So, to begin with I thought this was a slow book and I had really trouble motivating myself to keep reading. It's worth pushing through though,because when it gets going it gets REALLY good! From about the half way point I couldn't put it down, and the twists and surprises had me completely blown away. I need the next book asap!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Heir is a beautifully devastating read with the richest world building and character development I've read in a very long time.

It's everything you want in fantasy - politics, heart-breaking character development, found family, a magic system that's intricate and lands that feel authentic.

I was impressed with the structure of this book, there's a key turning point around 50% of the way through when it really starts to click and I actually think I paused and said 'oooh nicely done out loud'!

Tahir also weaves some well loved tropes into the plot, in unexpected ways which I loved.

I haven't read any of Sabaa Tahir's other works, so it isn't a prerequisite to reading Heir, however I now am off to start the The Ember in the Ashes series due to how much I loved this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved Sabaa Tahir other books, so I was super excited when I heard this was coming out!
And I can confirm this is another fantastic book from Tahir.
Such a page turner, I wasn't bored for a second!

4 Stars!

Bleeding Skiessssss, it’s back!

Thank you to Netglley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is by far my most anticipated read of the year. For anyone that has known me on Goodreads there are a few books/series that have my whole heart and one of them unsurprisingly is An Ember In The Ashes, as soon as I knew this was coming I was desperate to get my hands on it and was super lucky to be able to get one!

So about Heir, this takes place around 20 years after A Sky Beyond The Storm ends and we’re following a whole cast of characters. I don’t want to go into too much detail in regard to what happens per arc so I will try to stay vague and not mention any major plot points whiner I’m at risk of spoiling certain aspects!

We have Aiz who you see is in a rough patch, she’s an orphan who loves her city and wants it to thrive and goes to great lengths to protect her people in anyway that she can. She’s a storyteller and on a mission to find out one more story to complete the tales. I found her chapters the hardest to get through for around 45% and I can’t quite put my finger on why and I think that overall this dampened my reading experience because I’m SUCH a character driven person and I just didn’t enjoy her for so long. I do have to say that her story arc did improve for me and I enjoyed the unravelling of it all.

Let me tell you. There is something about how Sabaa Tahir writes her characters, and the love I have for Quil was pretty much automatic! I found him to be so likeable and so endearing, you can see where his training with Helene and Elias has come in and he has the quiet aura but where you just know he could take plenty of people out. His relationships were SO interesting, seeing him with his friends who are like a solid unit and how they work together and then his involvement with other characters along the way. I really like the depth that he has, you see his protectiveness towards the people he cares about and when he cares for someone he cares for them deeply, he’s struggling with his responsibilities and what he must do but feels like he can’t say no.

Finally we have Sirsha who is a really interesting character. She is a Tracker who uses the elements to help her be guided to what she seeks. She’s also on the run (kind of), from her family and if she sees them there will be hell to pay. I think you really get a good understanding of her characters, she’s been through a lot and finds it hard to trust, she puts on a very sarcastic front but deep down you can see how much she cares and she holds onto things and puts a lot of blame on herself. She feels deeply and you can see she’s trying not to!

Now onto all of the little bits!

I would say that it is necessary to read An Ember in the Ashes before reading this, there are so many little tidbits bits and nods that as an Ember fan I absolutely adored. I think knowing what happened in Ember makes you understand characters motives and because we do see a cast of characters from Ember you’d kind of be spoilt so just bear that in mind.

Just speaking of Ember, I LOVEDDDDDDD the parental vibes we got and how protective they are of the children and seeing Helene really trying to help guide Quil but also this sense of protectiveness. In one of the chapters it talks about something that Quil saw from Helene’s POV and honestly I thought I can’t go through the trauma of all of this again, but I ATE IT UP!

I do think the “twist” was slightly obvious, although I found it obvious I still enjoyed it because I think I could point out the why’s and then it raised more questions for me throughout. Speaking of the twist I do think that for anyone who liked the aspect of The Nightbringer and the unravelling of who they were then you’d really like this aspect as their is a person ripping out peoples hearts, but who is it and why?!

There’s something about Sabaa Tahir’s writing that draws me in and once I’m invested I don’t want to put it down. At the start of the month I found it hard to read and was so excited because I got an arc, but luckily the slump was no more and I could really dive in deep for the later half, so I think upon reflection this may go to 5 stars once I re-read (because I always love a good re-read!)

