Book #115 - The Gray Wolf Throne (Seven Realms #3)

The Gray Wolf Throne (Seven Realms #3), Cinda Williams Chima
high fantasy
517 pages
Started 10/20/12
Finished 10/22/12
5 STARS

You might notice that books 1 (The Demon King) and 2 (The Exiled Queen) from the Seven Realms series are missing from my list this year. That's because The Gray Wolf Throne was a re-read for me. I read the first three in the series last November, and in anticipation of the release of the 4th and final book in the series, The Crimson Crown, on October 23 this year, I wanted to refresh my memory a bit. And, I have to tell you, The Gray Wolf Throne was every bit as exciting and wonderful the second time around as it was the first.

Raisa, Princess of the Fells is trying to get home, but is being dogged by assassins and thoughts of her almost-boyfriend Han Alister, a wizard. After Han saves her life and they make it to safety, she finds out that tragedy has struck her homeland and she is needed back there immediately. Despite Han's wariness of her and her position, he sets himself up as Raisa's personal bodyguard, and becomes determined to protect her and maybe she may grow to love him. Raisa sets to work trying to help bring her countrymen together, all the while fighting off all the wannabe consorts that are lining up outside her door, including the nasty Micah Bayar. But, she only has eyes for Han, even though they are never allowed to be together. 

I just can't say enough about how amazing this series is. The Gray Wolf Throne is the turning point in this story. It is action-packed from the get-go and it never lets up. We see some main characters die and some alliances that we had thought were rock solid start to weather away. Han's and Raisa's relationship is wonderfully tragic in the best sort of way. They obviously love each other, but neither one wants to say it because it seems like a futile effort for them to try and be together. And, then there's the wars raging around them and the constant threats from the evil Bayar family - it seriously is the epitome of an epic story.

Since I've already mentioned that this was a re-read for me in preparation for the last book's release, you can imagine what the next review I'm posting will be about. The Crimson Crown was, I think, the best book I've read this year. I can't wait to share my thoughts about it with you all.