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The Demon Cycle #1.5 + 1.6

Veličanstveni Bazar i Brayanovo Zlato

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Stotinama godina opaka čudovišta uzimaju noću danak, polako smanjujući populaciju ljudi. Magija kojom se pokušavaju zaštiti nije svaki puta pouzdana. No, nije uvijek bilo tako. Demone koji se dižu iz Srži ljudi su u dalekoj prošlosti uspješno pobjeđivali, ali to doba je gotovo zaboravljeno, a vještine izgubljene.
Zbirka sadrži dvije novele koje nadopunjuju Ciklus o demonima, a spadaju u vrijeme u kojem je smještena radnja prvog romana iz serije: Oslikani čovjek. Knjiga sadrži i izbačene scene iz prvog romana, te rječnik krasijskoga jezika i pojašnjenja magijskih simbola koji se koriste u borbi protiv čudovišta.
U noveli BRAYANOVO ZLATO, mladog će Glasnika Arlena noć zateći duboko u planinskim masivima. Bit će plijen ogromnom demonu dok bude prenosio opasan teret za grofa Brayana.
Novela VELIČANSTVENI BAZAR, priča je o Arlenovoj potrazi za novim simbolima koji bi mogli spasiti svijet koja će ga odvesti sve do najpoznatije tržnice Krasije gdje trgovac Abban ima neke odgovore...

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 16, 2011

72 people are currently reading
1049 people want to read

About the author

Peter V. Brett

102 books12.5k followers
Peter V. Brett is the internationally bestselling author of the Demon Cycle series, which has sold over four million copies in 27 languages worldwide. Novels include The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War, The Skull Throne, and The Core. Other works include the Red Sonja: Unchained graphic novel and the Demon Cycle novellas The Great Bazaar, Brayan's Gold, Messenger's Legacy, and Barren. The Desert Prince, the first installment of his Nightfall Saga, published in August 2021. The sequel, The Hidden Queen, is due early 2024. He lives in Brooklyn.

www.petervbrett.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PVBrett
Instagram: https://instagram.com/pvbrett/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVBrett/
TikTok: @PVBrett

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
Profile Image for Mogsy.
2,265 reviews2,777 followers
July 22, 2015
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/07/13/b...

Every fan of Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle series should check out this collection. I promise you won’t regret it! Not only does The Great Bazaar & Brayan’s Gold contain two excellent short stories, it also features fun little extras like “outtakes” from earlier versions of The Warded Man and a ward grimoire complete with illustrations of the wards themselves. While longtime readers of the series will likely be the ones to get the most out of this volume, I believe it can also serve as a great introduction and the perfect jumping-on point for newcomers to the Demon Cycle.

Not usually being one to pick up short stories outside of main novels, I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It probably helped that both The Great Bazaar and Brayan’s Gold take place during my favorite period of Arlen Bales’ life; that is, back when he was still a humble messenger traveling the world and going on his adventures, and before he was corrupted by demon’s flesh (and Renna Tanner – hey, I’m only being honest here) to become the Warded Man and the Deliverer.

While this one certainly isn’t required reading, the story Brayan’s Gold alone probably makes this book worth picking up. Read on for a more in-depth analysis of this book’s contents.

Brayan’s Gold – 5 of 5 stars

Arlen Bales, now 17, is an apprentice Messenger preparing for his first big assignment. But instead of a simple overnight trip, he and his companion are tasked to carry a dangerous cargo of thundersticks to Count Brayan’s gold mine, situated high up in the frozen mountains. The journey through the ice and snow will be treacherous, not to mention the threat of bandits on the road. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the giant rock demon known as One Arm still stalks Arlen every night, hungry for its revenge.

What can I say, but this version of Arlen is the character I first fell in love with: inexperienced, but determined; idealistic, but full of spirit; brave, but just a little touch insane. Best of all, it is Arlen’s story all his own, and it is amazing how much substance Brett was able to pack here in about 70 pages. For a short story, the plot is surprisingly rich with plenty of action and suspense, drama of human relationships, and of course, a heart-stopping showdown with a never-before-seen type of demon.

Its short length notwithstanding, Brayan’s Gold has become one of my favorite pieces of Demon Cycle­­-related fiction to date, and I can’t believe it took me this long to check it out. Loved it.

