Scheming royals? check! Deadly trials? check! FMC with a great character arc? check! This was such a fun read, I loved the premise and I cant wait for the next one!

I fell in love with this book - the characters, the world, the story - it was whimsical, heartfelt, exciting, adrenaline kicking!
It had this very gloomy, misty feeling - like sitting in a cosy warm living room watching a rainfall storm rage outside, and I loved it!
As a brief non spoiler summary - the main character- a girl born to the fire nation but blessed with water powers that could drown the world. She's hated and looked down on, but she finds herself having to brave the outside world, finding her true calling and the power to call on storms. There's trials, betrayal, romance - though very slow with only hints of affections, suspense, and lots of secrets.
I did find that though the book had action scenes, there was a lot more slow downtime scenes, which in fairness I didn't mind as I enjoyed being in the head of the main character, however I am now craving more action and a chance to see more of the powers and magic, with hopefully for more fights scenes if and when a second book is released. Which I will be 100% reading!
I did find the fight scenes that were in the book could have been more detailed and longer which I would say is the only downfall, as I wanted to see more of the different powers - however, the final trial does give you a good glimpse of it!
And I think the length of the book comes in to play with my feelings of wanting more, with only 368 pages roughly, its a very short fantasy book and I do believe it could have definitely been longer! But nevertheless, I enjoyed it and will be looking forward to seeing where the stories goes in the future.
All in all, a great reading experience!!xx

I will be posting brief reviews on my booktok - @thefantasyrealm4.5 x

This is such a great fantasy read!

I absolutely loved the characters, they had depth and were relatable thanks to the way they were cleverly written. The world building was excellent and I really enjoyed the way the author gave us enough detail to situate us, but left us to fill in the blanks of finer detail ourselves. And if you like magic, this book is one not to miss. The plot twists are brilliant and honestly, I cannot wait for the second book!

Review will be on Amazon, Tiktok and Storygraph when available.

Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray is a captivating fantasy novel that blends elemental magic, political intrigue, and a coming-of-age story into a richly imagined world. At its heart is Blaze, a Rain Singer born into a family of fire-wielders, whose very existence defies expectations and challenges the status quo. From the moment of her birth, Blaze’s life has been marked by tragedy and secrecy, as her uncontrollable power once unleashed a catastrophic storm that claimed thousands of lives. Now, years later, she is forced to confront her past and her potential when she and her twin brother, Flint, are invited to compete for the imperial throne.

Murray’s world-building is both intricate and immersive, drawing readers into an empire where elemental magic shapes politics, relationships, and identity. The Golden Palace, with its opulence and danger, serves as the perfect backdrop for the story’s twists and turns. Blaze is a compelling protagonist—flawed, relatable, and fiercely determined to carve out her own path in a world that has always sought to define her. Her internal struggle with her power and her place in the empire is portrayed with nuance and depth, making her journey one that readers will eagerly follow.

The novel’s pacing is excellent, balancing action-packed sequences with moments of introspection and character development. The competition for the throne adds a layer of tension and excitement, while the romantic subplots—featuring the charming Crown Prince and a mysterious newcomer—add complexity to Blaze’s story without overshadowing her personal growth. Murray skilfully explores themes of identity, power, and self-acceptance, making Heir of Storms more than just a tale of magic and politics.

What truly sets this book apart is its emphasis on storytelling and the power of narrative. Blaze’s journey is not just about claiming a throne but about reclaiming her own story from those who have sought to control it. This message resonates deeply, making the novel both entertaining and thought-provoking.

A very addictive YA romantasy read, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and R.F. Kuang.

I fear I don’t even know where to begin talking about this book because I quite literally consumed it wherever and whenever I had time to read, it was unputdownable!!

Blaze our fmc is the first rain singer in years but seemingly born into a family of fire (yes literally). Her birth caused a terrifying storm that destroyed an empire, resulting in her being hidden away for 17 years , until she is chosen by the gods to participate in a deadly competition in which the most talented young Etheri battle for each of the 4 thrones from the 4 different empires/ families! Did I forget to also mention both a charming prince and a dangerous but protective newcomer being also thrown into the mix!!

