The Demon Awakens (DemonWars Series #1) » (~)

R. A. Salvatore was born in Massachusetts in 1959. His first published novel was The Crystal Shard. He has since published more than a dozen novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Halfling's Gem, Sojourn, The Legacy, and Starless Night. He makes his home in Massachusetts with his wife, Diane, and their three children.

The Demon Awakens

In THE DEMON AWAKENS, bestselling author R. A. Salvatore creates an astonishing new world for readers to explore--and an intrepid hero to lead the way: Elbryan Wynden, who must confront the dark tides of destiny in his epic search for justice and peace . . .

A great evil has awakened in the land of Corona, a terrible demon determined to spread death and misery. His goblin armies and fearsome giants ravage the settlements of the frontier, and in the small village of Dundallis their merciless attack leaves behind two shattered orphans: Pony and her lifelong friend, the youth Elbryan. Taken in by elves, Elbryan is raised to become a formidable ranger--a fateful role that will lead him into harrowing confrontation.

Meanwhile, on a far-off island, a shower of gemstones will fall onto the black sand shores. These heaven-sent stones carry within them an incredible power--the key to all that is good in the world and all that is evil, and it is up to one young monk to liberate them from the corrupt monastery that harvests them. Pray that they don't fall into the wrong, clawed hands . . .

Demon Spirit

Elbryan and Pony--soul mates from childhood who grew even closer over time--fervently hope that the tide of darkness is at last receding from the land of Corona. Yet if evil is on the retreat, why are hordes of goblins and bloody-capped powries slashing their way ever-deeper into civilized lands?

A sinister threat now looms over Corona, for the power of the demon dactyl was not entirely vanquished by the sacrifice of the monk Avelyn Desbris. Instead, its darkness has infiltrated the most sacred of places--as a once-admired spiritual leader rededicates his life to the most vicious, most insidious revenge against the forces of good. There may be no stopping the spread of the malignant evil . . .

Publishers Weekly

For his 16th novel, bestselling fantasist Salvatore (The Legacy) finds a new publisher and launches what promises to be a vigorous new fantasy adventure series. Humanity shares the peaceful land of Corona with the usual variety of enchanted races. Mysterious elves lurk in the forests, while border villages keep regular watch for the threat of attack from rapacious goblins and giants. When a long-imprisoned demon awakens from centuries of magical slumber and binds the goblins and giants to evil alliance, the village of Dundalis is the first to fall, leaving only two young survivorsbrave Elbryan and his best friend, tomboyish Pony. Although the two are separated in the attack, they meet again years later, after Elbryan has been trained as a ranger by the elves and Pony has earned a spot in the elite Coastpoint Guard. Along with elves, a centaur and a half-mad ex-monk who wields the power of the magical Ring Stones, Elbryan and Pony undertake a deadly journey deep into the mountains to Aida, a volcanic peak where the demon dwells. The details behind the demon's origins and imprisonment are glossed over (no doubt saved for later installments), but the narrative roils with the action and heroism that Salvatore's fans expect. Author tour. (May)