The Great Bazaar – 3.5 stars

In the main series, Arlen finds the ruins of Anoch Sun, the ancient Krasian city in which he unearths the tomb of Kaji and retrieves the legendary warded spear. This great discovery, however, was actually preceded by a complex chain of events. The Great Bazaar tells how Arlen first managed to acquire the map to the ruins, a story that involves Abban, our favorite khaffit.

From the sound of things, Brett first wrote this story around 2009 or 2010, right around the time before The Desert Spear came out (and the story itself takes place somewhere between Chapters 16 and 17 in The Warded Man), so this was still relatively early in his writing career. It showed in the writing, which was laden in places with awkward exposition. This is also around the time when Arlen’s character started to become aggravating, when his obsession for wards began to take over his life, resulting in unnecessary risks.

The story was pretty decent though, with a very satisfying ending. It’s mostly filler, but I can’t deny that it was entertaining.

Deleted Scene: Arlen

Peter V. Brett made the right decision when he cut this following his editor’s advice. It would have felt out of place in the novel, though I appreciated Brett sharing the story about how his entire Demon Cycle series was born from the seed of this introductory scene. I can certainly understand the personal and emotional attachment to a piece like this, so even though it has no place in The Warded Man, it was still a fascinating little bonus.

Deleted Scene: Brianne Beaten

Brett explains that this was one of his favorite scenes, but since it added nothing to the narrative (it was supposed to show how badass Leesha had become, but it was already clear that Leesha was badass enough) he decided to cut it. It’s probably the right decision, though I wonder why he didn’t do the same for the latest installment of the series The Skull Throne, which I thought had its fair share of superfluous village scenes like this one too.

Brianne Beaten could have been a mini-story on its own, and it read like a classic deleted scene. A village woman who feels animosity towards Leesha finally swallows her pride and lets the young herb gatherer help her. Leesha ends up saving the day and shows just how hardcore she has become. Yeah, leaving this scene in probably would have been overkill. But again, this was a fascinating look behind-the-scenes at Brett’s writing process.

Krasian Dictionary and Ward Grimoire

The final sections of this book are mostly for reference. Readers already familiar with the series will know a lot of this information already, but the real treat are the illustrations of some the most common wards mentioned in the novels. The grimoire also kind of doubles up as a bestiary, useful if you need to brush up on your demons.

Final Thoughts: This edition of The Great Bazaar & Brayan’s Gold is a wonderful contribution to the world of the Demon Cycle, packed with bonus content-like material that enhanced my experience with the setting and characters. Filled with goodies for fans of the series and yet still accessible enough for new readers, this volume both thrilled and fascinated me. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for ♥Milica♥.
1,868 reviews734 followers
June 22, 2025
I felt like jumping back into this world, these two short stories reminded me of how much I liked the first book, so I'll have to continue the series soon.

It's hard to say which of the two was better, I'd say both of them were equally good and gave some additional context to Arlen's adventures in The Warded/Painted Man. I almost liked them MORE than the main book, if you can believe that. I love how much depth they give.
Profile Image for Terence.
1,169 reviews390 followers
January 5, 2016
Before becoming the fearsome tattooed warrior The Warded Man, Arlen Bales was a messenger. The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold shows two of Arlen's notable messenger adventures.

Brayan's Gold depicts Arlen's first overnight trip as a messenger. From nearly the beginning things go wrong for the demon magnet Arlen Bales, but Arlen is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure his trip goes as planned. Arlen's fearlessness is on display in this novella in absurd proportions.

The Great Bazaar takes Arlen to multiple desert locations most notably Fort Krasia. Arlen has risked his life and wealth in search of the battle wards of old yet has repeatedly come up empty handed. Thanks to a boast from the khaffit Abban, Arlen is once more prepared to risk his life to obtain the battle wards.

These short stories make me love that wild man Arlen Bales even more. Arlen repeatedly refuses to be swayed from his long term goal of freeing the world from demons. Arlen just doesn't seem to fit with most of humanity who cower behind their wards at night yet call that freedom.

The story introductions, excisions, and Ward Grimoire are all interesting additions that show just how The Demon Cycle came to life for the author Peter V. Brett. I especially enjoy the Ward Grimoire because it has detailed explanations of all the wards in the series along with images of the wards.

I love The Demon Cycle series and in world novellas so The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold give me the best of both worlds.

5 out of 5 stars

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Dannii Elle.
2,331 reviews1,831 followers
August 19, 2021
This contains two short stories that are placed between the first and second full-length instalments in The Demon Cycle series.

