Turns out Heir is related to An Ember in the Ashes Quartet, which I was not aware of before requesting this ARC; having not read An Ember in the Ashes, it's difficult for me to make a comparison. This could also be the reason why I was so confused in the first half of the book. With no map and no proper explanation of the bigger picture, I was lost when political relations were mentioned at first. It might be my fault for not researching the book properly, however I enjoyed it a lot more as I started to understand what's going on.

Sabaa Tahir's writing is incredibly good! Even in the beginning when I was confused as hell, I couldn't put it down because it was so gripping. Heir is a well balanced story with plenty of intrigue, mystery, magic, politics, and contains more than enough twists, some of which I didn't see coming. The way everything connects eventually was extremely satisfying as it all clicked into place and it made me want to read An Ember in the Ashes so badly now! I'm also looking forward to reading the sequel given how the book ends!

Oh goodness…I’m done and I can’t believe what a wild ride that was.

I usually have a POV that I like more than others, but Sabaa Tahir kept my attention on ALL THREE! I was hooked!

I need all of my friends to read this so I can ramble about how good it is to them.

SABAA TAHIR DOES IT AGAIN! I had no idea this was a continuation of sorts of the EMBER series, and I was so pleased to see some of my favorite characters again. This was an action packed YA fantasy filled with the highest of stakes and so much magic. I loved revisiting the world of EMBER, and also meeting this next generation. I think this was a perfect way to continue revisiting some of the fandom's beloved characters while also not drawing out the same plot. This new series is tons of fun, and it's also .. dare I say it? STEAMIER than the original books.

I really liked the direction Sabaa took this plot in, and her characteristic multiple POV storytelling hit the mark yet again. I can't wait for book two!

Some stories should not be told...

But not this one, obviously. THIS IS STORYTELLING. THIS IS ART. The twists were twisting, and the turns were turning. Sabaa Tahir packs a devastating emotional punch in this sequel duology to the Ember in the Ashes series. High fantasy and also mystery, this book has 3 main points of view (a couple of chapters here and there are other POVs): Sirsha, an outcast, Aiz, an orphan, and Quil, the prince of the Martial Empire. Twenty years after the events of the EITA series, a murderer is on the loose, killing the young, and Sirsha is hired to track them down. Quil is Empress Helene's nephew, but he doesn't want to become Emperor. When the Empire is suddenly attacked by distant enemies, the Kegari, he is on the run trying to survive. And Aiz, a Kegari orphan, wants to free her starving people from the corrupt ruling class when she begins hearing the voice of the long-lost Holy Cleric who founded her nation.

The first few chapters I was admittedly a little confused. The reader is thrust into unfamiliar territory and circumstances compared to the last series, but as you continue reading you understand the intention behind it. The thread of the story unspools, and bit by bit you can piece together the mystery: the killer, the Kegari, the identities of these characters. The tale is simply gripping. I devoured this and was genuinely shocked by the direction that Tahir takes this story. I cannot wait for the next book.

Also, Ms. Tahir should put some lawyers on retainer because I'm suing her for that ending.

The best fantasy that ends up being my favorite is when I have no idea what’s going on, and this was just exactly that!

I kept meticulous notes on characters, places, and events through the first half of this book. When the plot finally revealed itself, I couldn’t finish it fast enough.

Fantastic storytelling and world building. I really liked Sirsha and Aiz from the start. Quil’s history had an emotional impact and I loved putting all the clues together. There’s some political intrigue woven into the story but it really takes on another theme in the second half. The tension had a slow build and was really neat overall. The romance felt very natural and I appreciated the connection I was able to make. I got very invested in these characters and cannot wait to see where the story will go next.

Although I’ve read Ember in the Ashes, I do not have recollection and might go back to that series and see if I’ll enjoy it more now. For anyone familiar, you may see some characters you’ll recognize from that series here.

HEIR by Sabaa Tahir was incredible, the way that she writes her books is captivating and beautiful.

Taking place many years from her ember in the ashes series. Sabaa did a phenomenal enjoy introducing us to a new generation of characters for the ashes world. They were dynamic characters, there was so much depth, vulnerability and flawed to them. Even those they shared the same space with past favourite characters for the original embers in the ashes quartet they held their own and you really felt drawn to their own personal stories, their wants and desires .

Although Heir can technically be read as a standalone, i highly recommend reading ember first! There was so many connects to the pervious series.


I still taken back how incredible this book was. I was hooked from the beginning. With all the plot twists and fast pacing immediately draws you in, I was lost for words which each chapter.

this was just so good and the themes are super relevant to everything going on in the world now, which is something i feel like Sabaa is always really great at incorporating and making her readers think and provoke discussion.