Overall a great start to a new series, I think that seeing new and old characters with all of the different dynamics, time jumps and a few different character POVs. I’m super intrigued for what’s to come! I honestly could write so much more but I’m trying to avoid spoilers like the plague! For anyone that loved Ember, I hope that this is just as good for you!

Heir is a brilliant, awe-inspiring, addictive, marvel of a book. I adored every character, even when I hated them. The twists had me gasping aloud and falling back in my seat — every time I thought I had guessed where it was going, I was delighted to be wrong. The separate worlds of the characters feel richly realised, and how their stories intertwine is impossible to predict until it happens. All of the different parts of the world are distinct, with the story feeling confidently and deeply rooted in the lore. The different parts of the world interlink in brilliant ways, none of it feeling underdeveloped or as mere plot-devices. I genuinely adore the characters. Quil is a wonderfully rare main character whose fundamental goodness and heroism never feels dull or simplistic. Sirsha is so realistically hardened by her experiences, and her slow transformation is wonderful to see. Finally Aiz: the way her story changes and evolves alongside her is always shocking and never boring, with a foreboding sense of inevitability. I genuinely can’t remember the last time I read a book this long this quickly. My only hope is to have the next book in the duology in my hands ASAP.

Tahir has done it again. She’s created another fantastic world within a book with complex characters who grow, a magic system that I couldn’t find a flaw with and an amazing plot that kept me hooked. We get to see the Empires decades after the last Ember and what has become of the characters we loved and their own children now adults.

The found family aspect was what made this story for me. And the little twist that was not expected at as I read this amazing book. I’m annoyed that we’ll have a long wait for the sequel and I want it now.

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

Sabaa Tahir has done it again. She's crafted another breath-taking story with luscious writing, amazing characters and a fascinating plot. All the characters has their own unique voice and I wasn't bored in either of their perspectives. They were strong, but Thair didn't refrain from letting us see their softer sides either. The political intrigue and murder-mystery was so well done. I can't wait to read the next book!

It is the story of several characters: Quil, Sirsha, and Aiz. Quil is the heir to the empire. Sirsha is a tracker that was banned by her family so she now lives away from them, but tracks for a living. She is tasked to find the murderer of many children. And Aiz is an orphan who is on a quest to avenge orphans who were killed by a man who is now trying to rule her country.
The story revolves around this murderer as well as the political issues in the Empire.

This book was reviting. The multiple povs were amazing. I took me some time to understand that Aiz’s was set in the past, but as soon as it overlapped with Quil’s I understood.

I took me a little bit of time to get into it (around 10-15% into the book), but as soon as you get who the characters are and their mission, it just flows. The writing was incredible, I didn’t want to put the book down.

I think my favourite character was Sirsha. It is the first character that I was drawn to and I wanted to keep reading her point of view the most early in the book. She is kind, fierce, quick-witted and loyal.

When I saw that the book was around 500 pages, I thought it would be a bit too long, but it was not. I cannot wait for the second book in the duology to come out as the plot twists at the end were spectacular and left me wanting more.

With thanks to Little, Brown Book Group & NetGalley for the ARC!

This is one of my most anticipated releases this year, so I was overjoyed to get this ARC and devoured it as fast as I could. Sabaa Tahir is one of my favourite authors and her writing is masterful and gut-wrenching, so I knew Heir would be no different!

This is set twenty years after the events of the Ember series and while I think you could dive in without reading that series first, knowing the events of Ember gives it another edge.

Sabaa’s writing in this book is just as masterful. She pulls no punches with the emotional beats, but gives us glimpses into softer sides of characters. She also gives us a peek at the characters we know from the Ember series which felt the cherry on top.

Highly recommend this for people who have read and loved the Ember series before and are looking to dive back into the world, or even just people seeking a fantasy novel with some gorgeous heartbreaking writing.

Looking forward to the second book already!

Wow. What a story. This was just utterly brilliant fantasy read. Great world building. Strong plot. I found the characters really likable, and they grew in strength. the author wrote the story in different POV which was brilliant and kept the story flowing fast and the way each POV ended on a cliffhanger (kind of) I needed to know what happens next so in a way it was a good page turner. Can't wait to read book 2.

I was never in any doubt that Sabaa Tahir would deliver yet another amazing story that would be ingrained in my brain and soul!

