Reading order · 5 books · 2008 to 2017 · Set in an invented world
Demon Cycle in Order
In the Demon Cycle, demons rise from the ground every night, and people survive only behind magical wards. Arlen Bales, a boy who refuses to hide, becomes the Painted Man, and the fate of humanity rests on whether he, or a desert warlord, is the prophesied Deliverer.
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Series facts
- Books
- 5
- Published
- 2008 to 2017
- First book
- The Warded Man
- Latest
- The Core (2017)
- Setting
- Set in an invented world
The reading order
Every Demon Cycle book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
5 books · Set in an invented world
- 1The Warded Man2008With Arlen Bales and Leesha PaperIn a world where demons rise every night, three young people survive tragedy: Arlen, who refuses to hide behind the wards; Leesha, a herb gatherer and healer; and Rojer, a fiddler whose music charms demons.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Desert Spear2010With Arlen Bales and Leesha PaperAhmann Jardir, a desert warlord who claims to be the prophesied Deliverer, leads his armies north.Buy on Amazon
- 3The Daylight War2013With Arlen Bales and Leesha PaperThe war against the demons comes to a head, as Arlen and Jardir clash.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Skull Throne2015With Arlen Bales and Leesha PaperThe struggle for the Skull Throne of Krasia threatens humanity’s fight against the demons.Buy on Amazon
- 5The Core2017With Arlen Bales and Leesha PaperThe final journey to the heart of the demon world.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War, The Skull Throne and The Core in order.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Arlen Bales | Leesha Paper | Ahmann Jardir | Inevera | Rojer Inn | Renna Tanner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Warded Man | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ||
| 2 The Desert Spear | LLead | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 3 The Daylight War | LLead | LLead | MMajor | LLead | MMajor | MMajor |
| 4 The Skull Throne | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 5 The Core | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
Characters in the Demon Cycle books
6 characters from Peter V. Brett’s chart, with the number of Demon Cycle books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Arlen BalesThe Painted Man, who fights demons bare-handed | 5 | The Warded Man 2008 |
| Leesha PaperHerb gatherer and healer | 5 | The Warded Man 2008 |
| Ahmann JardirKrasian warlord | 4 | The Desert Spear 2010 |
| IneveraJardir's wife and dama'ting | 4 | The Desert Spear 2010 |
| Rojer InnJongleur whose music charms demons | 5 | The Warded Man 2008 |
| Renna TannerArlen's childhood friend, later wife | 5 | The Warded Man 2008 |