Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
The time has come to stand against the night.As darkness falls each night, the corelings rise--demons who well up from the ground like hellish steam, taking on fearsome form and substance. Sand demons. Wood demons. Wind demons. Flame demons. And gigantic rock demons, the deadliest of all. They possess supernatural strength and powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity. For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards--symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and mystery, and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile.It was not always this way. Once, men and women battled the corelings on equal terms. Once, under the leadership of the legendary Deliverer, and armed with powerful wards that were not merely shields but weapons, they took the battle to the demons . . . and stopped their advance.But those days are gone. The fighting wards are lost. Night by night the demons grow stronger, while human numbers dwindle under their relentless assault.Now, with hope for the future fading, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will dare the impossible, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past. Arlen will pay any price, embrace any sacrifice, for freedom. His grim journey will take him beyond the bounds of human power.Crippled by the demons that killed his parents, Rojer seeks solace in music--only to discover that music can be a weapon as well as a refuge. Beautiful Leesha, who has suffered at the hands of men as well as demons, becomes an expert healer. But what cures can also harm. . . . Together, they will stand against the night.From the Hardcover edition.
The Warded Man: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
Contains graphic violence including demon attacks that kill and maim characters, sexual assault depicted on-page, and disturbing horror imagery. Multiple traumatic scenes involving children and young characters experiencing brutal violence.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, moderate sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include sexual assault, child harm, torture, graphic violence, and gore (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens who love dark, high-stakes fantasy with horror elements will be drawn to the desperate survival story and the heroes fighting to save humanity from nightly demon invasions.