ahhh it took me so long to finish this that i actually forgot what i wanted to write in the review! 😅

the plot was engaging but it was also very predictable for a fantasy novel. the beginning was confusing but it got interesting in the middle.

the characters, except for the Aiz, were likeable. especially when they were together. they made a good team. Aiz, however, was very selfish. in the 'Mother Div' part of the novel, the way she played the victim was so annoying.

as for the ending, it felt rushed and disappointed me too. <spoiler> now, Div got hold of Sirsha and it looks like we will be having Aiz-and-Div 2.0 in the sequel. </spoiler>

thanks to publishers and the netgalley for the copy!

This book was so beautiful and previously, I didn't read any of this author's other books but I fell in love with her writing and it was such a wild ride!!! Thank you so much Negalley!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I haven't read any of Tahir's other books, and I'm now massively regretting that, because I loved this. The prose wasn't fussy but still lyrical in places, and the narrative rocketed along at an enviable pace. The only slight 'Oh!' moments were where new POVs were added late in the book, but they are justified by the narrative. I loved the time switcheroo and, even though I predicted the big twist, I'm completely invested in the story. Next one please!

Heir is a spin-off from The Ember Quartet. The story is set 20 years after the events of the last book. While it can probably be read on its own, you will understand more if you’ve read the other series first. I also highly recommend doing so. This book contains major spoilers for The Ember Quartet.

I had high expectations for this book since I really enjoy Sabaa Tahir’s writing, and I did like it, but I didn’t have the same emotional impact as I did with many of her other books. At one point, I was so confused that I had to stop reading and try to figure out what was happening. That being said, there was a reason for my confusion, and I had a suspicion that I later found out was correct. I feel like I might have had a better experience if it hadn’t been as confusing, but I also understand why it was written this way.

All in all, I did really enjoy the book. The setup for the next one was great, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Atom for providing me with this ebook in exchange for an honest review*

She's done it again. This was an EPIC book and I found myself missing the AEITA world so much that I almost cried. Sabaa Tahir has done it again. Immerse us into a whirlwind of emotions and quests! I loved it!

Set 20 years after An Ember in the Ashes, Heir was an enjoyable return to the world. I had reread the AEITA just before starting this and, while having read the previous series isn't essential, I definitely think having the background prior to starting Heir is really helpful.
It took me a little while to get into this one but once I did the pages flew past. The characters were generally very likeable and distinct from those in the previous series which I appreciated. As with AEITA, Sabaa Tahir doesn't shy away from slightly darker themes so you're never quite sure how things are going to go. With a few twists and turns along the way, Heir definitely kept my interest throughout and after that ending I'm very curious to see what happens next

Heir is the first part in a new duology set in the same world as the Ember quartet, but 20 years later. The story follows 3 new characters - Aiz, Quill and Sirsha - although some familiar faces also make an appearance too!

Heir was a book that felt very different to the Ember series, but in a really good way. Sabaa Tahir’s strength (in my opinion) is her characters and Heir is no exception. Aiz, Quill and Sirsha (as well as a host of new side characters) are well written and fleshed out so well. Unsurprisingly, they had me feeling all the emotions!

Another thing I absolutely loved about Heir was how much this book expanded on the world building. The Ember series takes place in a tiny corner of the map, whereas Heir takes us into new territory. With that expansion comes new characters, cultures, magic systems and all the good stuff that comes with fantasy world building. It did take me a minute to get used to it, but I really appreciated the expansion and how the Martial Empire is just a tiny cog in a much bigger machine.

Much like the Ember series, Heir tackles its fair share of big questions. I’ve always loved explorations of power, what would motivate a character to take it and what they would do when they had it. I loved how this was addressed in Heir through the different characters and I’m hoping the sequel will continue to explore this theme.

I cannot wait for the sequel - I’ve loved meeting these new characters and exploring the world more. I’m equal parts excited and terrified to see how the story ends!

I LOVE this. I’m always worried when we return to beloved worlds but this was a great addition. The world got bigger and more interesting, the plot twists were expertly hinted at throughout the narrative, the villain is awful, the hero’s are fun. It was just a great engaging time! Can’t wait for book 2

As someone who hasn't read Sabaa Tahir's Ember in the Ashes series, I feel like some of the backdrop was lost on me, as were some of the characters that make an appearance. With that being said, it's just made me want to go and pick up the series and read it in the interim between Heir and the next book in the series!

