The Desert Prince

Brett returns to the world of his Demon Cycle series, 15 years after mankind defeated the night-dwelling demons called corelings, in the action-packed but somewhat predictable epic that opens his Nightfall Saga trilogy. Though this sequel series stands alone, it will have the most resonance with those who are already invested in the universe and primed to care about its next generation of heroes; new readers will have a steeper climb. The main attraction is the well-shaded title character, Olive Paper, introduced as the princess of Hollow. Olive is intersex, a fact that’s kept secret out of her mother’s fear that if Olive were considered male she would be viewed as a rival by those vying for the Skull Throne of New Krasia, putting her in danger. The expected epic fantasy plot beats—including the return of a threat thought eliminated, and a prophecy that may foretell Olive’s fate—are all present, but none are particularly memorable, while the numerous fights to the death with a variety of corelings become repetitive. This is best suited for Brett’s established fans. [em](Aug.) [/em]