I gave it a 4.5.

It’s kinda crazy going back to the world of Ember. Even with new characters as the focus it feels so familiar. And the new characters were likeable enough that I enjoyed reading about them and seeing this part of the world from their perspectives. Took me a little bit to get into the story, the beginning starts slower but then picks up and Sabaa Tahir (as usual) leaves no room for breathing as the action rolls out and continues until the end.

This book also had more romance than I expected, mostly because Sabaa Tahir barely gave us romance in the first series so I was surprised with the kind of scenes in this book. It’s not so explicit that it’s distasteful but compared to Ember, it’s a little jarring to read so many scenes that involve more than kissing.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

This was such a fast paced and fun read!

This book followed three characters:

AIZ, an orphan from the Kegari slums, seeks vengeance and justice for her people, but one mistake lands her in a prison.

SIRSHA, a banished tracker, is hired to hunt but ends up falling for a fugitive.

QUIL, the crown prince, must rise above his lineage to save the empire from a new enemy.

Their lives intertwine in this fast paced entertaining read!

I haven't read the Ember in the Ashes series, but it didn't feel necessary to enjoy this book at all. (Although I am running to pick up that series now!)

I had to take my time to fully absorb everything in this high fantasy read and I'm so excited for book two!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sabaa Tahir has such a unique and infectious writing style that you can't help but to be swept away on an adventure as soon as you step into her books. Heir is set in the same world as her An Ember in the Ashes quartet and follows the story of three characters from very different backgrounds with very different stories and the plot is slowly unwoven through their eyes, ears, and actions. To say that I was excited to step back into the land of Martials and Scholars was an understatement of monumental proportions. I've come to expect such rich worldbuilding and intricate cultural experiences from Tahir and in those aspects, I certainly was not disappointed. The stakes are every bit as high this time around as for the previous generation and the action took off at a run and never let up. I found myself holding my breath more times that I could count and the plot twists kept me dancing on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this story so so much, but I did feel the plot lag in certain areas and I truly don't feel that I felt a connection to the characters like I felt for Laia and Elias in AEITA. After the ending, however, I have very high hopes that the next book will only solidify my love for this new series, as I am still reeling from those new revelations. Sabaa Tahir has my whole heart and I will purchase anything she writes,

Thank you so much Netgalley, Penguin Teen, and Sabaa Tahir for the ARC.

I will never ever stop screaming about Sabaa Tahir’s books. I *love* the Ember series and was THRILLED to get approved for Heir.

Heir is a stunning return to the world of the Martial Empire where we are reunited with many of our old favorites but the story largely centers on the next generation so to speak, including but not limited to Helene’s nephew Quil and Laia and Elias’s son Sufiyan. Although my personal favorite is Sirsha, the loner tracker that we meet for the first time as she’s getting the shit kicked out of her. I was worried that my love for the first generation of characters would hamper my experience of this book -- I kept getting SO annoyed at Quil for acting up when Helene obviously knows best! But that didn't last long and the appearances of the OG characters felt like such a treat (the scene in the prison with Helene is vintage Blood Shrike and just *chefs kiss*). And the new cast of characters are extremely engaging and well developed -- some of them might be descended from the OG's but they're not carbon copies.

No one does multiple POVs like Tahir. Sometimes I feel like writers use the trick of switching POVs to artificially stoke drama or raise the stakes for the reader in ways that are frustrating or too obvious. Or all the POVs will feel like the same character with no differentiation in storytelling. The way Tahir switches between characters is art — one chapter will end with some cliffhanger or reveal and you'll be furious to switch POVs, but you get so immersed in next character’s story that its almost shocking when it switches back and you remember how concerned I was for that other character. Sometimes there will be one character I don’t care about and rush through their chapters to “get to the good stuff” but that simply isn’t the case here. Even with characters that really frustrated me, I was dying to figure out wtf their deal is and why they made the decisions they do. 

Heir, much more than the original Ember series, is a slowly unfolding mystery. Tahir plays with time and narrator reliability in ways that are SO INTERESTING and makes for some stunning reveals. It’s truly not a Tahir book unless your jaw is on the ground MULTIPLE times. I am so excited to be back in this world and see where the story goes in the next book.

