The Warded Man

In The Demon Cycle, all the protagonists we follow are in some way broken.

Arlen Bales cowered in terror when the night demons came to try and kill his family, and it’s the memory of that fear that drives him to become not only strong enough to stand against demons, but a powerhouse that puts unholy terror in those demons.

Leesha Paper is a brilliant herbalist who is trapped in her role as a woman in a male-dominated society. It’s only when she’s willing to walk away from it all that she finds her true power—and with it, the power to save her people.

Rojer is an orphan with a crippled hand, yet who wants nothing more than to be a musician. I loved watching him slowly develop his abilities until his music becomes the power that gives Arlen and the rest of humanity an edge against the demons.

This whole series does such a great job of turning the misfits into the heroes, and showing how it’s what sets them apart that makes them great. It’s one of my all-time favorite dark fantasy series!