Following on from events described in the series debut, The Painted Man (also reviewed on this site), Arlen Bales is no longer the village lad from Tibbet’s Brook, but the long awaited Deliverer.  He will save his people from the demons that arise every night... or will he?  The Deliverer has certainly appeared, spear and all, but at the head of a vast army that is sweeping across Arlen’s land, raping, pillaging and conquering.  Maybe this saviour is not going to be The Painted Man after all but Jardir, Arlen’s friend—and betrayer—from book one? Book twos in trilogies often tread water and by the end of the tome the reader is too often left thinking that not a lot has been added to what was already there.  This is true in part for this book as well, but at least the characters have the whole of Brett’s well-realized world to exist in.  They are believable and well rounded characters too, and by the end of the book we know Arlen and Jardir a lot better, almost to the point of feeling that they have a life of their own.  This is very much Jardir’s story, from his impoverished childhood through rigorous training to becoming the merciless leader of a fearsome army of warriors.  Mr Brett certainly excels at world building, and this second volume adds a vast amount to what was already there, even if the actual story arc is not a lot further along in some respects.  Something happens on every page (albeit often something violent) and thus pages keep turning far into the night.  If you like your fantasy with plenty of action, interesting characters and a believable world (and who doesn’t) you will find that this fits the bill.