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WARNING! Contains spoilers for the Demon King.
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The cover art for the Demon King

The Demon King is the first installment in the Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima.

Summary[]

When 16-year-old Han Alister and his Clan friend Dancer encounter three underage wizard setting fires in the Spirit Mountains, they confront the group and an argument arises.

Han takes an amulet from one of the wizards, Micah Bayar, to prevent him from using it against them. Only later does he learn that it has an evil history—it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. And the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Han’s life is complicated enough. He’s the former street lord of the Raggers—a street gang in the city of Fellsmarch. His street name, Cuffs, comes from the mysterious silver bracelets he’s worn all his life—cuffs that are impossible to take off. Now Han’s working odd jobs, helping to support his family, and doing his best to leave his old life behind. Events conspire against him, however. When members of a rival gang start dying, Han naturally gets the blame. Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna has her own battles to fight. As heir to the Gray Wolf throne of the Fells, she’s just spent three years of relative freedom with her father’s family at Demonai Camp—riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets. Now court life in Fellsmarch pinches like a pair of too-small shoes.

Wars are raging to the south, and threaten to spread into the high country. After a long period of quiet, the power of the Wizard Council is once again growing. The people of the Fells are starving and close to rebellion. Now more than ever, there’s a need for a strong queen.

But Raisa’s mother Queen Marianna is weak and distracted by the handsome Gavan Bayar, High Wizard of the Fells. Raisa feels like a cage is closing around her—and an arranged marriage and eroded inheritance is the least of it.

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. With the help of her friend, the cadet Amon Byrne, she navigates the treacherous Gray Wolf Court, hoping she can unravel the conspiracy coalescing around her before it’s too late.

Chapter List and Events[]

  • 1. The Hunt: pages 1-19
    • Han's POV

Han and Dancer are out in the mud springs, as Han ruins his fine clan-made boots to retrieve flowers to sell. He and Dancer then descend the mountain and intercept Micah Bayar and his two cousins. Han steals the Waterlow amulet, giving the alias Shiv Connor.

  • 2. Unintended Consequences: pages 20-37
    • Raisa's POV

Raisa, her mother, Lord Bayar, and Captain Byrne are having a picnic during a hunting trip. Micah and his cousins were off herding deer towards them, using wizard fire to do so. The fire rapidly spreads towards the group, with the young wizards rushing to outrun it. Raisa saw visions of wolves and sensed the danger coming. The party fled at the insistence of the Captain. They end up blocked in a canyon by a wall of flame, and Lord Bayar pulls out a chain. He connects the young wizards to himself using it, and drains them of their flash while he beat back the fire with magic and then made it rain, saving them all.

  • 3. Ambushed: pages 38-59
    • Han's POV

As Han and Dancer return to Marisa Pines Camp, they are ambushed by Dancer's cousin Digging Bird. At the camp, Bird and Han talk about her future. Han later converses with Willo about wizards.

  • 4. A Dance of Suitors: pages 60-81
    • Raisa's POV

At dinner Marianna holds a celebration for the heroism of the Bayars. Raisa leaves early to meet with Amon, who has just returned home.

  • 5. Old Stories: pages 82-97
    • Han's POV

Han visits Lucius at his cabin, and hears the true story of the Demon King and Hanalea. Lucius warns him away from the Bayars.

  • 6. Fellsmarch: pages 98-115
    • Han's POV

Han goes to The Keg and Crown to sell product, and is then ambushed and beaten by the Southies. The Queen's Guard approaches and Han escapes home to his mother and sister.

  • 7. In the Glass Garden: pages 116-141
    • Raisa's POV

They meet in the glass garden, with Magret as chaperone. Magret falls asleep and they take the secret passageway back to Raisa's rooms. Micah ambushes them outside her rooms, and Amon escorts him away.

  • 8. Lessons to be Learned: pages 142-159
    • Han's POV

Han takes Mari to school, and attends a lesson at the temple, learning about Hanalea and the Demon King. He then visits The Keg and Crown and learns that six Southies were killed. Outside the tavern he is attacked by Mac Gillen and saved by Amon, escaping in the Dyrnnewater.

  • 9. Eyes and Ears: pages 160-174
    • Raisa's POV

Raisa speaks with Marianna and then with Elena, who gives her a golden ring, a talisman to protect against magic.

