Book Review: The Enchanter Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

Title: The Enchanter Heir
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Pages: 458
Genre: Magic, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Rating: 3.5/5
Source: Netgalley

For those of you who haven’t read any of Ms. Chima’s books, this is the 4^th book in The Heir Chronicles and is a spinoff from the original trilogy.

The Thorn Hill Massacre killed thousands of Weir [magical people] and only a few hundred children lived. The survivors, also known as the savants, each had a magical trait that made them unique. Jonah Kinlock, a  savant, also had such a magical trait: the ability to kill by touch.

Emma Claire Greenwood always thought she was a normal, everyday girl. But when she realizes she is a savant, everything changes. Now the Weir are restless over killings occurring in Trinity, Ohio, leaving only one explanation: the murderers of Thorn Hill were killing the Weir in Trinity. Only Jonah and Emma have the power to save the Weir, but doing that might be suicidal.

Jonah and Emma are both intriguing characters to read about. Jonah is kind and careful. He knows that one wrong touch, and someone he loves will die.  Emma is practically the opposite - brash and headstrong. I have to say that Jonah is the better character because it is easier to see how he reacts to the new alterations in his life. Emma is also an entertaining character, but her life and emotions seem artificial when compared to Jonah’s.

Honestly speaking, I can’t really say this book met the expectations that I had. The characters were good, but while I was reading, I didn’t really get what the point of this book was. It seemed as if there was no real focus, a problem that continues throughout the story.

But on the other hand, it was fun reading the romantic plot. You have Emma, who is undeniably attracted to Jonah. And then you have Jonah who likes Emma but is too afraid of his own body – literally- to do anything. It was amusing to read how the two characters were going to solve that dilemma. Also the feelings between the hero and the heroine were well expressed. Additionally, the romance continued to  build up throughout the whole book, which I enjoyed.

My favorite part of this whole story would be how the author builds up a whole different world from the one introduced in the previous three books. It was fascinating to read about how the characters of this book interacted with the characters from the past books.

In general, ‘The Enchanter Heir’ was a magical read that I found interesting. I recommend this book to people ages 12+ because there was a bit of violence. If you like books that have to do with magic, then this is one that you will want to try out. The previous three books in this series are ‘The Warrior Heir’, ‘The Wizard Heir’ and ‘The Dragon Heir’ respectively. Reading the series in order would help the flow of ideas and would make the books easier to understand.

Book Review: Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

Title: The Warrior Heir
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Pages: 426
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: Action, romance, fantasy fiction
Rating: 4/5

In this, the first book of Cinda Williams Chima’s series, ‘The Heir Chronicles’, Jack Swift is forced into a decision that he never thought he would have to make. Enemies are approaching, and Jack is thrust into a life that he knows nothing about.

After spending his whole life in Trinity, Jack never thought he was anything out of the ordinary. Yet, all the truths he has recently been told, point to that being the only option. And if that isn’t enough, it turns out he is a warrior, a magical fighter. The most shocking part is that he is the only one in the whole world, and is being hunted for it.

The enemies are coming, and it is all Jack can do to hone his powers; they will be the key to his survival. With his wizard teacher Leander Hastings, a mysterious man of many secrets, and the threat of a battle approaching, Jack’s survival is on the line, but he must do everything he can to save the ones he loves – even if it means dying.

My favorite character in this book is Jack Swift. His whole life has been one big lie, and he knows things will never be the same again. As he is pushed into this new situation, he fights literally and figuratively knowing that if he gives up, it’s all over. Jack feels ready for the upcoming events, but things are not as they seem. Together with his friends and family, Jack must find a solution to the problems that threaten to destroy everything he knows before it is too late.

“The Warrior Heir” seemed to be all about fighting and violence, but it wasn’t, much to my surprise. I had been expecting blood and gore splattered on every page, but Chima entertains her readers with a deeper, more interesting story. Her protagonist Jack is sketched in a story where he must strive hard and fight long to attain his goal. Though the story does seem a tad bit fantastical, Chima draws in Jack’s characteristics - good and bad, and graces her readers with a story that’s mixed in with witty banter, hilarious lines, and a furiously exciting plot to entice readers.

Read ‘The Warrior Heir’ by Cinda Williams Chima, a book that no one will ever be able to put down. Join Jack, his friends, family, and enemies on a journey that requires grit, determination and strength to accomplish the impossible. With a stunning conclusion, this book is one that readers will always remember. Other books in this series include ‘The Wizard Heir’, ‘The Dragon Heir’ and ‘The Enchanter Heir’, coming out in October, 2013. Other series written by Cinda Williams Chima include the Seven Realms Series which consists of ‘The Demon King’, ‘The Exiled Queen’, ‘The Gray Wolf Throne’, and ‘The Crimson Crown’.

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

The Gray Wolf Throne

In the Seven Realms Series, there are two books out, and two more on the way, one of them is coming out on August 30. The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima. The first two books in this series are The Demon King, and The Exiled Queen.

The Demon King and Exiled Queen, the previous two books in this series, are filled with action, adventure, romance. They are also fantasy and fiction.

