✨ 𝐑 𝐄 𝐕 𝐈 𝐄 𝗪 ✨⁣
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𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳 by Sabaa Tahir⁣
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ⁣
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I think I’ve found the contender for my second favorite book of the year. Thank you so, so much to @penguinteen for sending me an early, digital copy!⁣
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Oh my gosh. This book had me hooked from the first page, and once I saw the connections between the multiple POVs, there was simply no way to keep from devouring 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳. Tahir is truly a master of her craft.⁣
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The twists and turns of this beautiful story will have you on the edge of your seat and feeling the full range of emotions. I can’t wait to share some of my favorite quotes when it publishes because so many moments are incredibly powerful that I was fighting tears often.⁣
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It’s an incredibly emotional journey of love and friendship and hunger and family and obligation and war and hurt and magic and storytelling. 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳 truly has it all!⁣
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My only regret upon finishing this book is that I haven’t read the entire 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 quartet, and it’s been so long since I read the first book that I really need to re-read it. I’m happy to report that I now have all of them on hold on Libby! I don’t want to spoil ANYTHING, but if you’re like me and haven’t read those books, maybe consider it before delving into this one. You’ll definitely want to after, if you don’t before.⁣
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𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳 publishes 10/1, and I can’t recommend enough that you get your hands on it! I know I’ll be buying a physical copy as soon as possible!

Returning to the familiar world of old friends, full of new adventure, danger and romance, Heir is Tahir’s most recent release. It was wonderful, I loved every second of it. So thankful for this ARC and I look forward to what’s next 👀

I wish I had read this a bit quicker, but what a fantastic return to this world. I loved seeing all the familiar faces and new faces and just getting to explore more of this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP for providing me with an ARC copy of Heir.

Heir picks up approximately 20 years after the end of the An Ember in the Ashes series. We are introduced to Quil Farrar, who is Helene’s nephew, and heir to the Martial throne. He has spent much of his childhood with the Tribes, growing up along with Laia and Elias’ children. Quil knows that he is expected to take over rule of the empire, once Empress Helene steps down. But, Quil is reluctant to take the throne knowing what that kind of power brings with it, because of the actions of his father, Marcus Farra, the most hated Emperor in the history of his people. With the arrival of a new evil, enemy, who is threatening the empire, Quil must decide if he can overcome the fear of the legacy left by his father and step into his role and be the ruler the empire needs.

Heir brings in POVs from Quil, Aiz and Sirsha as the main characters of the story. There is also a dual timeline taking place, and then the separate storylines intersect, and we get a full picture of all of the characters coming together. I enjoyed having Laia, Elias, and Helene in the story, as supporting characters to the new ones in this book. I felt like they had enough time in the story to tie you into AEITA series, but didn’t overshadow the new characters.

The multiple POVs work really well, and I felt like I got a good understanding of each of the characters backgrounds and motivations. It did take me a little while into the story to have an AHA moment and realize that it was being told in a dual timeline, which I found to be a fun surprise. Tahir also does a great job with the pacing in this book. You get some slower moments with the characters, but the story is not lacking in action, and it makes it hard to put the book down.

There are some well-developed side characters, and I am really looking forward to what happens with Sufiyan and Arelia in the next book, and hopefully getting to know Tas’ character more. Cero also has an interesting storyline, and I’m excited to see where Tahir takes his character. The world building is intricate and I did find it a little overwhelming at times to keep up with some of the different places and people groups, but I find that to be common in most fantasy stories.

If you enjoy fast-paced fantasy and loved the An Ember in the Ashes series, then I highly recommend reading Heir. I also feel that you could read this if you have not read AEITA, but I think it is a benefit to know Helene, Laia, and Elias’ characters. I am definitely looking forward to continuing this story in the second book, of the duology!

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

⭐️4 Stars

This is a spin off Duology from the “An Ember in the Ashes” universe. There is a time lapse between that series and the start of this duology. Told through multiple POVs we are introduced to Aiz, Quil, and Sirsha. The three characters paths are intertwined with a fast paced journey. There is a magical killer who is causing the empire to lose its heart.

Sabaa writes a complicated plot essentially about the hard decisions we make to survive. Decisions to protect those we love, but at what point are those decisions unforgivable and unjustifiable.

