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The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold

(Demon Cycle #1.5 + 1.6)

Peter V. Brett (Goodreads Author)

4.05 · Rating details · 2,073 ratings · 130 reviews

From the dangerous world of the Demon Cycle comes the early adventures of Arlen, Peter V. Brett’s quintessential fantasy hero. These exciting origin tales follow Arlen as he learns to navigate a world where the elemental forces of evil conjure themselves from the earth each night.

Humanity has barely survived a demonic onslaught by using magical wards that protect their cit ...more

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Paperback, 192 pages

Published July 7th 2015 by Tachyon Publications (first published April 16th 2011)

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· 2,073 ratings · 130 reviews

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Apr 15, 2015 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it

Shelves: novella, arcs-and-galleys, fantasy, magic, short-stories, review-copy

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/07/13/b...

Every fan of Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle series should check out this collection. I promise you won’t regret it! Not only does The Great Bazaar & Brayan’s Gold contain two excellent short stories, it also features fun little extras like “outtakes” from earlier versions of The Warded Man and a ward grimoire complete with illustrations of the wards themselves. While longtime readers of the series will likely be the ones to ...more

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Apr 20, 2015 Terence rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars, arcs-and-galleys

Before becoming the fearsome tattooed warrior The Warded Man, Arlen Bales was a messenger. The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold shows two of Arlen's notable messenger adventures.

Brayan's Gold depicts Arlen's first overnight trip as a messenger. From nearly the beginning things go wrong for the demon magnet Arlen Bales, but Arlen is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure his trip goes as planned. Arlen's fearlessness is on display in this novella in absurd proportions.

The Great Bazaar takes Arle ...more

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Oct 28, 2017 Milda Page Runner rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Recommended for people who enjoyed the first book in the series and wanted more Arlen's adventures. This covers the sweet spot when Arlen already had the knowledge and the means to reasonably protect himself from the demons but before he found the god mode cheat.

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Jul 31, 2019 Hailee rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-buddy-reads-2019

2.5 stars.

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Apr 16, 2015 Bob rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-epic

Contained within the slim bounds of The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold are a pair of short stories, a pair of deleted scenes (one for Arlen & one for Brianne), and a pair of reference pieces (a Krasian Dictionary & a Ward Grimoire). While one could argue that anything related to The Demon Cycle is required reading, these are supplementary bits of storytelling, snippets that add to the enjoyment, but don't redefine anything we already know.

Having said that, they're certainly worth the read, especia Contained within the slim bounds of The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold are a pair of short stories, a pair of deleted scenes (one for Arlen & one for Brianne), and a pair of reference pieces (a Krasian Dictionary & a Ward Grimoire). While one could argue that anything related to The Demon Cycle is required reading, these are supplementary bits of storytelling, snippets that add to the enjoyment, but don't redefine anything we already know.

Having said that, they're certainly worth the read, especially while we wait for Peter V. Brett to drag us down into The Core.

The Great Bazaar was a fun story, because it hearkens back to an earlier, more innocent time when Arlen was still a messenger. It explores a bit more of the world, exposes some surprising corruption within the messenger ranks, and adds snow demons to our monster repertoire. More importantly, it answers a question I always wondered about regarding thundersticks. It's refreshing to see Arlen as a young man again, bold and confident, but not yet laboring under the weight of his own destiny.

Brayan's Gold was less of a stand-alone story, feeling much more like the deleted chapters it really is, but it's exciting to have some scenes told from Abban's perspective. Again, this is a story of Arlen's early years, when he's already come to Fort Krasian and made an ally of the khaffit, but has yet to make his most important discovery. Here we are reminded of his treasure hunting past, and we understand a bit more of just how it is that he came to make that eventual discovery that would change his world.

Given that all of this comes from the lost pages of The Warded Man, it's not surprising that One-Arm is such a prominent force in both stories, but it is rather shocking to see Arlen fully encased in warded body armor. Sometimes we forget how far a hero has traveled, so it's refreshing to recall the days when he was still very much mortal, and not yet chosen. As for the deleted scenes, they're just that - deleted scenes - rather than self-contained narratives. Interesting, but nothing remarkable.

