The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett - Restarting July 15th 2021

[Kelly]

As darkness falls after sunset, the corelings rise—demons who possess supernatural powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity. For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards—symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile. It was not always this way. Once, men and women battled the corelings on equal terms, but those days are gone. Night by night the demons grow stronger, while human numbers dwindle under their relentless assault. Now, with hope for the future fading, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will dare the impossible, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past. Together, they will stand against the night.

[Lesa]

I'm ready....lol

[Maddie]

I'm ready too! Just for the first one though XD I don't own the rest of the series yet.

[Kelly]

Same here ^^ I only own the first book.

[Maddie]

I will buy the rest though.

[Maddie]

I might be starting this a little early because it's my second book of the month for now.

[Kelly]

I will probably start reading this early too so that the card will be quickly done. I’ve never started BRs early before so I don’t know if that’s okay ?

[Maddie]

Yeah it is, as long as someone else starts early/late with you. And it's my third of the month now, got Storyteller first and then Knife of Never Letting Go. They might take me a few days, but then I'm jumping into this one.

[Raven]

Joining in! Can't wait to start it!

[Maddie]

Not sure when I'll get to this, hopefully this month, because I've let someone else take my slot for the challenge XD

[Lesa]

I'll be starting this book on the 9th. I've placed this book on my back burner too many times. 😀

[Maddie]

I can see myself doing that too Lesa XD

[Kelly]

Part 1- End of Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ I’m liking the book so far! It took me a couple chapters to get into it but with the audiobook and paperback, I think I’m going to go through the book faster than I thought I would.

A lot happened so I’m not sure where to start ! I’m really liking the boy and the girl (I’m so bad with names, I can’t even remember them!)

So…

It annoyed me the way girls/women were treated especially in the beginning. It seems like all they are expected to do is marry and sleep with a man to have his babies and that’s it. So I’m glad when Leesha found out that the boy she was promised to isn’t so great after all and that learning from Bruna might be a better path for her. Btw, I hate her mom but I love Bruna! She kicks ass lol.

I didn’t expect to have several main characters in this book but I’m pleased with the result so far! I’m also curious about the second part of the book since it will follow them in the next few years I believe? Also, when are we going to meet “the painted/warded man” ?? Or is it Arlen when he’ll be older?

The creatures are really evil in this book compared to some other fantasy stories. Redemption isn’t possible here for the demons and I’m liking that. That one-armed demon is going to be a problem in the future. I’ll admit I cried a little reading Chapter 7 with Roger’s family… (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Part 2 - End of Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ If it wasn’t for the audio, it would take me a lot longer to read it but the audio is doing a great job (IMO).

I’m still really liking it. Leesha and Arlen are grown up now, and Roger is older as well. I really like following them and see what they are going through. They all take different paths and I don’t think I find one point of view better than the others.

Leesha with her leaving her home, Arlen who wants to be a messenger no matter what and Roger who only has Arrick for ‘family’ (even though he’s in part responsible for his parents’ death…).

In this part, the action has picked up with the demons in that battle. I’m curious to see if Arlen figures out a way to kill them. Is he going to become the “deliverer” someday? Mmm. We’ll see !

It was sad when Leesha left Bruna, knowing that they probably will never see each other again… And Marick was such an asshole for trying to rape her. I’m glad she found a way to avoid it :/. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Wow quick!

[Maddie]

Speed through!

[Maddie]

Would you like to sprint now? I'm just starting my 'fin' book, which is a biggie!

[Kelly]

Maddison wrote: “Would you like to sprint now? I’m just starting my ‘fin’ book, which is a biggie!”

I just saw your message ! Sure, why not ?

[Kelly]

Part 3 end of chapter 24 (view spoiler)[ Now Arlen has spent 3 years traveling as a messenger. He found a lost city in the desert and all those wards / a spear that can kill demons.