Heir by Sabaa Tahir, the first book in a new series, is set 20 years after An Ember in the Ashes and revisits its universe with an intense, character-driven plot. The story follows Aiz, an orphan motivated by vengeance, Sirsha, a banished tracker on a mission to hunt down a child killer, and Quil, a reluctant crown prince burdened by his family’s dark legacy. Each character’s perspective is essential to understanding the full story, especially Sirsha and Quil, whose chapters shine with well-paced tension and strong development.

The book is fast-paced, with graphic scenes that add intensity and moments that might call for a pause. Tahir weaves in familiar Ember characters in supporting roles, adding depth to this world, though prior knowledge of the Ember series is helpful to fully grasp the backstory and references. While some twists were anticipated, others arrived unexpectedly, keeping the narrative engaging. Aiz’s storyline felt a bit predictable, though it added necessary context.

Ending on a cliffhanger, Heir is both satisfying and leaves readers eager for more. If you enjoy high fantasy and character-focused storytelling, this novel is a worthy follow-up to Ember and a gripping start to a new adventure.

Really enjoyed being back in this world again, and getting to see some of my favourite characters from ember in the ashes.

I really like the bond that all these characters had with each other and will continue with this story as I am interested in seeing how this story develops.

I am a big fan of the Ember in the Ash series and I was so excited to read another book from this amazing author! And even better - Heir is set in the same world as Ember in the Ash and we even get to meet some of the original characters again and not just as a funny easter egg but as secondary characters.

It's hard for me to judge this book and don't compare it to the original series, but I think it's overall a little bit slower. The story takes a bit more time to unfold, but when it does - you better hold on to your seats and make yourself ready for a whole world of heartbreak and pain. And I loved every second of those emotions. There are some authors in the world that will give you serious trust issues, but yet you can't stay away - Sabaa tahir is one of them.

Get a tissue ready for this action packed, emotional Romantasy and dive into this multilayered and complex story - you won't regret it.

From my read, i understood, Saba knows how to play with her readers, loves to keep them on edge. As i haven’t read any of her other books, i don't know if this world is related to any of her other books, but yummmm!!!sorry, i just couldn’t find any other word to describe it. Though it did seemed a bit confusing at 1st, (i blame me) it all came together slowly.
I was really excited to get this arc and it was worth it!

I have strongly mixed feelings and will preface this by saying that I have read Sabaa’s earlier books (An Ember in the Ashes). I loved the first two books but DNFed the third of that series. That didn’t stop me from wanting to pick this book up, and I had high expectations. Sabaa delivered.

I found myself mildly confused at times, what with difficult character/location names to remember (hell, Quil’s name?!?) but once I was over the initial hurdle this was an excellent read.

I think this is my favourite of Sabaa’s books. It had a depth and complexity that felt older than Ember. Characters were excellent, even if I initially struggled to keep up.

The language used was beautiful though out the story, with great dialogue and really descriptive scene setting. World building was good too, but I was very confused at the beginning.. hence the 4 stars.

After the triumph that is the Ember in the Ashes quartet, Sabaa Tahir returns to the lush world with the first installment in a new duology, full of electrifying tension, intrigue, and twists and turns. Told from multiple POVs, it is a fantastic addition to the incredible world Tahir has created, and will be much loved by her fans.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK , Atom, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. All opinions are my own.

This is one incredible book! It has taken me on such a wild ride and I'm obsessed with it. The three different narratives, the conflict and deception, the heartbreak, power struggles... everything. There are surprises woven into the story and plenty of 'oh no' moments, and I loved how Sabaa Tahir has woven together three distinct stories into one plot and interwoven the characters so beautifully. There are breadcrumbs throughout the book leading you to answers and as I understood more and more I didn't know how to react - I think I was screaming on the inside! The writing is fantastic, and the complexity of this story such a credit to Sabaa Tahir's writing. I could have kept reading and reading but all good things must come to an end and it's certainly left me wanting more. I can't wait to pick up with Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil when the next book comes out. These are three incredibly interesting characters with intricate backstories which brought plenty of intrigue and a rollercoaster of emotions. This book takes you on a physical and an emotional journey and I'm totally here for it - thank you Sabaa Tahir for crafting this gem of a book!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

what a phenomenal book. Sabaa Tahir has such a way with words. She strings them together like magic and we, the readers, are left enchanted. I have been in a reading slump for a whole year and this book really did the final tug to pull me out of it. I fell in love with the characters just as much as I loved Laia and Elias!
Quil and Sirsha now have my heart <3 everything was just perfect and I need book 2 now!!!

