little pov pagetime. I was ok with this, but again, it shows how the series has greatly veered from the beginning.
The name of this book implies it's the final battle and Arlen and co. go down to battle all the demons. They do, but it's such a short piece of this long book.
The majority of the time is spent with the characters on the surface, detailing how each area is dealing with attacks from the demons. The demons are getting smarter, for sure. Yet, each area ends up having some really similar battles. Probably because there isn't a strong evil antagonist, just a mindless horde.
Since this is the last book, I expected things to move fast with high stakes. They somewhat do. There is plenty of action and demon battles. However, everyone outside of Arlen's company is just waiting around for them to succeed.
Even plotlines that seem to have high stakes, such as Ashia's, end up with no impact on the finale.
I do think Brett's writing and plotting has greatly improved since the last book. I think that the series got a bit off course from the beginning, especially with the addition of the Krasians. I ultimately found the Krasians more interesting than the non-Krasians, and it's clear Brett spent a lot more time world-building their culture.
The females in The Core really take center stage. Compared to previous books where I complained that they were all tied to men, most are acting independently, leading in dangerous situations. Multiple female characters are mothers and are involved in battles without forsaking their kids. I thought they were all well done.
Characterization was generally good, with the exception of the Krasian females (not including Inevera), who felt interchangeable. I still liked the characters, but with Jardir's family tree being so large, it was sometimes hard to remember who did what in previous books.
I liked the ending and thought it was fitting. There were some plot-lines that seemed extraneous at the end, unless there are going to be other books in this universe.
I think The Core is written well overall, but could have been halved with similar impact. I'll be interested to see if Brett starts writing in a new universe.
The Core details the journey of Arlen, Renna, Jardir, Shanvah, and Shanvat into the core to destroy the demons, hopefully forever. It also shows the precarious battles waging on the surface with multiple povs - Leesha, Elissa, Ragen, Briar, Ashia, Inevera, Abban, Hasik, Asome...and I'm sure one or two others I am forgetting.
If you've read the entire series, and haven't yet read The Core - if you've really enjoyed all the previous books, you will really enjoy this. If there are some things are have been irking you, then they'll continue in the final installment.
In reading The Core, I was reminded of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. It's a beloved series, but known for it's high number of characters, deep world-building, and stretched out plot-lines. Considering where the series started with The Warded Man, it has greatly expanded in its scope.
The Core has multiple povs. I enjoyed reading all of them as they occurred and didn't feel the urge to skim any certain characters, even though looking back over the book as a whole I wasn't so sure they were all necessary.
Renna, who previously annoyed me, was pleasantly entertaining and I was invested in her actions. Arlen has rather little pov pagetime. I was ok with this, but again, it shows how the series has greatly veered from the beginning.
The name of this book implies it's the final battle and Arlen and co. go down to battle all the demons. They do, but it's such a short piece of this long book.
The majority of the time is spent with the characters on the surface, detailing how each area is dealing with attacks from the demons. The demons are getting smarter, for sure. Yet, each area ends up having some really similar battles. Probably because there isn't a strong evil antagonist, just a mindless horde.
Since this is the last book, I expected things to move fast with high stakes. They somewhat do. There is plenty of action and demon battles. However, everyone outside of Arlen's company is just waiting around for them to succeed.
Even plotlines that seem to have high stakes, such as Ashia's, end up with no impact on the finale.
Spoiler
Yes, Hasik was terrorizing the countryside, and something needed to be done, but it doesn't have much to do with the final battle.I do think Brett's writing and plotting has greatly improved since the last book. I think that the series got a bit off course from the beginning, especially with the addition of the Krasians. I ultimately found the Krasians more interesting than the non-Krasians, and it's clear Brett spent a lot more time world-building their culture.
The females in The Core really take center stage. Compared to previous books where I complained that they were all tied to men, most are acting independently, leading in dangerous situations. Multiple female characters are mothers and are involved in battles without forsaking their kids. I thought they were all well done.
Characterization was generally good, with the exception of the Krasian females (not including Inevera), who felt interchangeable. I still liked the characters, but with Jardir's family tree being so large, it was sometimes hard to remember who did what in previous books.
I liked the ending and thought it was fitting. There were some plot-lines
Spoiler
Leesha's daughter/son, Olive; the Warded childrenI think The Core is written well overall, but could have been halved with similar impact. I'll be interested to see if Brett starts writing in a new universe.
