This is my first book was the author and it was incredible! I loved the 3 characters we got povs from and seeing their stories and growth. It was action packed from the beginning and so full of heart and emotion and rage. Perfection.

This novel is beautifully written and incredible to read. For fans of Sabaa's Ember quartet, you will surely enjoy this novel. This book follows a character from the Ember world, but all grown up. The novel had thrilling adventures that kept me on the edge of my seat. I also felt os immersed in the book that I completed it in one sitting. This book is truly amazing and I fully recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this amazing novel!

3.5 Stars.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for an e-arc of Heir by Sabaa Tahir.

I will start by saying that I highly recommend reading An Ember In The Ashes before jumping into Heir, as it takes place in the same world and a lot of things and people are mentioned/brought up. I’m going to leave all spoilers out of this review for now.

The story beings 20 years after the events of AEITA. This follows our 3 main characters, Aiz, Quill & Sirsha, (once again very reminiscent of AEITA). Our initial encounter is with Aiz, who is an orphan seeking vengeance, she’s also dreamt of becoming a windsmith but is unable to do so; her best friend Cero has just become a windsmith which causes jealousy and friction between the two of them.

I felt so bad for Aiz in the beginning and everything she goes through but she pissed me the F off and then I didn’t feel bad one bit by the end, because let me tell you!!! When I put the pieces together, no thanks 😫

Quill & Sirsha, all I’m going to say is that I’m rooting for y’all 🫶🏽

While we have a lot of world building, character development and new integrations, I kinda wanted and expected more; something was lacking with the plot and overall story. Just maybe don’t go expecting another AEITA story.

Easily one of my favorite reads this year!
This book had me on the edge of my seat through most of it There was no part of this that felt slow. So much action and mystery and magic. I loved the multiple POVs. We get insight into the good and "bad" guys mindset and how we get to where we land. There was even a little romance thrown in there that was really good. Even though this book takes place after An Ember in the Ashes series, it really can stand on its own. I have not read that series and did not feel like I needed to in order to understand this world (though I will be reading them now!). I'm sure there are likely some easter egg type things I missed not reading them first but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am only sad that I have to wait for the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin and Sabaa Tahir for this ARC.

live laugh love sanaa tahir. after reading her previous YA series, i was ecstatic to see she was coming out with a new book and i was not let down! with an intricate magic system and characters like i’ve never quite read from her before, i was captivated from start to finish and i already want to crawl back into this world

excellent writing and prose, packed with action filled sequence, and a whole world of romance- this book was a journey from start to finish. and i can’t wait for what is to come next! sabaa tahir truly writes high fantasy like no other, working her magic and weaving a intricate magical world with gripping tales.

thank you to netgalley and penguin group penguin young readers group for providing me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book by Sabaa Tahir that I’ve read, and it definitely will not be the last. Without having read An Ember in the Ashes, I didn’t know anything about this world beforehand, so I can confidently say this book stands on its own. I’ll admit though, I felt a bit lost in the first half because there was so much information to take in, but the second half picked up speed and I couldn’t put it down!

The characters are the highlight of this book. We follow three main POVs:
- Aiz, an orphan from the Kegari slums, out for vengeance because of past tragedies.
- Sirsha, a banished tracker, tasked with hunting a child-killer.
- Quil, the reluctant crown prince, who struggles with his father’s tyrannical legacy and his aunt Empress Helena’s expectations.
With multiple perspectives, it's common for one character to overshadow the others, but that is not the case here. Tahir did an incredible job writing each perspective so seamlessly. Every character is unique, strong, and driven in their own way, holding their own throughout the story.
They each have their ambitions and motivations, dealing with past traumas while chasing dreams and vengeance.

The emotions of these characters really drive the story. I could feel their pain & sorrow, love & hate, and desires for vengeance. It was fascinating to see how their motivations influenced their decisions. The way their storylines progressed & intertwined was spot on. The planning that went into this story was incredible, with everything lining up perfectly, including some jaw-dropping twists. The story takes place over several weeks and never felt rushed.

Tahir excels at showing rather than telling, making the characters and their emotions believable and realistic. I even connected with and loved the side characters, which is a rare achievement. There’s so much more I want to say, but it would spoil things. Just know I have a lot of feelings about all the characters.

The story features incredible world-building, a touch of romance, magic, betrayal, vengeance, and themes of family, both lost and rediscovered. It’s a beautifully crafted adventure.

My only tiny critique is that a map would have been a nice addition since I’m a sucker for maps. A glossary or family tree might have helped, too, but I just made my own as I read to keep track.

I’m already eagerly awaiting the sequel! I’m excited to learn more about these characters’ and I’ll definitely dive into An Ember in the Ashes before the sequel is released!

Heir was everything I wanted and more. The world building was exciting. The story was fast paced and epic. I read this in one night because I just couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend to anyone wanting a high fantasy that’s fast and a fun read.