Heir is an exciting return to the An Ember in the Ashes universe with the story of an orphan, a prince and an outcast.

Aiz, an orphan, has suffered from starvation, loss and tyranny. Driven by the dream of a better world for her people, she breaks free from her prison to find the Holy Mother Div, her country’s savior whom’s spirit she believes is trapped. Only Mother Div is not who Aiz believed her to be.

Quil, the Crown prince, feels he is unworthy and unprepared and fears the possibly of turning into his father, the most hated man in Martial history and murdered by his aunt. When Quil’s empire falls and his family threatened, he cannot stand on the sidelines anymore. As he reluctantly hunts for the solution to help his people, he finds shocking truths that stir him into action.

And Sirsha, an outcast, banished from her family for something that happened eight years ago and not allowed to use her tracking magic to hunt magical beings. Unfortunately, life has not treated her well so she unknowingly accepts a job to track a magical serial child killer which may result in her own death.

Aiz, Quil and Sirsha’s paths intersect in the most unexpected ways. This epic fantasy has action, slow burn romances, excellent world building (though different from An Ember in the Ashes), and jaw dropping twists. This book will keep you up at night.

The multiple POVs are perfectly spaced and together expertly weave an incredible story.

This is a duology. I cannot wait for the second book. I picked up this title about two years after reading An Ember in the Ashes. I didn’t read the blurb beforehand, so didn’t realize it was in the same universe until I came across the names Laia and Elias. You don’t need to read An Ember in the Ashes first to appreciate this book. Sabaa Tahir provides enough context. The story is more about the second generation.

A big thank you to Sabaa Tahir, PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased honest review.