Both of these tales follow Arlen, who was the first perspective that featured in the first novel of the series, The Painted Man. They provided no depth of information necessary to continue on with the series, or so I believe, but were fascinating insights to his new job role, regardless. Arlen is a Messenger, braving bandits, demons, and the terrain to keep the lines of communication open between the increasingly isolated surviving human settlements. The stories followed two of his journeys and detailed the horrors he encountered upon the road.

Great Bazaar - 4/5 stars
Something unearthed in the first full-length novel of the series was revealed as having its roots here. It was such a fun discovery to make and the rest of the story proved just as entertaining, with new setting and characters also revealed.

Arlen's inexperience was noticeable here and it made this story tinged with both sweetness and sadness, when the reader is aware of the figure he later becomes. We are immediately confronted with both his naivety but also his courageous heart.

Brayan's Gold - 4/5 stars
This storyline provided a tense and fun adventure, where Arlen has to face off against both human and demon foe to get his dangerous cargo to safety. This storyline also featured a great mid-point twist and plenty of action throughout.

The events that occurred showcased Arlen's good heart and his bravery in the face of almost certain disaster. I loved how this story highlighted these features, as well as the fearlessness and ingenuity of his character, as it aided in my bonding with him even further.
Profile Image for Milda Page Runner.
307 reviews266 followers
October 28, 2017
Recommended for people who enjoyed the first book in the series and wanted more Arlen's adventures. This covers the sweet spot when Arlen already had the knowledge and the means to reasonably protect himself from the demons but before he found the god mode cheat.
Profile Image for the.bookking.
206 reviews214 followers
April 4, 2023
Dobrze, że te teksty nie trafiły do głównej sagi, bo popsułyby płynność. Z drugiej strony, fajnie wrócić na chwilę do tego świata, a szczególnie ciekawe są losy Arlena. Mimo wszystko, oceniając książkę jako osobny twór, trzy gwiazdki.
Profile Image for Nayeomi.
257 reviews57 followers
April 23, 2015
Book provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sumptuous appetizer to the Demoncycle series.

The book contains 2 novellas, Brayan's Gold and The Great Bazaar. Additonally, deleted scenes from The Warded Man has been included so readers can understand the intricacies of publishing and an author's mind a little bit more.


My timing was perfect when i read this book. I have not yet picked up the Demoncycle series and reading the first novella has given me first glimpse into the series. It was a lot to take in and i know at some point i was reading some really spoilery things but it actually made me appreciate more on how the author built each of the characters in the first book. The spoilery things did not matter much as i was reading this back to back with the first book anyway.


The first novella follows young Arlen making his way into the mountains as a Messenger to deliver goods to the Duke. I can tell right off the bat that Arlen has an excellent relationship with his Master as an apprentice and i was delighted to read this as i really wanted another Thomas Ward-Master Gregory good kinda relationship happening in another series that i'm gonna read and i found that here! Also, One Arm rock demon is so fierce and at the same time adorable! I wanted him to be a foe turned friend for Arlen at some point. The chemistry between these two characters was real. It was fun to read.


The second novella was essentially meant to be chapter 16.5 of The Warded Man according to Mr. Brett. It is set around the time Arlen was enjoying being a messenger and roaming the cities, getting as much experience as he can while warding himself againt demons. I did not immediately read this part... I grabbed The Warded Man first, read up until chapter 15, stopped and resumed reading this novella. Just perfect timing for me, i tell ya. It made The Warded Man more enjoyable.
This time, Arlen visits the Krasians which is a race that dwells in the dunes for trade. The dune people have aspects in their culture which resembles a lot of the Middle East and this actually worked for me because it made the whole scenario believable and relatable/knowable. The brilliance of this part was how the culture embraced different sects or distinct caste systems like warriors, merchants, and the roles of women in their society. It was an excellent introduction into one of the races that the author created for this world.



At this point, i was so immersed into the world of the Demoncycle series that the two books have well blended into my brain and i cannot separate the two.
Finishing this novella and halfway into The Warded Man, i am already delightfully invested into the world of wards and demons. I just love the writing because it doesn't have any useless fluff that i have to painstakingly read (hence the deleted scenes in this book).

