The Daylight War (#3)
With The Warded Man and The Desert Spear, Peter V. Brett surged to the front rank of contemporary fantasy, standing alongside giants in the field such as George R. R. Martin, Robert Jordan, and Terry Brooks. The Daylight War, the eagerly anticipated third volume in Brett’s internationally bestselling Demon Cycle, continues the epic tale of humanity’s last stand against an army of demons that rise each night to prey on mankind.
On the night of the new moon, the demons rise in force, seeking the deaths of two men, both of whom have the potential to become the fabled Deliverer, the man prophesied to reunite the scattered remnants of humanity in a final push to destroy the demon corelings once and for all.
Arlen Bales was once an ordinary man, but now he has become something more—the Warded Man, tattooed with eldritch wards so powerful they make him a match for any demon. Arlen denies he is the Deliverer at every turn, but the more he tries to be one with the common folk, the more fervently they believe. Many would follow him, but Arlen’s path threatens to lead to a dark place he alone can travel to, and from which there may be no returning.
The only one with hope of keeping Arlen in the world of men, or joining him in his descent into the world of demons, is Renna Tanner, a fierce young woman in danger of losing herself to the power of demon magic.
Ahmann Jardir has forged the warlike desert tribes of Krasia into a demon-killing army and proclaimed himself Shar’Dama Ka, the Deliverer. He carries ancient weapons—a spear and a crown—that give credence to his claim, and already vast swaths of the green lands bow to his control.
But Jardir did not come to power on his own. His rise was engineered by his First Wife, Inevera, a cunning and powerful priestess whose formidable demon bone magic gives her the ability to glimpse the future. Inevera’s motives and past are shrouded in mystery, and even Jardir does not entirely trust her.
Once Arlen and Jardir were as close as brothers. Now they are the bitterest of rivals. As humanity’s enemies rise, the only two men capable of defeating them are divided against each other by the most deadly demons of all—those lurking in the human heart.
Reviews
“Along with Brandon Sanderson and Daniel Abraham, Peter V. Brett is at the forefront of purveyors of epic fantasy whose teeth were ground on the likes of Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Terry Brooks, and David Eddings […] in other words, with THE DAYLIGHT WAR, he’s at the top of his game. I give this my highest recommendation (including the first two novels in the series.)”
“…this volume will leaves series fans impatient for more.”Booklist
“That his world is not the standard castles and knights backdrop is a breath of fresh air, and the Middle-Eastern-influenced cultures and locales of the world about which he writes are captivating, alluring, deadly, and full of intrigue.
“Brett’s prose, as always, is precise and fluid and vivid. It draws you in easily and keeps you in, never turning pedestrian or clumsy or repetitive […] This is certainly one of my favorite series in fantasy and Book Three, which if you haven’t figured out I enthusiastically recommend, continues the story at its high, high level.”
“For an epic story, a deep and memorable cast of characters and for continuing one of the best new series in fantasy I give THE DAYLIGHT WAR a score of 9.5/10. I would recommend this series to any fan of the Fantasy genre, any at all. I meant what I said above, I truly do think that one day The Demon Cycle will be in the same league as A Song of Ice and Fire, Lord of the Rings or Sandman.”The Founding Fields
“We can feel the fear of the villagers, sense the pride of the warriors, almost taste the evil emanating from the demons […] It was spectacular. It was action-packed, unpredictable and thoroughly satisfying […] I loved this book. I was utterly entranced from beginning to end. The world, the action, the characters, they all delivered.”SFcrowsnest
“Brett’s prose and flow remains virtually flawless, providing for a smooth read […] I really, really loved this book.”Fixed on Fantasy
“If you like your Fantasy big, dramatic, and with characters you grow to love the Demon Cycle will be quite memorable. With THE DAYLIGHT WAR, Brett reaffirms his high place in modern Epic Fantasy.”
“This is a superb follow-up. If you haven’t read Peter Brett and like well written fantasy, I urge you to give him a try.”
“Peter V. Brett is the perfect example of a modern fantasy author. He knows his world inside out, his characters are so well-rounded that it is impossible to class them as good or evil, and his writing is some of the most atmospheric and powerful you will ever come across.”Fantasy Faction
“All told, DAYLIGHT WAR is excellent epic fantasy–one of the most compelling in recent memory.”Staffers Book Review
“An out and out thrilling storyline that mixes action, intrigue and amazing characters, Peter V. Brett’s THE DAYLIGHT WAR is his best work so far and rather upends the bar steeply for this series.”
“This is one of those fantasy series that fans of the genre will feel entirely comfortable recommending to their friends or colleagues that normally don’t read this type of book. It’s that much fun.”
“[THE DAYLIGHT WAR is] compulsively readable […] A lot of it is down to Peter V. Brett’s deft styling and plotting, keeping his reader hooked without sacrificing artistic integrity […] Brett has crafted an effective and engrossing installment for his Demon Cycle.”Fantasy Literature
“THE DAYLIGHT WAR goes above and beyond the brilliance of the first two books in style, character and worldbuilding, action, suspense […] basically all the elements that make a book worth reading over and over again […] A wonderful third part to a breathtaking series, THE DAYLIGHT WAR deserves no end of attention and acclaim.”
“The twists and turns of the plot will keep readers engaged until the last white-knuckle chapter. THE DEMON CYCLE is an extraordinary work.”
“Brett is an amazing storyteller. This series is what epic fantasy is all about. It’s phenomenal. There were passages where I literally found myself with goosebumps on my arms.”Book Chick City
Awards & Accolades
#19 New York Times Bestseller
#50 USA Today Bestseller
#3 Sunday Times Bestseller
#5 Der Spiegel Bestseller
iBook: “Best of 2013 Pick”
2013 Goodreads Choice Awards Semifinalist: “Best Fantasy Novel”
2013 David Gemmell Legend Award Finalist