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The Desert Spear (Demon Cycle #2)

by Peter V. Brett (Goodreads Author)

4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 · rating details · 14,803 ratings · 803 reviews

The sun is setting on humanity. The night now belongs to voracious demons that arise as the sun sets, preying upon a dwindling population forced to cower behind ancient and half-forgotten symbols of power. These wards alone can keep the demons at bay, but legends tell of a Deliverer: a general--some would say prophet--who once bound all mankind into a single force that def...more The sun is setting on humanity. The night now belongs to voracious demons that arise as the sun sets, preying upon a dwindling population forced to cower behind ancient and half-forgotten symbols of power. These wards alone can keep the demons at bay, but legends tell of a Deliverer: a general--some would say prophet--who once bound all mankind into a single force that defeated the demons. Those times, if they ever existed, are long past. The demons are back, and the return of the Deliverer is just another myth...or is it?

Out of the desert rides Ahmann Jardir, who has forged the warlike desert tribes of Krasia into a demon-killing army. He has proclaimed himself Shar’Dama Ka, the Deliverer, and he carries ancient weapons--a spear and a crown--that give credence to his claim. Sworn to follow the path of the first Deliverer, he has come north to bring the scattered city-states of the green lands together in a war against demonkind--whether they like it or not.

But the northerners claim their own Deliverer. His name was Arlen, but all know him now as the Warded Man: a dark, forbidding figure whose skin is tattooed with wards so powerful they make him a match for any demon. The Warded Man denies that he is the Deliverer, but his actions speak louder than words, for he teaches men and women to face their fears and stand fast against the creatures that have tormented them for centuries.

Once the Shar’Dama Ka and the Warded Man were friends, brothers in arms. Now they are fierce adversaries. Caught between them are Renna, a young woman pushed to the edge of human endurance; Leesha, a proud and beautiful healer whose skill in warding surpasses that of the Warded Man himself; and Rojer, a traveling fiddler whose uncanny music can soothe the demons--or stir them into such frenzy that they attack one another.

Yet as old allegiances are tested and fresh alliances forged, all are blissfully unaware of the appearance of a new breed of demon, more intelligent--and deadly--than any that have come before.(less)

Hardcover, 579 pages

Published April 13th 2010 by Del Rey (first published January 1st 2010)

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Apr 04, 2012 Nataliya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: awesome-kickass-heroines, 2012-reads

Unexpected! From page one, this book has sped up in the direction so very different from what I anticipated after finishing The Warded Man. Result = WHIPLASH! Which is fun, by the way.

(From Peter Brett's site, the gorgeous illustrations for the Polish edition of this book. Absolutely beautiful!)

We get a full 180 degrees turn on the atmosphere of this world. Suddenly the corelings go from being the overwhelming menace of the night to little more than a nuisance - WHIPLASH! (Well, at least until...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Suzie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Suzie by: Lee Ann

Shelves: love-it-highly-recommend, epic-fantasy, demons, audio-book, read-again

WOW, wow! Wow! Frickin' WOW,!!!!

Loved, loved, loved this book!!! The strength of the characters, each of them, the way the author has continued to grow each of them. Just WOW!

I stayed up to 2:30am to finish this book, there was just no way I could put it down. I am just blown away, but sad as well because I want it to continue. When is #3 due, it can't come soon enough for my liking.

I love the pairing of Arlen and Renna, the wildness that they both share. I can't wait to learn more about Inevera...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Dan Schwent rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, plan-on-rereading-one-day, 2010

The Warded Man continues his work, spreading the wards of the ancients and the ability to fight demons, denying that he is the Deliverer. A new Deliverer rises in the southern desert, seeking to unite all of the world in the Daylight War. Can he do it? Can Leesha resist his charms? And what does the Warded Man think of it all...

Wow. If The Warded Man turned the awesomeness knob up to ten, this one turns it up to eleven. The first third of the book is an expansion of Arlen's time in Krasia in The...more

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Jan 13, 2010 Mihir rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Detailed review over at Fantasy Book Critic

TDS is a lengthy sequel however the story contained in those pages makes it really hard for the reader to pause in between. This book is an introduction to the world of Krasia which we saw briefly in the TPW. However this time we get a very close look at the other "Deliverer" so as to speak.

The POV list in this book is nearly doubled and we get a story which becomes much more than just a battle of survival. While the basic plot of defeating/underst...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Jason Powell rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was terrified.

I mean, I was absolutely terrified coming into this book. I knew, without a doubt, it could not live up to the standard it's predecessor(The Warded Man) had set.

Despite trying to lower my expectations day after day, they remained fairly high and I knew I would be disappointed.

I was wrong.

I finished the book about a week ago and I still can't stop thinking about it. Peter V. Brett hit a home run. Catapulting himself to the top of my favorite authors list.

The book started out diff...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Bob Milne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-epic

Wow. As The Warded Man wrapped up, I thought I knew precisely where the story was going, with the ominous march of the Deliverer's army across the desert setting up the next logical chapter. Imagine my surprise when The Desert Spear opened not with their march, and not with the Painted Man's journey, but with the introduction of a new class of demon. Peter V. Brett raises the stakes right from page one, exposing us to a hierarchy of cold, calculating princes and sinister mimics within the demon...more Wow. As The Warded Man wrapped up, I thought I knew precisely where the story was going, with the ominous march of the Deliverer's army across the desert setting up the next logical chapter. Imagine my surprise when The Desert Spear opened not with their march, and not with the Painted Man's journey, but with the introduction of a new class of demon. Peter V. Brett raises the stakes right from page one, exposing us to a hierarchy of cold, calculating princes and sinister mimics within the demon ranks. It takes a while before we make our way back to this new threat, but it makes for a climactic ending that puts many similar novels to shame.

As if that weren't enough of a shock to system, Brett takes the bold step of rewinding matters to the opening chronology of the first novel, and then switching the dominant focus from Arlen (the Painted Man) to Jardir (the Deliver). We get to re-experience much of their relationship, this time from the other side, providing deeper insights into just who Jardir is, and what made him the kind of man who could so coldly put duty and destiny before comradeship. Like I said, it's a bold move, establishing him as a protagonist in his own right, rather than just the villain he seemed set up to be in the first book. It took me a while to settle into his world, anxious as I was to get on with the story, but I really appreciate the way in which it creates a conflicted sense of loyalty for the author, the reader, and the characters.