Brett's writing is direct to the point and action packed and quite honestly, this series is soooo good that the author could have easily added this in The Warded Man and it could have worked just as well. But he didn't and yet, the story was still as awesome as it was (at this point, i also have finished the first book)


The chemistry between the series and myself is real, I am totally addicted.
Profile Image for  Charlie.
477 reviews218 followers
December 8, 2015
Brayan's Gold is a bit of what we missed in The Warded Man. I remember reading it and thinking it was a bit light on the training scenes which I happen to really like. This here is the closest we really get to one as we see Arlan sent on his first major messengering mission where he betrayed and attacked by thieves and encounters his first snow demon. He is only 20 or so at the time I would wager and it's nice to see the strength of the man was present in the boy.

The Great Bazaar is more about Abban and how in reality he is a heartless prick. Yes he is big and loveable because we feel sympathy for him but he thinks very little of sending a young lad on a very dangerous mission without giving him any basic information to help him defend himself and in my mind that makes him a bit of shit.

Both are very quick and easy reads and Brayan's Gold in particular would make a nice introduction to any one who has not had the fortune to read The Demon Cycle series

Thanks to the awesome folks at Tachyon Publications and in particular Jim for getting to me during my Peter V. Brett marathon session.
Profile Image for Vippi.
624 reviews31 followers
October 27, 2015
If you love the Demon Cycle, you can’t miss this collection of novellas and deleted scenes (plus Krasian Dictionary and Ward Grimoire).

Of course you can enjoy the series even without reading this one. However, it’s a pleasant plunge into this amazing world.
Since I LOVE his character and the two novellas (Brayan’s Gold – 324 AR & The Great Bazaar – 328 AR) offer a further glimpse of Arlen-before-becoming-the-fearsome-Warded-Man’s past, IMO they alone are worth the ride.
“Any Messenger alive will tell you to stay out at night when you have to, not because you want to. The ones that want to always end up cored.”
Arlen nodded, though even that felt little dishonest, because they both knew he did want to. […] There was something he knew he needed to prove. To himself, and to the night.


~Thanks Netgalley for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest review~
Profile Image for Nixanea.
241 reviews8 followers
June 21, 2023
Wielki Bazar 3/5⭐️
Złoto Brayana 5/5⭐️
Podobało mi się, że zostały opisane poszczególne runy i demony oraz słownik krasjański w środku książki.
Profile Image for Rinn.
269 reviews221 followers
November 4, 2024
Update November 2024: I attempted to re-read this series earlier this year, and really disliked the CONSTANT sexual assault and treatment of women as second class citizens. I gave up halfway through re-reading the second book in the series, so did not get round to re-reading this one, but I imagine my thoughts and rating would now be very different.

---------------------

I first discovered Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle series three years ago, when I picked up The Painted Man from my local library. I absolutely fell in love with the series, and have now read and reviewed all three books in the series so far. The first book is definitely my favourite of the three, so I thought it would be interesting to go back to Arlen’s roots with these short stories.

However, fans of Abban and Leesha will also be pleased, as they each have their own short stories in this volume. My favourite was the first, the story of Arlen and the thundersticks, his first encounter with snow demons and another battle with One-Arm, the rock demon hellbent on killing him.

I’ve mentioned in previous reviews of short stories that I find them difficult to review, because often I’m left a little disappointed and wanting more. This volume does not suffer from this, being an accompaniment to a longer series, but it didn’t really add anything necessary. However, it was interesting nonetheless, and something to quench the thirst until I can get my hands on the recently released fourth book. A recommendation for anyone who enjoys Brett’s writing, and especially those who can’t wait for book five!

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
Profile Image for Julie (Let's Read Good Books).
1,729 reviews486 followers
August 14, 2015
3.5 stars

I enjoyed Brayan's Gold the best, and thought it a good representation of the longer series. Arlen is reckless and refuses to be cowed by the demons that rise from the Core at dusk every evening, searching for prey to tear to shreds. I love the concept of this series: being outside after dark is almost a certain death sentence, unless you are protected by magic wards. Arlen is a gifted warder, and he won't live locked behind walls when there's a whole wide world to see and try to take back from the corelings. Brayan's Gold showcases his ability to think on his feet and not be ruled by his fears, though this almost costs him his life on several occasions.

The rest of the content, while entertaining, didn't entrance me like Brayan's Gold. If you haven't started reading the Demon Cycle, this novella collection is a great place to start.
Profile Image for Tracey.
1,115 reviews291 followers
November 6, 2015
Oh, so that's what all the fuss is about with Peter V. Brett. The Warded Man has been on my radar for some time; I have it, somewhere, but somehow never cracked it open.

