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rubyreads_'s review against another edition
5.0
This book only improved on the previous installment in an amazing way.
We continue with the characters we followed in the previous novel, The Warded Man. Cutters Hollow, now names Deliverers Hollow becomes stronger by the day, bringing back skills of old to fight the evil of the night. Leesha leads them in this charge, with the help of the Jongleur Rojer as he attempts to train other in the art of music. The Warded Man continues to teach people the wards of old and protects the people.
One of my favorite parts was learning about Jardir, and the ways of life in Krasia. Learning about how he came to be the Shar'Dama Ka is powerful. Furthermore their views on courage, and how religion influenced those views is fascinating.
Most of all, it's fascinating to see the difference between fate, and prophecy and whether prophecy is fulfilled by living up to that role, or whether we fulfill that role by the life we lead.
We continue with the characters we followed in the previous novel, The Warded Man. Cutters Hollow, now names Deliverers Hollow becomes stronger by the day, bringing back skills of old to fight the evil of the night. Leesha leads them in this charge, with the help of the Jongleur Rojer as he attempts to train other in the art of music. The Warded Man continues to teach people the wards of old and protects the people.
One of my favorite parts was learning about Jardir, and the ways of life in Krasia. Learning about how he came to be the Shar'Dama Ka is powerful. Furthermore their views on courage, and how religion influenced those views is fascinating.
Most of all, it's fascinating to see the difference between fate, and prophecy and whether prophecy is fulfilled by living up to that role, or whether we fulfill that role by the life we lead.
stumpsv's review against another edition
4.0
Second read review
I don't often re-read books, but having re-read the first two of this series puts me in a mind to re-read many of my old favorites.
Still a fun read, and now that the next couple are out I can pick them up without waiting!
I don't often re-read books, but having re-read the first two of this series puts me in a mind to re-read many of my old favorites.
Still a fun read, and now that the next couple are out I can pick them up without waiting!
mxsallybend's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. As The Warded Man wrapped up, I thought I knew precisely where the story was going, with the ominous march of the Deliverer's army across the desert setting up the next logical chapter. Imagine my surprise when The Desert Spear opened not with their march, and not with the Painted Man's journey, but with the introduction of a new class of demon. Peter V. Brett raises the stakes right from page one, exposing us to a hierarchy of cold, calculating princes and sinister mimics within the demon ranks. It takes a while before we make our way back to this new threat, but it makes for a climactic ending that puts many similar novels to shame.
As if that weren't enough of a shock to system, Brett takes the bold step of rewinding matters to the opening chronology of the first novel, and then switching the dominant focus from Arlen (the Painted Man) to Jardir (the Deliver). We get to re-experience much of their relationship, this time from the other side, providing deeper insights into just who Jardir is, and what made him the kind of man who could so coldly put duty and destiny before comradeship. Like I said, it's a bold move, establishing him as a protagonist in his own right, rather than just the villain he seemed set up to be in the first book. It took me a while to settle into his world, anxious as I was to get on with the story, but I really appreciate the way in which it creates a conflicted sense of loyalty for the author, the reader, and the characters.
Jardir's opening arc ends with the first stage of his Northern conquest, and that's largely where the core plot stops moving forward. It's another gamble on Brett's part, taking us to what we expect to be the main thrust of the novel, and then hitting 'pause' on the war. Instead, what he does is layer on the character development, bringing back all the key characters from the first book. If that sounds like a complaint, it most definitely is not. He allows his characters to mature, to grow, to explore their relationships, and to take on new responsibilities within a world on the cusp of war. Main characters become fully-fleshed out, with Arlen, Leesha, Rojer, and Jardir carrying the weight of the tale, but even the secondary characters taking on new life.
It's interesting the way in which Brett adds a political aspect to the story, offering us an alternative to war that relies on the tenuous relationships of challenged, damaged individuals. The culture clash is just as harsh as you would expect, and the ways in which it's dealt with are as entertaining as they are original. I truly appreciated how Leesha and Rojer became involved in Jardir's world, and the long-simmering conflict between Leesha and Inevera was a high point of the tale. It's not just a culture clash between the North and the South, however, but between those who would fight and those who would hide. In taking his wards to the people, the Painted Man demands that they prove themselves up to the challenge of making use of those wards. It's a journey that ultimately leads him back to Renna, with their relationship forged anew, contributing to an ending that's as dark and dangerous as it is exciting.
At this point, I'm not entirely sure what to expect with The Daylight War, given the ways in which Brett so surprised me with the transition between the first two volumes. I do know that I'm far more invested in the characters than I was in the first volume, and that the revelations regarding demon hierarchies has me intrigued to see where he's taking the story next. The Demon Cycle is quickly proving to be a favourite of mine, with the back-to-back-to-back journey between books precisely the kind of exhilarating ride I always envy in readers who are new to a series.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
As if that weren't enough of a shock to system, Brett takes the bold step of rewinding matters to the opening chronology of the first novel, and then switching the dominant focus from Arlen (the Painted Man) to Jardir (the Deliver). We get to re-experience much of their relationship, this time from the other side, providing deeper insights into just who Jardir is, and what made him the kind of man who could so coldly put duty and destiny before comradeship. Like I said, it's a bold move, establishing him as a protagonist in his own right, rather than just the villain he seemed set up to be in the first book. It took me a while to settle into his world, anxious as I was to get on with the story, but I really appreciate the way in which it creates a conflicted sense of loyalty for the author, the reader, and the characters.
Jardir's opening arc ends with the first stage of his Northern conquest, and that's largely where the core plot stops moving forward. It's another gamble on Brett's part, taking us to what we expect to be the main thrust of the novel, and then hitting 'pause' on the war. Instead, what he does is layer on the character development, bringing back all the key characters from the first book. If that sounds like a complaint, it most definitely is not. He allows his characters to mature, to grow, to explore their relationships, and to take on new responsibilities within a world on the cusp of war. Main characters become fully-fleshed out, with Arlen, Leesha, Rojer, and Jardir carrying the weight of the tale, but even the secondary characters taking on new life.
