Customer Reviews

The Desert Spear: Book Two of The Demon Cycle

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All I have to say is that it was a very good book, follows well The Warded Man, cant wait for the third

This is the second book in a projected series (The Demon War). I thoroughly enjoyed the first book - `The Painted Man' (UK and Australia); `The Warded Man' (USA) - and have been eagerly awaiting this one. I was not disappointed.

This instalment does not start where `The Painted Man' finishes. Instead, the book opens with Jardir (who played a role in the first book), and we follow his journey from childhood to adulthood. This provides a detailed look at Krasian customs and culture and succeeds in bringing Krasia to life.
Once the desert world of Krasia is described, with Jardir considered to be the Deliverer (Shar' Darma Ka), the story widens out to encompass the green-lands where Arlen Bales as The Painted Man is considered to be the Deliverer and returns to the present, and to follow the journeys of a number of different characters including Jardir, Arlen, Leesha, Rojer and Renna.

Two different men considered to be the Deliverer, each representing different cultures but with one common enemy: the corelings. Humanity is running out of time: the population is dwindling and the demons are growing in number, intelligence and strength. In this complex world, both the green-landers and the desert people possess critical knowledge and skills: will they be able to work together? Is there really a single Deliverer? If so, who is it and how will they save the world?

`Monsters do not always hide in the shadows.'

In some ways I enjoyed this book better than `The Warded Man'. Even though I wanted to read more about Arlen Bales, this instalment more clearly establishes the world in which the battle for survival will be fought. I'm now looking forward to the third book.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I was a little put off by the first part which is Jardir's life story. At that point, I not sure I wanted to read about him. I'm not saying it's boring, but just not want I expected. But I guess we need to know the back story in order to get on with the rest. Brett is a great writer. His caracters are deep with personal baggage and conflicting psychological interests. The story telling in the first book was simpler. Now we see all kinds of potential twists and turns. I think we're in for several installments.

Most of what I would say for this book can be taken from my review of The Warded Man with a little extra added. After finishing the first book in The Demon Cycle series I was eager to get my hands on this one but even as I was paying for it I had a lingering worry in my mind that maybe Mr. Brett was a one-hit-wonder. I'm glad to say that is not the case. At first I was a little skeptical as the book begins with the POV of Jardir who I was no fan of in the first book. In fact The Desert Spear shows the POV of both Jardir and Renna and neither I cared much for in The Warded Man. I became convinced of Mr. Brett's greatness when he made Jardir an interesting character and Renna into that girl you want to see have a happy ending when all is said and done. Of course the characters from the first book are not to be outdone though as they only become more interesting to read about, especially Arlen as he takes a trip through his past and reunites with everyone he left behind and you feel for him every step of the way. On the topic of the ending, and I would rarely say this for any other book, there is nothing I would have done differently. I am certain that by the time I reach the fourth in this series of five I will be wishing there were a hundred more lined up.