I didn’t like this part as much as the first two especially because of the Krasians. I HATED how women / and some men were almost considered worthless because only real “MEN” who fought demons deserve respect ?! Well, that’s BS and I didn’t just didn’t like that culture where apparently you can get killed and betrayed too easily. Also there was one moment where the ‘first warrior’ basically told Arlen not to spend too much time with his friend or he’ll be considered a “push’ting”. That sentence just rubbed me the wrong way and I felt like it was discrimation against homosexuals.

So, I did not like that city and I’m glad he’s out of here now !! Even if it was after being betrayed after saving their lives and helping them so much…

Anyway, I’m glad he finally figured out how to fight the demons.

I was sad for Roger when he remembered the death of his family and then Arrick, drunk as he was almost got them both killed…I’m sad he’s dead because it means Roger’s alone but I didn’t really like the guy given what he’s done at the beginning of the book. I’m glad he sacrificed himself for Roger in the end instead of being a coward.

We didn’t read about Leesha in this part. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Finished - (view spoiler)[ In this part, Arlen became the Warded man, leaving his ‘humanity’ or part of it behind when he started eating demons.

The three main characters finally met and I was happy about that even if it wasn’t under nice circumstances to say the least. I was disgusted and horrified when Leesha was raped but I’m glad the attackers are dead now. The battle in Leesha’s town was epic, and I liked that most women and men united to fight.

I’m really glad Roger, the warded man and Leesha are going to be together in the next book and teach others how to fight. I hope the warded man and Leesha are going to be a couple someday.

Overall, really liked this dark and epic fantasy story and I’ll read the next book in the series. (hide spoiler)]

[Raven]

Starting now. The start already has me hooked.

[Lesa]

I started. Got to page 16. Have to go to sleep. Tired so I'll continue tomorrow after I'm done spring cleaning. Happy reading.

[Ashy Khaira]

chapter 1-3 (view spoiler)[ the book starts off with the corelings attack and its interesting to read about the wards keeping them off.when arlen's mom is attacked i thought the father would help save his wife like he told arlen,so imagine my surprise when he could not do a thing and it was arlene who helped her.arlen ended up running away from his father after his dad hit him and its came as a surprise to me when he somehow managed to severe a demons arm (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

chapter 4-6 (view spoiler)[ the following chapters talk of leesha a 13 year old.customs remain a like as in arlens place,and she is promised to gared.we see her growing stronger as she works with bruna the healer and finding the courage to stand up to her mother and break of her engagement to gared.never did see that one coming (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

chapter 7-9 (view spoiler)[ kinda hated the ass of the guy who let the people of the town die because he used all power to get the wards set up on the bridge for the dukes arrival.arlen is found by ragen and taken to the free city to be a warders apprentice....cant wait to read more (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Ashy Khaira wrote: “chapter 7-9 [spoilers removed]“

(view spoiler)[I hated him too ! (hide spoiler)]

[Raven]

31% (view spoiler)[ Wow, all these men really like to eye married women huh? Kally was so strong to fight the demons, shows how much strong mother's love can be. (hide spoiler)]

[Lesa]

Chapter 1-9
(view spoiler)[ Arlen has come a long way from being 11 years old. To witness his uncle killing himself to seeing his dead is a coward. I say not a coward scared out his mind. But Arlen loved his mom to go out and help her was strength his dad didn't have. I hate she died. Now Arlen off with Ragen in the far city to learn to be an apprentice. OMG 7 years though.
Leesha wow she had it bad. Her mom ain't sh** she's a white and very abuses to leesha and her father. Glad Leesha father finally stood up for himself. It's after Bruna gotten under his skin. Bruna that old woman I'd something else lol. But her skills will help Leesha be able to help others. Yeah seven years. But hey no need to marry Gared which I seen he didn't need Leesha him and his father just something else. His father is a homewrecker.
Rojer I wonder if he's still with Arrick and will Arrick raise him as his own. That was sad about his parents. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

chapter 10-12 (view spoiler)[ Arlen's intelligence for someone who has never read and naturality at his apprenticeship as a warder is a surprise of sorts,and reading more about the duke who would kill people when they would need them all if such a thing happened ever again,makes me wonder if the duke had any brains....or were they consumed with thoughts of lust and heirs.....the most annoying character besides the guy who killed off the whole city to make sure the wards on the bridge held the strongest (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Kelly wrote: "Ashy Khaira wrote: “chapter 7-9 [spoilers removed]“