Jardir's opening arc ends with the first stage of his Northern conquest, and that's largely where the core plot stops moving forward. It's another gamble on Brett's part, taking us to what we expect to be the main thrust of the novel, and then hitting 'pause' on the war. Instead, what he does is layer on the character development, bringing back all the key characters from the first book. If that sounds like a complaint, it most definitely is not. He allows his characters to mature, to grow, to explore their relationships, and to take on new responsibilities within a world on the cusp of war. Main characters become fully-fleshed out, with Arlen, Leesha, Rojer, and Jardir carrying the weight of the tale, but even the secondary characters taking on new life.

It's interesting the way in which Brett adds a political aspect to the story, offering us an alternative to war that relies on the tenuous relationships of challenged, damaged individuals. The culture clash is just as harsh as you would expect, and the ways in which it's dealt with are as entertaining as they are original. I truly appreciated how Leesha and Rojer became involved in Jardir's world, and the long-simmering conflict between Leesha and Inevera was a high point of the tale. It's not just a culture clash between the North and the South, however, but between those who would fight and those who would hide. In taking his wards to the people, the Painted Man demands that they prove themselves up to the challenge of making use of those wards. It's a journey that ultimately leads him back to Renna, with their relationship forged anew, contributing to an ending that's as dark and dangerous as it is exciting.

At this point, I'm not entirely sure what to expect with The Daylight War, given the ways in which Brett so surprised me with the transition between the first two volumes. I do know that I'm far more invested in the characters than I was in the first volume, and that the revelations regarding demon hierarchies has me intrigued to see where he's taking the story next. The Demon Cycle is quickly proving to be a favourite of mine, with the back-to-back-to-back journey between books precisely the kind of exhilarating ride I always envy in readers who are new to a series.

Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins(less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Jason rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, read-2010, read-2013, reread

4 Stars

This is my reread through this book. Although not quite up to the standards of book one, this is a fun read and a good sequel. I liked that this did a nice job at giving such a huge amount of this book dedicated to the back story of Jardir the antagonist, sort of bad guy in the story. Although I like his character and the unique opportunity to get to see his side of things, I did feel that the main story line was left hanging for too long.

Leesha really establishes herself in this book. S...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Katherine Coble rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-force-on-everyrone-i-meet

Now that I have read this through a second time, I'm upping my rating to 5 stars. It really is that good. I think my initial reaction of four stars was based on what I felt were uncharacteristic twists in behaviour from certain characters. Upon further reflection I realised that I had misjudged the book. Hands down a great read and I'm diving right into _The Daylight War_.

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Mar 08, 2011 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Spoilers.

First off, The Desert Spear does not disappoint and is highly recommend, especially if read after The Painted man.

The first section of The Desert Spear is spent with Jardir and his point of view, and this fleshed out his back story and point of view which gives much more depth to the Krasian people. His relationship with his main wife is also a amazing addition to the overall story because he is aware that she is using him but can do nothing about it. Even though Jardir is a somewhat un...more Spoilers.

First off, The Desert Spear does not disappoint and is highly recommend, especially if read after The Painted man.

The first section of The Desert Spear is spent with Jardir and his point of view, and this fleshed out his back story and point of view which gives much more depth to the Krasian people. His relationship with his main wife is also a amazing addition to the overall story because he is aware that she is using him but can do nothing about it. Even though Jardir is a somewhat unlikable character in a horrible culture (especially in regards to the treatment of people in lower stations and women), the writing is of such a high par that, because he is so unlikable, this makes him extra awesome and thoroughly enjoyable to read.

But I was most excited to see Arlen, Leesha and Rojer again. Those three people are the heart and soul of the story and their interaction is what makes the books two of my top five favourites ever. By far these characters are the most interesting of the series, and Jardirs wife can be put into this category as she was the most absolutely deliciously manipulating addition to the book, and exceptionally better than the flat Renna.

Leesha was also mega in this book, and her skills in warding added a lot to her overall epicness, and her cloaks were cool. But she did seem slightly off from The Painted Man, where she went from strength to strength, but now in TDS she went from on high, to Jardir, even though he has 14 wives and allows the occurrence murder and rape (although this is justified with Krasian beliefs). To me, this lessens her a great deal, and that is a shame because it is so rare to have a powerful female lead such as Leesha. I am hoping that this is just a set-up for book three.

The new demons, were just an epic win. That they were so human in their mannerisms, such as stalking and testing the lead characters, and planning how they were going to deal with them was a very clever way of gifting them with a higher intellect than that of the 'drone' demons. It also upped the anti and made the demon threat That. Much. Cooler. Plus they are creepy, which is always a plus.

Arlen was also given more depth this book, and his new found abilities were unexpectedly wicked. His evolution is exciting to follow and totally believable. His relationship with Leesha is much less this book, which was a bit sad, because I believe it was the most interesting part of book 1. However there is still one more book :) (NOTE: Possibly no longer just a trilogy, but a series. Not sure though) But his rivalry with Jardir in relation to the Deliverer is so twisted. Is it possible that there can be two? Maybe. Its an awesome plot line.

Rojer was just Rojer. Pure win.

Renna, however, was just blah. She seems to be a re-hash of Arlen going crazy and while her back story is different, I just could not get invested in her. We have one Arlen, and that should be enough. Plus, it is contrary to the first book with the build up of Arlen and Leesha, and that brings me to the ending of the book.

So disappointed. Wow completely out of the blue.
BUT I firmly believe that this is a sign of a master author, but still, can't help but judge a book on the final feeling when the final page is finished. I will probably revise my review and score after another few re-reads but hope and hope that the third book doesn't finish like the second one did, to soon and with a unexpected (and IMO disappointing) end. But a good book is only made great if it manages to invoke any kind of passionate response, of which TDS certainly did.