All told, though, The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold was a nice look back at the origins of Arlen and The Demon Cycle.

Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration.This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my honest review.

...more

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May 21, 2015 Charlie - A Reading Machine rated it really liked it

Brayan's Gold is a bit of what we missed in The Warded Man. I remember reading it and thinking it was a bit light on the training scenes which I happen to really like. This here is the closest we really get to one as we see Arlan sent on his first major messengering mission where he betrayed and attacked by thieves and encounters his first snow demon. He is only 20 or so at the time I would wager and it's nice to see the strength of the man was present in the boy.

The Great Bazaar is more about ...more

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Apr 17, 2015 Nayeomi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs-to-review-or-author-request

Book provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sumptuous appetizer to the Demoncycle series.

The book contains 2 novellas, Brayan's Gold and The Great Bazaar. Additonally, deleted scenes from The Warded Man has been included so readers can understand the intricacies of publishing and an author's mind a little bit more.

My timing was perfect when i read this book. I have not yet picked up the Demoncycle series and reading the first novella has given me ...more

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Jul 23, 2015 Vippi rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss

If you love the Demon Cycle, you can’t miss this collection of novellas and deleted scenes (plus Krasian Dictionary and Ward Grimoire).

Of course you can enjoy the series even without reading this one. However, it’s a pleasant plunge into this amazing world.
Since I LOVE his character and the two novellas (Brayan’s Gold – 324 AR & The Great Bazaar – 328 AR) offer a further glimpse of Arlen-before-becoming-the-fearsome-Warded-Man’s past, IMO they alone are worth the ride.

“Any Messenger alive wi

...more

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Aug 14, 2015 Julie (Manga Maniac Cafe) rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars

I enjoyed Brayan's Gold the best, and thought it a good representation of the longer series. Arlen is reckless and refuses to be cowed by the demons that rise from the Core at dusk every evening, searching for prey to tear to shreds. I love the concept of this series: being outside after dark is almost a certain death sentence, unless you are protected by magic wards. Arlen is a gifted warder, and he won't live locked behind walls when there's a whole wide world to see and try to take b ...more

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Sep 22, 2015 Tracey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, netgalley

Oh, so that's what all the fuss is about with Peter V. Brett. The Warded Man has been on my radar for some time; I have it, somewhere, but somehow never cracked it open.

I certainly will now. This pair of novellas (with extras) was an excellent introduction and inducement. I absolutely look forward to more of this world and of Arlen, Brett's hero. The writing was beautifully, deceptively simple and straightforward – it felt like a solid old-fashioned fantasy, and I mean that as a high compliment ...more

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May 17, 2018 Talia Colley rated it really liked it

Shelves: tower-teams-vi

These were interesting stories that filled in the gaps of events that were referenced but not fully described in the other books of the series. A good read for fans who want to spend a little more time in the world of Thesa.

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Jul 07, 2015 Kelly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, shorts

The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold is a collection of short novellas and stories that are part of Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle.

Having finished The Warded Man only yesterday, I was eager to read anything set in Peter V. Brett’s world, particularly if it was an Arlen story. "Brayan’s Gold" fit the bill perfectly. Set during Arlen’s apprenticeship to Cob, "Brayan’s Gold" tells the tale of Arlen’s first encounter with a fabled snow demon.

Arlen has undertaken a few trips to the Duke’s mines but, since ...more

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Apr 18, 2015 Rinn rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed, met-the-author, read-2015, arc-or-review-copy

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.

