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.

Set twenty years after the events of An Ember in the Ashes, Heir follows three main characters, Aiz (an orphan), Sirsha (an outcast) and Quil (a prince) as they navigate their own troubles, only to realise they’re tired by a common enemy. We see their lives intersect in ways I wasn’t expecting, and that plot twist! It snuck up on me before I realised I was in it, and I am still reeling.

Sabaa Tahir is back with a bang. I think I loved this book more than the Ember quartet. It’s faster-paced and absolutely gripping, and all the cliffhanger chapter endings will keep you on the edge of your seat. It was great exploring what happened to the older characters, who still had roles to play despite not being the main characters anymore.

If you loved the ember quartet, you will absolutely love this book. It’s a story of sacrifice and betrayal, and it’s a story of how far someone will go to protect the people they love. Much like An Ember in the Ashes, it’s a story that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey and will leave you wanting more. Do not sleep on this book.

“Tell the stories, my love … We all need to hear them. Tell them with wrath. Tell them with hate. But do not give up. Despair is death.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An orphan. An outcast. A prince. And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees. Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hot-headed mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite. Banished from her tribe for an unforgiveable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who speaks to the earth, air, and water to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But then, she falls for a charismatic and inconvenient fugitive who keeps getting in her way. QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire, nephew of a famed and venerated empress, but he’s loathe to pick up the mantle when his aunt steps down. As the son of the most hated emperor in the history of his people, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

Aiz is someone who is utterly devoted to a better life, seemingly no matter the cost. She spends a lot of this book trying to find her place under the guidance of the one she admires most before she seems to really step into her own - though not really for the better. There is an underlying brutality in Aiz that is very interesting to read because she manages to hide it so well - even from the reader a lot of the time. She is a very complex character who is occasionally hard to get a read on but I think I rather liked that about her!
Sirsha is a girl after my own heart. Full of sarcasm and wit, she does her best in life and that’s all she can expect herself to do! She’s brutal when she needs to be and can totally kick ass. She does pretty well in this book … until she doesn’t. I will admit that I am rather nervous for her character in the next book but I know, somehow, she’ll be okay. I tell you now, if Sirsha was around me, I’d be exceptionally proud to call her a friend!
Quil is a deadly cinnamon roll. I think that is the best way to describe him. Being surrounded by the likes of Helene and Elias, he is sure to have a menacing streak but with Laia in his life and others with a slightly softer temperament, he is a perfect balance of harsh and sweet. He really was a great character to read from because he is incredibly analytical and really takes everything in - affording the reader a more in depth understanding of events occurring. His relationships with other characters was also amazing - but one in particular really melted my heart!

Being a big fan of Tahir’s works, I knew I needed to jump in with both feet into Heir - especially as it is set in the future of the An Ember in the Ashes series which I thoroughly enjoyed! The plot was pretty good! It was very well paced and had plenty going on - interspersing the big moments with enough little and calmer ones that you never felt like it was all go go go. With Tahir’s mastery at world-building, I knew I was in a treat. But it did feel a little much. We knew a fair amount about the kingdom and its goings on from AEITA, but we have travelled a lot further afield here. I’ll admit it was slow going for me reading this story. There is so much information that I had to digest that I knew I would end up missing something if I dared hasten my speed. There is also a big twist that hit me all of a sudden about 40% of the way through and it changed my whole view of the story and what was going on! This also contributed to my going slow so I could actually compartmentalise what I was reading. The characters are all very well fleshed out and engaging to read. I really enjoyed seeing the next generation’s perspective on things and seeing familiar characters in a different light! Tahir certainly has a gift for creating characters and holding the reader’s attention. Romance is not a focus in this story but of course it is included. I think it was really sweet despite its tremulous nature. Part of me wants to know it works out but this author does like to toy with emotions… The ending has me totally and utterly SHOOK! How on earth am I meant to survive a cliffhanger like that?! I knew Tahir could be cruel in that way but this just feels like a whole new level! I think it’s even worse that I don’t know when the sequel will be out… Hopefully it is soon!