Felt it finished a little suddenly, and I wanted much more of the world, but there was still a lot of scope covered. While the world still did not QUITE function as darkly as I felt it should have, it was an exciting setup, that mostly played out well.
*Actual rating 3.5
This series is so hard for me to review, because while I am constantly intrigued by the magic system and the demons, the execution is often painful. Yet again, scenes and details were added to the story that were completely unnecessary and made the book seem tedious. But while the first 600 pages or so of this book are slow, the last 200 pages almost gave me whiplash. So much happened in so few pages. One character who was relatively important to the plot of the later books in this series dies in an extremely abrupt manner that we don't even directly witness within the descriptions and then the death is discussed by maybe one character the rest of the book. This series has so much potential, but I am not certain that the execution lives up to the premise.
This series is so hard for me to review, because while I am constantly intrigued by the magic system and the demons, the execution is often painful. Yet again, scenes and details were added to the story that were completely unnecessary and made the book seem tedious. But while the first 600 pages or so of this book are slow, the last 200 pages almost gave me whiplash. So much happened in so few pages. One character who was relatively important to the plot of the later books in this series dies in an extremely abrupt manner that we don't even directly witness within the descriptions and then the death is discussed by maybe one character the rest of the book. This series has so much potential, but I am not certain that the execution lives up to the premise.
With books this long I sometimes forget what has happened in the story by the time I finish. I did like it enough to do a re read though. The story is about beating and surviving the demons mostly so this book covers that rather well. The battle against the actual demon queen and demons is only a few chapters. The ending goes into only a little about what will happen next and what life will be like then. I wish authors would spend time on the end of a story as they do the whole journey. All in all a very enjoyable read.
A series ending that doesn't pull punches. Then again, The Demon Cycle never has shied away from the difficult and tragic. That's one of the reasons why the series is so good. 'The Core' is a fitting and satisfying end. Honestly, if Brett continues the tales 15 years later in book with a new generation of characters I'd be there to devour the pages. Honest word.
Fell off this series after the last installment, which seemed to drag a little. I was very impressed with how Brett wrapped everything up here though. This was a very satisfying end to the series.
The end has come.
And I feel sadness from saying goodbye to this characters.
It was a good journey with ups and downs, but after all, a great adventure.
We come back after Daylight War, where Krasian's political system was set upside down in a series of maneuvers, betrayals and backstabbings; where we lost a loved character and where Arlen and Jardir were left behind the curtains for most of the story.
The Core bring them back, on their final kamikaze mission of hitting the demons where it must hurt.
So, what can I say ? It was what I expected, but I feel there is something missing.
This book didn´t bond with me like "The Warded Man" or "Desert Spear" did. It was really good, but I don´t really know why I don´t feel super pumped about it. I think it was the number of plots going on that just made you not to feel to immerse in an specific story.
I had little problems with the beginning too, it was too... sexual? I felt I was reading ¨50 Shades of Demon Cycle".
There were some meetings long coming, that finally happened here. And I was really glad to see that happen.
And finally, the waited conclusion.That ending reminded me of how Vin ended everything on Mistborn when merging with the "all" and fighting back the darkness. I still hoped Arlen would survive and Jardir were the one sacrificed, but all in all, I´m glad with the way it was done.
It was a great reading. One any fantasy fan should make. Thanks Mr. Brett, for such a good story.
And I feel sadness from saying goodbye to this characters.
It was a good journey with ups and downs, but after all, a great adventure.
We come back after Daylight War, where Krasian's political system was set upside down in a series of maneuvers, betrayals and backstabbings; where we lost a loved character and where Arlen and Jardir were left behind the curtains for most of the story.
The Core bring them back, on their final kamikaze mission of hitting the demons where it must hurt.
So, what can I say ? It was what I expected, but I feel there is something missing.
This book didn´t bond with me like "The Warded Man" or "Desert Spear" did. It was really good, but I don´t really know why I don´t feel super pumped about it. I think it was the number of plots going on that just made you not to feel to immerse in an specific story.
I had little problems with the beginning too, it was too... sexual? I felt I was reading ¨50 Shades of Demon Cycle".
There were some meetings long coming, that finally happened here. And I was really glad to see that happen.
And finally, the waited conclusion.
It was a great reading. One any fantasy fan should make. Thanks Mr. Brett, for such a good story.