Wow, just wow!!

It always hard to follow up after such an amazing series as AEITA, but everything I loved about that series was present here. Sabaa has a beautiful way of storytelling that is enchanting and immersive, evokes every emotion and makes you love her characters, even the ones that you definitely should not be rooting for!

This book is set 20 years after AEITA ends , and while it is said you can read this without reading the series, I promise your experience will be 1000 times better if you do (also, it’s an amazing series so win win!)

Read this book if you love

💕fast paced plots
💕complex world building
💕intriguing politics
💕slow burn romance that will have you giggling and kicking your feet
💕fake dating!
💕found family
💕to have your heart ripped out of your chest on multiple occasions and then stamped on some more 🫠(thanks Sabaa)

Overall I cannot recommend this series and this book enough! Thank you NetGalley and little brown books for making my year with this ARC

A glorious return to the world of the Ember quartet, a couple of decades after the events of A Sky Beyond The Storm.

We follow a broad cast of next gen characters from the original series, with all personalities feeling unique and complementing each other. Sirsha was an instant fave FMC. Quil has a fantastic growth arc throughout the story as well. There are cameos galore from some Ember legends but the balance is great and it doesn't detract from buying into the new cast.

This is told from multiple POVs, which works for the scale of character movement. The pace is medium and then amping up to fast about the 35% mark.

My suggestion would be to perhaps do a reread of Ember if it's been a while as its just nice to have the context of this world and characters fresh in mind. But if not, there is enough recall moments to get yourself mostly there.

The plot had a lot of mystery about it, I found it wasn't obvious which direction I was being sent it. By the time I was getting wise to the upcoming hijinx, my jaw was dropping and my neck snapping with the plot twist recoil.

Oh and if you think Sabaa has decided to go easy on us since Ember...she ain't... Dear reader, you are in for some delicious trauma! Enjoy! 😁

I gotta admit that when I first heard of the spin-off of AEITA, I was so excited and thought it was gonna be an instant 5 star read. Unfortunately, it is not and truth to be told, I’m a little disappointed in this book. However, before I turn all negative and pessimistic, I will talk about some positive stuff.

I really loved all the mentions to the AEITA, all the cameos, and just seeing how some of the characters stories went on was nostalgic. It was really bittersweet to be honest but also so fun to read.
I also enjoyed how much Sabaa expanded this world and included so many different cultures and religions that were inspired largely by Pakistani and Asian cultures. And because most of this book is about travel we really got to know those new places. I was really interested in exploring Aiz country as it was a really unique place with people being able to windsmith, which paired with engineering skills, allows them to build machines that fly.
Another thing I loved were the characters. And although I didn’t connect to them on an every deep level, I appreciate the backstories of them and close relationships between some of them. The romance was also enjoyable and I read the scenes between Sirsha and Quil with interest; however, because it’s a duology, I fear Sabaa made them feel love for each other way too quickly and for me it wasn’t believable, and I hope that she’ll do a better job with another romance that is brewing off-screen.
Also I very much adore the writing style of Sabaa and I think she really improved her craft which made reading really easy. The way she describes many things is just very beautiful and interesting.

However, there are many things that I didn’t like. As I mentioned, the relationships were, in some cases, really superficial and done in a really fast way, which just made me not care for them. I wish we got more conversations, more intimate scenes, and in general more exploration of the feelings. I really wish there were more interactions between Quil and his aunt as it was mentioned their relationship is kinda strained but you don’t really see the root of this and before anything could be resolved they are separated.
Furthermore, I think that someone who has not read “An Ember in the Ashes” might be very confused in some aspects of the book. While I’m happy the author explored more of the world she kind of omitted the history behind the Martial Empire itself and what happened these twenty years ago. It’s mostly just short mentions that if read in long spaces of time you just won’t understand. Some plots are also connected to the events that happened during AEITA that might be interesting for the reader of that series but for the new ones, it’s just random information.
What I hated the most however was the character and the purpose of Aiz. She got way too much chapters and everytime her POV came I was ready to skip it. Because we got so much of her, some plot twists felt flat and not surprising at all as you could see it miles away because of her. Her chapters just give you VERY detailed context that could have otherwise be summarized in 2 chapters max. Also the fact that we got more POV’s of Aiz’s best friend who literally brings nothing to the story more that the son of Elias and Laia, who were the main characters in AEITA, and who very much is important to the story is just ridiculous.

