If Sabaa Tahir has one fan, it is me. If Sabaa Tahir has no fans, I am dead. This was such a fun way back into the Ember universe! I loved catching up with old characters and getting to know the new ones. This world, as always, is so rich and layered--every part of it stands out in it's own unique way. As someone who can usually guess the plot twists coming, this book GOT me! I'm so excited for everyone else to read it.

In anticipation of HEIR, I reread the EMBER quartet, something I haven’t done since SKY came out. I reread them like Elias’ life depended on it. And they're still gorgeous and thrilling and haunting and poignant and inventive and fierce and so so good.

I have been privileged to know about Sabaa’s genius since early days. So I was overwhelmingly excited that she’s revisited this world with HEIR. It’s equally brilliant, beautiful and brutal. The twists! The romance! The battles! I loved getting to see the OG heroes all grown up (and my age?!) and through the eyes of the next generation. It's a delight to return to a world so wonderfully crafted with stories that still manage to surprise and delight and shatter the reader simultaneously.

I started reading Sabaa Tahir with 'All My Rage," which was the book that got me into YA years ago. It was amazing and I expected no less with Heir, and I received no less. The range of skillful writing that Tahir has is amazing. Although Ir realized too late that Heir is connected to her previous fantasy books, Heir is still a great stand-alone. I can't wait for Book 2. Sabaa Tahir is a legend!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

"Heir" is a book meant for those who have read the prior series before this one. Some say you don't have to read the other series but if you haven't read those the world building will be hard to follow (in my opinion). Definitely give this a read if you are familiar with Tahir's other works!

This was EXCELLENT! Sabaa Tahir really knows how to write a book that will immediately pull you in, take you for a wild ride, destroy you emotionally, and make you so scared for what's happening next you can barely handle it. And you'll thank her for it each and every time.

I personally really enjoyed the return to the “An Ember in the Ashes” universe. I haven't read that series in so long and was pleasantly surprised that I could dive right into Heir and not really be confused about much. I'm sure it would have added a lot more to the story if I had read the previous books again, but I also liked my perspective on this new story was fresh and I'm not comparing it to anything.

I loved all our main characters, the relationships and friendships that we saw grow and change along the way, but Sirsha especially stood out. Her background and powers were so fascinating, and I'm intrigued (scared) as to what's going to happen with her in the next book. At this exact moment I think I hated the ending, mostly because I'm so worried about how everything is going to play out.

Overall, I just can't wait to find out what's next and I'll be crossing my fingers and praying that it all works out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

2.5 | I was so excited to read this book - I had seen how highly anticipated it was and it was going to be my first Sabaa Tahir book. That was my biggest mistake - as an extension duology to an already existing universe, I was so incredibly lost. Despite being marked as a stand-alone in the same universe it is in fact not.
Once I was 70% of the way through and still had not figured out the magic system or the world, I realized I never was going to. There are countless terms that are never explained as it is assumed the reader already knows the world.
The characters were intriguing when I could figure out what was going on + the cliff hanger is captivating, but it’s definitely not a stand alone duology.
I would be very interested in reading the EITA series and then coming back to this.

This book is everything I expected from a Sabaa Tahir book and more. The writing reminded me why I fell in love with her other books page after page. The characters were powerful new voices I couldn’t wait to follow and the story was fantastic. I can’t wait to see where book 2 takes them all.

This is one of the rare books that I can and will recommend for both teen girls and teen boys because both can find enjoyment in its pages. It is an approachable fantasy that feels lived in and tangible making it a great choice for readers looking to make the jump into YA fantasy and readers hungry for more in the genre alike.

I can’t wait to have this book on shelves and am already telling everyone I know to order it.

I have always been a fan of Sabaa Tahir’s books, so when I heard about the sequel to An Ember in the Ashes series, I jumped at the chance to request the eARC. And Heir did not disappoint at all! Wow!

Heir picks up twenty years after the events of An Ember in the Ashes series, introducing new characters, with appearances from the beloved characters from that series: Elias, Laia, and Helene. Heir focuses on the perspectives of three main characters: Aiz, a struggling windsmither from the impoverished Kegar nation; Quil, Helene’s nephew and future heir to the throne; and Sirsha, a magic tracker with secrets of her own, tasked by Elias to find a murderer who is killing innocents.

