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  • The Core

  • The Demon Cycle, Book 5
  • By: Peter V. Brett
  • Narrated by: Colin Mace
  • Length: 30 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,306 ratings)
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The Core cover art

The Core

By: Peter V. Brett
Narrated by: Colin Mace
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Summary

Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling author Peter V. Brett brings one of the most imaginative fantasy sagas of the 21st century to an epic close.

The war has begun....

For time out of mind, bloodthirsty demons have stalked the night, culling the human race to scattered remnants dependent on half-forgotten magics to protect them.

Two heroes arose - men as close as brothers yet divided by bitter betrayal. Arlen Bales became known as the Painted Man, tattooed head to toe with powerful magic symbols that enable him to fight demons in hand-to-hand combat - and emerge victorious. Ahmann Jardir, armed with magically warded weapons, called himself the Deliverer, a figure prophesied to unite humanity and lead them to triumph in Sharak Ka - the final war against demonkind.

But in their efforts to bring the war to the demons, Arlen and Jardir have set something in motion that may prove the end of everything they hold dear - a Swarm. Now the war is at hand, and humanity cannot hope to win it unless Arlen and Jardir, with the help of Arlen's wife, Renna, can bend a captured demon prince to their will and force the devious creature to lead them to the Core, where the Mother of Demons breeds an inexhaustible army.

Trusting their closest confidantes, Leesha, Inevera, Ragen, and Elissa, to rally the fractious people of the Free Cities and lead them against the Swarm, Arlen, Renna, and Jardir set out on a desperate quest into the darkest depths of evil - from which none of them expects to return alive.

©2017 Peter V. Brett (P)2017 Harper Collins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Peter V. Brett is one of my favourite new authors." (Patrick Rothfuss)
"There is much to admire in Peter Brett's writing, and his concept is brilliant. There's action and suspense all the way." (Terry Brooks)
"[Peter V. Brett is] at the top of his game. I give this my highest recommendation." (Tor.com)

What listeners say about The Core

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Dissapointing end to a series that petered out.

The first two books in this series were AMAZING, yet from there it's all really fallen apart.

Oversexualised, ridiculous character directions, lazy deus-ex solutions epitomised by an awful ending that was beyond lazy. I forced myself to read this as the reviews were more positive than books 3 and 4 and it is a better book, but that's not difficult.

Colin Mace continues to do a great job.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A disappointing end to a series

The painted man series started with great characters and a good pace. A pity then that the author chose to kill one of the three main characters in the fourth book and then drag out the story into a fifth book. It would have been better as a faster paced trilogy rather than a five book series that you just wanted to have an end to.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

So disappointed

First listened to the painted man read by ,peter Joyce ,and
Then the second book in the series some years ago. Absolutely loved them..totally engrossed
10 stars all if I could .....
From then on the story seemed to lose its way as ( it seemed to me ) The Author stretched the story to make 5 novels.
Nevertheless I was excited when the Core arrived....
Sadly I just couldn’t get into it at all . The characters I’d grown to
Love , just didn’t exist any more ..
I very poor ending to a story which showed such early promise.



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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

2 books too many

Needs more of the coring deliverers. There is far to much padding with stories that go no where like Elisas mum having a kid, ragons wife injuring her leg.

30 hour book with what it feels like only 2 hours spent in the core with the best characters. Then to end it all the way it does, it has no pay off at all.

Life lesson learned - if it's a series of books read reviews of the last book first to make sure it doesn't start to drag

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Why did it have to end!!

Well it's finally over, been following this series for God knows how long now! and I'm really sad it's done, enjoyed the final book, felt the ending was a little weak but it rounds it off well. hoping there will be some spinoffs of a few other characters that I feel need a far more info, like the children and the Prince of lies that had so much build up and emphasis put on them through this book but nothing was answered!! fingers crossed

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Wonderful end to a great series of books! I just hope ,this is not the last we see of the marvellous world Peter v Brett has created.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic with the wait

Brett has out done himself this time I love this series of books , the Painted man or the Warded Man depending on the release , was one of my first audio books, Peter V Brett instantly became one of my favourite Authors
I was hooked on the series so if your reading this and you haven't Read or listened to the painted man then stop reading & go buy it , this is a great instalment a great lister Colin Mace does a great job bringing all these loved characters to life , the personalities in this series are endless , you will wince, laugh out loud , cry , meet the despicable the truly evil the kind and the Brave , I could go on all day so just read list this book/ series it is awesome.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

one of the best series i have ever read..

All four books have been outstanding i was unable to stop listening if it was not for sleep i would have..

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Are you kidding me?????

I have followed this series and like some others I was impressed at first but this has to be the most lazy ending to any book I've ever read/listened too. It's as if Mr Brett sat down to complete his Magnum Opus and then his mother said he couldn't go out to play with his friends until he had finished writing his book. It might as well just ended with the sentence "and they all lived happily ever after." It rattles along nicely and then just ends. I can't decide wether it was a four book build up to an ending or no build up at all. Very disappointed

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Generally enjoyable

A good, enjoyable read. Annoying conveniences and the author labouring to explain away contradictions to what we've been taught are the laws of his universe detract from the enjoyment at times. However, this is nevertheless a pleasing end to the series. Recommended.

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2 people found this helpful