I first discovered Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle series three years ago, when I picked up The Painted Man from my local library. I absolutely fell in love with the series, and have now read and reviewed all three books in the series so far. The first book is definitely my favourite of the three, so I thought it would be interesting to go back to Arlen’s roots with these sho ...more

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Sep 14, 2015 A Reader's Heaven rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: action-adventure, short-fiction, net-galley, fantasy

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

In young Arlen’s homeland, vicious demons rise from the earth each night. Villagers are terrified, hiding behind magically warded walls. As Fort Miln’s newest and most reckless messenger, Arlen dreams of taking the night back from the nearly invincible corelings. But first, he’s got a job to do.
The Great Bazaar & Brayan’s Gold is the much-anticipated volume of Arlen’s early life. This chronicle features full-l ...more

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May 06, 2013 Kristina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-goal-90, reading-challenge-a-z-2013

What a great addition to the Demon Cycle!

This book is essentially two mini stories that happen during the time frame of the first book, The Warded Man, that you never really get to see because they happen during the years long gaps in that story. I admit that I read it after I had read The Daylight War, so it was kind of a shock to see Arlen in armor, but even in armor he was so... Arlen.

I would highly suggest picking up a copy it you are a Demon Cycle fan. If you've heard about the series and h ...more

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May 04, 2015 Dany rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, demons, epic-fantasy, adventure, short-stories, literary-fiction, ebook-or-kindle, speculative-fiction, better-than-i-thought-it-would-be

Mr. Brett's a great storyteller, also a one of the best new voices in fantasy genre. Here is the beginning of a hero, set in the world THE DEMON CYCLE, including the travel, the mision and fight scenes. What more could you ask for?

PLUS it can be enjoyed by everyone, no necessarily just for the demon cycle fans but also fantasy readers.

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Mar 20, 2020 Stefano G. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I first read Barayan’s Gold and The Great Bazaar on my train trip back from Frankfurt last year (2019). Both stories are easy reads and fill some of the time skipped in Arlen’s story arc in Book 1, unfortunately I must add as I really liked Arlen’s POV pre-warded man. Both add to the world-building of the Demon Cycle series, so definitely recommended for fans of the series!

Note that at the end of this collection there is a Grimoire of Wards, which is not even present in the main books... this wa ...more

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Jun 06, 2015 Seregil of Rhiminee rated it it was amazing

Originally published at Risingshadow.

This Tachyon Publications edition of The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold is an excellent collection for fans of Peter V. Brett (this edition will be published in July 2015). It's a collection of two novellas, both of which are set in the world of The Demon Cycle. They offer an interesting glimpse into the author's rich fantasy world in which humanity has survived a demonic onslaught and where being outdoors after the sun has set is dangerous and deadly because o ...more

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Sep 28, 2018 Margaret rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Although I`m not a lover of short stories, these two were gripping and filled in some gaps in the series about Arlen Bales fight with the (corlings) demons that materialise at night and plague his world. I am now eagerly looking forward to reading the latest and I suspect the last in the series. Peter Brett has an easy and captivating style which really makes the narrative live. ...more

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Jul 16, 2015 Jasper rated it really liked it

Shelves: epic-fantasy, read-in-2015, tachyon

originally published at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2015...

Peter V. Brett is a well known name in the fantasy world, being the author of the highly praised The Demon Cycle series. The series has been running strongly featuring the books, The Paintend/Warded Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War and The Skull Throne so far. The fifth addition, The Core is set to be published in 2018 (according to Goodreads). In expanding his universe, Peter V. Brett has written various short stories and t originally published at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2015...

Peter V. Brett is a well known name in the fantasy world, being the author of the highly praised The Demon Cycle series. The series has been running strongly featuring the books, The Paintend/Warded Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War and The Skull Throne so far. The fifth addition, The Core is set to be published in 2018 (according to Goodreads). In expanding his universe, Peter V. Brett has written various short stories and two of them: The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold have been compiled by Tachyon Publishing into an omnibus edition sharing with the names of the stories as title. This for me was the first encounter with the Demon Cycle series and I tell you it has been a pleasant one!

