The Seven Realms Series

From the publisher:

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.

 

 

For me, it was love at first sight.

Walking through the aisle at my local book store a couple of years ago, I happened upon The Demon King, the first novel in Cinda Williams Chima’s masterpiece of a series. The eye catching cover, combined with an intriguing synopsis that spoke of wizards and kingdoms/queendoms at war, star-crossed love and worlds colliding, made me fall hook, line, and sinker.

There are many things that make me consider this series my number one favorite, and Chima’s brilliant characters are one of them. The story is told from two alternating points of view; Raisa, princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne, and Hanson Alister, a former streetlord of the nefarious ‘Raggers’ gang. Raisa starts out as your typical young princess. She’s aware of the responsibility she must take on when she becomes queen, but right now she’s more focused on taking advantage of the pleasures life has to offer. However, things don’t always go as planned and Raisa must deal with unexpected conflicts that pose a threat to her future queendom. Her transformation throughout the series is remarkably done; I loved watching her transform into this badass warrior who isn’t afraid to fight for what she wants.

I honestly can’t choose which main character I love most, but I will say I have a major book-crush on Hanson (or just Han) Alister. He’s a master former streetlord and thief, and I guess I just kind of have a thing for those kinds of characters (See also: Hale from Heist Society; Gen from The Thief, and Cassel from The Curse Workers). He’s cunning, charming, witty, and self-confident- and on top of that, devastatingly handsome. He always seems to be one step ahead of everyone else, and whatever he wants, he always finds a way to get it. Basically, he’s awesome.

Although they are just secondary characters, the supporting characters play a crucial role in the various plotlines throughout the series. Some are friends, some are foes, and they all have a huge impact on the two main characters, as well as the reader. You can’t help but love each and every one of them-even the ones you’re supposed to hate-because they’re just good characters.

In the Fells, where majority of the story takes place, there are three factions at play, each very different from the other. You have the Valefolk, (who live in the area known as the Vale) who are the townspeople, soldiers, merchants and traders. The Wizards, who require the use of an amulet to access their powers, make up the nobility of the Fellsian court. The Clans, who are the equivalent of our Native Americans, are master tradesmen and work to keep the wizards in check. The Gray Wolf queens, descendants from the legendary warrior queen Hanalea, who saved the world from destruction at the hands of the Demon King, are supposed to represent these three factions and unite them together.

What I’ve said so far is only a little taste at what this amazing series has to offer. Cinda Williams Chima is a master at her craft, and has created a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. At times, the characters and developments in the story can make your emotions run wild, making you anxious to keep reading and find out what happens next. I can’t recommend this series enough, so get your hands on a copy- you won’t regret it!

For more information on the series, visit www.cindachima.com

Happy Reading!

Bran