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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
4.5
really cool story and I feel like the next book is going to be even better than this one because the main characters are all finally going to be in the same place.
really cool story and I feel like the next book is going to be even better than this one because the main characters are all finally going to be in the same place.
So, I still get annoyed on and off with Raisa, but she seems to improve slightly towards the end. And I'm not 100% in love with Han's ending, but it could be worse. Poor boy needs a hug from someone who doesn't have an agenda.
Anyway, I'll probably read the next book just because I want to make sure Han's ok. We'll see if I keep going after that.
Anyway, I'll probably read the next book just because I want to make sure Han's ok. We'll see if I keep going after that.
I'm not sure about this book. After many praises that I've seen and read I expected something... grander. And it felt more like a middle grade book. And a prequel at the same time.
It's always easier to start with the bad sides, that's how stupidly our brains work.
- We know almost nothing about the magic system. Yes, the power is inherited by blood. Yes, you need to have an amulet to cast spells. And that's pretty much everything we know so far?
- There's a lot of kissing, like seriously. And I felt no chemistry between any of the kissing couples which is a bummer because who doesn't like to read about kisses?? And when your MCs just kiss around all the time, it just loses its magic. Where's the tension?
- Main characters seem totally childish. Maybe that's the point, for a character to grow you need to start from a point that they have potential to do that. But you can't start too weak. Every time I started to truly like either Raisa or Han, they went back to being just... meh. All the characters seem to be underdeveloped so far. I can't believe Han used to rule the streets being like that.
- I wish the story went darker. There were demons killing people and burning them and torturing!!!! I want to know more, it was one of the most interesting aspects, yet it was such a small part of the plot. Everything else seemed so PG 12.
On the other hand I really liked it?
- I like the main history theme about the Queen and the Demon King. I want to know more about it!
- Everything about the clans and how they live and their traditions. I'm in love, I wanna live with them.
- I liked Raisa/Han interactions, probably more than them separately.
I'd rate it more if it was labeled middle grade, it's too simple so far. I'm curious if it develops more in the next volumes, though!
It's always easier to start with the bad sides, that's how stupidly our brains work.
- We know almost nothing about the magic system. Yes, the power is inherited by blood. Yes, you need to have an amulet to cast spells. And that's pretty much everything we know so far?
- There's a lot of kissing, like seriously. And I felt no chemistry between any of the kissing couples which is a bummer because who doesn't like to read about kisses?? And when your MCs just kiss around all the time, it just loses its magic. Where's the tension?
- Main characters seem totally childish. Maybe that's the point, for a character to grow you need to start from a point that they have potential to do that. But you can't start too weak. Every time I started to truly like either Raisa or Han, they went back to being just... meh. All the characters seem to be underdeveloped so far. I can't believe Han used to rule the streets being like that.
- I wish the story went darker. There were demons killing people and burning them and torturing!!!! I want to know more, it was one of the most interesting aspects, yet it was such a small part of the plot. Everything else seemed so PG 12.
On the other hand I really liked it?
- I like the main history theme about the Queen and the Demon King. I want to know more about it!
- Everything about the clans and how they live and their traditions. I'm in love, I wanna live with them.
- I liked Raisa/Han interactions, probably more than them separately.
I'd rate it more if it was labeled middle grade, it's too simple so far. I'm curious if it develops more in the next volumes, though!
4.5 Stars! I wasn't sure when I first began the book whether I'd finish it or not, but I stayed with it and it turned out to be wonderful. I loved the world-building, the setting, the great characters, and the intrigue. Looking forward to reading The Exiled Queen.
Re-Read with my crew at Buddies Books & Baubles starting Feb 22, 2016
One of the best things about this book for me is that in YA usually the MCs meet and instantly it is all about them being together. Raisa is 15 almost 16 so I really like that the author has her meeting different boys (she has quite a few suitors) and playing the field a little. She doesn't just fall in love with the first of second man/boy to show an interest in her. The same goes for Han....he gets a little kissing time too with other people and when he meets Raisa he likes her but doesn't fall head over heels in love with her or anything.
