Returning to the world of the sensational An Ember in the Ashes series, Sabaa Tahir is back with a new adventure full of action, mystery and tension. I'm so intrigued to see where this new story will take this world.

I loved returning to the world of An Ember in the Ashes. This had plenty of nods to beloved characters as well as a new cast that worked wonderfully. I think you can read Heir without having read the original series, although of course having read it is a plus and will give you extra context and a better understanding of the universe and the magic system. I don't typically love multiple POVs but here it was done masterfully and helped me keep the same interest in all the characters while also enjoying how their stories intertwined. Some developments I had seen coming, but I'm still very excited to read the next book.

Sabaa Tahir delivers again with this intriguing and masterfully-told fantasy tale.

Her three key protagonists are well-drawn and surprisingly relatable in terms of the feelings they experience with regard to the challenges that they each face.

This one will be a big hit with her fans, and is likely to help expand her fan base. A must-read for fantasy book readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

An orphan.
An outcast.
A prince.
And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

Heir is set in the same world as An Ember in the Ashes - this story takes place 20 years after AEITA and while it's not required to read AEITA, it will only help understand the world better and there's some spoilers in this one for AEITA if you haven't finished that one yet.

We follow “the second generation” of sorts, including Helene’s nephew and Laia and Elias’ son, this is a twisty and gripping, dual timeline story of fighting for your people and your family, no matter the cost.

Sabaa Tahir truly knows how to play with your emotions and she holds nothing back when it comes to keeping you in the edge of your seat. Heir is a perfect mix between character and plot driven, the story is a little slow at the start but picks up pace fairly quickly , with a power-hungry deity, a misguided outcast, and the best of the best found families.

I loved seeing the world established in AEITA expanded and the lore of the various cultures and beliefs woven into more intricate tapestries. It was like sliding right back into comfort being in this world, of course that is until all hell breaks loose lol. Quil is such a great MMC and honestly rivaling Elias as ultimate book boyfriend in this series - maybe. I mean. And Sirsha is such an amazing bad ass FMC.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Welk Sabaa Tahir did it once again, she created a masterpiece! Heir takes us back to the world of An Ember in the Ashes, and we do meet some characters from the previous series, but we are also introduced to a delightful group of new protagonists. I especially liked Aiz and her journey - even though I guessed how it would turn, I still was entraped. Definite recommendation!

Oops, I've done it again! Fresh from reading Sarah Pinborough's Tales from the Kingdoms, or at least what I've read of it, out of sequence I've done similar with Sabaa Tahir. Oh, I have actually read most of the Ember Quartet, and in order, but hadn't read the final volume before starting Heir. Did I regret it? I initially thought I'd missed something, but it turns out I hadn't.

Twenty years after the Ember Quartet and the Martial Empire is faced with new threats both within and without. Heir largely focuses on a new group of characters including heir apparent of the Martial Empire Quil, outcast Jaduna tracker Sirsha and Kegari guttersnipe Aiz whose stories intertwine in a tale that expands the world and the magic system we were introduced to in An Ember in the Ashes and it's sequels.

Not read the previous books? Don't worry, Sabaa Tahir gives you just enough information about the events and characters, some of whom pop up in Heir, that you don't struggle to follow the narrative.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atom and the author for an advance copy.

This was a very interesting read. To be able to follow new characters within the same world of An Ember in the Ashes. Being able to follow family relatives in this book from the previous series was amazing. And with the fact that it was also multiple PoV which made the story very interesting and gripping. Each of the PoVs were very interesting characters from the very start. Especially with Quil’s pov, I was very interested and invested into his side of the story as he had to go through a lot within the book, externally and internally. Alongside Aiz and Sirsha who was also very intriguing and the challenges in which they had to face was gripping. And with how the story developed with the plot of the book was amazing. There were many twists and turns which occurred that I didn’t expect. As it came to the ending of the story I definitely did t expect it. And especially with how it has ended, I am looking forward to another book following these characters.

