Book Review: The Desert Spear
Well, I finally did get this book from the library (there was a waiting list) and promptly devoured it. This is on my “to buy” list.
Before you read The Desert Spear by Peter V Brett, be sure and read its prequel, The Warded Man. Essentially The Desert Spear picks up where The Warded Man leaves off. However, it quickly backtracks, which confused me at first but then I realized that we were flipping back and forth, time wise, and then it all made sense.
In The Warded Man, we see Arlen and company grow up. We learn who they are and what makes them tick.
In the Desert Spear, we see Ahmann Jardir grow up and come to power. Now, in my mind he is a “villian” from the first book, but as we learn more about him in this book he becomes more sympathetic. The first third or so of the book concentrates on Jardir and Abban and the ways of Krasia.
It’s around page 190/200 are that we return to Arlen, Leesha, and Rojer. It’s about this point that the time line of the story stays linear and quits jumping into the past.
Eventually, Jardir meets Leesha and Rojer but has not seen the “warded man” yet. He doesn’t know or think that it’s Arlen, since he thinks Arlen is dead.
One plot point I hated/liked all at the same time involved Ranna, Arlen’s former betrothed. I don’t want to spoil it so that’s all I’m going to say.
This book is a lot darker that the first one and I wouldn’t let a very young audience read it. I felt that it was more of an adult than young adult book.
I”ve read other reviews that state they didn’t like the beginning of the Warded Man and/or they didn’t like the POV change in The Desert Spear. Well, the beginning of the Warded Man is a bit slow. Something my husband commented on (which shocked me consider his usual authors), but it does pick up if you stick with it, and quickly becomes very engrossing. Granted, I read very quickly and prefer really thick books so that probably influences my definition of “quickly.” However, I do feel the set up is necessary to really understand the culture and world that the characters are living in.
As for The Desert Spear, I was thrown at first to not start with Arlen, but as you recall the last pages from The Warded Man, then the beginning of the Desert Spear makes sense. Also again, having that understanding of culture that the characters are functioning in, is generally vital to a story. Essentially there are two vastly different cultures in the same world, not so unlike our actual world that is filled with a variety of people and beliefs.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and think it’s a good sequel. I really wanted to be able to pick up the next one after reading the last page, but cliffhangers are good in the business of writing even though they frustrate readers.
To learn more about the books and the author go to his website: