The Demon King (Seven Realms, #1) by Cinda Williams Chima

Publisher: Hyperion, October 6th 2009

Source: Received for review

Edition: Hardcover

# of pages: 512

Rating:

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari. Ironically, the only thing of value he has is something he can’t sell. For as long as Han can remember, he’s worn thick silver cuffs engraved with runes. They’re clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he’s never been able to get them off.

While out hunting one day, Han and his Clan friend, Dancer catch three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. After a confrontation, Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to ensure the boy won't use it against them. Han soon learns that the amulet has an evil history—it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana’Marianna, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She’s just returned to court after three years of relative freedom with her father’s family at Demonai camp – riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets. Although Raisa will become eligible for marriage after her sixteenth name-day, she isn't looking forward to trading in her common sense and new skills for etiquette tutors and stuffy parties.

Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea—the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But it seems like her mother has other plans for her--plans that include a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.

The Seven Realms will tremble when the lives of Han and Raisa collide in this stunning new page-turner from bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima.

Wow this book was really really great! Cinda created an awesome world filled with magic, wizardry, betrayals, deaths and romance all wrapped in one action packed book. I had read reviews of the book and had definitely heard good things about it but I really didn't know what to expect upon starting it. I usually don't like books with medieval themes, such as the kings and queens ruling sort of thing but to be honest, The Demon King was not politically boring at all. I absolutely loved the storyline revolving around the queens of Hanalea and the whole Queendom of the novel.

The characters in the book are so kick ass and unforgettable. Han, the main character, has a very raw personality and I absolutely loved reading his story and what he did to survive as an "ex-thief" in the poor side of his town. His background is mysteriously unknown and the silver cuffs around his wrists make you wonder what had happened to him in the past and as you read, the truth surfaces. The other main character, Princess Raisa, was also so very awesome. I loved reading from her perspective and I found myself really getting into her tangled love life with two very handsome and dangerous men ;)

Although the book was amazing, I found the beginning of the book wasn't as gripping as I would have liked and it took me a while to really get into the story but aside from that I thought that the book was original, suspenseful, gripping and eventful. I couldn't of asked for a better storyline and cast of characters. I recommend this book to everybody, you seriously need to read this series. It's freaking awesome! Stay tuned for my review of the second book in the series, The Exiled Queen.