The ending ☠️ I don’t know where Sabaa is heading with the next book, but I need it now! I definitely want to reread “An Ember in the Ashes” series now.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Heir by Sabaa Tahir left me with mixed feelings. As someone who hasn't read An Ember in the Ashes series, I found myself struggling to fully engage with this book. The narrative structure, which includes one POV set in the past and two in the present, was particularly confusing and made it difficult to keep track of the timeline and character arcs.

The romance between Quil and Sirsha was a bright spot, adding a layer of charm and emotional investment that kept me turning the pages. Their relationship felt genuine and provided much-needed relief from the otherwise complex and often perplexing plot.

However, Aiz's character was a significant drawback for me. Aiz's POV, set in the past and serving as the villain's origin story, was interesting in theory but ultimately frustrating because I did not pick up that her POV was in the past. I found myself disliking Aiz throughout the book, and the narrative's temporal shifts only added to my confusion. Knowing from the beginning that Aiz's POV was set in the past might have improved my understanding and enjoyment. I did love that the author did an interesting POV here with the villain's origin story and that was unique and not something we see a lot of in writing.

Another major issue was the world-building. Without having read the An Ember in the Ashes series, I found it challenging to fully grasp the intricacies of the world Tahir created. This lack of context made it difficult to immerse myself in the story and understand the stakes and motivations of the characters. Despite these issues, I plan to read the An Ember in the Ashes series and then revisit Heir. I'm confident that with a better understanding of the world and the cameos, I will enjoy it more. This book is something that would be up my alley I just read it out of order without knowing that these were connected.

Overall, while Heir has its merits, my lack of familiarity with the preceding series and the confusing narrative structure significantly hindered my enjoyment. Fans of Tahir's previous work may find more to appreciate here, but it fell short for me.

This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Now what the actual hell i-


Ok here’s the review, WHAT THE HELL SABAA!! The ending???

Buckle up for the duology of your life as Sabaa brings you back in the world of an ember in the ashes 20 years later!!

This story intertwines 3 characters whose lives are connected undoubtedly as they journey to find and hunt this darkness of a monster whose only goal is power.

If you love found family, romance, stories within stories and a cast of characters who are going to be put through hell??? You can’t go wrong with Heir!!!

You’ll also see previous AEITA characters!!!

One thing about Sabaa is she will relate her stories to what’s happening in the world and as you read you can see the influences of what it means to be an oppressed group under occupation and brutality and as always you’ll be hit with so much emotion you won’t be able to put the book down.

Can’t wait for book 2! (She says scared and terrified)

Thank you Penguin Teen for sending me an ARC of the author who brought me back to my love of reading. ❤️

I recently had the pleasure of reading "Heir" by Sabaa Tahir, and it’s an extraordinary journey into a world teetering on the brink of chaos. The novel brilliantly intertwines the lives of three compelling characters: Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil.

Aiz, growing up in the Kegari slums, is driven by a fierce need for vengeance and a deep love for her people. Her journey takes a dark turn when a mistake lands her in prison, where her desire for justice burns brighter than ever. Sirsha, a banished tracker using magic to hunt down a child murderer, finds herself in a moral quandary as an unexpected attraction complicates her mission. Then there's Quil, the reluctant crown prince, who must confront his fears of power and corruption to save his empire from a new, menacing threat.

The depth of each character’s struggle and growth is captivating. Tahir masterfully explores themes of power, love, and the cost of ambition. The narrative is gripping, with unexpected twists that kept me hooked from start to finish.

"Heir" is a remarkable tale of resilience and the human spirit. Sabaa Tahir’s storytelling prowess shines, making this a must-read for fans of epic fantasy.

"Tell me a dream, little love."

Completely unsurprising turn of events: Sabaa Tahir has written another fantastic book.

In other news, the sky is blue.

If you're someone that loves YA fantasy but has been feeling disillusioned by how generic so many new books have felt lately, I completely recommend picking this up. The world-building, the magic system, the character motivations; every bit of this novel was incredibly well-done.

Every book that Sabaa Tahir writes is a masterclass on how to make readers feel. She does everything with so much heart, that even the worst characters elicit sympathy from the reader because she shows us all of them - not just the parts that make them easy to categorize as hero vs. villain.