And to be honest I don’t remember much from the middle of the book, I feel like we were just going somewhere but didn’t know where. Quil is tasked with finding *something* to save the empire but we pretty much don’t even know what it is that he’s looking for. And in the meantime, Sirsha is looking for that mysterious creature. And at some point I didn’t know on what storyline to focus on and which one of them is more important to the story. And I think that’s the main reason I didn’t like this book as much as I hoped to because it didn’t have a clear plot that you could focus on and instead you got these side plots and quests.

I mean overall it’s not the worst book ever but I think people who read the previous series are gonna enjoy it way more than new readers as too many storylines are connected to the AEITA.

This is so much better and painful than An Ember in the Ashes. I’m here for it.

Aiz is an orphan driven by vengeance and a passion to see the tyrant of her people killed.
Quil is a reluctant crown prince grappling with his tragic lineage (cough cough, Empress Helene and fostered by Tribe Saif -aka Laia and Elias).
Sirsha is a banished tracker hunting a child killer who feed on their hearts.

I devoured this. The found family. The longing. The wilfulness, spark, amazing storytelling.

He caught her wrist. "Behave," he whispered.
“I never have," she said, her lips a breath away from his. "Why would I start now?"

Do you have to read An Ember in the Ashes quartet before reading this?

Whilst it is not necessary to read Ember beforehand, you might struggle with the onslaught of names and allusions to Quill’s family and his Empire’s bloody history.

I had no idea what this book was about before picking it up. It was by Sabaa Tahir and had an incredible cover. It was so fun to see some of the Ember characters as they slot into this new world they have made, how they guide the younger generation.

“Grief is a strange beast. Some battle it, their souls scarred from its abuse.
Some bury it, and live life waiting for it to reemerge. And some tread water, the grief a weight about their necks. Every reminder makes the weight heavier."

The themes Tahir explores in Ember is expanded in here. How can we condone our actions? How far can we take our ambition and martyrdom before it becomes too much?

“For the people" was a blood-soaked shield brandished by tyrants everywhere.

Whilst some things felt too convenient and predictable, the twists still had me gritting my teeth.

Tahir knows how write pining. How to write forbidden longing. How to build seething hatred and passion. How to describe determination and show heart-pounding (and heart-rending) character arcs and downfalls.

Thank you to Little Brown Book Groups for providing me an arc in exchange for a review!

Ok, so you know what? I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. Now, I know ST can write a really good fantasy book. I know this because I loved the first book in the ember in the ashes series. But I didn't enjoy the rest of the series. So when I requested this I didn't actually realize it was a continuation in that world.

But I think it can actually be read without reading the first series. I think it would help to have a basic knowledge of that original series going in, but you don't need to read the whole thing, because I didn't finish the last book and I wasn't confused at all. Everything is explained to you in a very succinct way.

I liked the characters - Quil was probably my favourite - Though the romance didn't particularly grab me (not in the same way Elias and Laia did all those years ago) I think the stand out factor for this book that raised the bar was the politics and the twists that come within that.

There was a twist in this book that really worked and really upped the stakes for me. I think as well with a certain pov introduction it lays the breadcrumbs for you knowing what's to come but, in a good way? I think the discussions around the way Aiz speaks about returning to her homeland, the deaths that have to happen in order to achieve that, the way she speaks about the children of other lands....is all very timely and hard to read about as they directly echo horrible statements being made by certain world leaders in the modern world, especially around occupied Palestine. It made her sections extremely harrowing at times.

Sabaa Tahir has outdone herself once again! This book is an absolute masterpiece. It grips you from the first page, weaving a dark and thrilling tale of power, love, and greed. The characters are vividly drawn, their struggles both heart-wrenching and compelling. The twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat, and the stakes are sky-high. I’m completely hooked and can’t wait for the next book in the series.

How do I put into words, the love that I have for this book? I have never doubted Tahir’s storytelling skills but this book has proven that her writing really is magic. From the very start I was sucked into this plot, and I have not stopped thinking about it since. It’s an absolute force of nature; with complex characters, the corruption of good intentions, the exploration of faith, and some of the most heartbreaking revelations.