The world-building is complex and intricate, revisiting the world of the Martials, Scholars, and the Tribes, as well as introducing new cultures, such as the Kegar, Ankanese, and Jaduna. It draws upon elements of Roman and Islamic culture and history. (I highly recommend that you read An Ember in the Ashes in its entirety, to fully understand the character and plot development of Heir.)

Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed the bonds that form throughout the novel, as well as the themes of found family and friendship. There were events in the plot that I did not expect and that completely shocked me. In addition, Tahir builds her antagonists in a way in which the reader understands their motives and how they end up being the villains in their own stories. She highlights the events and desires that lead them to the breaking point and how they ultimately justify their actions. You hurt for them even as you root against them.

Themes of oppression, poverty, classism, war, and imprisonment are evident throughout this novel. There’s heartache and sorrow, and yet the characters hold onto hope. The reader is left grappling with the questions: How far would you go to save your people? What would you do to ensure that those you love are given a life more than mere survival? And would you sacrifice your morals to secure that?

Overall, I highly recommend Heir and I can’t wait for the sequel to this duology to see what happens next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Heir follows three teens fighting against a killer who could bring an empire to its knees. Aiz grew up in the Kegari slums and seeks revenge on a cruel ruler who did unspeakable things. In her fury, she makes a mistake and lands in an inescapable prison. Sirsha was banished from her tribe after an unforgiveable crime and now is a tracker who can use magic to speak to the earth, air, and water. Desperate for money, she agrees to hunt down the vicious killer who is responsible for the murdered children across the empire. Quil is the crown prince, nephew of Empress Helene, and wishes he didn’t have to be a ruler. When a ruthless attack befalls the empire, Quil has to be the heir his people need or risk losing everyone he loves.

This book was INCREDIBLE. It had be gagged on multiple occasions and I was screaming and so stressed in the final part. The ending was such a cliffhanger and I am desperate to read the sequel. I need to know if these characters are okay. I need a good, happy ending. This absolutely hooks you immediately and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It was so hard to put down. The plot is incredible and complex while being easy to follow. It’s so fast-paced and ruthless and romantic. It was truly gorgeous. The antagonist in this book was so well done. It was a truly a shock and such a good reveal.

Sabaa Tahir is phenomenal at crafting characters you instantly care about. They’re all so complex and flawed while being so lovable. I’m always immediately attached and getting to see the characters from the original series was SO sweet. Usually, I’m not as big of a fan of sequel series—I always find the characters from the original series not as likeable, but that was not the case here. And the new characters were incredible. My favourites are Sirsha and Quil. I love them so much and Suf and Arelia were so lovely too. I have mixed feelings on Aiz, but she was a very interesting character.

Overall, if you loved the Ember series you have to read this book. It is a phenomenal sequel to the series and I highly, highly recommend it!

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!

I had no inkling how this story was going to progress. I wasn't sure who the antagonist was going to be, and when that was revealed I got angry with that character. It made it hard to sympathize with them, even when I initially understood their motives. I don't think they deserves any kind of redemption arc in the next book, and I hope they doesn't get one.

We do get to see a lot of familiar faces in this book. But I wish one had more of a presence, I hope she plays more of a role in the next book. I feel like her role could be helpful.

While I did enjoy and love this book, I do feel that the story is progressing really fast. Ember gave us time to breathe and grow with the characters, but this book it's action scene after action scene. Even then the "down" times are wrought with tension. The moments that are supposed to be, aren't given enough time for me to connect to the characters and believe the romance.

It's really hard to do what I feel is a "proper" review on a book that isn't out yet that relies on her other series, And Ember in the Ashes, being read first. Some of what I can be said about this book would spoil the outcome of everything from that other series.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC.

Every single time I read something by Sabaa Tahir, I am devastated and heartbroken in the best way possible. Heir was my most anticipated read of the year, and Sabaa Tahir just proved why she is my favorite author. Heir is one of those books that is so well thought out and detailed, I didn't want to put it down. It could have easily been just a cash grab spin off because of the success of the Ember quartet, but as you read it you can see just how much love and effort Sabaa Tahir put into writing this. Her worldbuilding, and character development are absolutely top tier.

It was nice to see how Laia, Elias, and Helene's lives all turned out- and not have them centered in the plot.

Quil, Sirsha, and Aiz were all interesting, different, and captivating in their own way. The layout of Heir was phenomenal, it really kept me on my toes. I never knew where it was going, even though Sabaa Tahir is the queen of foreshadowing. The ending was an incredible way to set up for book 2. If I could give Heir 6 stars, I would. This is my favorite book now.

