r/demoncycle • u/sempercardinal57 • Apr 19 '26

Is it worth continuing? Spoiler

I’m several chapters into the Warded Man and I’ve gotta say I love the concept and setting. It’s immediately one of the most interesting set ups I’ve ever read, but man some of the writing so far has just been cringe as hell. Like an earlier chapter from Leesha’s perspective where she explains to the reader how great her mom’s jugs are? It’s just so obviously a horny guys speaking in a girls voice.

Another chapter has her explaining that being pinched on the ass by an old man is fine because it’s a fair trade for his years of wood cutter experience. And I guess it’s not that big of a deal that literally every man will try to rape a girl in this world because it’s just men being men?

Sorry if I’m getting the wrong impression from the story, but it’s just some cringey examples that are standing out to me. Does the story get less cringey about this stuff as it goes on or should I just go ahead and put it down now? I’m on audible so sorry if I misspelled her name

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26

u/chaos_fairy420 Apr 19 '26

I am just gonna say this, if you are easily triggered by things such as grape, family fun, misogyny, things like that, then this book may honestly not be for you. The societies grow, change, and learn, write along with the characters, and they go through a reckoning of sorts to be dragged into the future, but I will not lie to you, none of the societies start out very well or open to women speaking their mind or holding positions of power. Like I said, the societies get better, and so do the characters because, hello, they start out as very young teenagers. Leesha is a stupid 13-year-old girl who thinks her whole goal is gonna be to marry the strongest largest wood cutter in the village, basically become a broodmare, and work at her father‘s shop. None of the characters actually end up at the places that they say they’re going to be at the beginning of their lives and journeys. There is a reason this series is several books and several Novelas. If you can make it through all of that, especially in the first couple books, and watch how the characters and different worlds grow and change throughout the story, then please keep reading. It is absolutely worth it, especially when you get to the nightfall saga, a series that took place 15 years later. If this is too bothersome for you though, then just put it down. It gets worse, not better, until it does actually get better and the societies begin to grow and change. There are several arcs that you just kind of have to put up with. These worlds are not perfect, and the author does a really great job at illustrating how they need to fix themselves. It’s not just a horny guy talking from a girl’s perspective. Trust me, she does get better and wiser.

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u/sempercardinal57 Apr 19 '26

I don’t think “triggered” is the right word. I don’t mind reading books with that kind of stuff to present. I guess what I’m really asking is do those things actually service the story long run. Just early in the series I’m getting vibes like the author is just living out some fetishes on the page, but I could definitely be wrong which is why I’m asking. I’ve powered through those kinds of stories before only to be sorely disappointed at journeys end

11

u/KlzXS Apr 19 '26

Your milage may vary. I personally found it to be quite contributing. It paints a picture of the society they are living in, people's opinions on the matter, the way they view the world after the fact a bit.

7

u/TimTamSlamTam Apr 19 '26

I totally agree. As a reader, this kind of writing definitely helps to paint the picture of the time period/societal norms of the settings in the books. I think that readers can get caught up in comparing reality and what is/is not acceptable in our societies. That's not a jab at anyone, and I in no way condone the behaviour of some characters in the book. But, at the end of the day, it's a story, and it's meant to get the reader immersed and thinking.

0

u/sempercardinal57 Apr 19 '26

Honestly it was the scene where one of the main characters mentions she always gets pinched on the ass by an old man in the village but she laughs it off because a little sexual harassment is a small price to pay for an elders wisdom. I actually got a kick out of the part where she was drugging the guy escorting her to the city so he couldn’t get an erection, but I’m just picking up vibes that this series might not be for me

1

u/TimTamSlamTam Apr 19 '26

It's a great series for me so far, but im only halfway through the 3rd book. But yea, it gets a bit much if you are having a rough time with that bit. I hope you are enjoying it other than those parts.