There’s a whole host of interesting and amazing characters - shout out to my fav Sufiyan for being both pretty and funny - and some that I know are gonna play a larger role in the sequel! Tahir does an brilliant job of blending the new and old together, with some incredible moments for longtime ‘An Ember in the Ashes’ fans. Alongside this, there’s some incredibly interesting new countries and cultures added to this world, and I loved learning about their histories.

Heir combines everything I loved about Tahir’s writing, and it cements her place as one of my favourite fantasy authors!

RATING: 4.5 stars

Heir felt like a warm hug to those returning to this world, as well as a phenomenal introduction to more of the world of Ember that we had yet to explore.

I’d first picked up Ember and Torch shortly after the sequel’s release and so as the series continued over the years, it felt like I was growing with the characters. Heir felt like a long awaited homecoming that I hadn’t expected in all the best ways. The wonderful cast of characters, all from different walks of life helped bring to life their homes/countries, places we had yet to explore in the original series. For those hoping for easter eggs and callbacks to the main quartet, don’t worry there is PLENTY, but it doesn’t take away from these new characters at all as we get to see their turn in the spotlight in this new duology.

My heart was pounding as I raced through each chapter. It was perfectly paced, never letting you lose interest at what was happening, nor did it feel rushed, specifically the action scenes which Sabaa has always been able to make entertaining for those who aren’t particularly fond of action scenes.

I’ve always loved reading books with multiple points of views, but at times when it comes to fantasy novels, they tend to overdo the amount of characters we follow. Heir has just the right amount, all spread throughout the continents, all on their own journeys that converge over time. Whilst I tend to avoid reading mystery books, I love reading fantasy novels that have you second guessing everything you read and forcing you to pay attention to every single detail you come across and that was the case with this book. From the explosive plot, sympathetic characters that you will come to love, familiar faces and Sabaa’s beautiful writing style, you’ll not want to put this book down.

Heir is a beautifully written high fantasy, set in a known, beloved world, but with an entirely new story and new set of characters to fall in love with.

I appreciated the fast pacing of the story, Sabaa Tahir has a beautiful writing style that manages to intricately weave the story including many twists and plenty of magic, but also does not skip over small details.
This is a book that is sure to envoke a lot of emotion in its readers, especially to those who loved an ember in the ashes. The fast pace will have you giggling and kicking your feet in one moment, and your heart pounding with anticipation in the next.

ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review!

Sabaa Tahir has been one of my favourite authors for many years now. From her fantasy series, An Ember In The Ashes to her young adult novel, All My Rage, she’s been an auto buy author for me for a long time. So when I found out she was writing an AEITA spin off duet, one of my favourite series of all time, I just knew I had to get my hands on it.

Heir was nothing short of incredible. It was rich in its world building, the plot was remarkable beyond belief and the characters were imperfect, flawed, and had their own journeys to go on, but I loved every single one, adored every single one of them.

The introduction to a new set of characters and being thrust into a new side of the world was extraordinary. Sabaa Tahir was able to craft a powerful and effective story, one that will stick with me for a very long time to come. Including the characters.

Quill is Helene’s nephew, he’s funny, he’s charismatic and he has no idea what he wants. But going on this journey with him, discovering things with him and being able to see beyond his duties as a prince from his eyes was super fun, exploring the world with Quil was super fun. I found his relationship with Helene to be one of my favourite things, it’s flawed but beautiful, and I loved the way Sabaa delved into it.

Sirsha was one of my favourite characters from this book. She was funny, she was entertaining and just so loveable. You meet her in one of the most important parts of the story and I had so much fun getting to know this brand new character. I adored her scenes with the other characters and I cannot wait to see what happens with her in the future.

Aiz was one of the most fascinating characters in this book, and one of the best characters I’ve read about in recent years. She was deeply complex with a frightening backstory and even more frightening journey. I loved getting to know her, I loved seeing her dynamic with certain characters in this book and I absolutely loved where Aiz’s story went. I was sucked into her story and I’m super duper excited to see where the ending goes.

And as always, seeing our favourite characters from AEITA was the highlight. For now, who we see, I’ll keep a secret, but I had the best time seeing them again and even shed tears throughout.

This story was rich, and woven with so many intricacy’s and legends that will resonate with tons of readers. I found myself spooked at some scenes too, the plot was fast paced and kept me on my toes, and I even got chills throughout. I had so much fun with this, it was one of the easiest 5 stars I’ve given to a book, and I cannot wait to see where the next book goes after that ending!!! 5/5 stars!