Rating: 4.5 our of 5


Thank you to Penguin to providing me with a digital ARC! Spoilers below!!!

As a lover of the AEITA series, it was great to see the original cast of characters make appearances in “Heir” but that they didn’t steal the limelight. I really enjoyed the characters of Quil and Sirsha and cannot to see these two reunite…which they better because I will not be well otherwise. I would love to see more of Sirsha’s past to know more about her banishment from her family but I think the mystery served its purpose to readers that she’s unwelcome and was left to fend for herself. As for the two of them as a couple, I don’t particularly love a fake dating trope but forced into marriage because someone may be killed? I don’t know why, but it appealed more.

As for Aiz - she was a great, complex character. Did I sympathize with her? Yes. Did I like or love her? No. But, that’s the point and why I think she was a great, albeit annoying, villain. I wanted to support her but her justifications for her actions is obviously what it comes down to and where I think Sabaa was trying to make her case - hurting one group of people at the benefit of others does not cancel one or the other. It adds more to the total suffering.

Speaking more to the writing, I was absolutely sucked in after the first chapter and it was a phenomenal start to the book. The best part was realizing that we had two different timelines occurring with the multiple POVs and then a merge to present-day! Truly such a creative and smart move because I was floored when I realized what happened.

Overall, very excited to get back into this world and cannot wait for the sequel! All I ask is for Sabaa to not cause more pain for the characters than necessary.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an early copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

I’ve been reading a bunch of reviews and people saying that it wasn’t like An Ember in the Ashes.

Well, it’s not suppose to be. It’s a spin off, with new characters. Yes, you’ll see characters from AEITA but with this story, you get their kids and a whole different plot/story.

I enjoyed this book tremendously and I am super stoked to read book two. Did I love this book like I loved AEITA? No but I loved it in its own way. This book made me laugh, cry, scream, and just yearn for more. I think Tahir did a fantastic job with this spin off series so far.

I enjoyed seeing some of my past favorite characters and loved meeting some of their kids and watching their kids going through their own journey and figuring out who they are. I’ll always be a Helen fan and loved her small part in this book.

I will say that I wish there was a bit more adventure but I find the plot of this super fascinating and can’t wait to get more background on it and see the outcome. Also, the love interest in this was adorable. I can’t wait to see it blossom more.

The only “complaint” I have was that I was confused about Aiz for a majority of the time until I realize her scenes were from the past for most of the book. I wasn’t a big fan of her, so I’m hoping she isn’t in book two much lol.

All in all, I am very happy with this book and would recommended it to anyone who enjoyed AEITA.

4 stars!

I love you Sabaa, please never stop writing books, but especially never stop writing your brilliant fantasy novels. I am a MASSIVE fan of the original AEITA series and was so excited when I found out that Sabaa was continuing it, though I will admit, I was a little scared. So many times, authors use their famous series as cash grabs and keep publishing books despite no one really wanting it. HEIR was not that at all. You can tell that Tahir only writes when she has something to say and truly feels compelled to. This continuation of the AEITA universe was needed, even if I didn't realize it until I started reading this book. We obviously get peeks into the lives of our favorite characters from the first series, but our main cast of characters in HEIR stand on their own as well and you can't help but love them. In her classic mix of romance, magic, and action, Sabaa Tahir blows my mind with her amazing writing and compelling characters. I desperately need to see how this series ends, though I don't want to have to say goodbye to these characters I've only just met.

I’ve heard nothing but great things about Sabaa Tahir’s books, so I was really excited to dive into Heir. But in my excitement, I didn’t realize this was a spinoff from a previous series I haven’t read yet—oops!

The worldbuilding felt a bit lacking at first, but once I found out this is set 20 years after An Ember in the Ashes, it made more sense. I believe that if I had read those books beforehand, I would have understood the plot better, but I never had any trouble following the characters or their relationships.

One thing I absolutely loved was the multiple POVs and how they helped the plot unfold. Each chapter was a perfect blend of beautiful prose and exciting character development. There was a moment when everything just clicked for me—some might call it a predictable reveal, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. In fact, it made me even more eager to keep reading and see how everything would come together.

I’m already counting down the days until book 2, and in the meantime, I’m definitely going to check out the original series. Heir has officially made me a fan!

