Kookie Caelum

A mix of elation, excitement, and glee. I loved every minute I spent reading this book and understand that R.A. Salvatore is very deserving of his title as a master in the fantasy genre; with lore, character development, and world building all thoroughly fleshed out throughout this tale. The story gripped me by the throat and refused to let go until the very end, when I burst into tears as I read the final words of the resolution. AND THERE'S 8 MORE. When considering what aspect of the story retained the most of my attention, I think it was definitely the growth of Elbryan, who developed from a stubborn, lost child to a seasoned, elven-trained ranger capable of understanding love and sacrifice. The story offers a classic tale of heroism and friendship united against all odds. My overall takeaway from "The Demon Awakens" is that it is an enriching, classic experience steeped in the world's lore, bridled by the never-ending fight against darkness. The risks that must sometimes be taken to keep it at bay grasp the heart and kept me on the edge of my...wherever I was reading, through the whole story. My favorites moments nearly always included my favorite character, Elbryan, but none struck me so much as his sacrifice at the very end to ensure Avelyn was able to confront his destiny. The unwavering determination in a single, if not sometimes split, group of friends, reminds even the most stubborn part of us to exist in nature, remain ever optimistic, and keep moving forward. "Ho, ho, what!!" R.A. Salvatore is a seriously underrated author and The Demon Awakens is a seriously underrated tale. I recommend this book, not only to friends, but to those who admire fantasy and all of it's tropes for the magic experience and escapism it could provide to even the most skeptical of readers. If you have been considering pulling this book off the shelf at your bookstore, DO IT.