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madmooney's review against another edition
3.0
I think one of the most frustrating aspects of Brett's Demon Cycle world (and I do not mean to comment on the writing in saying this) is how petty, bigoted and dangerous that the humans of the story could be - even in the face of potential civilization-ending danger.
There are literally hordes of demons at the gate who want to turn humans into mindless chattel, but characters are going to squabble over the intellectual rights of defensive/fighting wards because they felt cheated.
Barren takes place during the events of [b:The Core|16096968|The Core (The Demon Cycle, #5)|Peter V. Brett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487946539l/16096968._SY75_.jpg|21905325], but it can be read on its own with no spoiling of that title.
Parts of this book read like [b:The Scarlet Letter|12296|The Scarlet Letter|Nathaniel Hawthorne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404810944l/12296._SY75_.jpg|4925227], except with the titular character following a different arc of 'redemption' in the eyes of the town that have weighed and measured her (Selia Square).
While I can understand an author's desire to flesh out a different part of the literary universe that he has put into action, I do not feel that the final execution is as smooth and engaging than the rest of his work.
There are literally hordes of demons at the gate who want to turn humans into mindless chattel, but characters are going to squabble over the intellectual rights of defensive/fighting wards because they felt cheated.
Barren takes place during the events of [b:The Core|16096968|The Core (The Demon Cycle, #5)|Peter V. Brett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487946539l/16096968._SY75_.jpg|21905325], but it can be read on its own with no spoiling of that title.
Parts of this book read like [b:The Scarlet Letter|12296|The Scarlet Letter|Nathaniel Hawthorne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404810944l/12296._SY75_.jpg|4925227], except with the titular character following a different arc of 'redemption' in the eyes of the town that have weighed and measured her (Selia Square).
While I can understand an author's desire to flesh out a different part of the literary universe that he has put into action, I do not feel that the final execution is as smooth and engaging than the rest of his work.
mwplante's review against another edition
4.0
Great little peek into the ongoing world of the Demon Cycle, as we await the return of the Cycle...
flajol's review against another edition
4.0
I read the first two books in the Warded Man series back in 2011. I really enjoyed them, but somehow lost track of the rest of the books. Barren has been a good re-introduction to the world of the core demons and how wardings work, but you don't really need to have read any of the other books in the series to appreciate this novella.
Barren is Speaker Selia's story, with two main threads. One set in the present as the town faces new threats from core demons, and one set 50 years earlier with Selia as a young woman. The two stories parallel each other, with grudges born out of the past still reverberating in the small rural community Selia leads. Whilst the demons are very present in this story, it's problems with her fellow villagers, and how their social and religious beliefs inform their attitudes that are central to Selia's tale.
Barren is Speaker Selia's story, with two main threads. One set in the present as the town faces new threats from core demons, and one set 50 years earlier with Selia as a young woman. The two stories parallel each other, with grudges born out of the past still reverberating in the small rural community Selia leads. Whilst the demons are very present in this story, it's problems with her fellow villagers, and how their social and religious beliefs inform their attitudes that are central to Selia's tale.
braxwall's review against another edition
3.0
Svårbedömt när man kommer rakt in i en värld som bygger på tidigare böcker. Missade det. Men, det duger. Någon slags framtida (?) värld som behärskas av demoner. Utspelar sig i något slags klansamhälle med allt vad det medför vilket får demonerna att verka som det minsta problemet.
dean367's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
jazmyntea's review against another edition
4.0
A great little novella to dip back into the waters of the Demon Cycle. Easy and quick to read Barren gives you some backstory about the Tibbets Brook speaker and some insight for her and the town's future.
billyturkot's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think much of Messenger's Legacy, the last novella in the Demon Cycle, but I'll admit that reading it out of order probably affected that feeling. I read Barren the same week it was released, only a few weeks after I had finished The Core, so I was in the right place and the right time to read it. I also found the story to be much more interesting and fulfilling than any of the other novellas.
Barren is more about character building than world building, which could be a big part of what I like about it. It also brings diversity to the world of Thesa, though the way Brett has written it so far, it's not a surprise. It's just the first time (I think) that he's made it explicit. I also liked that it didn't end with all the questions answered, and that it didn't end with the feeling that those questions needed to be answered.
Barren is more about character building than world building, which could be a big part of what I like about it. It also brings diversity to the world of Thesa, though the way Brett has written it so far, it's not a surprise. It's just the first time (I think) that he's made it explicit. I also liked that it didn't end with all the questions answered, and that it didn't end with the feeling that those questions needed to be answered.
blackmetalblackheart's review against another edition
4.0
I disagree with anyone that has said this feels like a cash in. It is a strong story that adds history to a small, but important part of the world. Along with that, it tackles themes of sexuality and prejudice in a way that felt authentic. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of the series and has completed the main novels.