But apart from that; what an amazing, fast paced and beautifully arranged piece of writing. It takes such skill and dedication to craft a masterpiece, and there is no doubt that The Desert Spear is one powerful masterpiece. Bravo.
(less)

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Dec 12, 2012 Liviu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010_release_read, review_fbc, genre-fantasy, read_2009, top_25_2010_novels, read_2012

Desert Spear is excellent end to end; pretty much the whole novel is on the quality of the best of The Warded Man; much more focused on the cultures of Krasia and The Free Cities than on the Demons per se, with Jardir emerging as a great main character in addition to Arles, Leesha, Rojer and several more; new kinds of demons too and a good stopping point setting up a great sequel plot

reread in dec 2012 as I started Daylight War and while i got a fast reminder of what's what through a browse of t...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Apatt rated it 4 of 5 stars

If Peter V. Brett were to use a pseudonym it should be Peter P. Turner. The Desert Spear kept me turning the pages to find out what happen next, even during the parts of the book I don't like. The Desert Spear is the second book of the Demon Cycle series, apparently five volumes are planned. The first book The Warded Man is very entertaining and also a page turner extraordinaire, I would recommend that to anyone looking for a fun, fast paced fantasy read. This book is similarly compelling but mo...more If Peter V. Brett were to use a pseudonym it should be Peter P. Turner. The Desert Spear kept me turning the pages to find out what happen next, even during the parts of the book I don't like. The Desert Spear is the second book of the Demon Cycle series, apparently five volumes are planned. The first book The Warded Man is very entertaining and also a page turner extraordinaire, I would recommend that to anyone looking for a fun, fast paced fantasy read. This book is similarly compelling but more ambitious in term of world building, it does not exactly carry on where The Warded Man left off however.

Fans of the fist book who started reading this volume immediately after finishing the first one may feel disorientated by the first third of the book which goes a little backward in the timeline of the first book and a switcheroo of POV to Jardir the "Shar'Dama Ka" (that's deliverer, for those who didn't pay attention in their Krasian class). During this first third of the book the author takes a lot of time to create the Krasian culture, which appears to be mainly based on the Middle East nations. It is a rather hash culture and deliberately politically incorrect. Fans of the first book is advised to stop wondering about where Arlen the Warded Man has got to and just kick back and enjoy Brett's world building and attention to details. Mr. Warded will show up to kick some asses before too long. Jardir is not only a self proclaimed Deliverer, he is also a self proclaimed protagonist where the fate of the world revolves around him, he could break the fourth wall he'd tell you that this whole damn Demon Cycle is all about him and disagreeing with him may be detrimental to your health.

Jardir does not seem to have a lot of depth to his character and suffers from an acute case of Gary Stu-itis , he did not leave much of an impression with me in The Warded Man, and in this second volume Brett spends a lot of pages developing him, and clarifying his motivation but he still does not appeal as a protagonist. This is partly because every line of dialogue he utters tend to be rather hackneyed, a lot of the time his dialogues remind me of He-Man from Masters of the Universe cartoons. During his years of training from average guy to total bad-ass I kept imagining the song "Eye of The Tiger" playing in the background. His femme fatale missus Inevera is more interesting but but even she is fairly one dimensional. It seems to me that most of his characters tend to have only one facet to them, they rarely ever do anything surprising or "out of character" once their individual character quirk is established. None of them seem like well rounded real people I can really care about.

Once the narrative switches to characters in Thesa / Green lands we are back with the main characters from the first book Arlen, Leesha, Rojer etc. Unfortunately the author also spend a lot of time developing the character of Renna Tanner whose back story concerning her incestuous Dad reads like a fairly distasteful melodrama. I feel that this part should have been left on the cutting room floor, by all means give her this back story but without going into unnecessary torrid details. As for Arlen the Warded Man he is beginning to seem like a character from The Marvel Universe, may be he should be called "The Warded-Man", with a hyphen.

On the very positive side from around page 200 onward the story is very fast paced and I read the second half of the book much more quickly than the first. Those pages just flew by and I did not want to put the book down. The fight scenes mostly between demons and humans are very well written and thrilling, the plot just gallops along at a breakneck speed.

In conclusion I believe Peter V. Brett is an excellent story teller, his ability to keep the reader turning the pages is top notched. However, his prose style and characterization are still catching up with his considerable plotting and narrative skills. The Desert Spear seems to be longer than it should be due to the inclusion of some unnecessary melodrama but at the end of the day it is a highly readable book. I am not entirely certain I will read the rest of the saga but I had many hours of entertainment from reading this volume.(less)

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May 01, 2010 Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, waiting-for-next

Not surprising given the title of the book - it begins by telling the other (i.e., Krasian - the desert people) side of the story. This developed motives and characters for several key people in the book that were previously more or less just "bad guys" and/or minor characters in the first book. The Krasian's apparent cruelty makes sense when viewed in light of their culture and upbringing. I'm not even sure who the bad guys are anymore… Well, I guess the demons, daughter-rapist, and a couple ot...more

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Jul 26, 2010 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, signed-first-or-limited-edition, unique-magic, fantasy, 2006-2010, angels-demons-heaven-hell, award-nominee-david-gemmell-legend

4.0 to 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed The Warded Man, the first novel in Peter Brett's Demon Trilogy, and was really looking forward to reading this sequel. Even with high expectation, Brett does not disappoint with this second entry. Without giving away any spoilers, I will just talk about those aspects of the book that I really thought were fantastic.

First, one of the things I like about epic fantasy trilogies is when the plot begins fairly small and then develops into a larger and larger story...more 4.0 to 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed The Warded Man, the first novel in Peter Brett's Demon Trilogy, and was really looking forward to reading this sequel. Even with high expectation, Brett does not disappoint with this second entry. Without giving away any spoilers, I will just talk about those aspects of the book that I really thought were fantastic.

First, one of the things I like about epic fantasy trilogies is when the plot begins fairly small and then develops into a larger and larger story as the novel unfolds. An example of this is Martin's Song of Ice and Fire which begins with a dispute among rival houses and soon escalates into a civil war and imminent invasion from without. This novel certainly has the requisite escalation of scope and tension.

Second, I really like world-building and descriptions of other societies and customs and Brett does a superb job with his detailed narrative of the Krasians. The Krasians are brutal and many of their customs and ways are sadistic and cruel, but Brett still manages to make them three dimensional and provide an understanding (if not a justification) for their actions. Add to that the strong "hint" that the ancient past of the world was a lot more "technological" than the present and you have the makings for many more surprises to come.