The way Lauryn Hamilton Murray had me HOOKED from the first chapter, her effortless world building, magic system and writing had me speechless at points because of how I could not stop highlight phrase from every chapter like ?!!
“Names have teeth. They bite right to the bone”
“If to feel is to be alive, then to be alive is to hurt”
“And I see you storm weaver. I see all of you “

The characters I honestly loved how we got to feel and see a lot of their true raw emotions from both grief, to joy to pain, all of it was detailed so beautifully, and it really made me feel like I knew them all personally ! Blaze herself is just an undeniable force of strength and willpower after the grief and hatred she’s endured by others,and the way she tackles that throughout the book is incredibly well written!! I also do love how the trials don’t only focus on physical strength as the main factor, but also on more mental strength and willpower.

The story itself, the plot twists I did not see coming whatsoever, I literally was in denial by the explosive ending which was honestly so well fleshed out and I definitely will have to re-read to see if I can spot anything I missed ! And I really loved how unique the magic system did feel especially with how emotions were a striving factor for Blazes Power

Finally the romance !! May I say I loved the dynamic between both of the love interests for Blaze and how both had their faults and flaws, and at one point I honestly couldn’t decide who to root for ! Both characters made their impact and honestly after that ending , I don’t even have words on how or what’s going to happen next but i definitely cannot wait and am hopeful for book 2 !!

Thank you net galley and puffin books for the e-arc ! Cannot wait to physically have this one in my hands on release day !

When Blaze was born, people died. And 17 years later, the she remains hidden from a world that still has not forgiven her. But when she is called upon by the gods to compete in for a throne, everything she thought she knew is turned upside down.

This is such a good book! Brilliant world building and an interesting magic system, with characters that leap off the page. I desperately need to know more, especially about the history of the land. My only gripe is that the ending felt a bit rushed, but I hope that will be forgotten as soon as I have the next book in my hands!

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

‘I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world. And I’m coming for my crown.’

This book was just everything you want in a fantasy and so much more..
Blaze is a girl born of catastrophe, one born with the gift of storms, when everyone expected fire.. but upon her birth.. thousands were struck down by a storm that broke the realm.. from this she was dubbed the ‘storm weaver’ and shut herself away for 17 years.. until she could hide no more..

The magic system in this book is genius. The factions, royal politics and character building absolutely make this book an incredible read, a YA fantasy that leaves you wanting more.

And the ending? WOW.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I adore this book and all its magic and characters it really felt like gd old fashioned YA romantasy?

I loveeeee Blaze so much, she really grew in this book and I loved how niave she was.

Now....Mr Hal...prince Hal...deffo a hottie and we all love a prince thats gifts flowers BUT

Enter Mr Green Eyes my one and only love. FOX I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU.

That is all. Really really recommend this book for author has got it all down perfectly!!!

I was fully immersed in this book. I loved the FMC Blaze, going from an underdog to powerful storm wielder. For the first half of the book I thought I knew where the story was going but the twists in the second half of the book blew me away! I really really hope there’s a sequel to this book as I’m desperate to read more, I read half of this book in one day because I couldn’t put it down. I will definitely be recommending this to people brilliant YA fatasy!

A very addicting YA romantasy that I was surprised to enjoy as much as I did.

Blaze is the first Rain Singer in years, born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire. She is a pariah, her birth having resulted in a devastating storm that drowned the empire.
She has spent 17 years hidden away until she is chosen to participate in the Choosing Rite, a deadly competition in which the most gifted young Etheri battle for each of the four thrones.

There’s a charming enchanting Crown Prince and a dangerous bad boy newcomer at court, both secretly making plays for Blaze.

I forgot how much Young Adult can engage me and keep me glued to the page.
The banter was great with the side characters (particularly Blaze’s twin brother, Flint). There is a found family aspect you tend to find with YA.

<b>‘Some see emotion as a hindrance rather than a strength,’ he says quietly. ‘But that is because they forget how powerful emotions can be. Never underestimate the way you can feel.’
</b>
There are secrets and a hidden past and treasures. A version of the chosen one troupe. There are balls, trials, training, bullies, kittens.

It isn’t anything insanely unique. The characters were very common to the genre, however the writing and pacing kept me turning the pages - as well as any charming, funny appearance of Flint.

Arc gifted by Penguin Random House.

Wow wow wow...

I loved this book, the story flowed constantly leaving me wanting to turn the page and see what happens next.
The premise is interesting, the odd one out embracing herself in a competition for a throne she's not even sure she wants.
The characters have such depth, not completely good, not completely bad, but dimensional with twists and turns to each divulged in a way that leaves you hanging on for more.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!

This was such a fun and engaging YA fantasy, I loved the writing so much and found myself instantly captivated by the story and the FMC Blaze who has lead a sheltered life. The world building was so vivid and immersive and it reminded me of why I love fantasy and especially YA fantasy there is just something so comforting about reading it.