“Tell me a dream, little love.”

When I requested this book, I actually didn’t realise it was set in the An Ember in the Ashes universe. But the rich worldbuilding felt like coming homing home, with even more geographical intricacies and political intrigue than I remembered. Set twenty years after the events of its predecessor series, Heir follows the journey to stop a dangerous killer slaughtering young people across the land. When the unrest causes war to break out, future Emperor Quil must team up with Sirsha, the tracker hired to hunt the killer down, to bring peace to his land. However, as we see flashbacks of Aiz, Quil’s past love, and her quest to bring freedom to her own people, we discover that not all is as it seems…

At times, I did find the main characters somewhat difficult to connect with, which made it difficult for me to wholly root for the main relationship. The fake marriage trope is always a great one, but after the initial delicious tension, some of the spark fizzled out for me. The only character I was completely, utterly invested in was one I probably shouldn’t have been. But what do you expect when you write an unwitting villain so heartbreakingly well?

“Sometimes the power of a story is greater than anything else”

This book is truly phenomenal, Sabaa has outdone herself & this book has become my favourite read this year.

This is set 20 years after the events of the Ember series but with a new cast of MCs. We get 3 PoVs, Quil, Aiz & Sirsha.

How do I describe the sheer number of emotions I felt reading Heir. From the excitement of reading a new book by Sabaa to the trepidation & stress of knowing this book with destroy me. (It did)

I loved meeting the new characters, Quil & Sirsha quickly became my favourites but Aiz’s story was so mysterious & complex.
They all had such interesting character arcs especially when their paths collided. They were all such compelling characters that i was eager to know more about all of them.
I loved that each had their own story which compelled them to act but they also had an interwoven story that made them part of the overarching plot.

The story itself was so well written & I was hooked. I loved how Sabaa expanded on the world we know from the Ember books but also showed us the results of all that was sacrificed & fought for in the Ember books.
We get a pretty significant plot twist half way through & I audibly gasped as the pieces started coming together & I had to actually close the book & sit with it for a moment.
And the way Sabaa built the tension to that explosive ending was just pure perfection!

There was also some amazing side characters including one from the Ember books that I loved seeing, who also had their own arcs & character development.
If anything happens to Sufiyan I will be ready to fight.

I also absolutely adored, kicking my feet, giggling, whenever we get any mentions of Laia, Elias & Helene but also dread because I was scared Sabaa would hurt them some more & they’ve been through enough!

The love I have for this book, I need you all to go read it. You will not be disappointed!

Heir by Sabaa Tahir is an absolute ride from start to finish. Rating it a 4.5/5 feels right because it's nearly perfect, just missing that final push into absolute perfection. The world-building is so immersive, especially since it's set in the same universe as *An Ember in the Ashes*. Even though it’s a new story with new characters, there are familiar elements that tie it all together. You don’t need to have read the original series to enjoy this one, but it definitely adds an extra layer of depth if you have.

The multiple povs are all handled so well. Each character brings something different to the table, and their arcs intertwine in a way that keeps you hooked. Aiz’s raw need for vengeance, Sirsha’s conflicted mission, and Quil’s reluctance to step into power all play off one another beautifully.

There are some twists you might see coming, but the journey there is still exciting. Plus, the emotional stakes are high, and the ending left me eager for the next book. It’s one of those reads where you're so invested in what happens next that putting it down feels impossible.

Sabaa Tahir has this talent for blending action, magic, and personal struggle, and Heir is no exception. The pacing is solid, the stakes are high, and the nods to the original series feel like a treat for longtime fans without alienating new readers. The ending definitely sets up the next installment with a cliffhanger that has me waiting on edge.