A fantastical new read that follows several different characters as they navigate famine, revolution, war, death, love, revenge, evil, and a host of different issue's they are each facing in their ever changing world. A reluctant prince, a poor girl with aspirations of leading her people, the banished tracker who has no idea what she is really tracking, and a few small cameos by others tell the story from different times and perspectives. It's woven together perfectly and leaves me very much wanting to read more from this new world, it's characters and the evil that may just devour them all before it's over.

I am someone who is intensely sceptical of continuations of previously finished series - more often than not the author has put out a different book that hasn't done so well and all of a sudden they decide that they 'aren't done telling the story in this world' and they feel like 'xyz character isn't finished yet'. I hate it. So when Heir was announced I was tempering my expectations. I love the original series so much that I desperately hoped this wasn't a cash grab and I'm so relieved to say that Heir was exceptional.

The new characters (many of whom are the children of our beloved main characters form the original series) stand on their own, with fantastic character development. The dialogue was engaging and the relationships - both platonic and romantic - were rich and heartwarming. With continuations, I often find myself longing to be back in the heads of the main characters from the previous series but all these new characters are just as loveable as Laia and Elias and Helene.

Another female villain! Our antagonist, who I shan't name to avoid spoilers, was appropriately flawed but began in a really grounded and reasonable place in terms of motivations. I thought that certain reveals in terms of timelines were fantastically done. This book is all about the danger of religious fervour, the way that people's faith can be manipulated. Everything in regards to this subject matter, I loved.

I can't wait for everyone to read this spectacular book. 5 stars.

I didn't realise that this was a sequel to Sabaa Tahir's previous series (which I shall now read!) but it made absolutely no difference to my enjoyment of this assured fantasy. The story is fresh and original and can absolutely be read as a standalone.
The book is narrated by three characters. Quil, reluctant prince and heir to an Empire, Sirsha, exile and tracker and Aiz, orphan who will do whatever she has to to make her peoples' lives better. But dark forces are stirring, a series of gruesome murders causing terror across the empire and soon all three characters' lives be upended forever,
Dark, twisty, inventive and immensly readable. Highly recommended.

I was so excited to return to the world of my favourite fantasy series, and HEIR did not disappoint. Perfectly paced with characters you immediately relate to and root for, I was hooked from the very start and couldn't put it down. I love Tahir's world building and the way she's expanded upon her pre-existing world and magic system is just brilliant. Cannot wait for the sequel!

I’ve learned to be sceptical of follow-ups to beloved series. They always seem to disappoint. So I have to admit, I was a little surprised to find out that Heir actually is an original, refreshing story that expands on the world of an Ember in the Ashes in all kinds of exciting ways. The story follows Quil, Helene’s nephew and the heir to the empire, Sufiyan, Elias and Laia’s son, Arelia and Sirsha, a powerful tracker they meet on the way, as they try to save their empire from yet another threat: the Kegari. We get chapters mostly from the perspectives of Quil, Sirsha and Aiz, a girl from the mysterious Kegar. I enjoyed reading all of them. They were all interesting characters with unique motivations that didn’t necessarily have anything to do with the original series. I liked that the author isn’t relying too much on the reader’s love for the older characters and instead focuses on the new ones fully. The pacing of the story was done incredibly well, with some twists that I didn’t see coming, causing me to want to keep reading at all times. It kept me hooked until the end and it delivered. I can’t wait to read what’s next. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc!

Thank you NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and Atom for the ARC.

This is my first time reading a book by Sabaa Tahir, and it was everything that I expected it to be. But I do kind of wish I had read the previous series because it is set in the same universe.

Regardless, the book was paced really well. It flowed really well. The story was filled with action sequences and likeable characters. It was incredible from start to finish.

Also, I don't think you need to read the previous series even though it is an extension of the world in the previous series. It kind of works really well as a separate series.

Tahir deserves all the praise for this book! It is incredible. I can't wait to read the next book!

