A review by williamc
The Desert Prince by Peter V. Brett

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

 The Desert Prince is such an easy fantasy novel to recommend. It offers Peter V. Brett's tightest plotting and finest writing to date and cements his ability to pen some of the most dynamic and kinetic fight scenes that you can find in print. For a long-time fan, this feels like the best place to recommend new followers of the author to start, but it's a rough choice that sacrifices the longer introduction to the rich history and worldbuilding Brett created in the satisfying five-novel Demon Cycle. The characters introduced there cast their long shadows into this new Nightfall Saga, and the two series are difficult to separate. Wherever you begin the story, what makes The Desert Prince> a perfect fantasy novel for its time is the effort Brett has but into his crew of young characters. More fallible than the cast of the Demon Cycle, more at the mercy of their family histories, more lost in understanding their place in the world, the small group assembled here struggles under the weight of heavy expectation, cross-cultural conflict, lingering prejudices, complicated (to say the least) familial relationships, and the very day-to-day struggle of carving out one's own name when one's parents seems to have already planned the path before them. Brett has also crafted a brilliant exploration in Olive Paper, a character who identifies both as a woman and a man, and who must find a bridge between their sense of self large enough to encompass two cultures in the midst of a cold war. I felt a deeper connection to The Desert Prince and, for the reasons above, find it an easier, more inclusive place to begin a reader's first journey into the world of Thesa. It's also prompted me to return to the first series for a third go-round. It's an enjoyable, dynamic, emotional novel -- I absolutely loved it.