For YA that is rare and I love that it is more about the story than the romantic arc of a few characters. But since I know how this series ends the slow burn of it makes everything way more believable and real and I totally love that.
However at the moment I'm totally #team Amon because *rawr* (a little secret though....Han will steal my heart in the end) but this is totally Amon's book to shine.
Original Bad Review (this is one of my very first) May 2013
We follow two separate characters of Raisa the princess and heir to the throne and Han Alister a street wise boy with a pair of magical cuffs on his wrists that he has had since infancy. This installment of the seven reams series had a lot of world building to do. By following the two different story lines we get an idea of how both the nobility and poor live. It is a rich world full of magic, sorcery, treachery and heroes. None of the characters are perfect to say the least. They all are flawed; Raisa is caring but headstrong and defiant normally rushing in without completely thinking things through. She feels trapped by some of the traditions of her kingdom. She is supposed to marry soon for the good of her country but really just wants to be free and longs for the time she was fostered by her father’s clan. Han grew up poor and to provide for his family has lived a less than honest life stealing and scheming but now he is trying to be honest but it hasn’t been easy as his old life always tries to draw him back in. Han’s life forever changes when he takes a mysterious amulet off a young wizard it leads him down a path he never dreamed of taking.
Once you get past the first hundred or so pages the story really starts to pick up momentum. I really enjoyed how well the world was described in a show me and tell me way that leant well to the overall story. It was good to see how the world was so different depending on what side you are standing on. The way the characters intertwined and met up and fell apart was also interesting. I loved the lore and backstory of the Queen and the Demon King. There was a lot of action and all of the characters were written so well and so differently it made it so easy to either like or hate them. The twists the story took made it even better and definitely unpredictable.
The way that the plot and sub plots of the story intertwined receded and merged was masterfully written. When characters met up or passed close to one another was exciting and really built anticipation for book 2 in the series. This is one of the best fantasies I’ve read.
If you are a fan of fantasy this has a little bit of everything in it romance, intrigue, magic, tragedy and hope. A definite recommend. Sure it is a slower start but well worth it.
One of the best things about this book for me is that in YA usually the MCs meet and instantly it is all about them being together. Raisa is 15 almost 16 so I really like that the author has her meeting different boys (she has quite a few suitors) and playing the field a little. She doesn't just fall in love with the first of second man/boy to show an interest in her. The same goes for Han....he gets a little kissing time too with other people and when he meets Raisa he likes her but doesn't fall head over heels in love with her or anything.
For YA that is rare and I love that it is more about the story than the romantic arc of a few characters. But since I know how this series ends the slow burn of it makes everything way more believable and real and I totally love that.
However at the moment I'm totally #team Amon because *rawr* (a little secret though....Han will steal my heart in the end) but this is totally Amon's book to shine.
Original Bad Review (this is one of my very first) May 2013
We follow two separate characters of Raisa the princess and heir to the throne and Han Alister a street wise boy with a pair of magical cuffs on his wrists that he has had since infancy. This installment of the seven reams series had a lot of world building to do. By following the two different story lines we get an idea of how both the nobility and poor live. It is a rich world full of magic, sorcery, treachery and heroes. None of the characters are perfect to say the least. They all are flawed; Raisa is caring but headstrong and defiant normally rushing in without completely thinking things through. She feels trapped by some of the traditions of her kingdom. She is supposed to marry soon for the good of her country but really just wants to be free and longs for the time she was fostered by her father’s clan. Han grew up poor and to provide for his family has lived a less than honest life stealing and scheming but now he is trying to be honest but it hasn’t been easy as his old life always tries to draw him back in. Han’s life forever changes when he takes a mysterious amulet off a young wizard it leads him down a path he never dreamed of taking.
Once you get past the first hundred or so pages the story really starts to pick up momentum. I really enjoyed how well the world was described in a show me and tell me way that leant well to the overall story. It was good to see how the world was so different depending on what side you are standing on. The way the characters intertwined and met up and fell apart was also interesting. I loved the lore and backstory of the Queen and the Demon King. There was a lot of action and all of the characters were written so well and so differently it made it so easy to either like or hate them. The twists the story took made it even better and definitely unpredictable.
