Inferno’s Heir is a fantastic debut novel. This book follows Teia Carthan, a morally grey character. I found myself upset at the ending at first, and I think that’s a tribute to Tiffany Wang’s writing. Her prose is incredibly good and the characters all have good depth. I found myself truly caring about several of our protagonists here.

The book clearly sets up sequels that I am very much looking forward to. Teia has major flaws, but it feels like this is only the beginning of her long term redemption arc. I actually found myself really enjoying two of the supporting characters, Alara and Enna. I would eat up a spin off of those two, a thief and an assassin? Yes please.

Overall a great start to something that might prove really special when completed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC in return for an honest review.

I love how Tiffany's set everything up, I've never read anything like it!
A new favourite for sure, the characters were perfect

Thanks to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the ARC.

Rating: 4.25 / 5

This was a phenomenal read, unique like no other. Throughout the story we follow Teia Carthan (princess of Erisia) as she navigates through her survival, palace politics, betrayals, power, and finding family in the least expected places.

I absolutely fell in love with Teia's character since page 1. She's headstrong, and sure of her steps. She isn't flawless, but isn't annoying either. Her moral compass shifts throughout the book, and her actions always mirror her feelings and are justified by the choices she has to make at each turn.

The story is really well written with ample twists and turns along the way. Although not the main focus, it also has a very slow burn romance sub plot which I didn't care much about. In my opinion, it wasn't well developed, and fell flat. The character portrayal was done in a way where you could easily understand they choices they made. The found family plotline tugged at my heart strings, and I would have loved to see them together even longer.

Overall, it was an awesome read, with very vivid storytelling and suspense-filled plot line.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Inferno's Heir by Tiffany Wang is a third person-POV YA fantasy. As the half-sister of the future king, Jura, you'd think Teia would be standing by her brother’s side and trying to keep things running smoothly. Instead, Teia is doing what she can to bring about his downfall as he sadistically harms the people around him.

Jura is, without a doubt, a villain you want Teia to destroy until there's nothing left. His entire court is made up of sadists who don't care about anyone who isn't nobility, there's sexism, racism (Jura calls Teia ‘Halfling’ for her Asian-coded heritage from her mother), and there's blatant disregard for Teia’s autonomy. The story about the birdcage told me everything I needed to know about why Teia believes Jura needs to go down and I'm glad she can see that he does.

One thing I really liked was how we got Teia's parents personalities through their elements and the training they put Teia through. Ren, the father, was very kind and gentle as he taught her how to wield fire while Calla, the mother, was a lot more strict with water training. Despite their different styles, I could see that they were both teaching Teia how to be strong and prepared in every way they could. For Calla, this also manifested in discussing how Teia's heritage might make others look down on her.

Teia is something like a spy in her own home. She's running around in the town to talk to her network and keep things in motion while watching her brother’s moves. We get glimpses of how Jura and Teia are similar through Teia's espionage because she is willing to take things a step too far to achieve the results she wants. Even if I know her end goal is right, I can't agree with all of her decisions and I actually really liked that. I'd rather have a flawed character who makes choices I can't relate to than a character who only makes the choices I would.

Content warning for racism, dehumanizing language, and sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy looking for element magic systems, readers of fantasy who like reading explorations of being biracial/bicultural in fantasy settings, and those looking for a YA fantasy that has a strong espionage element.

Inferno's Heir is a YA fantasy debut by Tiffany Wang. Seventeen years old princess Teia was in danger of being removed by her half-sibling crown prince Jura, who was to be crowned king in a couple of weeks. Teia was relentless in ensuring her survival, and she was not shy to using ruthless tactics for that. Running out of time, she planned to infiltrate a rebel group and sell them to Jura for the reward of being left alone. She was indifferent to the rebel group's cause, which was to overthrow the tyrannous monarchy entirely. But the things she heard and experienced while being with the rebel group were giving her second thoughts about her plans, and some even more dangerous thoughts about being a monarch.

The story immediately jumped into action, with decent worldbuilding interwoven into the story. The elemental magic reminded me of the one in Avatar: The Last Airbender, but less detailed. The writing was fast-paced and easy to read, but you can really tell it was a debut novel. I liked the story, there was a mystery to unravel, plenty of exciting high-stakes action sequences, political maneuvering. I did not sympathize with the main character in the beginning, but I grew to like her as she became more fleshed out throughout the book. Some of the rebels annoyed me to no end, though.

I ended up giving this a 3⭐ rating because I did not vibe with the writing. It was just not there yet. And the ending was ridiculously rushed. There's also a big gap left for a sequel.

eARC provided by NetGalley and Bindery Books.

DNF at 26%, I've been trying very hard to keep reading this, but the fantasy setting is a little too simplistic, the pace is slow and the plot and characters are formulaic. I'm not so interested to find out what happens because it's not gripping me. This is billed as high fantasy, but it's really more palatable YA with a simpler political system and lore.

Thanks Netgalley and Bindery Books for a free ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!

Wow. Wow. Wow. Was that a fun reading experience! If you are looking for a book that makes you feel like The Cruel Prince, pick this up now!

