The Core

Were you looking for lore about the realm of demons called the Core?

The Great Bazaar novella; or The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold anthology; ⇒

The Core is the fifth (and final) book in the series of The Demon Cycle after The Skull Throne. An ironclad release date was unknown early on, but Peter V. Brett projected a release date in August 2017 at NYCC (Comic Con) 2016^[1] and narrowed down to August 15, 2017 in post on the author's site.^[2] Unfortunately, the release date slipped a bit to September 28, 2017 in the UK (and October 3, 2017 in the US).^[3] The first draft was completed in late January 2017.^[4]

The paperback was announced to be released July 31, 2018.^[5]

On July 18, 2023, Peter V. Brett reported on his blog that The Core (along with The Skull Throne) would be getting a paperback re-release on March 5, 2024 by Del Rey Books as part of The Warded Man 15th anniversary.^[6]

Blurb[]

From PeterVBrett.com:^[7]

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.