I really enjoyed that as the story progressed at a steady pace we were giving insight into the development of the characters magical power and the action that we are drawn into that is driving each character through centuries of tradition. I love anything with trials and really enjoyed how fresh and new the ideas for this story felt.

There were plenty of twists and turns that I didn't see coming and while I was here for the romance between Blaze and the two MMCS that she finds herself involved with. I absolutely loved the sibling relationship between her and Flint and found it so endearing and it was definitely one of my favourite things about this story.

I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more about this world and these characters.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this before publication, these are my honest thoughts.

Oh my goodness.

There are no words that can even begin to describe my thoughts.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely love Blaze, she is so amazing!!!
However I felt that she shouldn’t have forgiven Hal so quickly but that’s just my opinion because I would have forgiven him for doing what he did.

I absolutely adored this book. It's so so well written, the characters and their development is fantastic.
I was obsessed from the first line. It gave me chills! The twists and turns were so well executed, that although I saw a few of them coming, I didn't care cause they were so well done.
I can't wait for everything that Lauryn writes, cause she has gone straight on my auto buy list.

I am absolutely in love with this book! I can’t believe it’s the authors debut story, the world building and character development are top tier I couldn’t get enough of it! Blaze really is a force to be reckoned with, she starts off being very sheltered and unsure of the world around her but through many trials and tribulations she really shines through. I can’t wait to see what happens after the end of the book and we get to see what a certain Fox is up to! So happy I got the chance to read an early copy thank you Net-galley!

I really enjoyed this book. It flows great I couldn’t put it down. I love fantasy and of course a bit of Romance so this is the perfect book for me. I really enjoyed the characters.

ARC obtained through NetGalley - thank you to the author and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now this book is a YA Romantsy which I don't normally lean towards but the cover and blurb drew me in and boy did this book surprise me.

The story follows the FMC whose birth threw her country through an unforgettable storm. Ever since, she has been trying to deal with that guilt and grief, hidden away in the palace, unable to summon an ounce of her power.

Now the throne title/ monarch system works a little bit different in this series, the "throne/ titles" aren't given to the rulers, they chosen. They compete in a set of trials to determine their next rulers.

If you like the below tropes, I'm sure your going to love this book.

Tropes:
Plot Twists
Deadly Competition
Forbidden Love
Elemental Magic

This was a really fun enjoyable fantasy story. I liked the FMC Blaze, as she struggled through the power she was given and her emotions about it. I liked the two romantic interests and how those played out. The family dynamics were interesting. I enjoyed the way the royal courts were made up, the magic system and the overall story. The trials were entertaining. There was a lot hinted at, obviously going to be a series. I'm excited for book two, even though book one isn't even out until June!

🌿🌨️ Heir Of Storms 🌨️🌿

- Lauryn Hamilton Murray @laurynhamiltonmurray

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you love YA romantic fantasy, I can guarantee you’re going to love this book. It had everything from a cool magic system, interesting world building, high stakes trials and not one but TWO swoonworthy love interests.

We follow Blaze, a Storm Weaver, whose birth caused her country to be plunged into a storm that caused immeasurable damage and claimed lives. Ever since, she has been reconciling with that guilt and grief, hidden away in the palace, unable to summon a drop of rain. (Think Elsa, in Frozen).

Thrones in Blaze’s kingdom aren’t inherited, they’re won. Every eclipse, four wielders of each type of elemental magic - earth, wind, fire and air - are chosen to compete in a series of trials to determine the new kings and queens of each kingdom. And, as luck would have it, Blaze is chosen. She must travel to the Golden Palace, leaving the safety of her own four walls, and confront all the emotions she’s been concealing the past sixteen years.

It has trials, which is something I love in a book. I feel like recently some books have tried to capitalise on the idea of trials, as a marketing ploy to appeal to readers. But in Heir Of Storms, the trials are essential to the plot, and they were so. Damn. Cool.

Sure, maybe the world building wasn’t super original and the plot was a bit predictable, but I had such a good time with this book that I really don’t care.

Thank you to @netgalley and @puffinbooksuk for the ARC!

3.5 stars. I like the writing style, it was very quick to read. Love an elemental magic system, felt very early-2010s-YA.

Ok the flip side, the love interest just annoyed me. You cannot be arrogant AND seventeen. Pick a struggle. Also the twists had no foreshadowing so it felt a bit random. We spent an awful lot of time just waiting for things to happen?

Thank you for the arc!