The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
Release Date: October 13, 2009
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult/Middle Grade/12 & up
Pages: 512
From: author
Interest: genre
Buy the Book: Amazon
/Indiebound
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'Helena, 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.
Three words; fa, reaking, awesome!
Now I remember why I love fantasy so much! Especially a kick-butt high fantasy like this one.
Chima has masterfully created an intriguing world, with a cast full of memorable characters.
The chapters somewhat alternate between Han and Raisa. Divulging the depth of each character and the world around them, presented in their own P.O.V. I love when authors do this. I like that connection you get when the story is presented in this format. I am emotionally invested in these characters, I actually care what happens to them!
The plot was insane, in a good way. I didn't even begin to try to figure out where this story was going to take me, I had some inclinations (and they happened to be right) but it was nice just to go with the flow and let the story lead me where it wanted me to go.
The writing... I'm just going to throw masterful out there again, because it was just that. I was transported to another world. Fantastic!
I can not wait to read the rest of this series! I'm not looking forward to waiting, I can tell you that much. Will definitely be adding this one to my personal library.