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The Demon King
The Seven Realms Trilogy - Book I

by Cinda Williams Chima

     

Han Alister used to be a gang leader and thief, but he has reformed and is now trying to make an honest living to support his mother and little sister.  But one day when out hunting with his Clan friend, Dancer, he finds that the sacred mountain is on fire... set alight by three arrogant young wizards.  One of these is Micah Bayer, the son of the High Wizard, and during the ensuing altercation Han ends up with his amulet.  Meanwhile, the Princess Heir, Raisa ana’Helena, is fed up with the stifling life at court, and is horrified to discover that her mother is keen for her to marry.  Micah Bayer is keen too, but Raisa is determined to find her own path.

This is a coming of age story from a writer who has won awards for her previous YA fiction.   The themes of responsibility, burgeoning sexuality and freedom to make one's own choices will resonate with anybody young... or who was young once!  The author is also adept at delineating a scene in a remarkably few number of words, and from page one it is easy to grasp what is going on and why.  She is also good at creating characters who are not just black or white fantasy stereotypes, and the reader quickly gets to know them and care about them.  It is rather a pity, therefore, that there are so very many words, and it is not long before the pace begins to flag, causing the book to sag in the middle like an old bed.  Some judicious editing would work wonders on what is a good story well told, and which runs like the wind once it gets into its stride despite the time it takes to do so.

The Book

Voyager (HarperCollins UK)
4 February 2010
Hardback
0007342764 / 9780007342761
YA / Teenage / Fantasy / Fantastic Location
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Rachel A Hyde
Reviewed 2010
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