The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett

This has been out for a while and has been popular enough to spawn three subsequent books so I think people realise that this is a good book/series/author. I had not paid the series or author much attention until Peter appeared at the Grim Gathering alongside Mark Lawrence and Joe Abercrombie, who are two are my favourite storytellers. I was then fortunate enough, just when enough time had passed that he might have slipped from my mind, to have the lovely Mia send me a copy of The Warded Man.

Two days later I was done and the rest of his books are on my too-read list.

I’ll just mention a couple of things that stuck of for me.

I loved the premise. The idea that every life was ruled by the demons that rise during the night was one I was eager to explore. The use of wards as the main system of magic was compelling and not something I’d read a lot about, certainly not as the major form of defence and, fingers crossed, offence. I did wander why warding was not taught to every single child but I also appreciated that the world we enter into is hundreds of years old and have people now find it common place to call the local Warden for a spruce up of their wards.

I normally love the training sequences for books that start with a young protagonist seeking to become the hero they are destined to be. In this book it is clearly Arlan; we see him young, making the decisions that set him on his path, the sacrifices he makes and the people he leaves behind, but there is little intensive ward or combat training where we get to see his skills progress. Rather than missing these brutal training sessions I was eager to see how time passed and these children grew. It is more about family and the relationships he built with those around him, which makes it all the more interesting when he gives them up in order to try and become the man he wants to be. That I did not miss these scenes says a great deal to me about the quality of the rest of the writing.

Leesha is an amazing character and has to go through some serious shit just to even start her journey. She is happily engaged but is betrayed by her husband-to-be when he brags of sleeping with her before they are wed, thereby destroying her reputation. Small town + Ignorant folks + piece of shit + religious structure = persecution of normal people. Taking on the role of herb gathered she display’s natural talent as a healer and begins her instruction from the local crone. All the while dealing with a complete dickhead who still thinks one day they will get married. I’m guessing this character will find redemption in a few books time hopefully as he lays dying from a painful wound to his meat and two veg. As life goes on though Leesha gets hotter and basically has to defend herself from guys who think they are entitled to a roll in the hay just for walking her down the street. It’s annoying and frustrating and I can’t imagine what it is like for women in real life. I just wanted her to be able to get to her shit in peace instead of this constant badgering by caveman. There is a sense of inevitability to her story and whilst I did not enjoy it I respected the way it was handled and I look forward to her journey in the next book.

Rojer is the final part of a trio and, as the youngest with the furthest to go, he receives the least attention in this first book. I did not mind that, in fact if the other two had equal weight to Arlan in the fist book I’d have been disappointed as it really is his story. I’m interested to see where Rojer's powers lead him and whether his skills are translatable to others or if these three are a prophesised lot with unique gifts.

The sequel, “The Desert Spear”, is one I can’t wait to read and I can see myself tearing through this series if it continues as it started. Peter V. Brett is published by those fantastic folks at Del Rey.

4.5 stars

I had also not heard of Peter Newman either but now have a a copy of The Vagrant on the way so thanks to Marc Aplin for organising the Grim Gathering.