The Desert Spear (The Demon Cycle, Book 2)

Peter V. Brett

Apr 2010 · The Demon Cycle Book 2 · HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

Continuing the impressive debut fantasy series from author Peter V. Brett, The Desert Spear is book two of the Demon Cycle, pulling the reader into a world of demons, darkness and heroes.

The Deliverer has returned, but who is he?

Arlen Bales, formerly of the small hamlet of Tibbet’s Brook, learnt harsh lessons about life as he grew up in a world where hungry demons stalk the night and humanity is trapped by its own fear. He chose a different path; chose to fight inherited apathy and the corelings, and eventually he became the Painted Man, a reluctant saviour.

But the figure emerging from the desert, calling himself the Deliverer, is not Arlen. He is a friend and betrayer, and though he carries the spear from the Deliverer’s tomb, he also heads a vast army intent on a holy war against the demon plague... and anyone else who stands in his way.

Ratings and reviews

Not once in nearly three hundred books have I given a book 5 stars, mainly because maybe there was a better book out there. I couldn't in good conscience give it any less. It was so full of good characters and stories that were heavy with good writing. At the end of the book I felt stunned but satisfied with the ending. I feel exhausted after reading it as I was on the edge of my seat right the way through. I have read 1 and 2 and will read something soft, then go to number 3. Well done Peter V Brett. You are a writer worth watching

Enjoyed the first one. But the second has a truly idiotic storyline. With both leaders jaidir and Leesha just going too stay for friendly trips with the enemy. To add to the storyline by the hundredth time the author let me know that all men are stupid and 99 % are rapists and can't be trusted and all women pretty much run everything and rightly so even though when I quit one of the cleverest (and a pacifist) is in the enemy camp getting it on with a warlord who just invaded a city killed loads of people

I enjoyed this, and was slightly surprised by that. I think the graphic sexual scenes within it are a little over-played; I don't object to them out of hand, but they don't seem to have a realistic impact on the characters, and that detracts from the experience. As a device, they seem poorly used. That, though, is my only real criticism. The story is interesting and well structured, and whilst character development isn't Brett's strength (see Raymond Feist for good examples), plot development is very good, and the story develops well. Most important, I think Brett's imagined a different type of fantasy fiction in a market crowded with clones. As someone who just finished the 14-book marathon of Jordan's Wheel of Time series, The Demon Cycle is genuinely different and interesting. Looking forward to the next one.

About the author

Peter V. Brett is the internationally bestselling author of the Demon Cycle series, which has sold more than three and a half million copies in twenty-seven languages worldwide. Novels include The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War, The Skull Throne, and The Core. He lives in Brooklyn.

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