I feel so lucky to have received this advanced copy. It was a priceless opportunity to return to this universe that I love so much.
It is a story full of action that perfectly balances plot and complex characters in the purest Sabaa Tahir style.
I'm very excited to read the next one.

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Pub Date Oct 01 2024

Thank you to the author, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Such a good read. We get good characters, lots of action, a few twists, and an ending that leaves you waiting for the next book.
I read the first two books in the An Ember in the Ashes series and never went back when the third book came out. I will be returning to that series because of this book. I forgot how much I loved the world building and Sabaa’s writing style.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 stars!
Thank you so so much Sabaa and netgalley for this arc. I absolutely loved this book, it was amazing to be back in this world. I was nervous that we wouldn't see some of the og characters but I was so happy to see them, and their integration to the story felt just right (Even if I got annoyed with Elias sometimes)
Overall I had such a great time with this book and I can't wait to own a physical copy and reread :)

As a huge fan of the An Ember in the Ashes series, I was thrilled to hear about Heir and it did not disappoint. I was completely enthralled by chapter two and raced through the rest of the novel. It was great to be back in the Ember world with new characters and cameos of old favorites. You certainly don't need to have read the Ember series before reading Heir but it will be more fun if you do. I can't wait to read book 2!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, NetGalley, and Sabaa Tahir for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Sabaa Tahir has been an instant-buy author for me since her debut. And that status has not changed after reading an ARC of Heir; if anything, this novel has made me fall even more in love with her fantasy storytelling. And when I say this book had a death grip on me—it was one of those stories that was all-consuming. I dreaded putting it down and walking away; and when I did take a break from it, my thoughts continuously returned to the story at hand.

I went into this ARC blind and didn’t realize it was An Ember in the Ashes spin off! But seeing the next generation take over the story was a welcome surprise. I loved seeing our original cast as older adults who, in some cases, still made mistakes. If there is one element Tahir always excels at, it’s making her characters feel inherently human and exploring the follies of humanity.

Our new cast of characters—Aiz, Sirsha, Quil, Sufiyan, Tas, Cero; the list goes on!—were easy to root for. Yes, even our morally grey/antagonistic characters I found easy to root for. That all comes back to Tahir’s writing style and the emotionality imbued in it. Tahir made it easy to connect with each character, to understand their motivations and desires, and to want to see them overcome the obstacles on their path. (I could write an entire essay about Aiz’s development from morally gray to antagonist to being morally gray again!)

If there was one comment I kept coming back to, it was my thoughts about Tahir’s plotting and deft handling of two protagonist arcs and one antagonist arc. When I put the pieces together that Aiz’s storyline was in the past and she was heading down an antagonist plot line—well, I literally put down the book, took a lap, screamed about the sheer plotting mastery unfolding before my eyes, and then returned to reading. (It’s safe to say I was theorizing about every little thing as I worked through this story.) Tahir made plotting appear so easy and effortless when I know a beast of a book like this was anything but easy to write.

This is a smaller note, but I do hope the finished book comes with a glossary. Seeing as I didn’t reread An Ember in the Ashes quartet prior to reading this novel, many of the terms were forgotten or difficult to recall. I’d love to have that reference point in the finished book.

If I had to pinpoint one critique for the novel, it has to do with the romance. I found the romance to be a little rushed. I understand why it moved quickly—without it, Act III wouldn’t have worked—but the romance between Quil and Sirsha was missing strong, in-depth emotionality. Much of the development between Quil and Sirsha happened off-page or in summary, which kept the reader at arm’s length from their relationship development. I wish we had seen a little more of that development on page. (Although, the soft spice we saw on page was a pleasant surprise! It made this feel more like New Adult than Young Adult.)

This was easily one of my favorite fantasy novels I’ve read this year. I enjoyed the multiple points of view and admired Tahir’s deft storytelling craft. This was a novel that was difficult to put down and I found it impossible to stop thinking about it. I’ve also never been more relieved to discover that this book was, in fact, not a standalone book but the first in a duology. I have fallen in love with all these characters and cannot wait to see where their journey takes them.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

4.25 stars! Stephanie Garber claimed, “Heir is a tour de force of fantasy that will leave readers breathless and boneless and aching for more”, and I 1000% agree. I devoured this book in less than a week (which is no easy feat considering it’s over 500 pages!). After finishing, I immediately went back and reread all my favorite chapters. I feel like that’s the sign of a good book.

There’s so much to love about “Heir”. It has strong characters, immersive worldbuilding, and a slow-burn romance that’s equal parts sweet and spicy. I’ve read hundreds of fantasy romances, and I’m usually pretty picky about shipping characters. That’s not the case with this story. I think Sabaa Tahir does a wonderful job writing a romantic subplot that contributes to the story without overpowering the narrative, which I feel many romantasy authors fail to balance. It probably helps that the characters are strong in their own right.