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ its like how do you think that if th ebridge has the strongest wards it wont affect the homes and the inn where the duke is supposed to stay and shortchange a whole village on the wards.could sooooo kill the guy (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Chapter 13-16 (view spoiler)[ we see bits of Leesha at the end of her apprenticeship,she is one girl who passed her apprenticeship with bruna and the way she foiled marricks plans of having her virtue each night made me laugh,its a good way to teach a man a lesson when he tries to force you to pleasure him lol.another guy to add to the list of hated men tho.arlen finally falls in love but mery seems to be the type who only wants to control him and have him do as she wants and when he leaves,she is upset (hide spoiler)]

[Raven]

66% (view spoiler)[ Sorry to say, but I am officially hating this book. The first thing that pissed me is how not a single woman is a warrior, secondary to all men. Secondly, no one tries to innovate any warded weapons using their brains, except the Krasians. Thirdly, I know Arlen is talented, but he mastered everything damn too easily. Some words of Arlen are pissing me off. (hide spoiler)]

[Raven]

84% (view spoiler)[ Now I am having some action! Damn, Arlen turned into some badass. I feel sorry for Leesha, that was too bad for her. I can totally see these three forming a squad. (hide spoiler)]

[Raven]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I absolutely don't get why this book was hyped so much. The romance between Leesha and Arlen was forced. The rape was depicted in an absolutely disgusting way, seeing how Leesha immediately slept with Arlen. I can't sympathize with the pain Arlen feels, because he lost his mother, yet he totally cut his ties off from his village. He became too strong, without sacrificing anything. I am done. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Finished (view spoiler)[ arlen left the city after what mery did to him and 3 years later found the lost city and the spear of the deliverer,but was stolen by jardir,hate the guy the most.why the need to hurt someone and leave them to die just so you can save your own people when history said the deliverer helped all mankind?soooo its like to damn with the history you wil just rather kill off a whole village.it feels like leesha is using arlen as a coping mechanism who after his ordeal eating demon flesh to survive and had wards inked to his body,eventhough the reveal took time in coming but it was obvious from the moment the warded man was mentioned.for only arlen found the city and copied the wards,the book ends with everyone helping to fight in cutter's hollow and a few people dying with the the hollow being renamed to the deliverer's hollow.when he is about to leave,leesha and rojer insist they want to go with him .cant wait to read on in the series.arlen stopped being a messenger and was known as the warded man four years since he found the ruins.didnt expect that part though (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Hopefully I'll still get to this this month. Seems like everyone's reading it real quick.

[Ashy Khaira]

Finished (view spoiler)[ arlen left the city after what mery did to him and 3 years later found the lost city and the spear of the deliverer,but was stolen by jardir,hate the guy the most.why the need to hurt someone and leave them to die just so you can save your own people when history said the deliverer helped all mankind?soooo its like to damn with the history you wil just rather kill off a whole village.it feels like leesha is using arlen as a coping mechanism who after his ordeal eating demon flesh to survive and had wards inked to his body,eventhough the reveal took time in coming but it was obvious from the moment the warded man was mentioned.for only arlen found the city and copied the wards,the book ends with everyone helping to fight in cutter's hollow and a few people dying with the the hollow being renamed to the deliverer's hollow.when he is about to leave,leesha and rojer insist they want to go with him .cant wait to read on in the series.arlen stopped being a messenger and was known as the warded man four years since he found the ruins.didnt expect that part though (hide spoiler)]

[Raven]

Maddison wrote: "Hopefully I'll still get to this this month. Seems like everyone's reading it real quick."