The first story in this omnibus is that of Brayan's Gold. Brayan's Gold takes place in between the first book, The Pained/Warded Man and the second book, The Desert Spear. The story focuses on the main protagonist of the series, Arlen Bales, who is setting his footsteps in the trade of being a messenger. Arlen is a young adult of 17 years old, who is trained by his master Curk to become a full messenger. Messengers in the universe of Peter V. Brett are brave souls who venture long distances to deliver valuable, well it might sound boring but it's these brave souls that have to stay out at night or travel at night. And at night, the world transforms, bringing the demons out to play. Now back to the story, so Arlen is set on a task to deliver some very explosive items to Count Brayan who uses these items in his excavation endeavors. Again bringing stuff from point A to B is easy but not with demons and other people that wants something from you. Early on in the story Arlen is faced with troubles, not the demonkind, which he solves rather drastically. During this early encoutner it really comes to show that Arlen is a boy who sticks with his promises, it might give him a certain degree of naivete but it also with the stunt he pulls makes him very dangerous and not person you want to mess with. Of course Arlen also has to face of with some demons, because well, he travels in the dark hours as well. In the end Arlen does make it intact to Count Brayan to deliver the good, but here again he is faced with problems of a different degree and for me it came to show that Arlen, though apprentice messenger by trade, is something much more.

The Great Bazaar is the second story of the omnibus and is actually a chapter from The Painted/Warded Man, this chapter was set somewhere in between 16 and 17 of the book. It does happen later than Brayan's Gold. Here Arlen is already a bit more grown up and no longer feels like the apprentice messenger he was said to be in the first story. In this story Arlen receives a map from Abban. Abban runs a shop at the Bazaar in the desert of Krasia, and he wants Arlen to find a treasure, a very expensive and valuable piece of pottery which is said to be located in a small desert village. The reason why Abban cant retrieve said pottery is because the town is overrun by demons and demons can only be fought with wards. So naturally Arlen will be the best suited person for this task as he knows wards and how to use them. The trek to the desert town is a tough job where Arlen faces a number of known demons to him, who he can easily outsmart. But once in the city he stumbles upon species of demons he has never seen before and will make this task a lot harder on him.

If you are new to the Demon Cycle series like me, both Brayan's Gold and The Great Bazaar make up for a very good an clear introduction/teaser for the bigger series, they can be easily read and understand as standalone books.

The strength for me in these two stories really are the protagonist Arlen, he is a cool guy, as I said a bit naive but when he has to do things he will make sure the job gets done, and most importantly he sticks to his guns, no matter how dire the situation is. Another thing is the part of the whole demon fighting and the bigger idea behind it. I am a big fan of cool fighting scenes and unique systems with advantages/disadvantages and limitations and this is precisely what Peter. V. Brett utilizes in these two stories. This short omnibus edition featuring Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold has definitely wet my appetite for more! ...more

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Jul 07, 2015 Jessica Strider rated it it was amazing

This is a collection of 2 short stories and 2 passages that were cut from The Warded Man. Each story has a short introduction from the author explaining either where the ideas came from or why the scene was cut. The stories were originally published as limited edition hardcovers by Subterranean Press, with this new combined edition being published in trade paperback by Tachyon Publications. The book also includes a short Krasian dictionary, which is not really necessary as all the required terms This is a collection of 2 short stories and 2 passages that were cut from The Warded Man. Each story has a short introduction from the author explaining either where the ideas came from or why the scene was cut. The stories were originally published as limited edition hardcovers by Subterranean Press, with this new combined edition being published in trade paperback by Tachyon Publications. The book also includes a short Krasian dictionary, which is not really necessary as all the required terms are explained in the stories themselves, and some examples of wards and the types of demons they’re used to protect against, which is pretty interesting to read.

***** Brayan’s Gold - While an apprentice messenger, Arlen and his master are assigned a longer run than usual, transporting thundersticks to Brayan’s Gold, high in the mountains. But while the compensation is generous, the risks are also high: bandits, harsh conditions, and several nights outdoors with only warded circles as protection against demons. This is a fantastic story with a lot of different elements to it. There’s a surprising amount of variety to the troubles Arlen faces as he heads into the mountains.