For those people that haven’t read the Demon King and Exiled Queen, here is an intro to give you an idea what has happened in the past.

The Demon King
First Book:
Han:
This book is about how Han’s secrets of his life are unveiled, from being a former thief to becoming a wizard, and finding out who his ancestors are and what important role they played in the making or breaking of the world. It all begins when Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of Gavin Bayar the High Wizard in court. Now that Han has the wizard gift, he and Dancer (who also has the gift) must go to Mystwerk House - a place where wizards are trained to control their powers - which is in Oden’s Ford. Oden’s Ford consists of two houses: Mystwerk House and Wien House.

Raisa:
On the other hand, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna is getting closer to her name day, which is the day she is eligible to marry. And this news is not hidden, and now Raisa is practically trapped by suitors here and there wanting to marry her. But when Gavin Bayar, the High Wizard is influences Queen Marianna’s thoughts, Raisa must escape to a safe place. She decides to go to Wien’s House - a place where people are trained to become soldiers - which is also in Oden’s Ford. But she cannot go there alone, so she must go with Amon Byrne, her childhood friend and his triple of cadets.

The Exiled Queen
Second Book
Han:
In this book Hanson Alister and Hayden Fire Dancer go to Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford to learn how to control their magical gift. As they encounter danger on their way, they manage to get there in one piece. When Han travels to a different world, Aeiidon, in one of his classes, he meets a stranger: Crow. Not knowing who Crow was (in Aeiidon, you can change your appearance to whatever you want) Han is about to leave, but is stopped when Crow promises to teach him harder magic. Han agrees to the deal, but has to talk like a blueblood, someone who lives near the castle and is not a member of a clan. Han goes through the year, wary of Micah Bayar, and learning some tricks to his wizard powers.

Raisa:
Escaping from the queendom of Fells is a little tricky, with guards stationed at the exits. But once Raisa who is using the fake name of Rebecca Morley gets to Oden’s Ford, she gets a vigorous schedule that practically promises her no spare time. And right now she is having some mixed feelings between Amon Byrne, her childhood friend, and Hanson Alister. As Raisa deals through these feelings she is left confused. And to top it off, Micah Bayar a wizard that goes to Mystwerk House across the river is in Oden’s Ford as well. Another person to avoid. He would instantly recognize Raisa for who she was.

Besides the Seven Realms Series, there is another series Cinda Williams Chima has written. The Heir Series. The books are:

The Warrior Heir
The Wizard Heir
The Dragon Heir

2 more books in this series are coming out. It’s not written in stone, but the there is a chance that the titles may be: The Enchanter Heir and The Sorcerer Heir.

I recommend the Seven Realms Series and the Heir Series to anyone that loves adventure and romance rolled into one.

Book Review: The Demon King

Title: The Demon King
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Genre: Adventure, Fiction
Pages: 506
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Rating: 9.5/10

 Have you ever been famous? And not in a good way? Reformed thief Hans Alister was poor and would do anything for money. He used to pick pockets, but that was before. He was a new man now. Or boy, to be exact. But being honest isn’t easy, especially when you want to sell something to get a lot of money. The only thing Han had to sell were the silver cuffs that were magical, and wouldn’t come off. And those would definitely have sold for a lot of money.

Everything changes though when he and his friend Dancer run into a couple of wizards, and Han ends up taking an amulet from one of them, Micah Bayar. Now with the amulet which once belonged to the Demon King, Han must strive to reveal the secrets that surround his life, and start a new life that he never imagined would be his.

While Han deals with his dilemmas, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna has to go through the horrors of finding a suitable husband. But being fifteen, adventurous, and wanting to be like the legendary queen, Hanalea, is a trying combination for what Raisa’s mother expects her to be. Also when her friend Amon Byrne comes back from Oden’s Ford, she finds that now, she and Amon seem to be more than just friends, which makes Micah Bayar--son of the high wizard, Gavin Bayar-- quite annoyed.

My favorite character in the book, The Demon King, is Han. His full name is Hanson Alister. Han is my favorite character because for one, Han’s a character with a sense humor. Also he is an adventurous person. Most of the time he does dangerous things, which is one of the things that make this book very interesting.

Another one of my favorite character is Raisa. Marrying is definitely not on her agenda, but as she finds herself closer to her Name Day, and suffocated by suitors, she finds a way to sneak out and have adventures. I like Raisa, because she is a strong-willed, determined person who will stop at nothing to get what she knows is the right thing.

I like the author Cinda Williams Chima, because her stories captivated me, not letting me drop the book. The book has surprises, twists and turns, which many books miss by a long shot, making it quite an entertaining book.

I like the book, ‘The Demon King’ because it is a book in which anything that seems impossible can be possible, when just one small discovery can lead to a chain of discoveries that can either make or break the world, a book in which one small object can cause much havoc, and in which a couple of words magical or not can lead to laws being broken, plans of death being made, and reveal the truth of the past.

Join Han and Raisa as Han explores, and Raisa dances, into one incredible adventure that twists and tangles their lives together, forever.