[REVIEW] Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima

Published: October 2012
Publisher: Hyperion
Age: Young Adult
Series: Seven Realms #4 [end]

The Crimson Crown summary on Goodreads
The crimson crown is the final book in the seven realms series.  Needless to say, Chima concludes her series marvelously.  She fills in any loose ends and makes sure the readers have a clear understanding of what has happened in the past and present.

Throughout the book, Han Allister flirts with danger (and Raisa but what else is new!) and really starts to develop into that king-like figure. Of course as I said before, Han and Raisa are meant to be together. This series has a way of repeating history, in a predictable manner may I add and usually I hate predictable books but in this case I wanted to keep reading to see if what I predicted was
coming true. If it really was going to be history repeating itself (only this time it's happy endings).

It's interesting that of all the wonderful parts of this series that comprise it, I was most excited and interested in all the betrayals and lies.  I mean the whole premise of the legend is built on a huge lie! So yes, I guess lies and betrayals are quite important in this book and series overall. I was completely surprised at the harshness of the Clan people at the end of the book. I won't spoil anything but basically when I first started reading the Seven Realms series, I was very for the Clans and their philosophy but as Raisa took the throne (in the previous book I believe), I started to stop caring the Clans and focus more on those associated with the Grey Wolfe Throne and the upper class. Maybe it's that reason that I find the sudden change in the Clans to be so shocking. The end of the series was also a surprise. I didn't see it coming and it definitely explained other parts that were happening in the book.

What was a bit lacking for me though was that there were quite a few side journeys that didn't prove to be of any significance to the story at all.    Out of all four books, this one seemed the most disjointed in its story line, journeys and side plots.I applaud the author in filling in any loose ends but there are just so many new ideas, adventures and plots that are introduced in this book that I find it very disconnected overall.  As if there were two stories running parallel: Han's adventure and Raisa's struggles back at the castle and then they somehow connect at the end. Can't say that it was bad just felt like I was reading two different stories that ended up joining together in the end.

Some characters that I feel completely stole the limelight in this story are:

• Dancer. WHERE DID HE COME FROM??? I mean he's always been a major side character in this story but seriously, when has he been of major importance to the plot? Not really. In the final novel though, whoa. Dancer should have a book all to his own. Firstly, he somehow becomes integral to the whole wizard conflict and than bam, just when I thought it was back to Han and Raisa, no, it's Dancer again and his special powers that happened to appear in the most opportune moments. Hmm, seems suspicious to me.  I mean he was the quite, soft spoken character in this book who supported Han from the side. I'm still trying to digest the fact that without him, the story probably wouldn't have had a happy ending. That's how important his part was.
• Crow. This wasn't as big of a surprise as Dancer, probably because I really liked Crow and he had a pretty integral part in the third book, but Crow too was a major part of this novel. There are a lot of events that couldn't have happened without him and honestly I'm just glad he had a bigger part that not only showed his normal Crow self but also his caring side.
• Micah. Micah was also central to this story. I mean he was central to this entire series in general but he really took control in this book, becoming more than a puppet for his family.

The Seven Realms series is truly a masterpiece. It's been a long time since I've read the final book in the series and quite enjoyed it. I missed that feeling.  Knowing Cinda Wlliams Chima, I'll probably be reading another amazing fantasy series from her soon.

If you haven't checked it out, read the Demon King, the first in the Seven Realms series. [review here] This is definitely a series that you don't want to be missing out in.

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[REVIEW] The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

Published: September 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: Seven Realms #2

You can't always run from danger...

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the  irresistible power of attraction. (From Goodreads)

The Exiled Queen is the second book in the four book, Seven Realms series.

In the second book, the two main characters, Hans Allister (formerly, Cuffs Alister) and Raisa Ana'Marianna (who goes by Rebecca Morley to keep her identity a secret) both end up at Oden's Ford for school. As revealed in the last book, Hans starts training as a wizard while attempting to stay alive from the two Bayer twins. Along the way, Hans make some deals he could regret especially when he meets a mysterious wizard named Crow who seems seems to have his own ulterier motives. Raisa stays with Amon Bryne while training as a cadet. At Oden's Ford she stays hidden away but what happens when she gets found and kidnapped back to the one place she is running from? Well, the Exiled Queen is definitely not short of drama. We have a romantic relationship sproat between Hans and Raisa but for an heir princess, nothing always happens the way you think it does.

