I actually disagree with the people I’ve heard say you can read this without having read the original series. Sure, you could technically follow the plot, but you’d be missing so many layers of worldbuilding, history, and character development. It wouldn’t even be the same book at that point.

Luckily for me, I read the Ember in the Ashes quartet already and had a great time with Heir. I really enjoyed Sirsha as a character—possibly my favorite in the series, though I really did love Laia a lot as well so that’s hard to measure. I liked the slightly more romance focused style and look forward to seeing how things resolve in book 2!

This intricate, epic tale is a spinoff of another series, which I didn't realize when I started reading. However, I don't think you need any background information from the original series to enjoy this book (the first in a duology).

I was quickly immersed in the breathtaking world-building and exceptional magic system in Heir. The story takes on the perspectives of three characters, and each felt well-developed and unique.

Heir is a strong first installment in what promises to be a captivating duology!

Fantastic world building, interesting characters. unfortunately, I definitely had a favorite POV and felt it was a lag to get through the ones that weren't my favorite. Really debating going back to read Tahir's other series now.

“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.”

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

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 4.5 Stars ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

Wow! This was so good - I've had a limited amount of time recently to read at night and so I really took my time with this one. I just loved being able to take my time and savor it - so much fun being back in the world of An Ember in the Ashes.

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.

╰⪼ ★ ₊ ˚ 𝓐𝓲𝔃 ｡˚ꕤ˚｡ is someone who is completely devoted to a better life for herself and her people, seemingly no matter the cost. She spends a lot of this book trying to find her place and accomplish her goals under the guidance of someone she has utmost faith in 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 good chunk 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 ｡˚ꕤ˚｡ my girl! Loved her from the moment she was on page. 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's sassy and smart- quick and clever. She comes across as cold but she's got a heart of gold.

╰⪼ ★ ₊ ˚ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓵 ｡˚ꕤ˚｡ is a deadly and dangerous cinnamon roll/golden retriever. I think that is the best way to describe him. Being surrounded by Helene and Elias, he is sure to have a dash of cold cruel killer mask but with Laia in his life and others with a slightly softer temperament, he is a perfect balance of broody/strong/dangerous and sweet/loyal/caring.

He really was a great character to read from because he is incredibly analytical and really takes everything in - really giving the reader an in-depth understanding. His relationships with other characters were also amazing - but one in particular really melted my heart!

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ I really don't have any complaints, I devoured this book and loved everything about it. Loved being back in the AEITA world and can't wait to get back to it after that cliffhanger ending!

And again, while the pace of the story initially started up a little slow in order to set the whole scene. The constant rotation of POV's makes the story pick up quickly. The world building was flawless - no info dumping, no lulls. Truly a top favorite of the year.

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! Trying to keep the review extremely vague due to spoilers. Highly recommend!

Thank you to my darling lovely Esta for buddy reading with me! Had so much fun! Please check out her thoughts on Heir as well. Esta's Heir Review 💘👯‍♀️

Many thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group and Sabaa Tahir for the complementary digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 💙

If leaving a reveiw saying ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh to encompass all my feelings was appropriate, I totally would. This book was everything. I loved going back to the world I dearly love and being able to feel like I'm experiencing it all over again. The danger, the secrets and all the good things.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available 10/1/24!!!

This is a young adult book but the themes in it span into adulthood. I loved Aiz, Sirsha and Quil. Their lives vastly differently but able to bring down a cruel empire. There is love betrayal, power and treachery as well as unchecked greed consequences and just a very well told story that will grip you and never let you put this book down.

My heart. MY HEART. Everything Sabaa Tahir touches is gold… and heartbreak. Fans of the Ember quartet will love to be back in the world, and new readers won’t want to get out.

What a joy to be back in this world from Sabaa Tahir! The magic, politics, and cultures in this world are so expansive and interesting, so I'm pleased she is exploring more of this world with new and old characters.

It really warmed my heart to see characters from An Ember in the Ashes series again. There was a good balance in how much we see them and how they influence events, but they also took a backseat so the new generation could take the spotlight. All the new POVs were interesting, and I love seeing them meet up through the story.