***** The Great Bazaar - Using a map procured from Abban, a khaffit from the great bazaar in Fort Krasia, Arlen hunts for treasure, and discovers demons he’s never faced before. This story has scenes from both Arlen and Abban’s point of views. It’s a pretty focused story, but you do get to see a little more of what life is like for the underclass in the bazaar.

Brett manages to pack a lot of content into both stories and writes them in such a way that they fill in gaps left by the novels but explain everything required to enjoy them if you haven’t read the books.

***** Arlen - This is a prologue that didn’t make the book, dealing with Arlen’s life before the events of The Warded Man. It’s an interesting look at his youthful personality and how he was already pushing boundaries.

**** Brianne Beaten - This passage deals with a scene from Leesha’s life that kind of stands on its own, though it involves an unmentioned incident that ruined a friendship. It helps to know what that incident is, but the scene still works if you don’t.

It’s a pretty short book, but the stories are high quality and help flesh out Arlen’s character. If you missed the Subterranean Press editions, then this is a good time to get the stories. If you’ve never read Brett, it’s a great sampler of his work and will whet your appetite for more. ...more

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Mar 12, 2018 E.Y.E.-D rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastic-world, fantasy, 2018, read-more-than-once, short-stories, awesome-character

These were both pretty good short stores about Arlen before he became the warded Man. It was a quick read. nothing really spectacular happens but you get to experience a few of Arlen's earlier adventures.

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Apr 10, 2013 Sarah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, fantasy, short-stories, demons

This book contains two short stories from the Demon Cycle series, in addition to a glossary at the end of different wards used throughout the book by Arlen, plus a short Krasian dictionary. The stories in this book take place in the same time scale as that of the first book, The Warded Man. Both stories tell the tale of Arlen while he is on "Messenger duty" - Arlen's first overnight messenger trip is detailed in Brayan's gold, while The Great Bazaar is later in his Messenger career. Arlen is fac ...more

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Sep 08, 2015 Sibil rated it really liked it

Shelves: reading-challenge-2015

4.5
Thanks to Netgalley. I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review

I really loved this book! I loved to read about Arlen, about something that happened in his past, something that we cannot see in the main book. And I totally loved to read about the "born" of Arlen. Brett, you did well! No! You did awsome!

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Nov 04, 2013 Kaitlin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

LOVED THESE STORIES. So good to immerse myself back into the world and writing style of Peter V Brett and I just adore these quick snipits which give background details behind the original books. Highly recommended!

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Jul 08, 2015 Jana added it

Shelves: fantasyliterature, arcs, 3-stars

3 stars

Review can be found at here at FantasyLiterature.com. ...more

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Jul 01, 2016 Marc rated it liked it

Shelves: read-short-story, 2016-read

Does not add anything to the story, but I like getting back into this world. I enjoy it!

Overall 3 out 5 Snow and Clays Corelings!

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Sep 18, 2017 Tony rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