And that ending!!! I’m so excited for book 2 need it asap

I received an ARC for this book but my review represents my free and honest opinion.

I've heard about this author and she's been on my TBR list, but until this showed up on Netgalley, I didn't give her a try. Now I'm determined to go back and read her previous series. I loved this book. I love how the characters are sympathetic, and yet held accountable, and how the author shows the ease in which people can go down terrible paths. The secondary characters are compelling and it just feels like I need to read more about everyone and figure out how they got to the battle.

I also liked that I don't feel like I've read a cliffhanger. There's much more to this story, and I'm excited to read it, but I don't feel like I've read half a book.

This is the kind of writing that has me coming back for more. It's a wonderful story and I can't wait to read the sequel!

Thank you Netgalley for this amazing ARC!

Ahh! I was so excited to be back in this world and it did not disappoint. I did not see that ending coming… are you kidding me?! And the love story was so swoony and perfect. I highly recommend!

Oh, how fun it was to return to the world of An Ember in the Ashes! Sabaa has expanded the world and created such a wonderful, frightening, magical-filled story. We meet new characters and get glimpses of old. I really love how this feels a bit like EMBER with its darkness, war, and blood, but still like EMBER in that's it's hopeful, with love tucked between the crevasses. I absolutely adored getting to learn about the vast world outside of the Empire, along with each country's customs.

Let me tell you one thing, I wasn't sure what to make of Aiz, but as the story progresses and you have the realization that there's something not quite there... Oh, how heartbreaking. You have Sirsha and Quil as well, and along with Aiz, are all lost and somewhat broken characters. Sirsha and Quil are both searching for something different than what is expected of them. I think, in the end, they both realized perhaps what they initially wanted...isn't what they want after all. Quil is an incredibly loyal character, who displays over and over again how much he loves his friends and family, and how well-rounded of a person he is.

There is a storyline here about the origin of the Martials' masks and gosh, I'm simply so intrigued by it and I'm eager to see how Sabaa expands this storyline. I wasn't expecting the ending either, and I can't figure out if I sympathize with Aiz after everything that happened. Leaving things the way Sabaa did with Sirsha... I'm shocked????? I also desperately need Quil to be reunited with his Aunt Helene because I feel like he (and she, tbh) have some very choice words to say to one another.

Needless to say I really enjoyed this book, and I can't believe I have to wait an unknown about of time for any hint about Book 2.

I thought that I'd enjoy this book more, but in the end, I had to settle with simple indifference. Sabaa Tahir's fans will be glad to come back to this world -- this time, with new players. The twists and heartbreak and her signature style are all there. Unfortunately, this is just not a book for me.

set 20 years later in the same world as ember, we follow three new perspectives: Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil. they are on seemingly different journeys, but their lives all intertwine in the wildest ways. we get dashes of humor (sirsha, i'm looking at you), romance, and lots of new lore and culture from the new region we’re exploring!

this story does such a great job of introducing our new leading, dynamic characters, while tying their stories to the characters we already know and love from the original ember quartet. which is why i say that while it can technically be read as a standalone, i highly recommend reading ember first! it really ups the stakes of everything happening in heir, knowing how the journey our main cast from ember went on.

the plot twists and fast pacing immediately draws you in, and you really never know what is coming next. there were a few parts where i had to double back because i was like wtf just happened!

this was just so good and the themes are super relevant to everything going on in the world now, which is something i feel like sabaa is always really great at incorporating. i’m truly on the edge of my seat for book two!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for this early release copy.

I have had An Ember in the Ashes on my bookshelf for years waiting to read it, and I have never gotten around to it. I've heard amazing things about the series and Sabaa Tahir's books. When I saw this and that it was a new duology, I jumped on reading it. I loved it from beginning to end. It takes you on an amazing journey and tells such a fantastic story. I finished the book so excited to read the next book when it comes out, only to discover the connection to An Ember in the Ashes! I am now incredibly motivated to finally start reading that series while I wait for the next book in this duology! The great thing about this is that I didn't need to read the other series to fully enjoy or understand this book, I had no idea until I finished that they were in any way related. It's definitely a great standalone new series on its own.

Ohhhhh my! Sabaa! Why! My heart!

Heir is wonderful. It will tear you apart - you should read it!

Sabaa has a real gift for storytelling. I would recommend Heir to my family and friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

This story picks up a while after An Ember in the Ashes series ends, and takes place in the same world.. You don't HAVE to read that series first, but it definitely adds depth to the story I would have missed otherwise.