  • 10. Back in the Maze: pages 175-187
    • Raisa's POV

Raisa speaks with Amon and tells him of her desire to visit Southbridge and make a difference among the poor. He attempts to convince her otherwise, concerned for her safety.

  • 11. Sanctuary: pages pages 188-204
    • Han's POV

Han seeks sanctuary in Southbridge Temple, Dancer and Willo arrive to heal him. Han awakens the next morning, with Dancer and Willo gone. Mari joins him, and he learns that two more Southies were tortured, burned, and killed.

  • 12. Bread and Roses: pages 205-230
    • Raisa's POV

Raisa and Amon go to Southbridge Temple at night, she is disguised and accompanied by the Wolfpack. She meets Jemson and her father, and sets up the Briar Rose Ministry, giving her suiters gifts to fund it. Han arrives to tell Jemson that the Guard as taken three of the Raggers. He is recognized by Amon, and kidnaps Raisa, going by "Rebecca Morley", in order to escape.

  • 13.The Raggers: pages 231-253
    • Han's POV, Raisa’s POV

Han takes Raisa to an old hideout, and they stay the night. The next morning, dressed as a boy, she runs, and is intercepted by the Raggers, led by Cat. Han arrives and talks their way out of it, Raisa then decides to rescue the Raggers.

  • 14.On the Wrong Side of the Law: pages 254-263
    • Raisa's POV
  • 15. Strange Bedfellows: pages 264-283
    • Amon's POV
  • 16. Demons in the Street: pages 284-296
    • Han's POV
  • 17. Party Warfare: pages 297-328
    • Raisa's POV

Raisa attends the Bayar twin's name day party. The Tomlin twins and Gerard Montaigne also attend. Raisa is enchanted by a magic necklace and becomes enamored with Micah. Amon and her father come to her rescue and figure it out. Amon informs Raisa that Han is dead. Magret and Elena tend to Raisa during the after-effects of the enchantment, healing a wound the necklace left behind. Elena warns her against wizards and implores her to wear the wolf talisman always.

  • 18. On the Borderland: pages 329-339
    • Han's POV

Bird and Dancer prepare for their name day ceremony. Bird has little time for Han, and Dancer is in a bad mood, and seems upset with his mother. Han visits Lucius who believed he was dead. Han contemplates becoming a soldier which Lucius disapproves of.

  • 19. Name Day: pages 340-351
    • Han's POV

The camp prepares for the name day ceremony, and the Demonai arrive. Bird is smitten with the Demonai, and is named one during the ceremony. Dancer is revealed to be a wizard, and that he would attend Oden's Ford, the Demonai immediately see him as an enemy, and Dancer seems unhappy with his fate.

  • 20. Willo and Bird: pages 352-361
    • Han's POV
  • 21. Blood and Roses: pages 362-386
    • Raisa's POV, Amon’s POV

Edon tells Amon about the bound captains, and binds him to Raisa.

  • 22. Desperate Measures: pages 387-402
    • Han's POV

Han tries to sell the Waterlow amulet.

  • 23. Name Day 2: pages 403-428
    • Raisa's POV
  • 24. Unholy Ceremony: pages 429-455
    • Raisa's POV

Lord Bayar and Marianna try to marry Raisa and Micah that night in secret. Micah attempts to subdue Raisa with sorcery but fails due to her ring. She plays along and convinces them to let her retrieve a necklace from her room. Magret helps her pack and keeps Micah at bay, while Raisa uses the secret passageway. She finds Amon still waiting in the glass garden and the two escape. Outside the castle they run into Averill and Edon, injured from an assassination attempt on their return home. They all concoct a plan, deciding Raisa and Amon will travel to Demonai Camp, then to Oden's Ford through the Fens with the Wolfpack.

  • 25. The End of Days: pages 456-469
    • Han's POV

He is attacked by Lord Bayar, who also commanded the Guard to burn his home. Han returns to find it in flames, his family still inside as the Raggers were unable to rescue them. The Raggers take him to their hideout offering to pledge to him again. He refuses and comes across Willo, who takes him to Marisa Pines where he slept for three days.

  • 26. Secrets Revealed: pages 470-486
    • Han's POV
  • 27. Gifted: pages 487-506
    • Han's POV, Raisa’s POV

Characters[]

Major[]

Minor[]

Locations[]

Major Events[]

Cover Gallery[]

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