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinteen for an advanced reader copy of Heir by @sabaatahir 😀

I have no words….when I saw the notification that I got this ARC, I screamed!!!! I absolutely loved The Ember Quartet, and Heir is set in the same universe. The book is told through the eyes of Aiz, Quil, and Sirsha twenty years after the events of the Ember quartet. The twists and turns of this book kept me captivated from the first page, and,of course, ended with a cliffhanger 😂. I cannot wait for the next book in the series! Heir has political intrigue, impeccable storytelling and world building, and a dash of romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARV!
I’ve been meaning to read ember in the ashes for awhile but picked up this first. Perhaps I should have waited, as some of this book didn’t quite click for me and I wonder if I’d have been more invested if I was already enthralled by the ember world. I still am intrigued enough by the world that I am now still eager to pick up the original series, and perhaps then a reread of heir will make more sense.

It was fun to get back into this world but in a different way. I'm not going to compare this to Ember in the Ashes, especially because I didn't read it right before this, I wouldn't accurately be able to anyway. I'd say you don't NEED to read the Ember Quartet before this, but you probably should.

I enjoyed the new crew of characters. I liked getting to know them through their own POVs, learning how their personal experiences shaped their decisions and the unexpected path that led to. There were some great reveals that I didn't see coming. The ending was partially disappointing and but still has me excited for book 2.

I can't recall when or how I first came across Sabaa Tahir's first book, Ember in The Ashes, the year it came out.  I recall not being able to put it down and when I finished it, wanting to read it again. I looked forward to, and pre-ordered, every new book in the series. By the end of A Sky Beyond the Storm, I knew the series had become one of my favorite Young Adult Fantasy series. 

When the author said she'd written this book and that it takes place 20 years after A Sky Beyond the Storm, I immediately pre-ordered it. I didn't expect to be approved for an advanced copy and am thankful to NetGalley, Penguin Group and Penguin Teen for providing the eBook in exchange for my review.

Heir more than met my expectations. The author's world-building continues to be well thought-out and the maps are amazing and helpful. I loved that magic continues to be incorporated and is a tangible part of some of these characters' lives. Especially after learning in the previous series how magic has been passed or inherited throughout the generations.

I was immediately invested in the orphan's life. Aiz's anger and impulsiveness didn't make things any easier for her. Especially when others were punished because of her actions. It wasn't hard to understand the reasons why Aiz wanted justice, and vengeance, for her people. When she is imprisoned and escapes, I found myself wanting her to succeed in her goals for helping her people.

The young prince and future emperor, Quil, grew up as a part of Laia's and Elia's family. Knowing how much of an impact their family and Helene have had on his life so far was heartwarming. It's heartbreaking when they are all affected by the killer who is murdering children. When the Empire is attacked and Helene sends Quil away I wondered how they would make it through this new threat to the Empire.

Sirsha, the outcast, quickly became a favorite, not just because of how her magic works -  which is amazing - but because of her resourcefulness and quick-thinking. While tracking the killer, she meets Quil, Sufiyan and Aurelia and the group find themselves having to work together and rely on one another.  When they come across people from Sirsha's past we are given just enough to know why she's an outcast. However, we also learn she's honor bound to catch the killer. When she and Quil become magically bonded, its impact on them grows as they search for the killer.

Having more than one narrator doesn't work for every author.  But this use of alternating characters by chapter is fast-paced and packed with action and/or world-building. From the synopsis I assumed we would only have three main characters stories. I liked when we got to see things from other character's perspectives, like Cero and Sufiyan, because they were impactful.

The killer in this story doesn't have their own chapters. Their magical influence and manipulation leads to the murder of countless people and ravages cities. I thought Keris and The Nightbringer were horrible, this character is just as horrible if not worse.

Due to some scenes that occur in this story, I think the young adult audience for this series might be a bit older than the Ember series. And, the killing of children may be hard for some to read about.

Something I did not expect was the time frame of Aiz's chapters in relation to the other's chapters. It's a bit of a plot twist. Aiz's storyline, to me, is the core of this story. As the timelines gradually meet and we discover what has become of Aiz in her quest for vengeance, it was equal parts anxiety-inducing and traumatizing.

I can't wait to read what happens next for the orphan, the outcast, the prince and the killer.

i probably should have read her previous An Ember in the Ashes series, but it was still so good! if you've read it, i genuinely think you'd love this one. i know it's always amazing to be re-immersed in a familiar world. i plan on going back and reading An Ember in the Ashes to get the full experience. i'll treat it like a prequel after having read this one. i might even update this rating depending on how that goes.

thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. i received this book as an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.