This story follows three characters whose storylines slowly entwine with one another. I absolutely loved watching all of the pieces fall into place. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I can't wait for the second book in this duology comes out to see how it all wraps up in the end!

Bleeding, burning skies! This book was my most anticipated read of 2024, and it did not disappoint. An Ember in the Ashes is one of my favorite series and I was beyond excited to return to this world with The Heir.

We see the next generation of Gens Veturius and Gens Aquilla, along with some old friends and several new faces. We revisit familiar places in the Empire, but there is a focus on the mysterious Southern Continent this time around. The continued world building enhances a setting already rich with detail. The writing is intricately descriptive without being overwhelming. The images are still crystal clear in my mind days later.
This story is masterfully written across multiple perspectives. The timelines are interwoven in such a way that I was completely surprised more than once. I lost count of the number of times I audibly gasped when something unexpected happened.

Quil, Sirsha and Aiz are the main characters, but I cannot go into detail about anything without spoilers. I will say that I am completely invested in their stories and desperate for the next book. Love and treachery abounds, and the big bad in this one is worse than the Nightbringer!

*I relistened to the AITA series before starting this book and it enhanced my reading experience immensely. I highly recommend revisiting that series, if you can.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved HEIR so much! I couldn't put it down! I loved all the different POV characters and, as usual, Sabaa Tahir used the format brilliantly. And I still cannot get over that ending!! I need the second book immediately! Sabaa also brilliantly wove in so much from the previous series yet also made it so that this could be a standalone—not an easy feat! Fans are going to LOVE this. I can't wait for this book to be out in the world so we can all talk about it! One of my favorite reads!

I need to start this review by stating I have not read the Ember quartet. That being said, I’ve already budgeted my tbr to get myself to Ember as soon as possible given the ARCs I have rn because Heir was SO good I need to return to that world and Tahir’s writing immediately. Btw there are spoilers, yes it can be read and fully understood without reading Ember but I definitely hit some major plot points, although that hasn’t deterred me, just made me more interested.

Tahir’s writing style is brilliant. Every single chapter ended and had me craving the next. I can’t tell you the last time I felt that way while reading, or feel the way I do post reading this book. I was entranced. Completely immersed in this world. Obsessed with every character. The fabric of my soul ripped at the tension this book caused and I don’t believe I will ever heal. I am counting down the days until book 2 is released (completely unknown) because this book is all I have thought about for weeks.

I truly want to say nothing of the plot itself, other than how incredible it was and how interesting this world is and how brilliant the character development and storytelling is. I highly recommend this book to any fantasy reader.

I cannot thank Penguin Teen enough for providing me with this ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book. This book has my whole heart. I absolutely adored this! From the incredible characters, to the plot, to falling in love with everything so quickly- I couldn’t put this down. I highly recommend this! It really just sucks you in and makes you never want to leave. In my opinion, those are the best books and I couldn't get enough. Sabaa is a GENIUS!

3.5 stars

I had high hopes for this one because I heard so many good things but I just could not get into it. The pacing was SO. SLOW. There was so little action and it felt like nothing was happening until almost 50% into the book. There were so many character and pov’s and I could never remember who was who and how they knew each other.
I also found that I kept getting lost in the politics and world building and just couldn’t orient myself in this world. It felt like there were several different plot lines and none of them were fleshed out enough for me. I was always trying to figure out what was going on. It did get more interesting around 50-85% into the book but the ending felt rushed and confusing and didn’t make me want to read the next book

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!

I'm not going to lie, I went into this not realizing it was connected to the "An Ember in the Ashes" books so as soon as characters from that were mentioned I *knew* I would love this book. Sabaa Tahir has a talent for writing characters that capture my attention right away. I was so deeply invested in these characters and the plot right off the bat.

I will admit I am notorious for not being able to guess plot twists but this one really got me! I had to put down the book for a second and be like "oh my god..." I loved the fact we got multiple main POVs as well as a few short chapters from other side character's POVs as well. Although, there was a character I wished we got some POVs from.

It was really exciting to see Elias and Laia and see what their life is like after the original books and their kids! The scenes with them made me feel very nostalgic which was nice. This book was full of heartbreaking moments as well and I definitely shed a few tears while reading some of these scenes. The romantic relationships also have me veryyyy invested and excited to see where they go in the next book.

Overall, I loved this book so much! Not at all a surprise. If you loved "An Ember in the Ashes" I would definitely recommend picking up this book too!