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The Demon King A Seven Realms Novel Cinda Williams Chima Arianne Lewin Larry Rostant Books

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The Demon King A Seven Realms Novel Cinda Williams Chima Arianne Lewin Larry Rostant Books

For years now my close, bookwormish friends have recommended this series to me and advised me that I would fall in love with Cinda's writing. But somehow, I never did pick it up because all those shiny, new releases got in the way. And then one day, I tweeted a request for an outstanding audiobook recommendation, and sure enough The Demon King popped up again. I figured it was time to listen to this much recommended story.

And you know what? Those friends of mine were right. Cinda writes of a magical, fantasy world, but one whose characters you immediately recognize. Han, the former street lord of the Raggers, rough and right in his approach to just about everything. Yes I admit, I loved him right away.

But there's also Princess Raisa and oh, how I loved her. She is surrounded by all those expectations of what is proper for her, and with her character came the thing I love the most in these types of plots -- political intrigue.

Cinda's a master of surprise and while you may anticipate that a plot twist is coming, you won't be sure of it until it, BAM, hits you. The Demon King sits on my shelf alongside my favorite fantasy stories (think of Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief). Like a lot of first books with a large cast of characters, the plot is a bit slower, but I promise you that thanks to the wonderful narration of Carol Monda, you will keep all the characters straight and you will fall in love with both Han and Raisa. I finished the audiobook and immediately bought the second one. I need to know what happened next, and yes, yes, to all my bookish friends, you were so right, I did fall in love with Cinda's story.

*reviewed by Sophie on Mundie Moms


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The Demon King A Seven Realms Novel Cinda Williams Chima Arianne Lewin Larry Rostant Books Reviews

Listen, it is rare that I am happy with a book. They're all the same, you know? Mary Sues and people saving the world and magic and all that yada yada yada. And yet? I could not put this book down. I'm not even sure what particular thing made it so enchanting. I didn't really love the characters until book two, yet I loved reading about them, even when they made decisions that annoyed me. And I loved them with all my heart by the end of the series. I think it must be the world building, though, that made this so unique. We've all heard stories about wizards and magic and princesses, and yet, it's never been told in quite this way. Give it a try. You won't regret it.
This book and its sequels are amazing. They follow two separate characters going about their lives, primarily within three circles. There's the Castle and the artistocracy, where princess Raisa lives; Then there are the slums, where former Ragger streetlord Han lives; finally there are the mountain dwelling naturalistic clans in the mountains, where both Raisa and Han have fostered for large chunks of their lives. Raisa struggles with the restrictions placed on her as princess returning to court after three years of comparative freedom within the clans. Her name day approaches, when she will become eligible for marriage and while she does not wish to be wed, others pressure her to think for the good of the kingdom. Meanwhile, Han struggles with survival now that he has left 'the life' as leader of a gang of youth on the streets of Ragtown. Nothing ever really goes his way.

Naturally the story of these two entwine, but I won't spoil any details. Needless to say it is an amazing story and the characters are very lovable. You'll feel disappointed each time the POV switches between our leads, just to get engrossed again and feel the same the moment it switches over. The marriage of their two stories into one is beautifully done, without drawn out cliche or obvious manhandling of our protagonists. All feels organic and well crafted. This series of four books is among my favorite.
The Demon King
The Seven Realms Book #1
By Cinda Williams Chima

KU NO
Non-KU Price $8.99

Genre Young Adult Fantasy

Book Summary

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for his family. The only thing of value he has is something he can't sell—the thick silver cuffs he's worn since birth. They're clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off.

One day, Han and his clan friend, Dancer, confront three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to keep him from using it against them. Soon Han 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 freedom in the mountains—riding, hunting, and working the famous clan markets. 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 her mother has other plans for her...

The Seven Realms tremble when the lives of Hans and Raisa collide, fanning the flames of the smoldering war between clans and wizards.

My Review

In this world villains aren’t always evil and heroes aren’t always good. Demon King is a wonderful blend of world building and mythology couched in histories. The book also serves as an introduction to two main characters, Han “Cuffs” McAlister and Raisa ana’Marianna, and a host of side characters. Each one fully developed with layers of backstory, strong emotions, flaws, and desires. Ms. Chima has built a world so rich in background and enriched with characterization that you feel immersed after reading only a few pages. She’s pulled in pieces of real world cultures and spun them into a fantastical realm, with amazing results.

Long ago there was only one realm, broken by the famed Demon King in his quest for magical prowess. Now there are Seven Realms. Fells is a small mountain kingdom ruled by the blooded queens of Hanalea’s bloodline. The Clans, the wizards, and the humans inhabit the Fells under an uneasy truce because of the Naeming, enforced by the blooded queens of the Fells. Something subtle is trying to shift the balance of peace, hoping to topple the Fells into civil war. Caught in the center of the shifting powers are Han and Raisa. Han is a former street thief and gang leader. He’s trying to evade wizards who are killing in an effort to find something they think he has, only to be blamed for those murders by the Queen’s Guard. Stuck in a no-win situation, all he wants to do is survive. Raisa is a headstrong princess who is hungry for real world experiences. She’s tired of being cooped up in a gilded cage and wants to change the world for the better. One chance encounter may well change the fate of both of their worlds.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Demon King. What I got was a read worth devouring in a single sitting, characters that lived with their flaws and it made them richer. I craved the next book. Heck, I read all three in less than a week. While I want to give Demon King 5 stars, I have a serious problem doing that for any book with a cliffhanger ending. If I was reviewing the entire series, I would, but I’m only reviewing one book. I give Demon King 4 out of 5 stars. If you want an immersive read, pick it up and prepare to lose sleep.
For years now my close, bookwormish friends have recommended this series to me and advised me that I would fall in love with Cinda's writing. But somehow, I never did pick it up because all those shiny, new releases got in the way. And then one day, I tweeted a request for an outstanding audiobook recommendation, and sure enough The Demon King popped up again. I figured it was time to listen to this much recommended story.

And you know what? Those friends of mine were right. Cinda writes of a magical, fantasy world, but one whose characters you immediately recognize. Han, the former street lord of the Raggers, rough and right in his approach to just about everything. Yes I admit, I loved him right away.

But there's also Princess Raisa and oh, how I loved her. She is surrounded by all those expectations of what is proper for her, and with her character came the thing I love the most in these types of plots -- political intrigue.

Cinda's a master of surprise and while you may anticipate that a plot twist is coming, you won't be sure of it until it, BAM, hits you. The Demon King sits on my shelf alongside my favorite fantasy stories (think of Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief). Like a lot of first books with a large cast of characters, the plot is a bit slower, but I promise you that thanks to the wonderful narration of Carol Monda, you will keep all the characters straight and you will fall in love with both Han and Raisa. I finished the audiobook and immediately bought the second one. I need to know what happened next, and yes, yes, to all my bookish friends, you were so right, I did fall in love with Cinda's story.

*reviewed by Sophie on Mundie Moms