TROPES/ THEMES: fey, fake engagement, slow-burn, betrayal, storytellers, magic

Read on for a character list…

CHARACTERS (more or less in order of appearance, please excuse typos in name):
Aiz bet-Dafra: orphan, weak windsmither, tell-spinner
Cero: Aiz’s oldest friend, once shared a kiss with Aiz, a pilot, windsmith (ability to bend air)
Mother Div: Vessel of the Fount, First Queen of the Crossing, savior of Kegar, commands blood, mind, and air.
Lord Tiral bet-Hiwa: highborn commander of the air squadron, heir to one of the three Triarchs, Aiz’s despicable bed partner, set fire to the orphans’ quarters
Sister Noa: cleric of Dafra
Ranking: Snipe - low class, Sparrow - middle class and Hawk - highborn
Tregan: Cero’s horse
High Cleric Dovan: the High Cleric of Kegar, of Dafra
Quil/ Zacharias Marcus Livius Aquillus Farrar: heir to the Martial throne and a prince of Gens Aquilla, 20 yo, Lieutenant Commander of the Imperial Army and Crown Prince of the Realm
Empress Helene Aquilla: Quil’s aunt, High Commander of the Martial Army, Imperator Invictus, and Overlord of the Realm
Sufiyan Veturius: Quil’s best friend, 18 yo, son of Laia and Elias
Laia of Serra: Sufiyan, Ruh’s mother, kehanni (story seeker and storyteller)
Elias Veturius: Sufiyan, Ruh’s father
Sirsha Westering: tracker, banished at 12 by her family to live as a street rat, ability to locate gems, people, magic and bind magic, Inashi, Jaduna, 20.
Tas: Quil’s friend, orphan brother, worked for Helene as spy (part Scholar, part Martial), Helene’s advisor
Mater Candela: Rich and collects shiny things.
Ilar: Quil’s lover
Bani al-Mauth: Chosen of Death, a runaway, a revolutionary, a slave, and a murderess; tends the Waiting Place by guiding restless spirits to the next life; Sufiyan’s grandmother, Laia of Serra’s mother
Ruhyan “Ruh”: Sufiyan’s baby brother
Migva: thug/thief, tried to steal from Sirsha
Triarch Oona: female raven-haired Triarch of Clan Oona—the bloodsmithers, former healers that lost their abilities, daughter of Mother Div
Triarch Ghaz: young man in practical flight leathers, curly brown hair, of the Clan Ghaz, mindsmithers, formerly able to read minds, son of Mother Div
Sister Olnas: cleric of Dafra
Triarch Hiwa: Tiral’s father, name meant wind, windsmither, son of Mother Div
Ros: orphan, skilled with a bow, dead because Hiwa insulted Tiral and Tiral decided to burn the cloister and the orphan wing
Emperor Marcus Farrar: Quil’s father
Zak: Quil’s uncle
Livia Aquilla: Quil’s mother
Arelia ‘Reli’: Quil’s cousin, court engineer, Martial
Ambassador Ena Ifalu: expected to be High Seer
Musa of Adisa: ambassador of Marinn, Mariner, a friend of Quil
Pater Vissellius: random person present when Quil learned of his engagement
Mater Andricar: old lady who told Quil that he was engaged
…: Illustrian—a member of the highest Martial class, offered Sirsha 1300, transport and supplies to track the child killer and either kill or deliver him, made a blood oath with Sirsha
Rodinius Lucius: robbed a village, killed a family, tracked by Sirsha
Auntie Vee: Sirsha’s aunt, Kin Inashi—Sirsha’s family, shunned Vee
R’zwana: Sirsha’s older sister, hunted Auntie Vee and drowned her
Hani: kid imprisoned at Tohr
Jak: kid imprisoned at Tohr, Finh’s younger brother, missing teeth
Finh: kid imprisoned at Tohr, Jak’s older brother, has a limp
Kithka: jailer at Tohr
Gil: jailer at Tohr
Karinna: Sufiyan’s sister, second-born
Sirsha’s mother: Raani of Kin Inashi, a woman who’d ruled over scores of families with Inashi leanings, a scenter
Aiz’s mother: died in a raid after being forcibly enlisted
Rallius: a Mask who’d been captain of Helene’s personal troops for nearly twenty years.
Kade: Sirsha’s friend, dealer of rare and one-of-a-kind manuscripts, enchantments, charmed goods, and information, Devanese pirate
Dolbra: a seer
Neita—of Tribe Sadh: greets and guides Aiz in Sadh
R’zwana: Sirsha’s older sister, Jaduna, Raan-Ruku
D’rudo: Sirsha’s old teacher and cousin
J’yan: heir of the Deshma, Sirsha’s friend and betrothed, Raan-Ruku
Zuriya: Sufiyan and Ruh’s sister
Loli Temba: “Daughter of the Vine, in Ankanese,” not Thafwan, Karkaun, human imbued with magic
Zaldar Shan: Saif tribeman
Kehanni Nasur: of Tribe Nur, older than Laia,
Nightbringer: jinn
Mauth: the Nightbringer’s creator and the source of all magic
Rehmat: the Nightbringer’s beloved wife
High Seer Remi E’twa of Ankana: painted himself as all-knowing, eye of Ankana

This was one of my most anticipated reads after finishing the Ember Quartet earlier this year and it did not disappoint. I loved being back in this world and adored getting to see more of Laia, Helene, and Elias. As always, Sabaa’s writing was fast paced and had me sucked in from the start. I really loved our new main characters as well (for the most part… if you know you know). You don’t need to read the Ember quartet to read this, it stands on its own. However, it is all the more impactful if you do, so I do strongly recommend it. For me, there was a perfect balance of romance to plot, meaning that the romance wasn’t at the forefront of the story and the plot still thrives without it. With that ending I am so nervous for book two but SO excited.

Heir takes the readers into a new world where we get PoVs from Aiz, an orphan trying to become a savior for her people, Sirsha, a tracker on a mission to find a deadly monster and Quil, crown prince trying to survive an attack from enemies. They come across each other at different times in life and find out much later how intertwined their lives get at a certain point. The world building and establishing all the supporting characters worked great for me although it did feel slow for quite a bit of the plot. Even when the pacing felt slow, there were still important enough sub-plots that kept me hooked all the time. There is some romance, there is a big adventure and how can I miss big action sequences. And yes, it ends with a major plot-twist as expected and I absolutely need to read the next installment in the series !!

I rated it 4.5 stars!

I really just love Sabaa Tahir. I really just HATE THE CLIFFHANGERS.

