Seven Realms

Cinda Williams Chima has hit the bestseller list numerous times, and for good reason. She’s one of the best young adult fantasy authors around, and Seven Realms is among her highest-rated series. Part of that is down to the satisfying growth of the dual protagonists, and that’s intertwined with their education. Though the series has a slow start in that regard, things begin to kick off in the second book, with each heading to a different place of learning. Han, a former street lord, heads to Mystwerk house, a magic school that draws comparisons to Hogwarts. There he must make dangerous bargains to learn dark sorcery, all the while fighting off bullies. Raina, an exiled queen, runs to a military academy, giving a contrasting experience of swordplay and politics. Usually, there’s one perspective that’s more enjoyable than the other, but Chima characterizes both her characters equally well. Their paths meet somewhat, but not as quickly as most. Their friendship and eventually romance is a slow burn, which can be frustrating for the reader, but is also essential. Seven Realms doesn’t have the feeling of a cheap, forced love story, but one where two people’s paths happen to cross. Due to the time spent with each, neither character feels like their purpose is solely to provide romance, and the series can appeal to a much wider audience as a result.