The pacing on this book was divine that it felt like there was going to be another 100 pages but there wasn’t. And that’s a compliment! Did I see things coming? Yes. But the way things were executed made reading it a joy.

Inferno’s Heir is a beautiful tale of what happens when someone is put in a fear position & stripped of power. What happens when after all that time of living in fear & you finally get to have a voice? What choices would you make?

The dynamic between Teia & Jura was thrilling. Dare say I actually found Jura’s character to be a very lively character to read in the book! Honestly all the characters were a joy to read. I do wish I got even more depth from the characters but I think that’s the nature of third person tho.

For all the happened in this book, it also felt like nothing happened. But I mean that in a good way! It makes me excited to see what can happen with this story! There’s so many ways that it can go & I just know it’s going to be fantastic.

The book was beautifully written & I will read anything from this author now! Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley & Bindery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher(s) for accepting my request for an honest review!!

i think this a great debut novel, especially for a fantasy novel. it's incredibly heavy with the politics and the inner-working of the government from both the past and the present. i didn't really understand the pacing of this book; the beginning seemed to go on for years and the end felt like it stopped in the middle of a half-written word. the world-building could've used a lot more work, too. i found that some lore seemed to be thrown in at the last minute and we were just kind of told to 'deal with it'. the plot seems to stray a little, making me get lost in the weeds of it all BUT WITH ALL THAT SAID, i enjoyed this. tiffany did an amazing job with the characters and the action sequences. all the characters are diverse and witty and so different from each other. i WISH there were more time spent with them all together because i was so excited when they would all be in the same scene. it felt the same as six of crows in the found family, though there wasn't really enough. a solid 3.5 star.

Let me just start by saying that I chose to read this ARC because of the cover first! The synopsis came in second.
It is just one of the prettiest fantasy book covers I've seen.

In this book, we follow our main FMC, Teia, an outcast princess, as she infiltrates the ranks of a rebellion for her own gains. She blackmails, extorts, and even kills! She is the epitome of morally gray. And it's not just her. Every character that we meet along the way, except for the villains of course, is a morally gray character.
I loved that for the story!

The plot of the story is fairly simple, with simple world building.
But that is NOT to say that the book is not engaging!
It truly keeps you hooked from the moment you start. Whenever you think that there was a breather, the writer would throw something new at you.
Even the ending is not an ending at all! It is just the beginning of at least a duology which made me soooo mad! On the cover, it is clearly stated that this book is a novel. And I honestly thought that that means it is a standalone. Or am I wrong?

Anyways, there's a bit, a very time bit, of a romance sub-plot, and a lot of found family.

I loved the heists. I loved the rescues. I loved the friendships. I loved the deception. I loved the betrayals.
I loved every aspect of this book and cannot wait to know where the story goes and how it progresses. Tiffany Wang does not have the right to finish the book the way she did!

100% read this book!
If you are new to fantasy or think you want to try reading fantasy, this book is definitely a good first book to pick up. It is not overwhelming.
Now, if you can handle unfinished stories, go ahead and grab it. However, if you are like me and need closure, I advise you not read that last freaking chapter until the next installment comes out.

LOVED THIS! Read this all the way through. Such a great story. You can easily visualize the story and characters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. This is a quick fantasy read. I really enjoyed learning about the inner workings of the government. The rebel princess brought me back to my Uglies days. I do love some overthrowing of the government, dystopia vibes.

Thank you for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Inferno's Heir is a top read of the year for me no doubt. It's a masterclass in world-building that doesn't drag down pacing, and deeply complex characters that propel the story. Wang crafted a richly detailed world so much so I found myself highlighting every other line at times. The political intrigue had me GRIPPED. Teia is fighting for her life and joins a rebellion against the crown and without spoilers, I was NOT expecting the choice she made! But it was so perfect. That's why Wang is an auto-buy author for me.

Inferno's Heir by Tiffany Wang is an excellent blend of fantasy, action, and emotional depth that transports you to a world where the line between light and dark is blurred and power comes at a great cost.

The novel raises important questions about what it means to be true to yourself in the face of overwhelming pressure. In addition, it deals very well with the issue of identity.

The supporting characters are well developed, each with their own motives and stories that intertwine with Mei's story. I always really like to see secondary characters as well created and developed as the main one, they accompany, enrich and make one delve deeper into the story.

It's the first thing I've read by her, and from what I saw, it's her first novel. Clearly we will be able to read more from her. I'm sure.

Thank you Bindery Books for the ARC I read on NetGalley, a change from an honest review.

I was captivated by this book from the first page to the very last, and I couldn't put it down! It was that good! It's unbelievable that this literary masterpiece is the author's debut!

The protagonist, Teia, totally captured my attention; she was undoubtedly an anti-hero, and I adored how her story developed. Aside from Teia, I was completely engaged with the varied group of characters, each of them brought a unique perspective to the story. My favorites, aside from Teia, were Kyra and Enna; each character had a distinct personality and I love their backstories.

The world building done by the author was excellent; I had no trouble understanding it without feeling overloaded with information. I found it very easy to get sucked into the story by the descriptions of the locations and the atmosphere. The world's mythology and magic system were well developed, and I hope the sequel will include more of this fascinating universe!