This review is for Heir by Sabaa Tahir which will be released in the UK on the 1st October! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Atom Books for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a new duology set in the same universe as Sabaa’s previous series An Ember in the Ashes, but set many years after the last book. Of course as soon as I heard about it, I needed to read it!! But thankfully I did a reread of the previous series first, so I already felt I was in their world. We see some of the old characters which we fell in love with(Laia and Elias, as well as Helene) as well as a whole cast of new characters, as we follow Quil, Sircha and Aiz in this story. (And omg look at the cover, it’s stunningggg)

In this series, we get to see a whole new side of the world and can see more of a focus on the ‘Southern Continent’ and the cities there, as well as the new characters (which some also happen to be kids of the characters in the first series). I think Sabaa did an incredible job of blending the new and the old, and I honestly could not put this book down.

The storyline was quick and easy to read, as well as being so well paced, it just flowed so effortlessly. You don’t necessarily need to read the previous series to love this one, but would suggest doing so to help understand a little of the backstory as well as the characters. I also loved the references to other cultures thought the book, and did see a lot of themes that resonate with the events in our world today. She does an incredible job of looking into the costs and falls of people’s suffering and how we can see this in our own society. This is made all the more devastating to read knowing what is currently being done to the people of Palestine and Sudan and all those under occupation.

Overall, this was an excellent first book in this duology and I will be waiting with bated breath for the next one. Heir was everything I had expected and more, and can’t wait to see what they do with the story next.

Heir is Sabaa Tahir’s latest book and the start of a promising new duology. Set in the same world as The Ember in the Ashes, this takes place 20 years after A Sky Beyond the Storm and follows new characters and new challenges. But don’t worry, beloved characters like Elias, Laia and Helene are still included in this new story.
First of all, I’d like to say how delighted I was that Sabaa Tahir chose to continue writing about this world. Whilst it is brutal and mystical and, at times, tragic, there is something special about the setting she has created. She doesn’t shy away from the darker parts of this world, whether that’s the horrors of maintaining a peaceful afterlife or the brutality of raising children to become an army, which makes it all the more real. In this book, we meet some of the people who have suffered in this world. Despite the changes made by characters in the previous series, there are still dangers and trails for many. Aiz is a fugitive, Sirsha is a hunter tracking a killer and Quil is the son of the infamous former emperor. They have all seen how cruel the world can be.
These characters ground the story and allow us to sympathise with people and their struggles rather than getting swept away in a plot which concerns magic, politics and a power-hungry deity. Much like in the original series, the characters are often separated and fighting against unimaginable forces, but they have to work together despite their differences. Once again, Tahir has written about a complicated but strangely comforting found family.
Whilst I am not the biggest fan of changes in POV, I appreciate that they really elevate the story in this case. Not only do we get to see more of the world, which Tahir builds on again in this duology, but also the many plot lines that will come together in the story. Rather than being random, these different perspectives allow the reader to see the many evil forces at large. These POV’s also make the plot seem more fast-paced and snappy. The actual pace of the story is fairly slow at the beginning, but each chapter you learn something new and vital.
I would recommend this book to fans of the original series and books like The City of Brass and The Poppy War. Whilst you should really read the original series first, you could start with this book if you want to get a taste for her writing. But beware, you may end up taking out your highlighter and annotating quite a bit.

Heir is the dramatic, action-packed high fantasy start to a duology sent in the same world as the very popular Ember in the Ashes series. Whilst you can read this without knowledge of An Ember in the Ashes, I think readers will appreciate and understand the world building and political nuances a lot better if they have. Without the prior knowledge, there were details I think I would've missed. Plus, it'll be all the more enjoyable to read scenes with well known characters like Laia, Elias and Helene. It is set many years on, following the next generation.

Heir starts off quite overwhelming as we get one chapter each from three very different POVs with all new characters. It is worth pushing through the initial overload, though. I soon found myself sinking into the worlds as the story builds and details are revealed. With just a few chapters from each POV I was hooked and wanting to know what happened next in all three of their journeys. Of course it gets even better once you start to see the links between the different POVs and they cross paths.