I struggled for 3 days to get it done, to be honest.

[Maddie]

That's still quick for an adult fantasy!

[Maddie]

You didn't like it?

[Raven]

Maddison wrote: "That's still quick for an adult fantasy!"

If I really like a book, I complete in 1-2 days usually. Also yes, I didn't! I seem to be a minority, but I hated it the same way I hated game of thrones. I have my reasons, sigh. I want to see whether you like it or not though!

[Ashley]

Started this today! Adult fantasy usually takes me awhile to read, I have to take some breaks in between
end of part 2/16 on audio
(view spoiler)[ I can't believe the father just watched while the demons attacked his wife! These demons creep me out. (hide spoiler)]

[Lesa]

I'm actually liking this. I think I like Arlen more. I'm looking to finish today.
Chapter 10-24
(view spoiler)[ Arlen figuring out how to use the warded on his actual skin which seems to help while fighting. Smart. He's grew a lot. Poor Rojer he's been through so much. But he's managing after his master death. I can't wait to see him grow as a character. I have a feeling Rojer and Arlen go end up working together as partners. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Awesome work guys!

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting July 15th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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[Dannii]

Just starting this one :)

[Dannii]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[The lengthy first chapter introduced the reader to Arlan's village after a demon attack. The suicide at the end of the chapter was just as horrifying to read as the previous discovery of the few survivors.

The second chapter was just as long as the first and allowed the reader to understand humanity's past struggles against demons and the wards that were one of their only defences.

I really liked Leesha's chapters too. She didn't have the happiest home life but proved herself smart, brave, and dependable when she helped the herb woman to save so many lives. I really liked how she defended others too, such as when her friends were speaking badly about her Garrett and the herb woman. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[I really like how long the reader gets to spend in each perspective as it allows me to bond with and understand them.

The demons seem almost undefeatable at this point and have already taken so many lives and even more body parts from the still living. Arlan, however, survived his demon fever and was healed by a regular weed. If he had this healing information he could have saved his mother's life. I still wish he had not run from his father following this as his life would have been so different if he had stayed. His father did not seem like a bad man and was genuinely attempting to do what was best for both of them by looking at potential future wives. His time alone had given him a desire to see more of the world and not to return once his heightened emotions had settled though.

More world politics and understanding of the lay of the lands are also being introduced, which is only adding to my interest in this story.

Arlan's training with wards was endlessly fascinating. I love academics and magical or physical training in fantasy books! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[Noo, Arlan abandoned so many people for his role. I understand but it was pretty hard to read. Leesha left her village too. I have loved witnessing them grow in age and skill, leaving their families behind and thriving on the road and in new circumstances. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[Roger recalled that Arrick was responsible for his family's death and then his drunkenness and ravings spurs a demon attack and causes his death. The demons seemed quietened by Roger's playing though, which is a new revelation. I can foresee Roger's fiddle joining with Arlan's warding and Leesha's healing to fully defeat the demons. With so many books left in this series I know it isn't going to be this easy though.

Roger and Leesha have met and, despite his younger age, Roger seems smitten. He accompanies her back to her village, for protection and through adoration. They were attacked, beaten, and Leesha was raped, which was all horrendous to read about!

I was waiting for them to meet with Arlan so the three perspectives could be joined on their journey. It happened soon after the attack and he joined them in saving Leesha's village.

I adored almost every aspect about this book. The one flaw (and it is a major one) was how Leesha waited to lose her virginity for 27 years and then slept with Arlan hours after being attacked and raped. What was the thought process behind including that scene??? I'm not judging anyone's actions but it doesn't seem feasible that whilst attempting to come to terms with such a brutal attack you would then tell another man, who you've just met, that you'd happily have his baby??? (hide spoiler)]