I'm looking forward to further books featuring Teia and the other characters dealing with the consequences from the events in the book. For those who enjoy fantasy, rebellion, and strong female leads, this book is a must-read. You'll be left wanting more after reading this gripping and intense page-turner.

Thank you to netgalley for an eARC of this title! I was mildly influenced by a bookstagrammer to request this title and I find myself a little disappointed. It felt like an amalgamation of popular book tropes and then revolving the story around a rather sociopathic FMC. We have “morally grey,” found family, heists, and court politics. The prose was enough to keep me reading but I didn’t find myself connecting to the main character.

Wow! I need the next book ASAP! An brillant fantasy with just enuogh twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
Loved Teia!
Red the book in one setting! Defently going on the reread-list.

Post coming on IG the 16 of Sep 2024 (one_fairy_tale_at_the_time)

I need someone to talk to about this book!!!

How do you not know that your kid is a psycho that burns birds and whatever as a pastime?

Now that that's taken off my chest, this book was a compelling mix of gore, powerful characters, and tragedy enough to last you a while. I don't remember if this is YA, but I would put it in the NA section, even though most of the main character's are underage which was my only problem with this book (that and the cheap sob stories).

The cover doesn't give you any specific clues as to what goes on in this book. However, it encompassed the things I love most in fantasy. Inferno's heir doesn't thread lightly, and, in consequence, I've found bone-chilling descriptions of blistering skin, charred corpses, and properly done torture. And if that didn't make you run away or put this book high on your TBR, then let me tell you there's water magic too, the kind that drowns you with just your body's water.

For those who are not attracted by the prospect of well written violence in fantasy, I've got plenty of things for you! There's plenty of good politics intrigue going on, even though it is not that elevated and a Halfling Princess in the middle of it! Overlooked by society and her half-brother (who's the psyco Crown Prince), this girl taught herself how to survive in a world that didn't want her there. Through any means, not shying away from blackmail, murder, espionage, and the services of a delicious thief, Teia will get what she wants. From page one, you know she takes no shit from anyone. From page one, Teia shows the reader that she will make the world bow to her.

Teia is my wife and nobody can tell me otherwise.

What more, I can hear you asking? Well, we've got a rebellion and a pack of hardened, yet absolutely lovable rebels that soften Teia's heart while leaving behind a trail of bodies. They become her found family, and you can't help but love them all. I honestly shipped Teia with every girl in this book, but not with the seeming love interest. Why be boring and basic when you can be sapphic and dazzling? But we'll see about that in the sequel.

I can't leave before I tell you about my psycho Crown Prince. He was literally so dumb but he was my dumb. I loved his interesting way of using a pack of cards to do his thing and let me tell you, every time he spoke it was as if he was actually speaking in my head. I loved him even though I would kill him on the spot for hurting my baby Teia.

There's a nicely balanced mix of tragedy, lore, action, and world building, although sometimes the layout of the city was a bit confusing. Again, I must remind you that it's not anything overly complicated, the author placing the complexity on Teia's character and her development throughout the book. Saying more about her would end up in me spoiling the book, so I will say one thing: if you read The Jasmine Throne, Teia is the mini version of Malini.

Also, before I forget! This has major Avatar vibes. And while I do think Teia's a lot like Malini, I think it would be better to place her somewhere between Katara and Azula. She's a badass and softie at heart.

While this might not be the YA fantasy you WANT, it is the fantasy you NEED, so what are you waiting for?

First impression:
Please, I'm about to start crying. This was so fucking good and Teia is the love of my life forever. I'm gonna add her to the list of my badass queens. You can't understand how good this book was and how much I need the sequel!!!!!

First off I just want to say that the writing was amazing and had a great flow to it. It allowed for a fast pace, without the reading getting lost or confused. The book had interesting world building and most of the dialogue was well written, even if some of the banter fell flat. But, the book is heavily character driven and that’s what kept me from truly enjoying the book. While the side characters were more of less fine, the main character Teia had no redeeming traits that made me care for her. While her being a morally grey character due to her upbringing makes sense, that isn’t the problem. The problem is that she’s portrayed as being the perfect and smartest person in the world. She can never seem to do anything wrong, and she has zero character growth, depth or proper motivation for her actions except that she just has to get everything she wants. She’s one of those characters that is called morally grey but is actually just an asshole.

It's been awhile since I've been this excited for a new author. The promotions online left me with high expectations, and Tiffany Wang delivered! I enjoyed the characters, the world building, and the tension! Basically it has something for everyone. I can not wait for the next one. Highly recommend!

I adored this debut release by author Tiffany Wang! The cover art is gorgeous and is what initially caught my eye. I was further intrigued by the promise of a strong heroine with an imperative to survive in a seemingly dystopian-esque world. Wang did not disappoint this happy reader and purveyor of morally gray characters. I found the world-building to be delightfully rich and complex. The characters are well-rounded so one cannot help but feel invested in their growth and outcomes. The pacing was perfect and the plot had a lovely balance of action and mystery. I am very excited about the forthcoming release of Infernor's Heir and cannot wait to hype up this book, as it deserves all of the love it should receive!!