Cmon man, Quil deserves some happiness. How are you gonna take that from him? I know how her writing is though. I’m sure they’ll end up together at the end of some hellish trials. I have to stop picking up series ARCs but I couldn’t resist a new book from one of my favorite series’ author!

The plot is great. It is a little confusing at first, but that confusion is well worth it by the time you realize what is going on. I was not prepared for the switch on Aiz, it definitely too me by surprise. Sirsha is a wonderful character by the end, and I really enjoyed her and Quil’s development. I also LOVE that she included our favorite characters from An Ember in The Ashes series too!

This is definitely geared towards young adult/new adult range (15-20 I’d say) because there definitely is adult content, but very vaguely written so nothing too spicy.

I loved this. It wasn’t as good as AEITA but it didn’t disappoint. My one complaint is that I was slow to get into it, but it does require a level of world building (thankfully I remembered most of the places) and exposition, and that can be slow going.

All in all, I really enjoyed this and can’t wait for the next one. Yet again, I have a recap saved on my phone so that I’m not lost when the sequel comes out. 4.25⭐️

okay i’ve finally formulated enough words and thoughts to put together a review. TL;DR: i absolutely loved this book and i cannot freaking wait for the second book.

as a longtime Sabaa Tahir fan and avid collector of the Ember books, you can obviously imagine that from the second Sabaa announced a spinoff duology, i’ve been itching for this. Heir did not at all disappoint. i did reread the entire Ember quartet before going into this book and i’d definitely say that if you haven’t read Ember yet, i *highly* recommend you do before starting Heir. you can actually pinpoint the exact scene in Reaper where Sabaa might have had the idea for a spinoff duology and it’s very cool to experience.

Heir brings us back to the brutal world of the Empire but expands the world significantly. we learn all about the Southern Continent and the cities there while also visiting the lives (and the kids) of some very familiar, very beloved characters. i think Sabaa did an incredible job of bridging the events of 20 years ago with brand new stories and characters with brand new consequences while bringing in her classic punchy prose that follows you throughout the book. Heir is so perfectly reflective of the world we live in, of all of the lives we sacrifice “for the greater good”, especially those of children, and of the greed and arrogance our society lives off of. as always, she does an incredible job of looking into the costs and falls of suffering and how we let it fester in our society. this is made all the more devastating to read knowing what is currently being done to the people of Palestine and Sudan and all those under occupation, then and now.

i loved this book so much but i especially loved all of the nods to Pakistani and South Asian culture and Islam. i LOVED the humor laced throughout the story and especially in Sirsha’s chapters (funniest character award) and i love Quil so much, my tortured prince 😭 Aiz, girl, i’m only letting you off the hook rn because spoilers and also because your name reminds me of my own.

this was an excellent first book to a duology and i really cannot wait for the second book to bring everything together. if it makes any sense, i’m already excited for the reread because Sabaa’s books are always even more amazing with the reread because you can now pick up on all the genius foreshadowing she leaves scattered throughout the story. Heir was truly everything i was hoping for and more 🥹

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this gloriously amazing book! I both loathe the fact that I will now be in pain until the second book is published and delight in the fact that I had the chance to have my heart ripped out by this book (see what I did there?)

So, first things first, I am new to the Sabaa Tahir world... I have read none of her works. I have been wanting to read An Ember in the Ashes, but alas I have not yet... after reading Heir, you can bet the next book I want to read is An Ember in the Ashes. Heir was delightfully painful and romantic.

I don't want to say too much because I do not want to spoil it... but WOW was the book enjoyable and an exceedingly exciting rollercoaster.

Things I loved:
- Quil (I do not need to say more)
-Sirsha. She's a boss and I love her
-Quil and Sirsha.... I cannot get enough of them, and the ending hurt so bad I feel like I am owed compensation after that ending.
-Suf and Arelia were great characters, loved them.
-The story line, while sometimes super dark and depressing, it was very good and interesting in a way I have not seen before.
-the Adah bond storyline...
-Ms Tahir's writing! I seriously could not get enough of it! Her characters were so good (and so bad but in an annoyingly good writing way for Aiz who can respectfully die in a hole)
-How each chapter left you on a sort of cliffhanger that left me wanting to get to that person's storyline.
-Actually, pretty much everything.