Heir was no different. In fact, the entirety of Heir's plot stems from the complicated decisions we make to survive, to protect those we love, and at what point those sacrifices become unforgivable.

It took me a bit to find my footing in the story, but once I was a few chapters in, I remained invested for the entirety of the novel. From that point forward, there wasn't a single moment where I lost interest or wished we could switch to a different POV - a feat with any multi-pov story.

As for the plot itself, ow :) Sabaa Tahir let your characters experience happiness challenge. (Except actually, I love how her books don't shy away from actual! negative! experiences! and grief unlike a lot of other YA books.)

I can't say much without spoilers but every single time a character from AEITA was mentioned, I reacted like it was my Infinity War. I need to do a reread of that series, because holy cow, I didn't realize how much I missed all of them.
A minor critique here - trying to avoid giving anything away - there was one character from AEITA that showed up and I wish they had been given a bit more agency in this book? If that makes sense.

The only other thing (kind of an addition to that last point) I want to touch on is that I found it difficult to connect with the main characters. I don't know what it was and I can't put it into words exactly, but out of all of Sabaa Tahir's characters (all of whom I adore) I felt the most neutral on these. Don't get me wrong, I still love (most of) them and when they were experiencing intense emotions, I felt for them. But something was missing in comparison to how her characters usually make me feel. (I have a feeling that will get better in the next book.)

I'm grateful for every arc I get approved for, but I'm not exaggerating when I say I actually cried when I received this one. Sabaa Tahir's words have meant so much to me for so long that the opportunity to experience this story before its release meant a lot to me.

Overall, I went into this with high expectations and they were all met. This was spectacular in all of the ways I hoped it would be and I need book 2 yesterday.

Pick this up in October. You won't regret it.

Oh my goodness this was SO GOOD!!!!

Make sure you finish The Ember in the Ashes series BEFORE starting this new duology - lots of spoilers otherwise!

I loved getting to see beloved characters again and the mix of them with new ones, was done seamlessly.

I was slightly confused with the dual timelines at first, but it didn't take away from the overall enjoyment.

There's moments where the plot progression slows way down but again - still an incredible ride and the ending will leave your jaw on the floor!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

I need this book to be out asap because I need the physical copy in my hands! It was absolutely everything I expected it to be and more. Sabaa Tahir did not disappoint. Be prepared to pick this book up and not sleep until you finish it because I could not put it down.

Tahir is such a talented writer. Every book I read of hers I like it more and more. Her characters are so well written and watching their develop throughout the story is always amazing. Tahir doesn't hesitate to write complex characters that have layer after layer of personality, secrets, and flaws for the reader to explore. There is a perfect balance between world building, plot, and character development that allows for the story to be well rounded and constructed. This is a great novel and Tahir has a true talent for story telling. I can't recommend the book enough I am so excited to see what comes next.

Want to start by thanking PENGUIN GROUP, Sabaa Tahir and NetGallery for the ARC to review.

I'll start of by saying I didn't realize this was in the same universe as "An Ember in the Ashes" Probably could have benefited reading that series again before reading this book, it's not a requirement but it would help understand some people.

Overall I'd recommend this book to anyone who liked "An Ember in the Ashes". It was kinda slow getting started and will be interesting to see if Tahir can wrap it up in 2 books or if it gets extended a book like the first series.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for eARC!

This book was absolute perfection. The world building has a lot of depth, the characters are complex, and an interesting magic system. It took me the first 25% of the book to fully get immersed into the world, but once I was I absolutely binged this book (because there was no way I could put it down). This story is told from 3 main POVs and I loved every one of them. I’m absolutely gutted that I have to wait for a sequel because I was lucky enough to get my hands on this early.

