The Demon King [Review]

**3.5 stars**

Stats:
#1 in Seven Realms series
506 Pages [Paperback]
Published 7 September 2010
ISBN: 1423121368
Find on Goodreads

Synopsis:
One day Han Alister catches three young wizard setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet away from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to ensure the boy won't use it against him. The amulet once belonged to the Demon King, who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece so powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana'Marianna has her own battle to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of riding and hunting with her father's family. Raia aspires to be like Hanalea, the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But it seems that 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 page-turner from best-selling author Cinda Williams Chima.
 

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book, but it did get a little long and drawn out towards the end before it picked back up again. I actually finished and handed it off to my husband who quickly devoured it. He just finished the 4th a few nights ago. It's been pretty fun to discuss a book in real life with someone.

Han Alister is a reformed street rat who is trying to support his family (mom and little sister). All his life, he has had a set of cuffs on his wrists that no one can seem to remove. His best friend, Fire Dancer, and him run into some young wizardlings in the forest one day while hunting. The clans don't get along with the wizards and vice-versa from a long time ago when the Demon King [a wizard] took Queen Hanalea hostage and destroyed the world with his magic. Wizards are given amulets to help control/amplify their powers from the clans who make them, however, they are very weak compared to the amulets of the Demon King's age. One of the young wizards in the forest has a very peculiar amulet and even more peculiar is that he isn't supposed to have an amulet until he is trained and of age. Han forces him to leave it behind and he takes it with him. Han, personally, was a little hard for me to like. In my opinion, not the strongest male character.

Raisa is the princess and heir to the throne. From the get-go, I really liked her character - she is the daughter of Marianna [the Queen] and a clan member. The queens are not permitted to marry wizards because of the Demon King/Hanalea, in order to prevent a wizard from gaining that much power and control again. Raisa is very much in love with her father and the rest of the clan people. She loves their way of life and is stifled by the royal life. She is interested in the politics and the volatile world that they are living in - all the areas it seems like her mother is neglecting. Her mother's wizard advisor, Lord Bayar, seems to have Marianna under his spell and his son has shown much interest in Raisa, even though they are forbidden to be together.

Raisa is probably my favorite of all the characters. I also really liked her grandmother Elena and Amon Byrne [Raisa's childhood friend turned soldier]. I am definitely interested to see what happens in the Exiled Queen - the ending of The Demon King was great!


Previous Review:
Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke  [here]

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