I certainly will now. This pair of novellas (with extras) was an excellent introduction and inducement. I absolutely look forward to more of this world and of Arlen, Brett's hero. The writing was beautifully, deceptively simple and straightforward – it felt like a solid old-fashioned fantasy, and I mean that as a high compliment. Vivid settings, gripping adventure, strong characters, a truly marvelous and unique concept, and a sense of humor – what's not to love?

I'm actually really happy that this was the first Brett book I've read. It will serve very nicely as a gateway drug.

I received the ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – which is this, with thanks.
Profile Image for Kasia | Zapisana w Książkach.
680 reviews14 followers
December 3, 2025
3,5/5⭐

Wielki Bazar i wycinki z Malowanego człowieka mnie nieco wynudziły. Miałam wrażenie, że nie zaoferowały niczego nowego. Za to Złoto Brayana było bardzo ciekawe i słuchałam z największą przyjemnością.
Profile Image for Zdravko.
404 reviews49 followers
December 24, 2019
Dvije novele (i zanimljive izbačene scene) koje upotpunjuju prvu knjigu Ciklusa o Demonima. Ne otkrivaju ništa posebno bitno za cjelokupnu priču ali su dovoljno zanimljive ako ste se navukli na serijal kao ja. Teško da ću dočekati hrvatski prijevod za „Pustinjsko koplje“ pa ću ju očito čitati na nekom drugom jeziku.
Profile Image for A Reader's Heaven.
1,592 reviews28 followers
September 14, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

In young Arlen’s homeland, vicious demons rise from the earth each night. Villagers are terrified, hiding behind magically warded walls. As Fort Miln’s newest and most reckless messenger, Arlen dreams of taking the night back from the nearly invincible corelings. But first, he’s got a job to do.
The Great Bazaar & Brayan’s Gold is the much-anticipated volume of Arlen’s early life. This chronicle features full-length adventures, deleted scenes from Brett’s novels, world-building extras, plus new additions to Brett’s grimoire of magical runes. A perfect introduction for new readers, and a must-have for fans, The Great Bazaar & Brayan’s Gold is an exciting expansion to Brett’s universe.


I haven't read the Demon Cycle series - but I thought this pair of short stories would help me decide whether it was something I wanted to try.

And I do...

Both stories contained enough action, new worlds, demons and adventure to keep most people happy. Even though I hadn't read the series, there was enough backstory included for me to understand what was happening, who the major characters were and what was actually going on.

I am definitely going to track down the series now and I do believe I am going to seriously enjoy it!


Paul
ARH
Profile Image for Kristina.
566 reviews65 followers
June 5, 2013
What a great addition to the Demon Cycle!

This book is essentially two mini stories that happen during the time frame of the first book, The Warded Man, that you never really get to see because they happen during the years long gaps in that story. I admit that I read it after I had read The Daylight War, so it was kind of a shock to see Arlen in armor, but even in armor he was so... Arlen.

I would highly suggest picking up a copy it you are a Demon Cycle fan. If you've heard about the series and haven't picked it up yet, I honestly don't know what you're waiting for. If you like epic fantasy, or stories about demons, or great adventures, go buy the first book!
Profile Image for Dany.
257 reviews
May 4, 2015
Mr. Brett's a great storyteller, also a one of the best new voices in fantasy genre. Here is the beginning of a hero, set in the world THE DEMON CYCLE, including the travel, the mision and fight scenes. What more could you ask for?

PLUS it can be enjoyed by everyone, no necessarily just for the demon cycle fans but also fantasy readers.
Profile Image for Stefano G..
251 reviews7 followers
March 20, 2020
I first read Barayan’s Gold and The Great Bazaar on my train trip back from Frankfurt last year (2019). Both stories are easy reads and fill some of the time skipped in Arlen’s story arc in Book 1, unfortunately I must add as I really liked Arlen’s POV pre-warded man. Both add to the world-building of the Demon Cycle series, so definitely recommended for fans of the series!

Note that at the end of this collection there is a Grimoire of Wards, which is not even present in the main books... this was a really cool addition and finally I get to see how the wards actually look! OK somehow how I imagined, i.e. Chinese looking symbols I guess? :P

Barayan’s Gold 5/5
I really liked Barayan’s Gold it’s a very entertaining story, following Arlen’s first trip as a messenger. What’s astonishing is his self-confidence and aptitude at 17! I really liked the part with Derek in this really crazy refuge built inside the mountain, where we discover some cool technology created using wards and demons... The story remains exciting throughout and we get to meet One-arm once again, and Arlen has a face off with a never seen before demon type! Very cool short story, really recommended!

