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elektra_eris 's review for:
The Warded Man
by Peter V. Brett
This book was so so close to being a new favorite. It's character-driven fantasy which is my favorite kind of read. And it was a fast read too! Usually with character-driven stories, it can be slow going, but something about Brett's writing style is just so readable and I kept turning the pages and stayed up way too late reading it.
I really enjoyed all three POV characters and watching them grow and change and eventually meet. I liked reading about each of their experiences in different places in this world and how they deal with the demons. I think Rojer's way is my favorite just because it's so different to what I was expecting and Arlen can be a little too intense at times.
My favorite chapters were the early chapters. Brett gives just the right amount of worldbuilding and pulls at your emotions expertly. The warding magic system was an interesting one and fresh for me since I haven't seen it much before.
So while I can rave about like 90% of this book, the last 10% was really disappointing and left a bad taste in my mouth. Spoilers ahead, so read on at your own discretion.
But still, I did really enjoy this book overall and thought it was pretty solid until the end. I'm just not in a rush to read the sequel like I thought I would be.
I really enjoyed all three POV characters and watching them grow and change and eventually meet. I liked reading about each of their experiences in different places in this world and how they deal with the demons. I think Rojer's way is my favorite just because it's so different to what I was expecting and Arlen can be a little too intense at times.
My favorite chapters were the early chapters. Brett gives just the right amount of worldbuilding and pulls at your emotions expertly. The warding magic system was an interesting one and fresh for me since I haven't seen it much before.
So while I can rave about like 90% of this book, the last 10% was really disappointing and left a bad taste in my mouth. Spoilers ahead, so read on at your own discretion.
Spoiler
What knocked this down a star for me was the way Leesha's rape was handled. It's not that I'm opposed to rape scenes being in books, because I'm not. This scene wasn't even gratuitously violent. Description was sparse because it was from Rojer's POV. However, I just don't see what it adds to the story. Tbh I didn't care for Leesha calling her virginity a "flower" either, but I don't feel like typing out a paragraph about that atm so moving on... I think they could have gotten attacked by the bandits, had their shit stolen, and left Leesha without getting gang raped, but whatever. What really ticks me off is what happens after. Leesha gets pissed off at Rojer for stealing his portable ward and leaving the rapists to be attacked by demons? What?? I get that the theme of the novel is not giving the demons anything and uniting humanity and whatnot but if these assholes lived, they would be free to steal and rape other travelers so is it really so bad that they got eaten by demons?? This isn't like when Arlen decided not to toss the rabbit to demons as bait. The rabbit hasn't done anything. AND THEN DAYS AFTER Leesha's rape, she decides to have sex with a total stranger she's only known for a few days because he makes her feel safe? What? What????????? Plus they do this when it's still night outside of their ward and demons are crawling around?? I'll admit I laughed out loud when the wood demon attacked them afterwardBut still, I did really enjoy this book overall and thought it was pretty solid until the end. I'm just not in a rush to read the sequel like I thought I would be.