Book Review: Seven Realms Series by Cinda Williams Chima

The Seven Realms

Those who love to read fantasy are always in search of similar books that made them fall in love with the genre. The Seven Realms, a four-book series by Cinda Williams Chima, is one of those books that immerses readers in a whole new captivating world with characters who win against all the odds stacked against them.

Set in a vividly constructed medieval kingdom, the story follows Han Alister, a reformed thief, who just wants to be left alone so that he can take care of his family, and  Raisa ana'Marianna, princess heir of the kingdom, who wants to enjoy life as she knows it before she becomes the queen of a divided kingdom. When both their paths finally cross, it fuels the war between the three divided factions of the kingdom.

One of the series’ biggest strengths is its characters. Han Alister and Raisa ana'Marianna do not always make the best, thought-out decisions, and they do not have the best moral compass, but they make you root for them, and you desperately want them to have a happy ending. But beyond them, the supporting characters are just as memorable. There is Fire Dancer, who is working to come to terms with his troubled past, Cat, who is a stab-first-talk-later kind of person, even Micah Bayar, who makes you want to punch him in the face for most parts but is able to grow, and finally Crow, who was the one that lost everything but still manages to keep his spirit alive, quite literally.

The writing and storytelling are tightly woven and fast-paced, making it impossible to put the book down until we complete the last page. Though this is a young adult series, it deals with some mature tropes, but it's not overly grim. The series balances action, power struggles, royal intrigue, romance, and magic in a way that makes it an incredible read. 

Certainly, no book is perfect. Some plot points are predictable if you’ve read a lot of fantasy books. But does it matter if the story is well-written, characters are well-developed, and the plot is interesting? It definitely didn’t matter to me. 

In the end, the Seven Realms has everything you need in a high fantasy – strong main characters, fast-paced story, great world-building, lots of royal intrigues, and a perfect blend of magic and heart. This is a great read for those who love intricately woven storytelling that has love, loyalty, and power at the forefront.

P.S. 1: Don't read the next series -- The Shattered realms if you don't want to spoil the perfect ending of this series.

P.S. 2: Book Suggestions if you need something similar to The Seven Realms: The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan, Heartstrikers by Rachel Aaron, Red Rising by Pierce Brown.

Let me know in the comments if you would like to read The Seven Realms Series!!