Third, I like larger-than-life characters and this book has several with the two most prominent being the Krasian leader, Jadir, and the Warded Man, Arlen. I must say that one of my favorite characters by the end of the book was Abban who begins the story as a greedy, cowardly individual and yet by the end of the story you have a tremendous amount of sympathy for him and the hint that he might have a larger role to play in the battle to come (I hope so).

Fourth, I like intersting fantasy elements and this book has that taken care of in the form of the demon "corelings" whose number and type expand in this story.

Overall, an excellent read and looking forward to the final book in the trilogy....so MAKE IT FAST PETER!!!! (less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

The Desert Spear, by Peter V. Brett is an incredible story! I liked it as much as The Warded Man, if not better. Plenty of action, adventure, battles and romance to appeal to a large audience. A storyline that can keep growing. I liked that there was a lot of detail in the lives of the characters. The events of their lives helped explain what determined the type of man they would consider to be their "Deliverer". With the same demon enemy for everyone, just how much will battling magic against m...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Lee Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was a bit perturbed and thought it was a bad idea when the book began with Jadir's life....and I was distressed when I leafed forward and saw that Arlen and Leesha's story would not continue until around page 600 on my reader. I am so glad Peter told Jadir's story now...it was a fantastic book. It is so rich and deep in detail you truly get pulled into each of their lives. You can feel the momentum picking up and the looming inevitability of the Day War as the author now begins to spin the dem...more

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May 14, 2013 Anneke Mason rated it 3 of 5 stars

If Goodreads had a "Mostly 4 star except for a few nuances that really pulled me out of the world" option, I would go with that, but unfortunately they don't create their rating system based on what goes on inside my head.

Ultimately, the book is a great followup to The Warded Man. Those who were interested in Leesha's story/character developing get a good chunk of that, and if Arlen leaving so many relationships without closure left you unsettled, those ends begin to get tied up as well.

The th...more

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Apr 26, 2013 John Hill rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the second book in this series and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite fantasy series around today.

Brett does an excellent job of fleshing out the characters we came to know in "The Warded Man" and giving us insight into characters who were only supportive in the first novel. Most notably Jadir.

In fact the first third of the novel is all about Jadir and his rise to power. Arlen does play a role, but only in the events from "The Warded Man", which we see from Jadir perspec...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Ted rated it 5 of 5 stars

I Just finished this book and I am thankful that I already have the following book in hand. I will say that the first book (The Warded Man) was one of my favorites but I think this book exceeds even that. When you read a book you have several reactions to that book:
1) You hate it (for any number of reasons) and eventually stop reading it to save yourself.
2) You hate but read it through to give it a chance.
3) You think it's ok but not great and it takes awhile but you finish
4) You think it's real...more I Just finished this book and I am thankful that I already have the following book in hand. I will say that the first book (The Warded Man) was one of my favorites but I think this book exceeds even that. When you read a book you have several reactions to that book:
1) You hate it (for any number of reasons) and eventually stop reading it to save yourself.
2) You hate but read it through to give it a chance.
3) You think it's ok but not great and it takes awhile but you finish
4) You think it's really good and look forward to reading it
5) You think it is amazing and can't wait to finish it so you finish it quickly
and then there's "The Desert Spear" which did something completely different for me. At first I was a little disappointed that the beginning of the book spent so much time away from what were the 3 main characters of the first book but I think in some way that made the rest of the book so much better as these characters went from minor to main characters as well. If you read it and find yourself longing for Arlen, Leesa and Rojer have no fear they will get there and it will all blend together wonderfully. You will also understand the need for the character development of what were minor characters in the first book.
Now as I stated I have "The Daylight War" and as soon as I finished this book it was simply a matter of picking up the next book to read. However as I read this book I found myself not rushing to finish and pick up the next book but slowing down to savor this book. I could have easily read it in 2 days but I simply didn't want it to end. I would find myself stopping and letting everything that I had just read bounce around in my head awhile so I could completely understand it and absorb it. I went from reading several chapters in a sitting to reading only parts of a chapter and letting it sink in before picking the book up again.
I will most likely start the next book today but I'm just going to let this one sink in a while longer. I might have to read read extra slow since book 4 isn't out there yet but I will probably start over with "The Warded Man" when I finish this one. So hurry up Peter V. Brett!!!!(less)

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Apr 15, 2013 Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

If I were to rename this book, I'd name it "Trigger Warning", cause it's filled with them. I'm serious, rape is a common occurence in this series, sometimes as a part of a foreign culture, sometimes as a way to harm a character, sometimes to emphasise just how evil someone is. So I'm putting that as a warning to anyone considering reading it.

Outside of that I did enjoy the book. Ancient wards being tattooed on a man's body, fighting against the demons that stalk the night. It's a nice premise wi...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Vulpesopaca rated it 2 of 5 stars

[ALERT!] Consider this review both 2 stars AND 4 stars! Read the whole review to understand why (and I mean the whole review, reading just the first paragraph will give you the wrong impression).
[Possible Spoiler Alert] I state an extremely broad focus difference between chapters (4th sentence of paragraph 1). I don't think this is a spoiler, but I've been wrong before ...
---

I really liked the first book. However, this second book ... well, it was odd for me. Honestly, I liked part of it just as...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, alternative-future, dark-grim

I feel a bit dirty liking this series and especially this specific book (The Desert Spear). On one hand, the story moves along at a clip most of the time, the characters come into their own and sometimes in fabulous ways, Brett perfectly illustrates the relativity of culture, and the main conflict gets enough wrinkles and foils as the story progresses to keep it new and interesting. But on the other, this series really likes rape.

At least 3 major characters have a rape backstory and the threat...more I feel a bit dirty liking this series and especially this specific book (The Desert Spear). On one hand, the story moves along at a clip most of the time, the characters come into their own and sometimes in fabulous ways, Brett perfectly illustrates the relativity of culture, and the main conflict gets enough wrinkles and foils as the story progresses to keep it new and interesting. But on the other, this series really likes rape.