The way that the plot and sub plots of the story intertwined receded and merged was masterfully written. When characters met up or passed close to one another was exciting and really built anticipation for book 2 in the series. This is one of the best fantasies I’ve read.
If you are a fan of fantasy this has a little bit of everything in it romance, intrigue, magic, tragedy and hope. A definite recommend. Sure it is a slower start but well worth it.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is honestly my favorite series, I re-read it every year. I love Han and Raisa and the world and history that Chima creates in this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Violence, Alcohol
Very well done! I’m extremely hard to please when it comes to High Fantasy and let me tell you “The Demon king” just surpass any expectations I had about this book. With a impeccable execution, terrific writing, an addictive plot and marvelous characters this book has all the ingredients to be a “must read” for High Fantasy fans.
Cinda Williams Chima has created a world that will suck you in no time! Even though it might seems a little confusing at the beginning with certain aspects of the stories. Once you get use to that you will not be able to stop reading. I tried to read this book a little bit slow but I just couldn’t stop thinking about what was going to happen next… So I just keep reading.
I’m eagerly waiting for next book! Thanks God September is just around the corner!
Cinda Williams Chima has created a world that will suck you in no time! Even though it might seems a little confusing at the beginning with certain aspects of the stories. Once you get use to that you will not be able to stop reading. I tried to read this book a little bit slow but I just couldn’t stop thinking about what was going to happen next… So I just keep reading.
I’m eagerly waiting for next book! Thanks God September is just around the corner!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5. I really enjoyed the world building of the book and that it had diverse characters in it. The mythology and politics in this book were also very interesting to read about, since it had some real world parallels, with the whitewashing of history and how the way stories can be twisted to suit political agendas. It's not often that fantasy worlds bring up whitewashing, although it wasn't explicitly stated as such. Another aspect that I really liked was that the setting was in a queendom and that there were a lot of respected matriarchs. Seeing everything unfold from the first chapter was amazing, and although I called certain reveals, the characters' reactions to it kept it from being eye rolling. I also liked that the book brought up like economical matters and it had the princess realize what was going on and she figured out a way to donate and help out in the community. Although she could be a bit trying at times... I also really like when books that have multiple characters in it have their lives intertwine, and the ending of this book makes me think that a lot of them are going to end up in quite the pickle, especially since they all seem to be going to the same place. In the next book, I hope there's more of the Hanalea's Maidens too, it reminded me a bit of Artemis and her hunters.
However, some of the characters' decisions and thought processes were a bit eye rolling, like when they couldn't keep someone off of their mind in a good way after they encountered them and that encounter didn't go so well. There wasn't instalove but those little moments felt out of place to me. Another instance is when one of the characters was supposed to be sneaking out and ~inconspicuous~, but she decided to cause somewhat of a scene and bring attention to herself. Her awareness of certain situations was a bit off to me. I also feel like a map would've been a great addition to the story.
2017 - my thoughts are pretty much the same, but my disgust for the high wizard grows
However, some of the characters' decisions and thought processes were a bit eye rolling, like when they couldn't keep someone off of their mind in a good way after they encountered them and that encounter didn't go so well. There wasn't instalove but those little moments felt out of place to me. Another instance is when one of the characters was supposed to be sneaking out and ~inconspicuous~, but she decided to cause somewhat of a scene and bring attention to herself. Her awareness of certain situations was a bit off to me. I also feel like a map would've been a great addition to the story.
2017 - my thoughts are pretty much the same, but my disgust for the high wizard grows
My sister has to read for school but has been struggling so I gave her a stack of books and told her that whatever one she picked, I’d read it with her. She picked this one which I haven’t read since I was in like jr high.
This story is definitely more juvenile (not in a bad way) than what I’m used to reading these days but it’s been fun seeing my sister get excited to read her two chapters for the day. I enjoyed this series as a kid and, while I struggled bit in some parts, this is still a fun read as an adult.
3.5 stars
This story is definitely more juvenile (not in a bad way) than what I’m used to reading these days but it’s been fun seeing my sister get excited to read her two chapters for the day. I enjoyed this series as a kid and, while I struggled bit in some parts, this is still a fun read as an adult.
3.5 stars