The Core: Book Five of The Demon Cycle
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4.6 • 527 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett brings one of the most imaginative fantasy sagas of the twenty-first century to an epic close in the fifth and final volume of The Demon Cycle.
For time out of mind, bloodthirsty demons have stalked the night, culling the human herd to scattered remnants dependent on half-forgotten magics to protect them. Then two heroes arose—men as close as brothers, yet divided by bitter betrayal.
Arlen Bales became known as the Warded Man, tattooed head to toe with powerful magic symbols that enable him to fight demons in hand-to-hand combat and emerge victorious. Ahmann Jardir, armed with magically warded weapons, called himself the Deliverer, a figure prophesied to unite humanity and lead them to triumph in Sharak Ka—the final war against demonkind.
But in their efforts to bring the war to the demons, Arlen and Jardir have set something in motion that may prove the end of everything they hold dear—a Swarm. Now the war is at hand and humanity cannot hope to win it unless Arlen and Jardir, with the help of Arlen's wife, Renna, can bend a captured demon prince to their will and force the devious creature to lead them to the Core, where the Mother of Demons breeds an inexhaustible army.
Trusting their closest confidants, Leesha, Inevera, Ragen, and Elissa, to rally the fractious people of the Free Cities and lead them against the Swarm, Arlen, Renna, and Jardir set out on a desperate quest into the darkest depths of evil—from which none of them expects to return alive.
Look for Peter V. Brett’s complete Demon Cycle:
THE WARDED MAN • THE DESERT SPEAR • THE DAYLIGHT WAR • THE SKULL THRONE • THE CORE
Customer Reviews
Amazing
Amazing end to the series. I didn’t think Peter V. Brett could top the others but this book was by far the best
Critical Review (Spoilers beware)
As a fan of th entire series I was very happy with the final installment of the demon cycle. Well paced, especially while bouncing between the various storylines. This was something I was thankful for after the Desert Spear felt a bit choppy. Past novels aside, The Core really nails it. The plotlines start out with a bang then have a gentle build up of tention. When appropriate Brett pauses one storyline until the competing storyline catches up. For me this was done perfectly with Eunach Ka/Abban, so high five Pete. Great job there.
The climax for each character hit the around the same time, so by this time I was so sucked into the story that the pages just flew by. The ending left me feeling satisfied that all major questions were answered. Although I may have wanted to read more, it felt right that the story ended there. Solid ending to a great story.
With all that said there were a few moments where I was jarred out of the story. First being the initial scene between Briar and Stefny, it felt forced and unrealistic. It reminded me of the scene between Arlen and Leesha in the Warded Man. They were both sex scenes that came too soon in the characters relationship. It is hard for me to believe that such a strong emotional attachement forms from something so abbrupt. With Leesha and Arlen it made sense because of their personalities and the fact that well he’s the warded freakin man. Stefny and Briar, don’t seem to fit all that well.
The other major moment that the story lost me was announcing Sikvah’s death. She’s a character that I have grown to love, in fact one of my favorites. I wanted to know how she died, and see her fight for her unborn child. Instead the scene fell flat, granted the focus is on Inevera but her connection to Sikvah has never been shown much. Amanvah would have been a great perspective to use to show this.
Which leads me to the number one lacking point of The Core. Roger’s storyline just died. Yeah the legacy of his music lives on everywhere but the characters that we’ve grown to love from his plot line seemed to also die off with him. Amanvah, Sikvah and Kendall are pushed to the sideline. Especially with Sikvah’s death this ends up being one of the sadest stories but it was burried. Most of the sadness of loss comes from Arlen’s death which is almost expected. Not to say it did not have impact, I was flipping pages like my fingers were on fire but I think there could have been more.
Thanks for the story, look forward to the next one.
Epic conclusion
At times there is almost too much going on with no respite, yet it’s how it should be at the conclusion of an incredible and thoroughly gripping series.
Bit of a let down now that the series is concluded, but what a ride. Thank you Mr Brett