The second book in The Nightfall Saga, the stunning new epic fantasy series set in the world of The Demon Cycle, from New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett “Heart-wrenching, smart, and modern . . . The Desert Prince has set a new standard for fantasy.”—Wesley Chu, author of The War Arts Saga Humanity thought the war with demonkind was over. Now, after less than a generation to rebuild, the demon corelings have returned with a vengeance. The Spear of Ala—the fortress that stands at the gates of the demon’s hive—is the last bastion against the horde, and reports say it may already have fallen. Olive Paper is expected to take the vanguard in the fight. Only an heir of Kaji can wield the artifact that opens the gates of the Spear of Ala, and as Ahmann Jardir’s child, Olive seems destined for a role as leader and savior. But Olive does not wish to follow in her father’s footsteps any more than she did her mother’s. Darin Bales was born with supernatural senses that he struggles to process, and even those who love him believe he can barely take care of himself. Yet to save his mother from the clutches of Alagai Ka, the demon king, Darin will brave anything to mount a rescue. Darin and Olive each strive to walk their own path but find themselves inextricably tied to the legacies of their parents and to a fated confrontation with the demon king and his new hatchling queen. If they fail, humanity may not survive. Don’t miss any of Peter V. Brett's riveting Nightfall Saga: THE DESERT PRINCE • THE HIDDEN QUEEN • THE DEMON KING (Coming April 2026!) Praise for The Desert Prince “ The Desert Prince is a deeply intimate, yet epic, adventure. Heart-wrenching, smart, and modern, this book kept me wide-eyed and wide awake for many a night as I struggled step by step alongside Olive and Darin, from the green lands to the desert pits to the darkest recesses of the demon minds. The Desert Prince has set a new standard for fantasy.” —Wesley Chu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The War Arts Saga “An intricately crafted tale of intrigue and courage where one’s station and lineage determine everything, good and bad . . . an exciting read . . .  Peter V. Brett has outdone himself with this first book in a new series.” —Terry Brooks “ The Desert Prince is the work of a master at the top of his game . The new cast of would-be heroes instantly draws you into a world full of old dangers as Brett cranks up the tension to unbearable levels. If you’re going to read this book, cancel all your plans, because there’s no way you’ll be able to put it down once you start.” — Mike Shackle, author of We Are the Dead “Peter V. Brett takes the reader with him and his characters on an electric and unrelenting charge through the demon-haunted depths of the Warded universe, full of love and death.” —Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of A Deadly Education   Peter V. Brett is the internationally bestselling author of The Demon Cycle, which has sold more than four million copies in twenty-seven languages worldwide. Novels include The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War, The Skull Throne, The Core, and The Desert Prince . He lives in Brooklyn. Chapter 1 TEAR BOTTLES 349 AR I’m Darin Bales, and I’m looking for my mam. Never knew my da. He died before I was born. Savin’ the world, if you believe I’m telling honest word. Ask around if you like. Walk a hundred miles, and folk will all tell you Arlen Bales went down to the Core and sacrificed himself. How his last act was seen in the sky in the form of great, blazing wards that turned the tide of the demon war, burning the corelings to ash. Even those with him at the time say it. My bloodfather. My mam. I was there, too, in a manner of speaking. Still in Mam’s belly when he died, but she says I spilled out onto the stone floor of the demon hive just minutes later. Missed my only chance to meet my da by minutes. Might as well be years. Goin’ back a minute, a single second, ent any easier. I’m starting to think folk were wrong, though. World still needs savin’. And if they’re wrong about that part, why not the other? My aunt Leesha is a fortune teller. She cast her demonbones in my blood, and there was magic about the throw, to be sure. Her words have replayed in my mind so many times they’ve become part of me. The father waits below in darkness for his progeny to return. Might mean other things. Ent such a fool I’d trust a prophecy to say everything it seems to. But it ent crazy to wonder if something of my da is still down there, stuck halfway to the Core, like a cork in a bottle. Is it? But while my da might be alive, I know my mam is. And I know the thing that’s got her is trying to fatten her up like a choice pig for a wedding feast. Din’t know my da growin’ up. Saw other boys with theirs and knew I was missin’ something, but it’s hard to really miss someone you’ve never met. Mam was the one who was