At least 3 major characters have a rape backstory and the threat of the act is always hovering in the background. What's more, many of the ancillary characters make comments that are so beyond border-line rape apology that it jarred me out of the world. What's worse is that some of the reasons and prolonged effects from the back-stories are expertly done and have a legitimate impact on the character, but those stories feel tainted by the rest; when the trope is so prevalent in the story, it's hard to disassociate the good from the bad.

Arguments can be made (and they are frequently by the author in interviews and reddit AMAs) that because of the frequency of rape in the real world, the Demon Cycle does not have an over-abundance of it and is actually a grim look at reality. Yet it's not just the existence of the act within the books that is odd, but also how women are treated in general, often boiled down to nothing more than what they can do or be for a man. In short, women in this series are basically looked at as a walking, talking sex toy. Leesha is constantly reminded by every matronly character that she should be sleeping around more; if this was done in a more "sexual liberation" sort of way, as in how it's handled in Malazan Book of the Fallen, I doubt it'd irk me at all. If that was what Brett was going for then I think he failed. Again, I know that the real world modeled this view for a long time, but the enthusiasm that some of the characters embrace this idea with is disturbing.

Overall, though, the book is still a great read. The beginning portion that introduces Jardir was a revelation and introduced the first male character that I openly rooted for in the series. What's more, I felt bad for rooting for him, just Brett likely wanted the reader to. Having a book so close to being a must recommend be marred by a few fatal flaws is incredibly frustrating, however, and I can't think of a better example than The Desert Spear.

Yet I can't wait to dig into the third book. (less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Mihir rated it 4 of 5 stars

Full review originally at Fantasy Book Critic [With thoughts by Liviu S.]

ANALYSIS: The Desert Spear was my top 2010 anticipated novel after last year’s The Painted Man took first place in my 2009 reads. So with such high expectations I started The Desert Spear wondering whether Peter Brett would be able to duplicate his success and give us a worthy sequel.

The Desert Spear prominently features Jardir a minor but very important character in the debut novel and it focuses upon his journey from ch...more
Full review originally at Fantasy Book Critic [With thoughts by Liviu S.]

ANALYSIS: The Desert Spear was my top 2010 anticipated novel after last year’s The Painted Man took first place in my 2009 reads. So with such high expectations I started The Desert Spear wondering whether Peter Brett would be able to duplicate his success and give us a worthy sequel.

The Desert Spear prominently features Jardir a minor but very important character in the debut novel and it focuses upon his journey from childhood to adulthood in the same way as it was done with Arlen in the previous book. The author also gives us a very detailed look at the Krasian way of life and warrior culture in the process and makes that world much more alive while precluding Jardir from being just an Arabian warrior stereotype. The story then progresses to catch up with what has occurred previously and then expands as Jardir and his Krasian warriors look to emulate the path of the first Deliverer Kaji. However the Krasian way of getting allies is a brutal one and more than often it antagonizes the subjected population.

The story then turns towards the geopolitical spectrum as Arlen and Jardir go about their individual ways and in turn meet other crucial POV characters. We get a story which becomes much more than just a battle of survival. While the basic premise of the series , namely defeating/understanding the Corelings is always present, The Desert Spear features a lot more the mystical aspects of its universe and the powers they can grant to their bearers . The Krasian magic system is very fascinating and the seemingly powerful magic of their women makes us reconsider the Krasian culture to a large extent.

The Desert Spear is darker than "The Painted Man" and it was more fascinating in the sense that the magic system was explored further, we were given a viewpoint into the enemy both human and non-human and lastly the POV character interaction just sets the pace for the next book nicely. On the downside the action levels in this book are bit more muted than before and by this I mean that while The Desert Spear does have lots of action scenes, they are more on a personal level rather than the "men against demons" in "The Painted Man".

The one niggle I had was that of three different characters who recognized Arlen in his painted avatar, two choices seemed logical but the last one however seemed a bit stretched.

Overall The Desert Spear was a worthy sequel to "The Painted Man"; it wasn’t as addictive as the debut but it had its own dark edge to it. Especially since this can be considered as a transitional volume and sets up a lot of events for the third book “The Daylight War” and as the title clues us in we are in for a bumpy ride. The Desert Spear will be a worthy contender for my year end lists.(less)

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Feb 01, 2013 Lani rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first book's pacing was too brisk to form a coherent plot line and prevented any emotional investment in the characters. It seemed to serve as a pre-war summary of the lives of various key characters. The second book then succeeded the first as a chronicle of the beginning of the second "Daylight War". Although the second book in the Demon Cycle series still suffers a little from the quick passage of time (something like 20 years of several characters' lives are described in a couple hundred...more The first book's pacing was too brisk to form a coherent plot line and prevented any emotional investment in the characters. It seemed to serve as a pre-war summary of the lives of various key characters. The second book then succeeded the first as a chronicle of the beginning of the second "Daylight War". Although the second book in the Demon Cycle series still suffers a little from the quick passage of time (something like 20 years of several characters' lives are described in a couple hundred pages), there's significantly less of this than was in book one, and more time is spent on events spanning a couple of years. This is good because now the purpose of the series really become clear.

(some spoilers below)

In the first book, we are introduced to characters whose importance to the plot do not become apparent until the last parts of the book. Offensive wards are re-discovered and it's found that an exceedingly talented musician can control demons. It's unclear what demons are, why they attack humans, what the Core is, and why they disappeared for millennia before coming back to slaughter humans again.

The second book does little to clear up any questions, but it does move the plot along nicely as a desert warlord begins his conquest to unite all humans in a fight against demons. This is dubbed the second "Daylight War". Unfortunately, this is the only true progress in the chain of events. The warlord takes over one city, then the Warded Man goes around killing demons, spreading news of the invasion and the knowledge of offensive wards, and rescuing people. The musician and the herb gatherer protect the Hollows. A couple of new demon types are introduced (one is a shape shifter, which is controlled by the other, a telepathic brain-demon)...and nothing much else happens. Four stars only because the book was more was engaging than the first (which I gave 3 stars) even though, in form, the plot was a bit stagnant.

