Review - The Warded Man

“I firmly believe it is characters, more than concepts, that drive a story.” author Peter Brett says in the interview included with his debut novel The Warded Man. “Make the characters relatable and compelling,” he continues, “and the story will work.” And work it does. From the first words to the final sentences Brett spins an enchanting tale centered around 11 year old Arlen. Arlen begins exhibiting heroic qualities, courage, bravery, determination, and valor, from the moment he’s introduced. Over the course of the novel he matures not only physically but emotionally taking the reader on a wild ride as he searches for answers to very real questions within the framework of a masterfully crafted fantasy world. An intoxicating mix of tragedy, heroism, and weakness Arlen, and the characters he meets along the way, are the perfect mix of the hero we all long to be and people we really are. That The Warded Man provides such an introspective look into humanity through the genera of fantasy is remarkable enough, but the compelling story Brett manages to weave at the same time makes it a truly incredible read. This isn’t a book I would have picked up on my own but once I had it in my hands I found it was impossible to put it down. December seems like far too long to wait for the sequel.