The Seven Realms Series

Hi everyone! It’s me, Rute, writing. Today I present to you The Seven Realms Series, by Cinda Williams Chima!

Actually, I only read the first two by now, but it’s not my fault as the other two (they’re four books) haven’t come out yet.

I’ll try to be objective and fast. So the first one is called The Demon King and the second one The Exiled queen.

Before I start, I would like to mention that I liked these books. They were not OMG AWESOME but they were okay!

The story takes place on a parallel universe, or so do I think, similar to our medieval era (since they dress like it, at least!), besides the fact that there exists magic and other odd and weird stuff. For those who don’t like spoilers, be cautious!

In resume, both of the books talk about two main characters and their lives in one of the seven realms - Fellsmarch. The girl – Raisa, is the princess heir of the place where they both live and the guy – Han, is a common person. He’s actually poor and has to work hard to sustain the surviving of his mother and his little sister (he was a thief to sustain his family but he gave up because of his sister). He is known in the streets as Cuffs ‘cause he has two ‘bracelets’, each in one of his wrists, that are magical and no one can take them off (you only discover their purpose in the end of the first book!)

One of the first things I really enjoyed about the books was that it was written in the perspective of both main characters! Actually they barely meet in the first book, so it’s interesting to see the contrasts between them, since they are so different and come from so different worlds.

I also liked the variety of descriptions. And these books had a lot of different appearances, which I thought was very interesting! And one fact I noticed is that most of them don’t have brown eyes. I must have realized two or three characters in the immense plot that actually had brown eyes! And I sort of deduced that in that world it was common to have light colored eyes (don’t bother, I just live in a country where most of us have brown eyes and hair and so I found it odd in the beginning).

The first book is set on Fellsmarch and talks about the crescent and growing influence of wizards in this Realm, specially the High Wizard’s (it’s kind of a prime minister of magic because he is very important in the queendom)influence over the queen.

About the magic, there are two distinct kinds: the wizardry, with spells and witchcraft, and you use an amulet (it’s like a wand); and the spiritual part, where the magic is more like healing.

The two sides of the magic world are against each other: wizards or jinxflingers (as the other part calls them) and the clans.

The wizards have a lot of influence in the queendom (it is a queendom where the queens rule, not the kings). Though the clans also have control over them, especially because they make the amulets. This happens because of a terrible thing that had occurred a thousand years before: a queen named Hanalea married a wizard that is called the Demon king and he sort of went mad and almost destroyed the world (at least it’s what everybody thinks… so, read the book). Therefore queens can’t marry wizards, and clans control the supply and the production of the amulets.

While Raisa lives at court and has to maintain the party climate and the constant pressure for being the heir, she doesn’t know anything that goes on the outside. Han, on the other hand knows too much since he has to survive on a starving society and do what he can to keep being alive! He has a close relationship with the clans, partly because he has a clan friend (partly! the other motive you find in the end).

Raisa is the daughter of the queen and a royalty clan member. So she’s called half blood. The queen has a really weak personality, but she really likes her daughter although you can’t see it in the beginning.

In my opinion, this Series has realistic characters that are not perfect and they learn from their mistakes. They actually are selfish enough to try to get what they want; but they also think about the responsibilities they have and people involved in their decisions.

Raisa has three love interests (at least in the beginning): Han, the other main character, of course (though they hardly meet); Micah, the son of the High Wizard; and Amon Byrne, son of the Captain of protection of the queen (I don’t remember really well, but it was something related to military stuff). They’re both handsome, and, although I really like and prefer Han, because he’s sort of that bad sexy boy, I actually prefer the relationship she has with Micah.

Micah is, supposedly, a bad character, but he is handsome, has that evil native and royal personality and their relationship is the most natural. They’re not madly in love with each other, they just want to flirt, have fun and enjoy their forbidden passion (since he is a wizard and she is a queen-to be). Her relationship with Amon starts when they were children, because he was/is the only friend she really had/has. But their “romance” is that awkward, too sweet, friendly and lame kind of relationship. So I don’t like it very much. Han; well, they’re sweet together and they definitely have chemistry, but it had an unnatural beginning (it gave the impression it was “love” at first sight or at least they were interest in each other at first sight), and since they both are main characters, there are, obviously, the lame romantic parts. Fortunately they are not too many (I like romance in the books but I don’t like lame stuff and too many lovey dovey scenes).

You notice that Raisa has a passion for forbidden loves, and she actually reflects and worries about that.

The second book is mostly set in Oden’s Ford – that it’s like a campus of three universities – the magical school, the military school and the “artistic” temple school.

Raisa goes with Amon to the military one, because she’s in exile (SPOILER: she escapes from a forced marriage with Micah, which was forbidden, that supposedly would “benefit” the realm). Han goes to … SPOILER ALERT (if you don’t want to read the spoiler, continue to the next paragraph): […Goes the magical one. Yes he’s a wizard, obviously! But not just a simple wizard, he is the descendent of the Demon King!]

The books are kind of obvious and predictable. You realize what it’s going to happen in the future (I realized what Han was in the beginning!). But they’re entertaining and books don’t have to be filled with mysterious and unexpected events all the time!

My goodness my review is gigantic! Well, never mind. I suggest this Series to everyone who likes historical (parallel universe that resembles medieval), romantically (but realistic) and fantasy/supernatural (a tiny bit ‘cause of the magic) stories.

As soon as we know the date release of the next book we put it here!

See you soon (I hope with Daniela writing)!

Golden Flamingos