Demon Cycle fans rejoice: the hotly-anticipated illustrated edition of Peter V. Brett‘s best-selling, critically-acclaimed debut, THE PAINTED MAN is out now in the UK! Published by Harper Voyager, and graced with new illustrations by Dominik Broniek, here’s the synopsis…

A stunning illustrated special edition of Peter V. Brett’s thrilling debut THE PAINTED MAN, the modern fantasy classic that began The Demon Cycle.

For hundreds of years, demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human population. It was not always this way. Men and women did not always cower behind protective magical wards and hope to see the dawn. Once, they battled the demons on equal terms, but those days, and skills, are gone.

Arlen Bales lives with his parents on their isolated farmstead until a demon attack shatters their world. He learns a savage lesson that day: that people, as well as magic, can let you down.

Rejecting the fear that kills as efficiently as the creatures, Arlen risks another path in order to offer humanity a last, fleeting chance of survival.

All of the books in Brett’s Demon Cycle series are published in the UK by Voyager: the novels THE PAINTED MAN, THE DESSERT SPEAR, THE DAYLIGHT WAR, THE SKULL THRONE, and THE CORE; and the novellas THE GREAT BAZAAR & BRAYAN’S GOLD, MESSENGER’S LEGACY, and BARREN.

Here are just a few of the many great reviews that THE PAINTED MAN and the Demon Cycle series has received so far…

‘Brett’s debut builds slowly and grimly on a classic high-fantasy framework of black-and-white mortality and bloodshed. Brett’s gritty tale will appeal to those who tire of sympathetic villains and long for old-school orc massacres.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE PAINTED MAN

‘Brett ably blends fantasy and horror in this arresting first novel, the first in a planned series. An imaginative and exciting tale, recommended where there is interest in epic fantasy.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review) on THE PAINTED MAN

‘A gripping adventure — a very promising start to a new series, and an excellent first novel.’ — Locus on THE PAINTED MAN

‘Well-drawn characters, fascinating world-building, action and conflict make for an exciting page-turner.’ — RT Book Reviews on THE DESERT SPEAR

‘Along with Brandon Sanderson and Daniel Abraham, Peter V. Brett is at the forefront of purveyors of epic fantasy whose teeth were ground on the likes of Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Terry Brooks, and David Eddings…in other words, with THE DAYLIGHT WAR, he’s at the top of his game. I give this my highest recommendation (including the first two novels in the series.)’ — Tor.com

‘Brett knows exactly what he’s doing…The book is very steadily paced – this a slow burn and much of it focuses on the interpersonal relationships between various characters. There are plenty of action-packed key scenes peppered throughout the book. The demons are mostly added as a spice here; Brett is setting up his world and the characters in order to tell his epic fantasy tale in a way that is both personal and global. It’s a page-turner, and quite possibly the best so far.’ — Starburst on THE SKULL THRONE

‘Only very rarely does a long epic fantasy series conclude satisfactorily. With THE CORE, Peter V. Brett manages to hit all the right notes, delivering the perfect ending to a great series. Through the years, Brett’s Demon Cycle became one of my very favorite fantasy series. Everything that was started throughout the series, all the potential hinted at in previous books, it all paid off in the end. THE CORE is one of the best finales I’ve ever read. If you’ve been waiting to read the Demon Cycle until it’s completed, I can very much recommend you pick it up in 2018!’ — Ranting Dragon

Zeno represents Peter V. Brett in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.