I really enjoyed this book. I read it after i finished book 2, the Desert Spear, and before I started the Daylight War. The book contains two short stories about Arlen that fit time-wise into the period of the first book, the Warded Man, though I am glad I waited til after Desert Spear to read the Great Bazaar. The book also contains two deleted scenes from the Warded Man, one about Arlen and one about Leesha. The two short stories were pure action and excitement, showing Arlen in the days he wo I really enjoyed this book. I read it after i finished book 2, the Desert Spear, and before I started the Daylight War. The book contains two short stories about Arlen that fit time-wise into the period of the first book, the Warded Man, though I am glad I waited til after Desert Spear to read the Great Bazaar. The book also contains two deleted scenes from the Warded Man, one about Arlen and one about Leesha. The two short stories were pure action and excitement, showing Arlen in the days he worked as a Messenger before he found the Spear of Kaji. When I read the Warded Man I remember feeling like I had missed out on a lot of Arlen's development as he skipped from a boy suddenly to an invincible and haunted demon warrior. I would've loved to have more of these stories and more exploration of the world before that first book ended. Arlen took time to explore much of the world and many ruins, but we as readers missed out. These two stories give an exciting view into some of that part of Arlen's life. The mountain setting of Brayan's Gold was especially new and refreshing. The first deleted scene in this book is the original sketch of Arlen written by Peter Brett long before the Warded Man was written. He explains that he wanted to include it in the Warded Man but was convinced not to. I am glad it was not included, because while it's charming in a fairy-tale sort of way, the voice and mood of the passage is mismatched with the opening of the Warded Man, and a lot of information that was allowed to develop organically in the Warded Man here in this passage seems rushed and blunt. It's an interesting glimpse of Arlen's childhood, but I believe it's good that it's presented separately here in this book. The last deleted scene in this book is a story of Leesha and Brianne which I also really enjoyed. The scene shows us a little more of these characters and the relationship between them, set again in that rich Thesan hamlet setting, and it shows a bit of Leesha's strength growing as she apprenticed to Bruna. Brett wrote that he cut the passage because the Warded Man was already 3,000 words, which I thought was unfortunate. I think I would've appreciated the extra detail. Overall, after reading through a rough start in Desert Spear, reading this book left me looking excitedly towards Daylight War and the rest of the series. ...more

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Jan 02, 2019 Amber-Leigh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favourites, library-books, awesome-characters

Truth be told, I would probably never have picked this book up if it hadn't been in the library. Not that I wasn't interested - additional stories from one of my favourite book series in recent years? Yes please! I just didn't think that two short extras for a story I'd already finished were worth buying above all the other books I was excited to read.

And honestly? I stand by that assessment now. The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold were both good, but I wouldn't say they were worth £9.99. They ce ...more

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Apr 18, 2015 Chris rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

*copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*

This collection actually contains two novella length pieces by Peter V. Brett. Both are set in the universe of ‘The Painted Man’ (‘The Warded Man’ in the US) and concern the actions of one of the protagonists from that series, Arlen Bales. There’s also some other materials – for example, some analysis of the wards that characters in Brett’s universe draw in order to stop themselves being devoured by demons, a vignette with Leesha, one of the central *copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*

This collection actually contains two novella length pieces by Peter V. Brett. Both are set in the universe of ‘The Painted Man’ (‘The Warded Man’ in the US) and concern the actions of one of the protagonists from that series, Arlen Bales. There’s also some other materials – for example, some analysis of the wards that characters in Brett’s universe draw in order to stop themselves being devoured by demons, a vignette with Leesha, one of the central characters of the saga, and a previously-excised chapter from the first novel, giving us a little more insight into Arlen’s childhood.

Lets take the last of these first; the narrative is itself preceded by some notes from the author as to why the scene was deleted. He makes a reasonable argument for its removal, but notes that he had some personal attachment to it, which is why it’s been shared here. It’s actually…pretty good. The reader is introduced to an Arlen even younger than his first previously published appearance. We’re given an insight into his character, into his need to travel, and his need to run. The theme here is one of thwarted constraint – Arlen is portrayed as longing to break free, both from the confines of his village, and from the childhood and life this entails, but being unable to do so. Brett picked this theme up again in the published text of The Painted Man, but this vignette provides even more emphasis. It also gives a slightly broader view of Arlen’s family life – there’s some remarks on his relationship with his parents which aren’t earthshattering, but do add context and texture to that portrayed in the novel this chapter was removed from. It’s narratively sparse, but really does help evoke that tone of fear and confinement that the people in Arlen’s life subsist under at the start of The Painted Man.