I'm not sure how the conclusion of this series is going to fit into the last book (unless my assumption that this is a trilogy is incorrect). The last book needs to deal with the nascent Daylight War and hopefully answer all of the questions that are floating around about the demons, magic, wards, and the Core. I'll read the last book, if only to figure out the whys of everything.(less)

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Jan 17, 2013 QS rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, reviewed, fantasy, series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I wanted to enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the last one, but I really didn't. This is because I was expecting a lot more EPIC FIGHTING and a lot less boring politics crap. I don't dislike boring politics crap all the time, of course; I just get ridiculously disappointed when I expect physical action and get people talking instead. Feh.

Anyway, many of my complaints regarding the last book still stand, and even those that didn't at first came back to haunt me. I am honestly convinced that Br...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Ryan Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars

Here we go. This is the reason you read 'The Warded Man'. It's time to see what's happening with our thee main characters, Leesha, Rojar, and Aren. This novel starts where book one SHOULD have ended. Since 'The Warded Man' ended so abruptly the first few chapters of this book really need to wrap up the previous story. When an Epic Fantasy novel depicting a fight for the nation or world ends one of two things should have happened. Either things are better than before or things are worse that even...more Here we go. This is the reason you read 'The Warded Man'. It's time to see what's happening with our thee main characters, Leesha, Rojar, and Aren. This novel starts where book one SHOULD have ended. Since 'The Warded Man' ended so abruptly the first few chapters of this book really need to wrap up the previous story. When an Epic Fantasy novel depicting a fight for the nation or world ends one of two things should have happened. Either things are better than before or things are worse that even. At the end of book one things are pretty much the same. A few pages into book 2 we find this isn't quite true. While we're a long way from turning the tide here things are certainly gotten better. I definitely have to give props to Peter Brett here for how he keeps his monsters relevant. yes, Cutter's Hollow is starting to win against the world of demons but that doesn't mean that the bad guys are harmless. One small village could be the snowball that begins the avalanche or could just as easily become a foot note in history as "that one place where we gained some head way before (fill in the blank with some awfulness)". People are still dying, the situation is still dire!

And then, a little jarringly, we're thrown into the story of new characters. Book #1 takes place over about 30 years. The first flashback starts about 20 some odd years before that. For those of you not so good at math that's 50+ years. And we now have two new central character. Oh we've met Ahmann Jardir and Renna before, but as a background characters for some of Aren's story. It was hard to buy into this part of the book. Ahmann Jardir is easily the most villainous character of 'The Warded Man'. And now we have a story for this guy? I didn't want a justification for why this guy did what he did. But I came around and managed to get into this new central character.

Peter Brett keeps the culture of Krasia different enough that while we can really understand WHY Ahmann Jardir does what we does, we don't have to agree with him. There is also A LOT of genius in this move. Once we really start to get a understanding for a culture that is all about fighting the demons, no matter the hopelessness of it, we have a different feel about hiding behind ward when we go back to the part of the world that book #1 showed us. We really can see how the fear of these demons has changed the people that live here. We can see that their day to day life is not the only thing altered, but the very core of their characters is changed. So... two birds... one stone. Fleshed out a new important aspect of the plot, check. Showed the beaten down nature of the people of the world, check.

Renna's story, while less exciting gets us back to our previous main characters. Thankfully we finally get some information on what happened to Aren that was never covered in the first novel. Bits and pieces come out slowly but surely and the ice finally starts to flake off the man that Aren has become.

The development in this book for the story as a whole is great. As is necessary the conflict gets ratcheted up. There's a 3rd side to this war. Humans are more prepared to bring the fight to the world of demons. And we learn that as bad as the demons we are seen are, this is only a fraction of how bad things are about to get. The ending leaves you feeling excited to get to the next novel, but satisfied that the journey has come to a natural pause.

Who should read this: The person that read "The Warded Man" and wanted more. (less)

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Jan 03, 2013 Eric rated it 5 of 5 stars

Having read and loved THE WARDED MAN (reviewed elsewhere on this site) by Peter V. Brett, I’m surprised it took me so long to read THE DESERT SPEAR. Waiting so long was clearly a mistake on my part. This was a fantastic read.

THE DESERT SPEAR was very different from THE WARDED MAN, but no less fantastic. Whereas the first book was about humans learning to fight back against the corelings, this book was about whether humanity would (or even could) unite against the demons, and if so, under whose g...more Having read and loved THE WARDED MAN (reviewed elsewhere on this site) by Peter V. Brett, I’m surprised it took me so long to read THE DESERT SPEAR. Waiting so long was clearly a mistake on my part. This was a fantastic read.

THE DESERT SPEAR was very different from THE WARDED MAN, but no less fantastic. Whereas the first book was about humans learning to fight back against the corelings, this book was about whether humanity would (or even could) unite against the demons, and if so, under whose guidance. You see, THE DESERT SPEAR just doesn’t take up where book 1 left off. Instead, it jumps back and forth in time, giving readers a detailed history of Ahmann Jardir and the Krasians, before proceeding with parallel tales of the two potential Deliverers: Jardir and Arlen. Although scanning the table of contents, I was a little disappointed to learn that I would be spending so much time learning about Jardir, but while reading it, I loved it. it was particularly striking to learn his motivations for why he did what he did to Arlen in book 1 (sorry, I’m trying to keep this spoiler free).

Once again, Brett demonstrates his talent for worldbuilding. Krasia is a wonderful mix of Sparta, feudal Japan, and Middle Eastern traditions. Not only is it a richly detailed world, but my using POV characters from different castes, Brett explores this world from different angles, allowing readers to soak up the details. Although, there are times when Brett jumps from POV to POV not only within a chapter but also within a single scene, I think he did a good job of presenting unique perspectives, particularly considering how many he was juggling at one time. But it could be confusing for readers if you miss the POV shift.

And don’t worry, Arlen is not shortchanged in this book. We see not only how powerful he has become, but also the effects, sometimes terrible, of his transformation into the Warded Man. Arlen has been staring into the abyss for so long, he’s in danger of becoming more beast than man. As Arlen confronts the people he abandoned in the past, Brett portrays Arlen’s fragile humanity in a subtle and delicate way.

