The Demon Awakens (The Demonwars Saga) - Softcover

Salvatore, R.A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0345421620 ISBN 13: 9780345421623

Publisher: Del Rey Books, 1998

Synopsis

In a volcanic cavern a great, awakening beast vexes to life all that is violent and base in the enchanted land of Corona. No creature dwelling there will remain unscathed. Incited by this newly awakened evil, goblins ravage the settlements of the frontier, abetted by fearsome giants. In tiny Dundallis, their swift, merciless attack leaves behind two shattered orphans. Stripped of all they hold dear - including each other - Pony and her lifelong friend, the youth Elbryan, face an uphill battle for survival. Scarcely more than children, they teeter unaware between despair and destiny. Meanwhile, on a far-off island, a shower of multicolored gemstones has fallen onto the black sand shores. When harvested by the monks whose order guards secrets of magic, these stones will contain incredible powers, carrying in them the key to all that is good in the world...and all that is evil. Pray that they don't fall into the wrong, clawed hands.

About this title

Review:

The Demon Awakens is epic fantasy with a familiar flavour, from an author best known for "Forgotten Realms" game tie-ins. Three centuries after a previous defeat, the demon Bestesbulzibar returns to degrade the quality of life in the world of Corona by uniting hordes of nasty goblins, giants and powries (Salvatore's name for dwarfs) with a view to wiping out humanity and gloating over the blackened ashes. Seven companions are duly assembled to strike back: an elf-trained human Ranger, his long-lost girlfriend, a renegade monk who's adept with magic stones, a centaur, an elf, and two reformed rogues. Much of the story follows the detailed and often painful schooling of the Ranger and the monk. The latter's "Ring Stones" are neatly worked out: haematite allows astral travel, graphite is a conduit for lightning, ruby emits bursts of flame, sunstone cancels other magics, and so on. After skirmishing with innumerable armies of evil, the gallant party (plus an extra, uninvited helper) tackles the demon in its volcanic stronghold--but must first deal with Bestesbulzibar's latest creation, an unstoppable lava golem with a special reason to hate our rumbustious monk. There's considerable dramatic slaughter at the climax. Salvatore is over-fond of exclamation marks but writes energetically; this novel, though self-contained, opens a trilogy. --David Langford

About the Author:

R. A. Salvatore is a fantasy author best known for The DemonWars Saga, his Forgotten Realms novels, and Vector Prime, the first novel in the Star Wars: The New Jedi Order series. He has sold more than fifteen million copies of his books in the United States alone, and more than twenty of his titles have been New York Times bestsellers. R. A. Salvatore lives with his wife, Diane, in his native state of Massachusetts.

About this edition

• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0345421620
• ISBN 13: 9780345421623
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 624