Demon Cycle

"I should have known if there were snow demons out there, you'd find one." Arlen Bales is an apprentice Messenger, hired to transport a dangerous shipment of thundersticks to a distant mining town. Abandoned by his partner, Arlen must travel alone, braving demon-infested nights and mountain passes full of bandits, all along hunted by the one-armed rock demon he crippled as a child, still thirsting for revenge. When he reaches the isolated village, Arlen finds his professionalism tested when he's offered his heart's desire-a potential way to kill the demon hunting him-to get involved in a dispute between his employers and their only daughter. A short adventure set during the events of Peter V. Brett's internationally bestselling novel The Warded Man, Brayan's Gold can be enjoyed both as a standalone and part of the larger Demon Cycle series, which has sold over 4M copies in 27 languages worldwide. Also included is "Holiday in Tibbet's Brook," a Demon Cycle short story, set two years before the beginning of The Warded Man. Praise for Brayan's Gold: "A fun adventure." - Locus "Brayan's Gold is a highly enjoyable episode in Brett's greater tale that will be enjoyed by his existing fans and could serve to draw in new readers… Strong recommendation." - SFFWorld "An important read […] DO NOT MISS IT!" - Fantasy Faction "The quality was awesome, the art excellent, and the story it contained was well worth the money […] A thoroughly enjoyable read, and works perfectly […] awesome." - Walker of Worlds

From the pages of the internationally bestselling Demon Cycle series comes this tale of Arlen Bales, who would one day become the legendary Warded Man. Arlen works as a Messenger, traveling the demon-infested nights to deliver news, letters and packages to isolated villages and towns. But he is hunted. A one-armed rock demon, fifteen feet tall and nearly indestructible, pursues Arlen each night, seeking vengeance for its lost arm. Somewhere out there, in the ruins of the old world, was a way to kill the demon. The histories spoke of warded weapons that could shatter demon armor like glass and leave wounds even a demon could not heal. Arlen uses his Messenger work to finance his true passion, a dangerous hunt for forgotten ruins and lost cities. In the Great Bazaar of Krasia he hears of a map that may be the answer to his dreams, but only if he is prepared to risk everything to obtain it. Also included are shorts and deleted scenes from the Demon Cycle series, which has sold over 4 million copies in 27 languages worldwide!

An aging Messenger takes his armor out of storage for one last adventure. Six-year-old Briar Damaj, a half Krasian boy in the tiny village of Bogton, is used to being tormented by his siblings, and the villagers who call him Mudboy. When an attack leaves him orphaned, Briar feels he has no choice but to flee into the demon-infested bog where chances of survival seem hopeless. Ragen, a Messenger and friend of Briar's father, hunts for days through fetid swampland before giving the boy up for dead and retiring from his dangerous career. A decade later, Ragen receives news that Briar has survived against all odds, living alone in the wetlands like an animal. Unable to bear it, Ragen puts on his old armor and sets out for one last adventure to bring Briar home. A tale set between The Daylight War and The Skull Throne of Peter V. Brett's internationally bestselling Demon Cycle series, Messenger's Legacy can be enjoyed both as a standalone and part of the larger series, which has sold over 4M copies in 27 languages worldwide. Praise for Messenger's Legacy: A great short story, and also a great lead-in to the fourth novel in the series, The Skull Throne. ... This series has my highest recommendation. A must-read." - Civilian Reader "The amount of depth that Brett manages to get into his short stories and novellas never ceases to amaze me and Messenger's Legacy is no exception [...] Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck into Brett's world and my only disappointment was that it ended so quickly." - SFcrowsnest Friendship, love, bravery and survival against the odds are key themes in all of Peter's work and you will find them weaved artistically within this novella – a wonderful addition to The Demon Cycle canon." - Fantasy Faction

New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett returns to his groundbreaking Demon Cycle series with this enthralling novella-the latest story set in his much-loved fantasy world. Each night, the world is overrun by bloodthirsty demons. For centuries, humanity survived only by hiding behind defensive wards-magical symbols with the power to repel the demons. Now, the rediscovery of long-forgotten combat wards has given them the magic they need to fight back. In Tibbet's Brook, the fighting wards have brought change, but the factions and grudges of a troubled past remain. Selia Square, the woman they call Barren, has long been the force that holds the Brook together. As a terrifying new threat emerges, she rallies her people once again. But Selia has a past of her own. And in a small community the personal and the political can never be divided. If Tibbet's Brook is to survive, Selia must uncover memories she has buried deep-the woman she once was, the woman she once loved-and retell their story.

When local businessman Rusco Hog is found dead out on the old Tanner farm, it appears to be a demon attack. But for Selia Barren, the Town Speaker, the evidence doesn't add up. She suspects foul play, but Rusco didn't become the richest man in town by making friends, and it seems everyone in Tibbet's Brook has a motive. A cozy mystery set in internationally bestselling author Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle universe.

Collected for the first time in one volume, “Messenger Runs” includes the novellas, short stories, and deleted scenes from Peter V. Brett's internationally bestselling “Demon Cycle”, “The Great Bazaar”, “Brayan's Gold”, and “Messenger's Legacy” gorgeously illustrated by Dominik Broniek, as well as a comprehensive grimoire of magic wards. In “Brayan's Gold and The Great Bazaar”, follow the adventures of young Arlen Bales, who would one day become the legendary Warded Man. Arlen knows Messenger work is dangerous. They must brave the demon-infested nights, delivering mail and sometimes dangerous cargo to remote locations. Already, a vengeful rock demon stalks him for cutting off its arm. Yet like so many before him, Arlen seeks the legendary lost fighting wards, a way to finally face the demons on their own terms. There were countless ruins of the old world between the walled Free Cities. Could one of them hold the key to humanity's survival? In “Messenger's Legacy”, enjoy a tale of Ragen, Arlen's mentor, pulled from retirement to bring home Briar Damaj, the child of a lost friend, who was given up for dead at six summers after he fled into the night during the demon attack that killed his family, a decade earlier. Yet somehow the boy survived all those years, alone in the naked night. “Messenger Runs” can be enjoyed as standalone tales or as part of the larger “Demon Cycle” series, which has sold over 4 million copies in 27 languages worldwide.

New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett returns to his groundbreaking Demon Cycle series with this enthralling novella-the latest story set in his much-loved fantasy world. Each night, the world is overrun by bloodthirsty demons. For centuries, humanity survived only by hiding behind defensive wards-magical symbols with the power to repel the demons. Now, the rediscovery of long-forgotten combat wards has given them the magic they need to fight back. In Tibbet's Brook, the fighting wards have brought change, but the factions and grudges of a troubled past remain. Selia Square, the woman they call Barren, has long been the force that holds the Brook together. As a terrifying new threat emerges, she rallies her people once again. But Selia has a past of her own. And in a small community the personal and the political can never be divided. If Tibbet's Brook is to survive, Selia must uncover memories she has buried deep-the woman she once was, the woman she once loved-and retell their story.