Easily one of my favorite reads this year, can’t recommend it enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an e-ARC of Heir. The Ember in the Ashes Quartet is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time, and I recommend it to anyone who asks. I just finished a re-read of that series before I started Heir and I started to get nervous because I was reminded how mean Sabaa is to all of her characters. But then I was so excited to re-enter that world and her storytelling and was ready to be blown away again by her skill in character and world building. Of course, she did not disappoint on any account. This was an excellent book. Between the multiple POVs to the way she tells the story moving between timelines and flashbacks to the new characters in this book, I was completely drawn in. My biggest complaint is that I probably have to wait at least a year for a sequel. I loved that she picks this book up 20 years later and explores the lives of the children that the original characters fought to keep alive/ be able to have. It was great to see the originals return in this book, but from a different perspective, and as mature adults settled in their roles. Sabaa wasn't any nicer to her characters this time around, but I really appreciated how she showed everyone's evolution over time for good or bad, and they were all lovable and relatable. I also appreciated that the world included a lot more queer characters, more kingdoms, different kids of magic, and even bigger stakes. Sabaa Tahir will always be an autobuy author for me, and this book as cemented her as one of my favorite authors of all time.

I thought 'Heir' by Sabaa Tahir was an exhilarating return to the 'An Ember in the Ashes' universe, featuring three compelling main characters: Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil. The narrative is action-packed and heart-pounding, especially Sirsha's tracking journey filled with smart tricks and a touch of magic. I highly recommend reading the entire 'An Ember in the Ashes' series to fully appreciate the intricate world-building and character development. The story introduces us to Aiz, a brilliant engineer seeking vengeance, Quil, a reluctant crown prince, and Sirsha, a magical tracker on a dangerous mission. Their paths intersect in a fast-paced narrative that keeps you on your toes. The character development, tension, and world-building are masterfully done, making it a captivating read. I particularly enjoyed the nods to Pakistani and South Asian culture and the humor woven throughout the story. 'Heir' is a beautifully crafted tale of defiance, love, and legacy that exceeded my expectations, and I can't wait for the second book. 5/5 stars.

Sabaa Tahir's "Heir" set against a backdrop of political intrigue and magical conflict, the sequel delves deeper into the challenges faced by its resilient protagonists.

Tahir's narrative prowess shines through in her ability to blend thrilling plot twists with poignant explorations of loyalty, sacrifice, and personal growth. "Heir" captivates readers with its dynamic storytelling and leaves them eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this compelling fantasy series.

Wow! This book was such an adventure. I LOVE Sabaa Tahir's books. She is an excellent story teller. Heir is the next generation of An Ember in the Ashes and I would suggest reading that series before venturing into this duology.

~~What I liked~~
-The world building and overlap of the characters was fantastic. Much like the Ember series, this book is told from multiple POV and the story unfolds a bit at a time as each chapter is told from a different character's perspective. Sometimes this method of storytelling leaves huge gaps in the plot, but I didn't notice much of that here.
-The characters in this book were well developed and you really get a feel for each one as the book unfolds. The book is centered around three main characters, Aiz, Quil, and Sirsha, but there are a few chapters from other character's POV that round the book out. I love/hate the direction Aiz's character was taken, well played Ms. Tahir, well played.
-In general I had a general idea of where the story was going, but several times I was surprised and this made me all the more interested in finding out what was actually going to happen to the different characters.
-While the first 30% of the book was a bit draggy, the pacing for the last 70% was really good.
-This was a closed door romance and I would feel comfortable recommending it to teens. While there is sex in the book, it isn't overly described but is definitely alluded to and tastefully done.

~~What I didn't like~~
-This wasn't so much a problem for me as I had read the Ember series previously, but there was a lot going on plot wise that might be confusing for those who haven't read the other books.
-I was given an ARC so maybe the actual book will include this, but I would really have liked a map. While the world building was well done, I always like maps that help me visualize where the characters are or where they are going.
-I would have liked to see more relationship building between the couple(s) in the book. This is very slightly romance, but mostly fantasy and adventure.

Overall, this book was captivating and I can't wait for the last book to come out. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy/magic and adventure books. I'm glad this is only a duology as I'm not sure I could wait FIVE years for the series to finish.

I received an arc of this book from netgalley and Penguin House in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fantastic epic fantasy with some light romance. It's really a story about belief, desperation, and how far a person would go, what they would believe in, if given the tools. This book tells a pretty intense story from multiple angles and it pushes the reader to question a lot of things. The world building is beautiful and detailed, the magic system is not fully fleshed out yet on purpose but has multiple systems. Very interesting for sure.

I found this book to be super addictive and I was dying to find out what happens whenever I wasn't able to read.

This book did have a lot of violence related trigger warnings, though.