Overall, Heir is another stunning book from Sabaa Tahir that EVERYONE needs to read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day and is now live on Goodreads.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Before the review begins: THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIVE STAR READ IF I'D READ THE ORIGINAL SERIES!

Okay, now that's over and done with - I loved this book. The characters, the setting, the world building, the magic system, the plot. Honestly it was so fantastic. Three POVs (which eventually converge) give insight into the overarching story, letting you understand the characters' motives and decisions. There's a complex - and terrifying - villain, extremely high stakes, brilliant and believable banter, and strong found family vibes throughout.

My only complaint is that I was led to believe I could read this without reading the original quartet set 20 years before - and while I did enjoy it and managed to follow the story well, I would have benefited from some background context and knowing some of the characters who feature from the original series. I have immediately ordered An Ember in the Ashes!

If Sabaa Tahir has no fans, I am dead. Seriously, her talent knows no bounds and I will forever be one thousand percent obsessed with whatever she writes!

Admittedly, I was a little hesitant to revisit the beloved world of Elias, Laia, and Helene in the Ember in the Ashes quarter because… how do you top that? But I should’ve trusted because WOW, Heir was everything I could’ve hoped for and more.

Following “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. As a perfect mix between character and plot driven, Heir is slow to start and fast to end, with a power hungry diety, a misguided outcast, and the found family of my dreams. I loved seeing the world established in AEITA expanded and the lore of the various cultures and beliefs woven into more intricate tapestries. Quil may just rival Elias as the ultimate book bf (…maybe….) and I absolutely adored Sirsha. It was so wonderful to be back with beloved characters too!

Needless to say, I need the next book immediately. Like I’m not even joking, I need it right now. The emotional upheaval I went through in those last 50 pages— Sabaa, my therapist will be billing you. ALL of the starts!

OMG do you know how happy I am to be back in this world and to have some of our long loved characters noted in the pages.

This was a brilliant new story that opens up with 3 POVs that take us on a journey. We get betrayal, romance, found family, war and discovery. This author truly knows how to do multi POV and make the paths each character follows clear and detailed, it allows us to really feel how big the world is and the magnitude of what is happening within the story. My only gripe is that I wish timeline dates were included as it took me 200 pages to realise the POVs aren’t completely linear.

I cannot wait for the next book as I know it will be brilliant.

Set 20 years after the ember in the ashes series. This was so fun and I loved the 3 main characters. It had a lot of easy to understand politics and world building. It is not a romantasy but does have little hints of romance which I ate up!! Really great spin off to her previous series and can’t wait to read more, the writing was great too.

✨5 stars✨

Wow! This book was amazing!

This book is set 20 years after the events in the ‘An Ember in the Ashes’ quartet (so read them first) so I really enjoyed seeing many of the old characters from that series in this book alongside many new interesting characters. It was so good to see cameos of old favourites sprinkled alongside the new ones!

The plot was interesting, engaging and had me hooked from the first page. Sabaa Tahir has quickly become one of my favourite authors this year and I loved the way she crafted this book and expanded on the magic and the world. The only downside is that I have to wait a year for the next book😭.

Highly recommend this book to all!

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Heir is full of the most interesting characters. I absolutely love an underdog hell bent on vengeance. Then we also are given reluctant royal and a banished hunter/tracker. I loved the plot and how it interwove the characters lives. We get three POVs but this was never overwhelming. There is also some added romance that’s always a plus for me. Some old characters also feature, which is nice but you don’t have to have read her other series. This book contains rage, longing, power plays and high stakes action. A great start to a series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I'm probably the only person reading this who hasn't yet read Ember in the Ashes, despite it being on my tbr for a while now. I see a lot of reviews comparing this book to that series, as this is a spin off apparently.

Sabaa Tahir's writing is fantastic! I don't usually keep focused on high fantasy, as I tend to find all the characters hard to keep up with, but I felt immersed into this world immediately. I could picture everything that happened and really feel like I was there.

I would recommend this to lovers of fantasy. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC