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  • The Core

  • Demon Cycle, Book 5
  • Written by: Peter V. Brett
  • Narrated by: Pete Bradbury
  • Length: 29 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (158 ratings)

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The Core cover art

The Core

Written by: Peter V. Brett
Narrated by: Pete Bradbury
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Publisher's Summary

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.

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. Then two heroes arose - men as close as brothers, yet divided by bitter betrayal.

Arlen Bales became known as the Warded Man, tattooed head to toe with powerful magic symbols that enable him to fight demons in hand-to-hand combat-and emerge victorious. 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 Recorded Books

What listeners say about The Core

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

another great story and narration by Peter

another great narrtion and story combo by Peter and Pete. if you enjoyed any of the other serious this is another great one. alot of loose ends get tied up nicely.

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

Amazing and here's why

It is truly amazing to read a series and it be ended where everything is perfectly finished

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

Horrible performance, great saga

After listening to the Colin Mace reading of this saga for the first 4 instalments this dude sounds like nails on a chalkboard. The story is still amazing though

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Ali
  • 2019-05-14

Great conclusion to an amazing series

If you've made it this far, you know what to expect. Its worth finishing the series

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

10/10

What an amazing series. An truly satisfying ending..A must read. I enjoyed start to finish.

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

Just read a summary instead

The writing in this book is pretty bad. Things happen consistently between lines and there is no indication when. You wouldn't even know that they happened until half way through a conversation the result of what was just happening is mentioned. The most clear example of this is a scene where a woman is giving birth and having a conversation with someone else. The conversation continues and then near the end of it, the author mentions one of the two stroking the baby's head. Seemingly the birth just happened mid conversation with no stop or pause in it.

The worst written chapters where examples like the above happen the most are in the Leesha/Hollow chapters. The chapters where this happens the least are the core chapters.

The core chapters can be read pretty much entirely on their own and you wont feel like your missing much unless you want to know what happens to the other characters. So if you want to you can skip all the non core focused chapters.


The performance is good, the editing on it is better than the previous books which occasionally had awkward pauses at random times. This book doesn't seem to have those issues.

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

where is arland

2nd book where the main character is relegated to a camio role barely making an appearance. While they go on and on with sub plot elements. I enjoy the plot about the night war but all the daylight war stuff is bs. Worst yet is the fact the books are about the demon cycles yet focus heavely on human politics. Had hoped the last book would be about the kor and its mind court but after 5 books I know next to nothing about the main enemy of the series. The interesting mind court tossed aside so we can read about useless human courts over and over. even had to sit thru it thrice as there are 3 human factions each fully represented and overly explained while the more interesting demon faction is glanced over time and time again.

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2 people found this helpful