Moving on, there are the two novella’s for which the volume is titled – ‘Brayan’s Gold’ and ‘The Great Bazaar’

‘Brayan’s Gold’, is a story focused around one of Arlen’s first runs as a ‘Messenger’, who braves the demon-haunted nights in order to move cargo and news between warded enclaves of humanity. It gives the reader a bit more insight into the world that Arlen inhabits during ‘The Painted Man’ – a westernised fantasy realm with restricted movement and communication and a stratified social structure, where travel is both lucrative and dangerous. It has a lot of scenes that take place in various secured areas, and give the reader some insight into how the deprived, the average and the privileged population of this world manage to maintain themselves.

It also has demons. Lots and lots of demons. Arlen manages to spend quite a bit of his time trying to avoid getting into a fight with a demon, and also somehow managing to fail. There’s some fairly hectic chase scenes, and some genuinely raw and impactful combats. Brett writes fast-paced, gruesome fights, and they’re entirely believable. His non-protagonist characters don’t have quite the same depth, but this is more of a stricture of length than anything else – they’re certainly excellent foils for Arlen, and the reader does get a broader understanding of both the world and Arlen’s character from the narrative. It helps that it’s a page turner; the spaces between action are less lulls, and more necessary breathers.

The same applies to the second novella in this collection, ‘The Great Bazaar’; this one takes place a little before the start of the second volume in the wider series, ‘The Desert Spear’. Here the reader is given an older, more experienced Arlen, and (re-)introduced to Abban , one of the supporting cast from the second book in Brett’s Saga, The Desert Spear. Here, Arlen is sent into the desert wilds by Abban, in an effort to retrieve some priceless pottery from a town destroyed by demons. All does not, as you might expect, go entirely to plan. There’s also a highly convoluted and extremely entertaining sub-plot dealing with Abban’s interactions in the “Great Bazaar” of the title, struggling to deal with the enmity of a wounded warrior-turned-merchant.

As with Brayan’s Gold, this story gives us a great deal of fast-paced action. Arlen manages to do some incredibly stupid things and get away with them, at least partially through luck; but the chases, the fights, they’re page-turners, every one. At the same time, the reader is getting more context for the larger trilogy. Arlen as a younger man, possibly less angry, more easily thwarted perhaps, and not as cunning as he might be – but still driven, still recognisably the protagonist of Brett’s larger series. His careful, respectful relationship with Abban is fleshed out a bit more in this text than it has been before, and gives a new layer of meaning to their interactions in other slices of Brett’s narrative. The Great Bazaar is less of a journey story than Brayan’s Gold, but it feels like it puts a bit more meat onto the bones of extant characters, and it’s a lot of fun to read.

Overall then, this is a pretty good adjunct to Brett’s main series. We’re given a lot of Arlen Bales, to be sure, but Arlen is quite fun to read about. There’s a lot of action, a lot of death-defying, and quite a lot of hectic chases, all of which are a great read. Where all of the narratives in this collection shine though is in the characters – in the quiet moments of interaction, of shared glances, of moments of understanding which help put another layer of humanity, a patina of truth, over them.

The piece with Leesha is good fun, a quirky look at life in Cutter's Hollow. Leesha's on fine form here, slowly establishing her role in village society, and confounding the expectations of those who remember her differently. It's interesting to see this context, this sign of character growth. It feels like a relatively short scene, and it's a satisfying one, though not particularly load bearing - still, it gives us a little more of Leesha's character, and expands the world of Cutter's Hollow slightly, and is a decent quick read.

Overall, if you’re already a fan of Brett’s Demon Cycle books, this is an excellent adjunct to that series. If you’re coming to it fresh, these are perfectly fun standalone novellas – you actually don’t need to have read the rest of the series to ‘get’ them; that said, I’d recommend you do, because if you have, there’s more understanding to be had. In either case, this collection is entirely worth your time. ...more

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About Peter V. Brett

Peter V. Brett

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Peter V. Brett is the internationally bestselling author of the Demon Cycle series, which has sold over two million copies in 25 languages worldwide. Novels include The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War, The Skull Throne, and The Core. Other works include the Red Sonja: Unchained graphic novel and the Demon Cycle novellas The Great Bazaar, Brayan's Gold, Messenger's Legacy, and Barren ...more