In My Mailbox (5)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, in which we explore the contents of our mailbox.

The Demon King by Cinda Williams-Chima

Release Date: October 13,2009

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari. Ironically, the only thing of value he has is something he can't sell. For as long as Han can remember, he's worn thick silver cuffs engraved with runes. They're clearly magicked-as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off.

While out hunting one day, Han and his Clan friend, Dancer catch three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. After a confrontation, Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to ensure the boy won't use it against them. Han soon learns that the amulet has an evil history-it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Helena, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of relative freedom with her father's family at Demonai camp - riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets. Although Raisa will become eligible for marriage after her sixteenth name-day, she isn't looking forward to trading in her common sense and new skills for etiquette tutors and stuffy parties.

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. But it seems like her mother has other plans for her--plans that include a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.

The Seven Realms will tremble when the lives of Han and Raisa collide in this stunning new page-turner from bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima.

I started reading this one and was pulled in within the first few pages. I love that the main character is a reformed thief rather than a typical fantasy thief getting away with whatever he wants. The Demon King is the first in a new series by Chima!

Love is never easy. Especially if you're Paul. He's a sophomore at a high school like no other--and these are his friends:

Infinite Darlene, the homecoming queen and star quarterback

Joni, Paul's best friend who may not be his best friend anymore

Tony, his other best friend, who can't leave the house unless his parents think he's going on a date...with a girl

Kyle, the ex-boyfriend who won't go away

Rip, the school bookie, who sets the odds...

And Noah, The Boy. The one who changes everything.

Love meets Love.

Confusion meets Clarity.

Boy meets Boy.

This one is a bit surreal so far. I wish high schoolers (and everyone else) were as accepting of the GLBT community as they are portrayed to be so far.

What is in your mailbox this week?