It's interesting the way in which Brett adds a political aspect to the story, offering us an alternative to war that relies on the tenuous relationships of challenged, damaged individuals. The culture clash is just as harsh as you would expect, and the ways in which it's dealt with are as entertaining as they are original. I truly appreciated how Leesha and Rojer became involved in Jardir's world, and the long-simmering conflict between Leesha and Inevera was a high point of the tale. It's not just a culture clash between the North and the South, however, but between those who would fight and those who would hide. In taking his wards to the people, the Painted Man demands that they prove themselves up to the challenge of making use of those wards. It's a journey that ultimately leads him back to Renna, with their relationship forged anew, contributing to an ending that's as dark and dangerous as it is exciting.
At this point, I'm not entirely sure what to expect with The Daylight War, given the ways in which Brett so surprised me with the transition between the first two volumes. I do know that I'm far more invested in the characters than I was in the first volume, and that the revelations regarding demon hierarchies has me intrigued to see where he's taking the story next. The Demon Cycle is quickly proving to be a favourite of mine, with the back-to-back-to-back journey between books precisely the kind of exhilarating ride I always envy in readers who are new to a series.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
ckjaer88's review against another edition
2.0
I was really looking forward to reading the second installment of this series so it surprised me greatly that halfway through, I found myself not giving a fig about what happened to the characters and didn't really see a point in reading on. I did though.. I liked the first half where you get the lifestory of Jardir and get a feeling of WHO he is as a person, leader, husband and afversary to the painted man. Jardircame alive, while sadly, the painted man ended up being a sniffling teenager with all the Worlds problems on his shoulder. You like him in the first book when he's the brooding mysterious badass covered in tats and stripping his clothes like nobodies business. I don't know exactly where the switch happened, maybe Brett was to preoccupied with Jardir that he forgot to evolve Arlen, but all of a sudden I didn't like his character. I understood the choices he made and why, I even understood the selfpity and loathing - well some of it at least, but come on. What twenty-something man wont even TRY to get busy with a beautiful woman?! I don't care how badass he thinks he is, a man of that age have urges and needs, and given how he hasn't indulged those urges and needs - like ever! just seems so unlikely that I fail to see him as a proper character. Brett - being a dude - should know this and write accordingly.
The plot goes smoothly and he really tries to build up tension, but in my mind it isn't really working. Maybe it's connected to me not givin' a fig about any of them. Not even Leesha. The writing in itself is still sound. But(!)... I still smacked my hand to my forehead, quite loduly I might add, when I read the last sentence. come on Brett, if thi is you trying to build some tragic romance it's the wrong way to do it. Granted it's more behaviorelly right than most, but it doesn't make it any less painful to read.
The plot goes smoothly and he really tries to build up tension, but in my mind it isn't really working. Maybe it's connected to me not givin' a fig about any of them. Not even Leesha. The writing in itself is still sound. But(!)... I still smacked my hand to my forehead, quite loduly I might add, when I read the last sentence. come on Brett, if thi is you trying to build some tragic romance it's the wrong way to do it. Granted it's more behaviorelly right than most, but it doesn't make it any less painful to read.
qog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
joshuawalkerauthor's review against another edition
5.0
This book is amazing.
This book will make you feel something for every character.
This book will expose some serious and hilarious dichotomies between cultural norms.
This book will continue a damn good story and end on a damn good note.
This book is arguably better than the first one.
You should really read this book.
This book will make you feel something for every character.
This book will expose some serious and hilarious dichotomies between cultural norms.
This book will continue a damn good story and end on a damn good note.
This book is arguably better than the first one.
You should really read this book.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
I have tried to read it twice, and twice I have given up. I must just realize it wont happen. I really liked book 1, but here I just get nowhere. I hate the POV that it begins with and that is like the first 200 pages! So I will never make it past that.
sofiemelaniedahl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
hagbard_celine's review against another edition
1.0
Bleck.
The Arlen Bales/Warded Man/"What's the deal with the demons?" storyline is really tremendously compelling. I wish this book were just that.
Instead, I only got a few pages of that really cool heroic-fantasy-with-an-unspooling-mystery mixed in with 500 pages of other characters in other plotlines. These plotlines are... inferior.
It seems like every character in this book besides Arlen Bales is busy a) being the victim of sexual violence, b) committing acts of sexual violence themselves, c) thinking about the sexual violence around them, d) thinking about the sexual violence done to them, or e) having sexy, sexy times with sexy, sexy ladies/dudes.
Will not continue reading the series. The magic/warded man story is really cool, but not cool enough to read another 500-2000 pages of the author's alternating rape fantasies and harem fantasies.
The Arlen Bales/Warded Man/"What's the deal with the demons?" storyline is really tremendously compelling. I wish this book were just that.
Instead, I only got a few pages of that really cool heroic-fantasy-with-an-unspooling-mystery mixed in with 500 pages of other characters in other plotlines. These plotlines are... inferior.
It seems like every character in this book besides Arlen Bales is busy a) being the victim of sexual violence, b) committing acts of sexual violence themselves, c) thinking about the sexual violence around them, d) thinking about the sexual violence done to them, or e) having sexy, sexy times with sexy, sexy ladies/dudes.
Will not continue reading the series. The magic/warded man story is really cool, but not cool enough to read another 500-2000 pages of the author's alternating rape fantasies and harem fantasies.
charliebluewolf's review against another edition
4.0
I like the story and the main character, but there is an uncomfortable amount of rape in this book/series.