I also liked that Brett gave us a coreling POV. With Jardir and Arlen becoming so powerful, the corelings were not as scary as they were in book 1. So the coreling POV give us a glimpse of new demons, far more powerful than what we had seen previously. Additionally, we get a glimpse of the Core, and the horrors it’s about to unleash upon the world.

In THE WARDED MAN, the world was broken. In THE DESERT SPEAR, the world is starting to crumble. Two men think they have the answer. Jardir wants to unite the world under his banner, but Arlen wants people to stand up and fight on their own, for their own. Who is right? Who is wrong? I can’t wait to read THE DAYLIGHT WAR and find out what happens next in the fight between men and demon.(less)

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Dec 09, 2012 Petit-lips rated it 4 of 5 stars

http://lectures-petit-lips.blogspot.f...

J'avais eu un véritable coup de coeur pour « L'Homme-rune », et ce fut un immense plaisir de me plonger dans cette suite, « La lance du désert ».

Le peuple vit toujours dans la crainte des démons qui sortent chaque nuit de terre. Grâce à l'Homme-rune, Arlen, le village du Creux du Coupeur (où vivent Leesha et Rojer, rencontrés dans le premier tome) peut enfin se défendre face aux démons, et pas seulement se cacher derrière des runes de protection. Arlen veu...more http://lectures-petit-lips.blogspot.f...

J'avais eu un véritable coup de coeur pour « L'Homme-rune », et ce fut un immense plaisir de me plonger dans cette suite, « La lance du désert ».

Le peuple vit toujours dans la crainte des démons qui sortent chaque nuit de terre. Grâce à l'Homme-rune, Arlen, le village du Creux du Coupeur (où vivent Leesha et Rojer, rencontrés dans le premier tome) peut enfin se défendre face aux démons, et pas seulement se cacher derrière des runes de protection. Arlen veut partager ses runes de combats avec tout le monde, afin que tous soient libérés des démons. Les hommes fabriquent ainsi diverses armes, capables de tuer ces êtres venant des tréfonds de la terre.

Dans la première partie du roman, nous suivons l'enfance d'Ahmann Jardir et son ascension au pouvoir à la tête du peuple Krasien. Si j'ai détesté Ahmann Jardir dans le premier tome, j'ai adoré suivre sa vie dans ce second opus. Il reste malgré tout un personnage que je n'apprécie pas forcément et qui m'effraie avec ses coutumes archaïques. Pourtant, cela ne l'empêche pas d'être un protagoniste très intéressant. À travers Ahmann Jardir, on découvre également la vie et les coutumes des Krasiens, le peuple du désert rencontré par Arlen dans le premier tome.

Ahmann Jardir se considère comme le Libérateur et décide de partir en croisade, dans une sorte de guerre sainte, pour rallier tous les peuples derrière lui et combattre les démons. Si ses intentions peuvent paraître nobles, sa façon de procéder, sa soif de suprématie et son sentiment de supériorité font qu'il est une menace pour le peuple des terres vertes (le peuple d'Arlen, Leesha et Rojer). Ahmann Jardir est prêt à tout pour soumettre tous les hommes et femmes qui se dresseront sur sa route.

J'ai adoré retrouver mes personnages favoris. Leesha est devenue une Cueilleuse d'Herbes respectée et Rojer envoûte les démons à la perfection avec sa musique. Ils vivent tous les deux dans le village du Creux du Coupeur, renommé le Creux du Libérateur. Ils vont finir par croiser la route d'Ahmann Jardir, et même si Arlen les a mis en garde, ses amis vont bien vite tomber dans la gueule du loup.
Nous retrouvons également Renna Tanneur, l'ancienne promise d'Arlen, lorsqu'il vivait à Val Tibet.
Tous ont évolué et sont devenus de véritables héros, occupant une place importante dans cette guerre contre les démons.

Les femmes prennent une place considérable dans « La lance du désert ». Que ce soit au sein du peuple du désert, où elles agissent dans l'ombre, ou au sein du peuple des terres vertes, où elles affichent clairement leur force. Ainsi, Inevera (femme d'Ahmann Jardir), Leesha ou encore Renna dirigent les hommes et influencent le monde qui les entoure.

Pour conclure, ce deuxième tome est largement à la hauteur du premier, et mon coup de coeur se confirme pour cette série. L'intrigue est prenante et les retours dans le passé passionnants. « Le cycle des démons » est une superbe saga Fantasy, à l'univers original et aux personnages charismatiques. (less)

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Nov 29, 2012 Ryan Thomason rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can’t remember in the past year having time to actually sit down and read a book that wasn’t a Dr Seuss, Go Dogs Go, or something of the sort in children’s books. When a book from one of my favorite new writers hit the shelves, I just had to read it. So, about two months after it was released, I finally had it in hand. With only very, very late night readings my only option, I steadily finished the book in a week. How does the second installment of Peter V Bretts Demon Wars saga hold up?

A very...more I can’t remember in the past year having time to actually sit down and read a book that wasn’t a Dr Seuss, Go Dogs Go, or something of the sort in children’s books. When a book from one of my favorite new writers hit the shelves, I just had to read it. So, about two months after it was released, I finally had it in hand. With only very, very late night readings my only option, I steadily finished the book in a week. How does the second installment of Peter V Bretts Demon Wars saga hold up?

A very large bulk of the start of this book is dedicated to Jardir, leader of the desert nation of Krasia. In the first book of the series, Jardir takes a twist on a main character (Arlen the Warded Man) that left me a little upset and in turn hoping Jardir gets his ass handed to him in this book. But, we get to see the buildup in the life of Jardir how he got to be the man he is today and the strict upbringing that all Krasian males go through. With a character that going into the book I had pegged as a villain, Jardir moved up to neutral in my terms of liking him after getting his side of the story. By the end of the book, he grew on me, his courage, his willingness to follow his heart, and blatant attempts to defy his fate driven first wife (of 12). He’s a man with a clear set goal, and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve the unification of the known world to fight the demons at night. Even, if it could possibly tear his people apart.

