The first R.A. Salvatore novel I read was back in 1993 and I’ve been hooked on his novels ever since. He has a way of making you feel like you are there with the characters in his books, and experiencing everything they experience. The lands are beautifully defined along with detailed action and awe inspiring adventures. Salvatore also incorporates a little romance and plenty of humor into most of his writing. 13 of his novels & 8 years later, he still tops my sci-fi/fantasy authors list.

If you are not familiar with R.A. Salvatore’s work, you may want to start with one of his earlier books such as The Crystal Shard or The Legacy to get a feel for his writing style. The Legacy picks up in the middle of a long series of books about a group of heroes, but it can be enjoyed without reading the previous novels. (If you want to start from the very beginning, The Crystal Shard was the first book Salvatore wrote about the famous forgotten realms heroes - Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, Cattie-Brie, Guenhwyvar and Regis).

Basics
The Demon Awakens is the first book in the Demon series trilogy and is set in a world Salvatore created. It is not necessary to have any previous experience with his other work to enjoy the Demon series of novels.

The Story
The name of the world is Corona, and the novel begins with an introduction into the central villain of the book - the Demon! It has been dormant in a deep cave and is breaking free of the bonds that have trapped it for thousands of years.

The young hero Elbryan is living in a small wilderness village and has never known the devastation caused by chaotic forces in years past. He is about to discover an evil that has awakened in the land. Somewhere halfway across the continent lives a young monk Avelyn who has no idea about the special powers he possesses. They will come together and try to stop the Demon from ravaging the land with his army of darkness.

The Heroes
R.A. Salvatore creates amazing heroes in his books, and he does an excellent and unique job in The Demon Awakens. The lead hero in the book is Elbryan. We first learn about him as a youth and watch him grow into the powerful warrior of the novel. He also has a gentle side which is displayed through his relationships with many of the characters he encounters in the novel, including his old childhood companion, Pony.

Avelyn is the funky monk with special powers like no other monk before him. He has the ability to utilize stones which contain mystical powers. He is a very enjoyable character to read about as he is quite amusing at times and is very exciting in combat! Some of the stones he uses have some very unique and fantastic powers.

A Few Other Characters of Note…
Pony, the beautiful woman who was the childhood companion of Elbryan, plays an integral role in the book when she returns to Elbryan’s side later in the novel. Bradwarden is a harsh and powerful centaur who joins up with the heroes in their quest against the Demon. Quintall is a monk who loses his way in the world and finds himself consumed by hate and vengeance against his former monk-companion Avelyn.

Humor & Drama
As is typical, Salvatore creates a wide range of moods very effectively with character development and situational drama. Within a single chapter you can feel excitement, suspense, and humor all mixed together. Of course what fantasy novel would be complete without a bit of romance in it?

Action & Combat
Salvatore likes to create wild, exciting and very detailed battles throughout his novels. He describes every aspect as the combatants move throughout the battle scene. He also likes to incorporate into combat unique relics, creatures, and weapons. No hero would be complete without the shining sword he has inherited from a long dead ancestor!

Final Notes
R.A. Salvatore has a unique and very enjoyable writing style that creates unforgettable stories and characters. He has an incredible talent to create beautiful worlds that are ravaged by stunning villains and protected by exciting heroes. If you are a sci-fi/fantasy fan, I suggest you pick up an R.A. Salvatore novel as soon as possible.


Recommended: Yes