Recommended for fans of the Ember in the Ashes series. This was a satisfying read and I'm looking forward to what happens next.

Rating - 4.75⭐️

In this new spin-off duology, we get to see life after 20 years since the end of the Ember Quartet series. So just be aware there’ll be spoilers for how the Quartet ended in this book.

Even though Heir follows a new cast of main characters, it felt good seeing old characters from the Ember Quartet. I liked how the old characters were woven into this plot so they didn’t feel like just ‘easter eggs’ for established fans of the Quartet. A lot of scenes involving old characters made me go “awww🥹”. Amidst Sabaa Tahir’s usual infliction of pain and torture to her characters, I’m glad she wrote many wholesome scenes😭✋🏻.

For the first time in forever, I enjoyed all character POVs which is quite rare for me. Usually one annoys or bores me but every character POV kept me on my toes. Each chapter placement felt deliberate and very strategic. The structuring of this novel was amazing!!!

Firstly, I LOVE SIRSHA!!! I was always excited to read her chapters because her humour is right up my alley🤌🏻. She’s just so funny to me😭!!! Secondly, Quil is so precious🥹🫶🏻 He’s honestly such a lover boy and I admire his loyalty to his friends and family. Lastly, Aiz… she was a VERY intriguing character. I actually really enjoyed seeing the gradual and complex change in her. I admire Sabaa Tahir for the way she wrote Aiz’s POV chapters.

I LOVED the plot twist!!! I thought it was unique and clever. I audibly gasped when I got to that part and then everything clicked into place.

Since this is a duology, I’m glad that Sabaa left some opportunity for the characters to grow more in the sequel and continue tackling their past traumas.

2.5 ⭐

If you haven't read Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series, go and read that first, before you even think about picking up this book.

I wish NetGalley or any descriptions of this book made it obvious that this is set in the same world and is a continuation of that story, set in the future. I have no idea if knowing this and having read that series would have had any impact on my enjoyment of Heir, because I found this book just okay.

The writing was beautiful, I enjoyed the pacing, I liked the characters and the majority of the plot. The tiny snippets of romance were also good enough.

The biggest issue I had, was that the way things were described made me think like I was being left out of something, and I should already know this information, almost like brief reminders were given. It's not unusual to be a little lost during the start of a new fantasy book, but not like this.

I can't help but feel we found out who the killer was much too early. We should have found out at the same time Quil did, it didn't make sense for the reader to know before he did.

Once this reveal came, I honestly lost interest a little bit. I also wasn't a fan of the ending, I suppose it simply made little sense for me, and it wasn't where I expected the story to go. Sadly, I will not be reading the next book.

I've finally had my first five-star fiction read of the month, and it's Heir by Sabaa Tahir. I really loved the Ember in the Ashes series and was delighted to discover that this book is set in the same universe, one generation later.

We follow three characters with very different backgrounds as they find themselves drawn into the same web. Impoverished orphan Aiz fights for a better life for herself and her people, Sirsha is on the run from her family and trying to make a living as a tracker, and Quil is the Crown Prince of the Empire struggling with the expectations placed on him. As the story unfolds, their lives interweave as they face the devastating consequences of unchecked greed.

I can't wait for the second part of this duology!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this book finished me
I am still processing
first of all, An ember in the ashes is my fav series ever, so I had very high hopes, that unfortunately this book did not met. however, I still hope second book will be better.
This book was good, it was solid, intriguing, kept me on my toes, but I did guess all plot twists and turns.
I absolutely loved the cameos of Helene, Elias, Laia and Musa, but why did they have to suffer so much still, jail for Sabaa Tahir, cus that was extremely rude, they deserve all the peace and quiet.
As for the new characters, they were nice, but i didn't feel really connected to them. (except for one bitch that really wanted to be connected with my fist)
I both wanted and dreaded to keep reading and the story felt too long and too short at the same time, so you see, I have many mixed feelings about this book
3,5⭐️, I think

Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.