The plot is tense, there's some great character growth, and of course there's a cliffhanger at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it whenever I picked it up. However, I never felt fully sucked into it. I often forgot about the story when I put it down and never felt the urgency to see what happens next. (I'm not sure if this is the fault of my weird reading mood or the book.) But I'm still looking forward to the sequel!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Penguin Teen, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: one vague open door, graphic violence and murder (including children), abuse, torture, sexual assault (vague on-page), genocide

I love Sanaa Tahir. I loved Heir. This story was so raw and filled with hurt. It explored deep concepts and left me thinking about it long after finished the book. Tahir writes YA that reads like NA. There isn’t spice but she writes such mature and interesting characters. My heart broke throughout this story in such a good way. This will be the book of the year.

4.5 - This book was SO good!! I think I somehow enjoyed it more than the Ember Quartet, and that is saying a lot because that was one of my favorite YA fantasy series of this year! For a fantasy duology with a complex story and history of the characters, Tahir once again does a fantastic job of pacing this book and connecting you to the characters. I was so beyond happy to see the tie ins to the Ember Quartet and catch glimpses of our favorite characters.

Aiz is an orphan who seeks revenge for the tyrant who killed her people. Quil is the crown prince of the Empire, the nephew of one Empress Helene (I gasped with happiness). Sirsha is an outcast of her people, banished from her tribe, and who has agreed to hunt down a killer. All three of these main characters are struggling with their identity, the power dynamics in the Empire, and the life they once thought they would be forced to live vs. what they really want from their future.

Heir has a combination of everything I love in fantasy - high stakes, romance, angst, fantastic world-building, and characters that are fighting with themselves and their hearts. Once again, Tahir demonstrates that she is a superior author whose prose and storytelling is next level. Again, for such a long book with so much to pack in, as well as a lot of tie ins that she brought in from An Ember in the Ashes, this book was perfectly paced and well fleshed out.

I honestly had no clue going into this book that it was set in the world of An Ember in the Ashes and it brought me SO much joy to be back with some of my favorite characters from that series, ESPECIALLY my cinnamon roll Helene. I love it when an author is able to take the prior characters/world from a past series and expand out, creating a larger universe and expanding on the same themes, and Heir did that perfectly in my opinion.

If you are a fan of An Ember in the Ashes, or are just looking for a new high fantasy/YA fantasy to dive into, Heir is one of my favorite fantasies of this year and the perfect fall book! Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for providing me with this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. #PenguinTeenPartner

Fans of Embers in the Ashes will be delighted (or perhaps devastated?) to return to the Empire 20 years later. A new cast of characters takes us on a magical, sometimes violent ride in this fantasy duology. As always, Sabaa Tahir’s writing is some of the best in the genre. I was on the edge of my seat for this entire story, and I cannot wait for the second installment!

I want to start this review with a little disclaimer - when I requested the ARC of Heir, I was not aware it was semi-connected to the An Ember is the Ashes series by Tahir. I do think that you can read Heir as a standalone but I wish I would have had the background from An Ember in Ashes prior to reading Heir.

Okay, even with that little disclaimer, I still really enjoyed reading this book. Heir follows three main characters who are all on different paths, while facing a major shift in the world. The first half of the story is a little slower as Tahir brings the reader into this very beautifully formed world. I really was surprised at some of the plot twists and after the halfway point, I couldn’t put this down.

The ending definitely has left we wanting the next book BUT I will be reading An Ember in the Ashes before the next book in this duology comes out!

Sabaa Tahir has done it again and I’m so happy she decided that there were more stories to tell within Ember’s world. Could I have lived content knowing how things ended in Sky? Yes. However, this just makes things better because life is never that simple… maybe simple isn’t the right word but the phrase should be ‘there’s always something isn’t there?’

I thoroughly enjoyed jumping back into this world and see characters approximately 20 years after the events in Sky. Quil is grown and is a character I love who has conflict and strength but I do have to say I think Sirsha is my favorite. I was excited every time both hers and Quil’s POV came up again. As for Aiz, I feel like it took me an embarrassingly long time to truly link and figure out exactly how every story from the POVs connected to each other.

Sabaa Tahir has proudly said she knows she is cruel when it comes to what happens to her characters and yet I keep returning to have my heart stabbed on a plate being served to me. I think that also says a lot about me, but I won’t read into it too much.

I love this book and can’t wait for more to come.

I shockingly received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me an early access to one of my favorite author’s stories.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sabaa Tahir for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Heir coming out October 1, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a couple books by this author. I love Ember in the Ashes, but haven’t finished that series yet. So I was excited to receive this book. I’ve read a lot of YA fantasy. It usually has an orphan who’s on a mission to kill someone or take down an empire. It can get a little cliche, but I enjoyed most of this book. I think Quil was my favorite character. I think he had a good backstory and characteristics. I’ll definitely check out the second book. I would definitely check out more books by this author!

