"The Warded Man" by Peter V. Brett

Updated rating and review

Not often do I come back to a book that I had originally decided to set aside unfinished (not often meaning 99% of the time), but I remember how this book had drawn me in until certain aspects had accrued and I went back in for seconds. Those aspects still bothered me, despite trying to see them as they were probably intended, they just came off as lewd. But everything else was excellent. The concept was five stars, the story was five stars, the writing was five stars .. the only thing that brought my rating down was the cringe worthiness of the sexual parts.

I may not have made this sound like a glowing review, but I am immediately starting book two and that says a lot. Rating: 4 Stars
Previous review and rating
The concept of demons raising every night at dusk to terrorize the people who take cover and hide behind warded doors like a strict bedtime ritual when the sun goes down, is one that I haven't really seen used before. It intrigued me. There were some issues with the book that irked me, and there were some flaws in the story itself, but the concept of it all was what was pulling me in and holding my attention despite all of that. And it worked until certain events took place.

One of the things that irked me was the authors demeaning way of portraying women. They are beneath men, and shown as being little more then breeders. Their top priorities are to reproduce, and they are made to feel shame if unable to do so. A part of me tried to take this as it was probably intended to be taken, given the circumstances of this miserable existence ... but from what I have read, this sexism only worsens as the book, and in fact the series, progresses. Women are either a slut or not one. That is how they are defined.

And a major flaw in the book, that I could see just from the little that I did read, is that the demons can not cross the wards ... but what is to keep them from flinging some large boulders towards the dwellings as inanimate objects appear not to be repelled? Perhaps this is touched upon later in the book or the series ... perhaps not.

I'll never know.

Because at page 55 the author felt the need to incorporate some rather lewd material into the story. It was meant to be seen as shocking, but for some reason it just raised my hackles and left a bad taste in my mouth. I felt like it was unnecessary and poorly done. As a reader of fantasy I have certainly read some less then savory scenes that didn't bother me, but the authors use of it just doesn't agree with me. Upon reading some reviews it sounds like it just gets progressively worse from here on out. Some describing it as some sort of odd fantasy porn.

I was enjoying the book, but I'll be taking my leave hereRating: 2 Stars
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