Friday 11 January 2013

The Desert Spear - Peter V. Brett

RATING: FIVE STARS 

After scrupulously acquiring the Spear of Kaji, the fabled weapon of the First Deliverer, Ahmann Jardir declares himself as the first Shar’Dama’Ka since Kaji himself and vows to unite the scattered populations of mankind into one great army to finally wage the long-prophesised Daylight War against the demons that rise from the Core each night. 

But in order to do this, Jardir knows that he must first conquer the lush greenlands of Thesia, usurp their dukes and break the spirits of their people. And so, with the Spear of Kaji in his hand and the Crown of Kaji upon his brow, Jardir marches his vast Krasian army from the Desert Spear – killing the demons that prey upon mankind by night and subjugating Thesan settlements to his religious regime by day. 

The Desert Spear doesn't disappoint as the sequel to The Painted Man and makes for a captivating read that is filled with the same flowing prose, brutal violence and deep characterisation that I have come to expect from the Demon Cycle. Like its predecessor, The Desert Spear uses Arlen Bales, Leesha Paper and Rojer Halfhand as the main POV characters and tells of their adventures in the aftermath of the Battle of Deliver’s Hollow and how they plan to resist the advancing Krasian forces. 

In addition to these familiar characters, The Desert Spear also introduces Ahmann Jardir as a major POV character, particularly in the beginning of the book where Peter V. Brett ‘flashes back’ to describe Jardir’s life as a child where he trained in the brutal martial arts and war craft that his people are famed for. This fascinating account paints a vivid picture of a harsh life that is difficult to understand and sets up a good conflict of interest throughout the rest of the book – despite knowing what Jardir is doing is wrong, Brett has laid enough ground work for you to understand and empathise with his position and decisions! 

Thus, The Desert Spear incited a great cacophony of mixed feelings in me as I read it, which I found gave the book an extra dimension that many novels lack! Due to this, along with its remarkable plot lines, action and characters, I go as far as saying that it is even better than The Painted Man and, with The Daylight War due to be released in February, what better time to delve into The Desert Spear or to begin the Demon Cycle with The Painted (Warded) Man?

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