The Warded Man by Peter V Brett Book Review

 The Warded Man 

(The Demon Cycle #1)

By Peter V Brett

Published Year: 2008

Page Count : 416 pages 

Medium Used : Kindle Scribe 

Genre : High Fantasy, Magic, Sorcery, Action, Adventure, Demons, 2025-read. 

Rating : 5/5 

This book is so so good. I was riveted to the plot and style of writing from the start. I have come to like a few characters and hate a few other .. all because the character development and world building are so fantastic. It is hard for me to believe that this is a debut novel by the author! Even now, as I write this review, some of the horror lingers with me. The three main characters are little older than teenagers and they are all as naive as they as brave, as wise as they are gullible and as loving as they are demon hating.

 Enjoyed reading this book very much. I liked how the three characters are brought together and they unite against a band of these demons. I liked how the warded man evolves into his state of being and convincingly encourages and employs the Hollow's folk into fighting the demons. 

Arlen becomes the warded man. As a kid, he witnesses the butchering of his mother at the hands of a coreling(demons that arise at night, perish into smoke during day if sun strikes them) while his cowardly father watches from shelter. Disgusted with his father and wanting to be a brave messenger who carries messages between the free cities, he runs away from his home. He learns how to draw wards ( magic symbols that are the only protection against corelings) and then with the turn of events, comes into possession of ancient magical symbols/wards. Though he is taken advantage of, he saves some of those wards and becomes the warded man. The title itself explains it and there is no secret here. Rojer is another main character - his parents both die in the hands of the demons and entrust his safety to a Jongeliur - a clown that does parlor tricks or sells some talent for money. Needless to say, Rojer aims to become a jongeliur too. He has one peculiar skill that can fight the demons and it comes handy in the end. The third main character- Leesha loves her father but hates her whoring mother. Though she pities her father who is weak to control her mother, she leaves them to learn the art of herb gathering and healing. Her skills eventually come to help the trio in their big fight. Though it reads like a very simple story, it is written in an enjoyable, suspense filled, page flipping flair. Do check this book out!!