Most of the story is told through three perspectives: Quil (a reluctant heir to a besieged kingdom), Sirsha (a magical tracker hunting a serial killer), and Aiz (a ruthless orphan trying to save her people). They have distinct personalities, strengths, and flaws that make them relatable. That’s part of what I love most about this story—the characters seem like real people. Admittedly, I wouldn’t want to run into any of them in a dark alley or on opposite sides of a fight. They’re all cunning and stabby in their own right, and I want to keep my heart beating; thank you very much!

Which brings me to my next point: these characters are SMART. They don’t make dumb decisions for the sake of the plot, and they don’t step aside and let others solve their problems for them. This book steers clear of the damsel-in-distress trope, and it’s so refreshing!

The only reason I’m giving this 4.25 stars instead of 5 is because there are soooo many characters, kingdoms, and plot points to keep track of. There were multiple places in the story where I had to look up a character’s name or backtrack to figure out what a kingdom/tribe stands for, and that took me out of the story. I think part of this is because “Heir” is set in the same world as the “An Ember in the Ashes” series… which I haven’t read. In fact, I had no idea it was connected until I saw the other books after the Author’s Note. I still enjoyed “Heir” and will definitely pick up its sequel, but I think it’s a bit misleading that it isn’t mentioned anywhere in the advertising or summary.

Aside from those quips, I love “Heir”. I can see this being a 5-star read for someone who is familiar with the “An Ember in the Ashes” world or enjoys an original fantasy with strong characters. I already know this won’t be the last time I read this book, and I can’t wait for the sequel.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

I feel so disappointed that this book didn’t turn out to be a new favorite of mine. I had such high hopes thinking that this would be up my alley. Unfortunately, I was not aware that this book is part of an existing series. It is supposed be made in the same universe but read on its own. I had an hard time getting into this story because it was very lore heavy and it doesn’t do a good job, in my opinion, of breaking it down or explaining. This left me to be confused for most of the book trying to play catch up. I was also led to believe there would be romance but there was so little that it almost felt non existent.

I hope that many others who have read the other books will enjoy and understand this story better than I did. I am considering reading those books and hoping that they will change my opinion.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

An orphan, an outcast, a prince and a killer. This story follows three individuals who must overcome their grief, vengeance, and need for power to save their empire.
This book had so many things I love: beautiful story telling, strong main characters, multiple POVs, action, love, surprising twists and turns, and intriguing world building.
I cannot wait for the second book to come out, even though I’m worried my heart is going to get ripped out!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sabaa Tahir for this incredible ARC. I highly recommend! I also recommend reading her first series, An ember in the ashes. It is not necessary to read this duology but I think it will help understand the world building!

Sabaa Tahir is a master at weaving together unforgettable tales. Set in the future after An Ember in the Ashes has taken place, we follow two young people trying to save their people. There is a cast of side characters that are just as interesting as the main ones. We get to visit new and old places. As always, the world building is well done. The only issue I had was realizing the timeline shift in one area. But it quickly became apparent. I highly recommend it if you liked the An Ember in the Ashes series. If you haven't read it, I recommend reading it before this one. This is one of my favorite reads this year.

This was everything I hoped this book was going to be and more. I was so excited to be returning to the world of An Ember in the Ashes and Sabaa Tahir did not disappoint.

I did think that it started off a little slow bouncing between three different character pov’s and trying to build all of their stories at the same time. However, once it started to pick up I couldn’t put it down. The plot twist in this story was so beautifully done and caught me so unaware that I actually screamed out loud when I realized it. It was, in my opinion, the best part of the book.

I also found myself wishing I had reread the Ashes quartet before I read this just because I didn’t realize how many of my favorite characters would make an appearance or how frequently, but every time they did I got so excited!

Overall, this was a fantastic first book to this duology. It was an epic fantasy adventure, with the perfect amount of romance, unpredictable plot twists, and incredible characters and I just want to say a huge thank you to Penguin and Sabaa Tahir for giving me an opportunity to read this arc.

**Review: Heir by Sabaa Tahir**

"Heir" is a masterfully crafted high fantasy that transports readers to a familiar yet entirely fresh realm. With a new plot and a cast of characters destined to capture your heart, this novel stands out brilliantly.

Sabaa Tahir's storytelling is both fast-paced and richly detailed. Her exquisite prose seamlessly blends intricate twists, abundant magic, and nuanced details that enrich the narrative without overwhelming the reader.

This book is an emotional journey, especially for fans of "An Ember in the Ashes." The rapid tempo will have you laughing and filled with joy one moment, only to leave you breathless with suspense the next.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very intriguing read that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. The plot and the world building was very well done and didn’t feel confusing which is what I usually experience when starting a new series. Would highly recommend this read to anyone who enjoys a fantasy series with an epic adventure and interesting lore and world building.