The Demon King: A Seven Realms Novel (Seven Realms Universe, #1) (The Seven Realms, #1)

by Cinda Williams Chima

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.

• ISBN10: 1423118235
• ISBN13: 9781423118237
• Publish Date: 19 November 2009
• Publish Status: Transferred
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Disney Publishing Worldwide
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 506
• Language: English

Reviews

[KitsuneBae]

I could have been generous with my rating but this book was just too slow. x.x

[elvinagb]

Really liked this book. As it's part of a series this first book introduces us to the main characters, the landscape, the wars and political turmoil in the surrounding countries and all the major and minor conflicts and sets up the next part quite nicely. Must look for the next in the series soon.

[Grace]

Despite the fact that it ultimately felt like an extremely long prologue rather than its own story, I really enjoyed this. The world-building was expertly crafted, and although the two main characters weren't entirely original (they were basically Aladdin and Jasmine), their individual stories were compelling. I bought this at a bargain price for my Nook and thus didn't have terribly high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself really looking forward to moments when I could pick it up and read a few more pages. I'll definitely be continuing this series.