Chima does it again in this sequel to her first book, The Demon King. 

Although I will admit, this book lacks the action and life threatening moments that i enjoyed from the first book. I found this book was more focused on the character's relationships. Like I said, there's no shortage of drama, not just from Raisa but from Hans as well. 

What I really liked when reading this book was that it really is like you're reading two different stories that somehow entangle at some part in the middle and then seperate again. 

I also started to hate Amon for what he did to Raisa. His reasoning in the story is also absolutely horrible, but understandable and yet, at the same time completely ridiculous but what's to be done about that.  If you didn't read the first book, Amon and Raisa love each other but because of certain oaths and rules, Amon can't be with Raisa otherwise he gets punished. It's the Bryne legacy to always act in a way that protects the Grey Wolfe line (that's Raisa's royal line) and since they have to protect the line, Amon, as a Bryne, can't love the princess. 

This book was also really hard to get through at the end. Not because it was boring but because I didn't want to know what would happen. I wanted to stop reading and hope the character's happiness would last but of course, my curiosity got the best of me and I read it. Well all I can say is I'm glad the third book is coming out in a couple of weeks. 

If you love fantasy and action and possibly romance, give this book a try.

5/5!
(originally posted in the TPL Word Out program)
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[REVIEW] The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

Published: November 2009
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Age Group: Young Adult - Fantasy
Series: Seven Realms #1

This novel marks the first giant step in a momentous
fantasy journey orchestrated by Cinda Williams Chima, the author of the popular Warrior Heir series. Its two chief protagonists are ex-thief Han Alister, an impoverished commoner, and Raisa ana'Marianna, the headstrong Princess Heir of the Fells. The Demon King brings them together, creating part of a volatile mix of action, magic, and danger. Empathetic characters; wizardly attacks.(From Goodreads)

The Demon King is the first book in the Seven Realms Series.

In The Demon King, there are two narrators, Hans Alister (named "Hunts Alone") who is a thief trying to make a living for himself, his mother and sister, and Raisa ana'Marianna, the princess heir of the Fells. Although poor, Hans has two silver cuffs on his arms that will not come off. They grow when he grows and engraved with runes, clearly an indication that they're magicked. This leads to his nickname of Cuffs Alister. Hans life gets even harder when he steals a powerful amulet from the Bayers, the most powerful wizard family, nad now his life is in danger but what he finds while trying to stay alive changes his entire life forever. Raisa is a very stubbern girl who would much rather live life like Hanalea - the legendary warrier queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world - then attend princess lessons or getting married in fact. You see, when a child turns 16, they are seen as an adult and are eligable for marriage. Although Raisa does not want to get married, her mother has other plans, plans that may involve picking a suitier who goes against everything the queendom stands for. Both Raisa's and Han's fate collide and soon they find themselves both running to the same place and running from the same people.

This book was surprisingly good. Not just good, but really good.

At first, i was quite confused with all the locations and names, but soon it became clear to me. 

The main characters are both have very strong personalities and act in surprising ways. I will admit that the descriptions weren't enough that I could picture myself there at that moment feeling what that character was feeling or seeing what they were doing but nonetheless, it was enough for me to enjoy the book. 

The author combines magic, ancient legends and warriers together perfectly. The wizards in this book are in dispute with the "clan" people. The clan people are essentially people who use green magic, thing healing magic, magic not intended to hurt others. After the Dark King (a wizard who attempts to destroy the world) is beaten, the clan people restricted the wizards which led to the animosty between them. 

Another thing I really liked about this book was that nothing was what you thought it would be. For example, in one chapter, Hans is acting all nice and concerned and the next, he's holding a knife to someone's throat taking them as hostage. It is unexpected and completely different. 

The plot of this book is subtly mentioned throughout. I didn't really know what it was until I got to the end of this book, and then the plot of the series was clear. 
Overall, this is an amazing book and i would recommand it to anyone in to adventure, fantasy and action. Maybe a little romance in it but I'm not really sure how big of an influence it will be later on. 

Enjoy!

5/5!
(originally posted in the TPL Word Out program)
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