The Warded Man – Peter V. Brett

Synopsis:

For hundreds of years corelings have ravaged mankind. Many try to fend of these demons with basic warding spells but the offensive wards of old have been lost for generations. People are allowing themselves to be trapped in their own homes. However, there are a select few who have had enough and set out on their own paths, going so far as to take the fight to the corelings themselves.

Review:

I have read many a wonderful fantasy novel in the last few years and while I can’t say this is my favorite, I can without a doubt say it is one of the best I’ve read to date. It’s fast paced with just enough real life that it makes you feel for the characters. I was also a huge fan of the blatantly Victorian values these people held. I found it amusing that something so familiar (having read many a Victorian novel, obviously not having lived it) in such an unfamiliar setting.

Favorite Quotes:

“Welcome to adulthood.” Cob said. “Every child finds a day when the realize that adults can be weak and wrong just like everyone else. After that day, you are an adult. Like it or not.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“We are what we choose to be, girl,’ she said. ‘Let others determine your worth, and you’ve already lost, because no one wants people worth more than themselves.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“I don’t pretend to see the path, but I know it’s there all the same. One day, we’ll look back and wonder how we ever missed it.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“Choose a book,” she said. “Any book. Bring it here, and I’ll show you what else the world can offer.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“There are times in life when we feel so very alive that when they pass, we feel … diminished. When that happens, we’ll do almost anything to feel so alive again.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“Rojer nodded, but his eye grew wet. Leesha squeezed his hand. “Herb Gatherers see death often,” she told him. “No one, no one, ever goes to the Creator with all their business complete. We all get a different length of time, but it needs to be enough, regardless.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“Let people hide in their homes, caged like chickens. Cowards deserve no better.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“Rojer!” his mother cried, stumbling towards the washing trough before falling to her knees. Screaming in pain, she reached back and got a firm grip on one of the coreling’s horns.
“You… can’t… have… my… son!” she screamed, and threw herself forward, pulling on the horn with all her strength. Torn from its perch, the demon took ribbons of flesh with it, as Kally flipped it into the trough.
Soaking crockery shattered on impact, and the flame demon gurgled and thrashed, steam filling the air as the water was brought to an instant boil. Kally screamed as her arms burned, but she held the creature under until its thrashes stopped.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“Do you believe the corelings are our own fault?” Arlen asked. “That we deserve them?” “Of course I believe,” she said. “It is the word of the Creator.” “No,” Arlen said. “It’s a book. Books are written by men. If the Creator wanted to tell us something, why would he use a book, and not write on the sky with fire?” “It’s hard sometimes to believe there’s a Creator up there, watching,” Mery said, looking up at the sky, “but how could it be otherwise? The world didn’t create itself. What power would wards hold, without a will behind creation?” “And the Plague?” Arlen asked. Mery shrugged. “The histories tell of terrible wars,” she said. “Maybe we did deserve it.” “Deserve it?” Arlen demanded. “My mam did not deserve to die because of some stupid war fought centuries ago!” “Your mother was taken?” Mery asked, touching his arm. “Arlen, I had no idea …” Arlen yanked his arm away. “It makes no difference,” he said, storming toward the door. “I have wards to carve, though I hardly see the point, if we all deserve demons in our beds.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“You can fight corelings?’ he asked.
‘You can fight anything, Arlen,’ Ragen said. ‘The problem with fighting corelings is that more often than not, you lose.”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

“Walk with me.” Abban held up his crutch.
“It is a long way to the palace, Par’chin,” he said.
“I’ll walk slowly,” Arlen said, knowing the crutch had nothing to do with the refusal.
“You don’t want to be seen with me outside the market, my friend,” Abban warned. “That alone may cost you the respect you’ve earned in the Maze.”
“Then I’ll earn more,” Arlen said. “What good is respect, if I can’t walk with my friend?”
― Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man

Recommendations:

Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson

Prince of Thorns – Mark Lawrence (review coming)

Blood Song – Anthony Ryan

Night Angel – Brent Weeks