The Great Bazaar 3/5
Not as good as the first story, but still quite interesting more for the fact that we discover how Arlen comes to have the map of the city of Anoch Sun, the lost city that may contain the key to defeat demons all together!

The story takes place half in Baha Kad Everam, where Arlen fights off some new demons including One-Arm, and the other half in Fort Krasia where we discover a bit more about the daily life in the desert city, this part is centered around Abban. I found this part of the story a bit too slow and rather uninteresting, a few tidbits about Abban's past are nice to know, but honestly was just meh.
Profile Image for Sana⁷.
387 reviews166 followers
September 30, 2022
My rating: 5/5


I had no idea how much I've missed Arlen, until I started to read these little stories! 🤩



One of these days, your luck won't hold, his father's voice reminded him.
Maybe, he thought back to it, but not today.




This book is a great addition to the Demon Cycle. To be honest, I had some trouble going back to this series. After reading book one, I was excited to continue, I've fallen in love with the characters and their world and there were so many stuff that I was really curious about.


But part two of book one (to be specific - the change of Arlen and Leesha) had successfully stopped me from picking up the rest of the series. I decided to read some other books and give myself some time. I had a feeling that I will eventually come back to the world of the Demonic Cycle.


And here I am, after finding out about the existence of these wonderful bonus stories 🥰


I was so excited to pick this book up. I really, really wanted to read about Arlen's adventures again. I had no idea how much I have missed him and how fond of him I was, until I started to read the bonus content.


It's Arlen and Leesha before the change! I knew that I will not end up being disappointed 😌


And I was right!!


I'm so grateful for the existence of this book. It brought so much joy to me, especially because of Arlen. I admire his bravery and persistence. I admire his kind heart and his curiosity, the need to learn about the runes and the demons in general. I admire how clever he is and how he never gives up.


I don't know what will happen in the next books of the series, but I can say that I am unhappy with his change in the second part of book one. I understand why it had happened, but I still feel unhappy and I could not help, but miss the Arlen that I have fallen in love with. This book gave me my Arlen back and for that I'm grateful 🥰
Profile Image for Seregil of Rhiminee.
592 reviews48 followers
June 6, 2015
Originally published at Risingshadow.

This Tachyon Publications edition of The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold is an excellent collection for fans of Peter V. Brett (this edition will be published in July 2015). It's a collection of two novellas, both of which are set in the world of The Demon Cycle. They offer an interesting glimpse into the author's rich fantasy world in which humanity has survived a demonic onslaught and where being outdoors after the sun has set is dangerous and deadly because of the demons.

I consider Peter V. Brett to be one of the best new fantasy authors, because he writes good and fluent entertainment for adult readers (I've enjoyed reading his Demon Cycle novels).This collection offers interesting entertainment to his fans and also to new readers who haven't read any of his novels yet, because the stories tell about Arlen's adventures.

Here's a bit of information about the stories:

Brayan's Gold:

- This is a story about Arlen's first major mission as a Messenger. In this story Arlen is sent on the mission to the mountains where he encounters bandits and a snow demon.

- This is quite an insightful and intriguing glimpse into Arlen's life.

The Great Bazaar:

- This story is set in Krasia. In this story Arlen visits the Krasians and finds a map of the village of Anoch Sun.

- According to the author's introduction to this story, it's chapter 16.5 of The Warded Man, taking place during the three-year gap between chapters 16 and 17, when Arlen is working as a Messenger traveling throughout the Free Cities.

- This is an important and interesting story, because it fills in the big gap in Arlen's life that wasn't explained in the first novel.

This collection also contains two deleted scenes ("Arlen" and "Brianne Beaten"). Both of these scenes will be of interest to fans of The Demon Cycle.

Peter V. Brett is one of those talented authors who have a natural ability to hook readers with their stories. Although these novellas are shorter than novels, they easily hook and thrill many readers, because the author has created them well and writes fluently about the characters, happenings, magic and action scenes. (What more could you possibly ask for in an entertaining epic fantasy?)

"The Great Bazaar" and "Brayan's Gold" are welcome additions to the world of The Demon Cycle, because they add depth to the world and also to the characters. They're stories about Arlen, and they reveal what has happened to him on his journeys. They shed some light on a few interesting things.