Thank you so much for this ARC!

I went into this thinking I had already read Tahir’s previous works (An Ember in the Ashes series). I have, sadly, not. But! I am still glad I requested this. I greatly enjoyed this story. I remember turning to my husband a couple chapters into the book and saying, “I’m really curious about how these three characters are going to be connected,” and I can’t say I called it! And I loved the other viewpoints thrown in throughout the story. It gave you just enough information to know what was going on without distracting you from the main character’s POVs.
I’m still sorting out my feelings on the ending. In one way I’m happy, and in another way, I’m not. I’m just glad there will be another book (right!?).

Thank you again for this ARC! I will now be going through and reading An Amber in the Ashes series!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a Sabaa Tahir book, so OF COURSE this was an easy 5 stars for me.

Returning to the world from An Ember in the Ashes was so nostalgic and I was so excited to see Helene, Elias and Laia again. Also, it was so stressful to see them again because every time they were on the page I was so scared they were going to die, SABAA TAHIR, LEAVE THEM IN PEACE PLEASE, THEY’VE SUFFERED ENOUGH!!!!!!!

Anyways, I loved our new characters, Quil and Sirsha especially. They were both so endearing and powerful and complex. Their banter was silly and cute and just showed how much they appreciated each other. Quil stealing her hairpins just because they reminded him of her and how annoyed she would be to not be able to find them was wholesome. Their relationship was so wholesome and pure and I loved the way it developed. I would also like to request a happy ending for them. Please.

Also, if ANYTHING happens to Sufiyan or ANY of the Veturius’ family members… Ruh’s fate was bad enough, my heart was BROKEN for this poor boy.

And finally, I come to Aiz. I was rooting for her at the beginning, but I immediately was on alert that she was being manipulated. So I felt for her and understood her up until Ruh. When that happened and she didn’t immediately back out of her plans and instead decided that killing a few children was justification for her saving her people, it was over. My sympathy for her was gone. She got the impression that she got to decide who lived and died.

I’m excited to see what’s next for our band of friends and I am also terrified to see what’s next. I just want them to be happy. ESPECIALLY Helene. Girl has been through it.

In conclusion, read this book. Do it now.

This has only solidified my love for this author. A fantastic story of three young souls trying to navigate the perils of life, love, and loyalty.

I am WRECKED in the best way possible. Sabaa Tahir knows how to weave the most masterful stories with so much emotion and adventure.
I absolutely recommend reading this after the Ember Quartet for the full experience. I'll be waiting on pins and needles for book 2!

*Some language, vague open door/fade to black

So good - I always love an MC hell bent on vengeance. I loved the plot and how it interwove the characters lives. We get three POVs - as someone who loves multi-POVs, this was like Christmas. There is also some added romance that’s always a plus for me. A great start to a fresh new series!

I actually thought that this was the first book of a brand new series by Sabaa but it turns out it is a spinoff of her popular series An Ember in the Ashes. I had the AEITA series on my TBR for the longest time and now I am regretting that I did not pick it up sooner! It was so good! I devoured the four books in just over a week because I wanted to read them before Heir. And I am so glad I did. Please do not read Heir without reading AEITA first! Trust me, Heir will have so much more meaning if you do. There is also a lot of world building in those books that I don’t think should be skipped. Also, if you are sensitive to spoilers, Heir will contain some pretty BIG ones … so don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Heir was soooo good and I enjoyed it so much. Sabaa is really good at pacing and keeping you on your toes. Sabaa progresses the story quite well despite being told through a few, very different points of view. There is a lot of world-building from the get go as we are transported both to places that are familiar (if you read AEITA) and foreign in both the past and the present and all of it is meshed together seamlessly. This is a true classic fantasy book/series so if you love world building, magical creatures, magic, technology, quests, political intrigue, tension, and suspense then this book is definitely for you!

I don’t often see much of the original characters in a spin-off series, so I was so pleasantly surprised with Heir. I was so happy to see Helen, Laia, Elias, Tas, and others from AEITA. Without spoiling anything, Heir is, in part, about the next generation of characters from AEITA. Therefore, if you want to know the events following A Sky Beyond the Storm, there will be plenty of that in this book.

I am eagerly awaiting the next book and hope you like Heir as much as I did!

Happy Reading!