Arlen, Leesha, and Rojer all make returns at Point of View characters. I grinned at Arlens singular drive to kill demons at all costs. Then, I smiled at Rojers antics and frustration with teaching his skill that he only seems to possess. His wide eye moments with a potential…plural matrimony, was the kicker for me. Leesha is a hit or miss character for me, at some points I like her, and others I’d rather someone else took charge. Overall though, the series would be missing a big part if she wasn’t in it, she brings a nice element to the story. With the exception of Rojer and his masterful manipulations of a fiddle that allows him to control corelings through music, all of the main POV characters seem to have an opposite that can match them in some way. Heck, they actually take a beating at times. I actually like this, I’m so tired of reading fantasy books where the main characters are so overpowered with the exception of the main villain. Though Arlen seems to be headed toward that path, it at least seems that Jardir could go toe to toe with him. If Brett really wants to get me rallying behind him, he’ll have the stones to kill off one of his POV characters, just to really throw people through a loop. I love it when writers do that.

The side characters in this book really bring a lot to the table, they don’t steal the show, but really do a great up in their supporting roles. I’m a fan of Garric, I love the big brutes that smash and hack their way through life. Though, as a wannabe businessman, I have to tip my hat to the Krasian merchant Abban. Outrageously fat, with a camel headed crutch for his gimp leg. His ability to seize on a profitable opportunity, even though he is the crap end of a brutal caste social system is endearing. He’s the ultimate underdog in this story, and you can’t help but root for his success, even though death by his own people just because of he social standing he was born into seems to always be around the corner.

The Desert Spear introduces a new POV character in Renna. Poor, poor Renna. Promised to be married to Arlen as a child in the first book, you would have thought that the brief introduction in The Warded Man was her part to play. The Desert Spear, your heart goes out to her as she tries to make the best of her situation after Arlen left her. I’m glad with how she her story ended in this book, to tell you would spoil the fun, but she justifiably deserved what she got.

We’re introduced to some new corelings in this book, the most powerful being the Mind demons and their Mimics. Mimics appear to be thoughtless entities, only doing what the Mind demon in control of them want, as mimics have the ability to alter their shape and form at will. Mind demons appear to be lower level princes in the Core where they live, if these are just the little guys and how much the two mind demons were able to accomplish. The main characters should be screwed in the next book.

I could have used more of their demon perspective in this book, I’m hoping that Bretts third installment in the series introduces a Demons point of view. If he can put the readers into perspective about the true motivations of someone like Jardir, I’d love to see what really drives the Demons in the Core to come out at night and prey upon humans.

Currently, you can get this book in hardback at the big named book stores and online retailers. If you’ve read The Warded Man, and like me was hooked onto the writing style and series, get it now. if you’re more of a casual reader though, there is no shame in not shelling out $26 for the hardcover and waiting for paperbacks. You’ll be somewhat lost without reading The Warded Man though, which you can pick up in paperback, if you haven’t gotten into this new series, do so. Now.

I’m going to give this book a $7.99/$26 score. I loved the story, and the direction that this book is taking the series. Though, in these economic times I suggest patience, and waiting for this to drop on paperback. Unless you are a book dork like me, and have to have hardbacks, it’s a must have for your fantasy paperback collection. If you use eReaders or iPods/Phone/Pad for your reading pleasures, not only do I hate you, but suggest you pick yours gadget up and download this book at whatever decent price they are offering.(less)

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Nov 26, 2012 Yutg rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really don't like myself right now.

I've seen the warded man before but didn't take that much notice I had a boring weekend and got the warded man to pass the time now I didn't sleep last night to finish the desert spear.

Its great book at the end of the warded man I expected a face off between the warded man and the Shar'Dama Ka.

So it was unexpected to see the path he went to for this one. The Krasian POV was illuminating Jardir went from a single minded fanatic to an anti-hero to hero in his...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Cameron rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Desert Spear isn't terribly written, but it is ultimately derivative and uninspired. Thankfully, the worst part of the novel is dealt with straightaway in its first third - specifically the mind-numbingly unoriginal Krasians, who appear to be naught but carbon copies of Islamist culture, down to their caste system and the way they treat their women. Men and women die gleefully for the glory of their God in combat. Women are kept wrapped up in shrouds. Men unable to take part in combat are sn...more The Desert Spear isn't terribly written, but it is ultimately derivative and uninspired. Thankfully, the worst part of the novel is dealt with straightaway in its first third - specifically the mind-numbingly unoriginal Krasians, who appear to be naught but carbon copies of Islamist culture, down to their caste system and the way they treat their women. Men and women die gleefully for the glory of their God in combat. Women are kept wrapped up in shrouds. Men unable to take part in combat are sneered at. Sound familiar? Yup, it did to me too.

It really doesn't help matters much that Jadir, the secondary protagonist to the Warded Man, is far and beyond the worst stereotype in the bunch. It's a shame, too, because the world as detailed in Warded Man had great potential. And while the first novel featured three very eye-rollling Mary Sues, at least their origin stories were fascinating enough to make them likable characters. Here, the unique world feels diminished and most of the characters lack any real progress - and some, as in the case of Leesha, seem to become even more marionette-like. I'm not sure who would find the Leesha-Jardir love story at all likable, but it certainly wasn't me.

I say "most characters" because Desert Spear does a good job with two characters - the continued adventures of the Warded Man as well as his love interest, Renna. Renna's story in particular brings back flashes of the original's interesting and decidedly more adult moments. Whereas Rojer, Leesha, and Jardir end up feeling and acting like angsty teenagers by the end of the novel, Renna and Arlen's story develops nicely. The brutality visited upon Renna is described in broad strokes, often to the benefit of the novel (as was the case with Leesha in the first). It doesn't trivialize the matters any - it just makes them easier to read, easier to stomach. There's a good sense of how far Renna's mind has stretched, and in some cases, shattered.

I can't recommend The Desert Spear. It's too derivative and is a disappointment after the first. However, given that there are several more books left in the series, perhaps the author can turn things around. I certainly hope so. The world still has potential, if the author is willing to shy away from typical romantic and fantasy conventions.(less)

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About Peter V. Brett

Raised on a steady diet of fantasy novels, comic books, and Dungeons & Dragons, Peter V. Brett (“Peat” to his friends) has been writing fantasy stories for as long as he can remember. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Art History from the University at Buffalo in 1995, and then spent over a decade in pharmaceutical publishing before returning to his bliss. He live...more

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