Peter V. Brett has created a fascinating fantasy world, because he writes convicingly about people, cultures and different places. I admire his ability to write believably about the world without getting stuck on too many details. There are plenty of details in the author's novels and also in his novellas, but everything works well, because the author concentrates on moving the story forward and doesn't bore his readers with unnecessary happenings.

The author writes fascinatingly about the demons - wind demons, wood demons, clay demons, rock demons etc - and what they can do and how they try to harm people. It's great that he writes about how demons can have personal grudges against humans (the One Arm rock demon in "Brayan's Gold" doesn't like Arlen, because Arlen crippled it).

I enjoyed reading about how Arlen encountered a new kind of a demon (a snow demon) in "Brayan's Gold", because it was a well written and thrilling scene. It's one of the best fight scenes I've ever seen in fantasy novellas. I'm sure that fans of Peter V. Brett will enjoy reading about Arlen's encounter with a snow demon.

I also enjoyed reading about Abban the khaffit in "The Great Bazaar", because he's a well-created character (khaffit is the lowest caste in Krasian society; khaffit are men who fail warrior training and have to take a craft). It's great that the author writes about Abban from his own point of view, because it adds depth to the story. Another reason why I like this story is that the author writes believably about a different culture and its customs.

Characterisation and character interaction works nicely in both novellas. In my opinion, Peter V. Brett writes surprisingly well about Arlen and Abban and pays attention to their characteristics and traits. Both of them are fascinating characters and it's enjoyable to read about their deeds.

This collection has Krasian Dictionary, which is useful to readers, because it allows readers to check words and terms. The Ward Grimoire is also useful to many readers, because it contains information about the different kind of wards.

If you've never read anything by Peter V. Brett, reading these novellas is an excellent way to test whether you like his writing style and stories or not. I think that most new readers will find these stories intriguing, because they're good and entertaining stories for fantasy readers. (If you happen to find these stories interesting, you shoud take a look at the author's novels, because they're good fantasy novels.)

I give this collection strong 4.5 stars on the scale from 1 to 5 stars for its entertainment values, because I enjoyed reading the stories and the deleted scenes.

Peter V. Brett's The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold is an entertaining collection of two novellas. It's a must-read collection for fans of Peter V. Brett because of its thrilling blend of traditional fantasy elements, action, magic and originality, but it'll also please newcomers who haven't read any of the author's novels. If you're looking for entertaining fantasy stories to read, you can't go wrong by reading this collection, because it offers fantasy, demons, good characterisation, action and originality in one package.

Good and well written fantasy entertainment for adults!
Profile Image for Bogdan.
392 reviews56 followers
May 29, 2018
Acțiunea acestor două mini-nuvele se petrece în universul creat de autorul american în romanul Omul pictat, primul dintr-o serie de cinci. O societate medievală este atacată în fiecare noapte de entități supranaturale, demoni care ies de sub pământ și atacă orice este viu. Așa că oamenii sunt forțați să se ascundă noapte de noapte în spatele unor farmece puternice, glifele, care sunt pictate pe uși, case, pereți etc și care țin demonii afară. Personajul principal, Arlen, călătorește întâi spre Minele Ducelui, în ținuturile înghețate din nord, apoi spre deșerturile din sud, unde un popor de nomazi se luptă vitejește cu temuții demoni.
Stilul este identic cu cel din Omul Pictat, probabil deoarece aceste mini-nuvele sunt capitole tăiate “la montaj” din prima carte. O călătorie plăcută în fantasticul familiar, mai ales pentru fanii acestui univers.
Profile Image for Margaret.
356 reviews3 followers
September 28, 2018
Although I`m not a lover of short stories, these two were gripping and filled in some gaps in the series about Arlen Bales fight with the (corlings) demons that materialise at night and plague his world. I am now eagerly looking forward to reading the latest and I suspect the last in the series. Peter Brett has an easy and captivating style which really makes the narrative live.
Profile Image for Cerviallacarica.
257 reviews24 followers
June 2, 2022
Due novelle con protagonista Arlen, non sono indispensabili per poter andare avanti con il ciclo dei demoni, ma sono molto carine ed esploriamo più a fondo sia il nord con Brayan's Gold sia Krasia con The Great Bazaar
Profile Image for deadpool13.
270 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2024
dziękuję za odpowiedź na moje zaistniałe pytanie podczas czytania malowanego
jedna historia Arlena to mnie tak rozwaliła
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