The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

Title: The Demon King

Author: Cinda Williams Chima

Published: 2009

Pages: 512
Rating: 5/5
Summary: 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 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 relative 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--including marriage to a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.

Review: I've read two other books by Cinda and I really liked them so I decided to give this new series a try!

The book starts off with Han Alister and his friend, Fire Dancer. They're out hunting when they encounter some wizards. This sets the whole story out and from the very beginning the reader starts seeing some mysterious things that will make you want to read more.

One of the many things that I liked about the book was the characters. You have Han who is also known as Cuffs Alister. He's out of the life he used to have but the authorities still seem to blame him for everything bad that happens. And just his luck, the amulet he took seems to belong to very powerful people who want it back, no matter the cost.

Then you have Raisa ana'Mariana who's Princess Heir of the Fells. She lives a court life but wishes she could live a life like the clans. She's very determined and knows she will need people in who to trust so she could rule the Queendom. She soon finds that the Queendom she lives in is not as she imagined and it may be in danger.

There are so many other characters but these were the main ones. The book changes perspective from Han and Raisa and in a couple of times with soldier who's very close to the princess. Many of the characters have hidden secrets, even ones that they may not even know about.

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait until I read the second one. I really want to know what happens next after all that the characters went through and find out. I just really love books that are fantasy!