Things I did not love so much:
-Aiz. Her WHOLE character annoyed me, and I found myself abhorring her chapters. Never liked her, never will. But honestly, I think maybe that's the point? I don't know but she is not redeemable for me as a character.
- The several alternating perspectives. There were times where it was not that bad, but I think a struggle with the alternating story lines is keeping all the perspectives interesting... and sometimes it was not interesting, and I found myself wanting to skip ahead because I truly did not give a rip about the person whose perspective it was (Aiz and Cero for example). I could have lived with just Quil's and Sirsha's.

Overall, this book is a 4.75 for me! It was so close to my perfect read. It had the right about of longing and it was by no means insta-love which I do not love lol. Seriously, check this book out when it comes out, I know I will be buying a copy and not only that, but I will be reading An Ember in the Ashes now! And eagerly waiting for book 2 because seriously, what was that ending???

This was incredible. Before you go any further, if you haven’t read Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes series, stop and go do that first. This might be readable as a standalone but having the knowledge and experience with some of the characters beforehand really helps the emotional impact of this spinoff. Plus it’s an amazing series in its own right.

Now, for Heir. I don’t know how Sabaa does it but she is an absolute master at weaving intricate stories with complicated and interesting characters. The first 20-25% is a lot of world-building and information but I promise you it is worth it. Once you hit about 30% things really start to come together and you’ll not want to put it down.

The reveals in this book AND the methods by which they are done were so good. My jaw was dropped, my hands were on my head, I was absolutely freaking out. It was the most fun I’ve had reading a book in a long time. The character development was equally well done and I loved getting to explore more places in this world. The way Sabaa writes about oppression, desperation, and power are incredibly eye-opening and symbolic of our own world. I am in awe.

If you’re reading for romance, don’t worry, there are some absolutely swoon-worthy romantic moments and potential relationships to obsess over. Don’t even get me started on the cameos from OG ember trio, I love them so much.

In short, I loved everything about it and will be very eagerly awaiting the final book in this duology. Thank you Penguin Group and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

I was super excited to see Sabaa Tahir was releasing a new book and to find out it was set in the Ember in the Ashes universe. It’s safe to say that book did not disappoint me. It brings you back into the original world that I enjoyed so many years ago but expands on it and offers new places and people to learn about. Honestly, I enjoyed it more than the original series. I think the stories of the characters were woven together fairly well, the plot was interesting, and it was nice to see how things have changed for the old characters. I’m excited to see what happens in the final book.

Wow I immensely enjoyed this book! I had no idea it was set in the same world as An Ember in the Ashes (which is still one of my favorite fantasy series of all times) post the war.

We have 3 POVs in the beginning. Without spoiling anything, I will say one of the POVs is the nephew of a beloved character from AEITA. We also see other characters from AEITA, main and side characters.

2 of the POVs are set in the same kingdom, but the other is set in a dark world with starving children and oppressed lowborn people. I felt so bad for the Kegari.

I love how interconnected everything becomes.

A lot happens and there are a couple plot twists.. I predicted the first but the chaos storyteller?! I DID NOT predict who that was lol.

I love the side characters and there are different POVs besides the main 3 that pol up.

The romance was really cute and I’m glad it was who I shipped. There’s also the possibility of another romance and I really really ship that one and my fingers are crossed!

The Villians in this book were fun. We actually get to see how a good person ends up becoming a villian. I found that fascinating and sad.

There is a crazy cliff hanger at the very end and I cannot wait to read the final book and see how this ends!

Yall might be asking yourself: “Do I need to read the An Embers in the Ashes series to read this?”

My answer is no you don’t have to, but in order to really understand the world better and understand relationships ships, I def suggest it. You won’t be disappointed!

NOOOOOOOOO, don't leave us on that cliffhanger! ARGH!!! If you have not had the pleasure of reading this author, what in the heck are you waiting for? YA/Teen Fantasy with vengeance, betrayal, death, love, adventure, suspense you get it ALL. Heir is book 1 of a 2 book series. While you don't have to read the 4 book series that starts with An Ember in the Ashes to enjoy this book, it will give you background and history to many mentioning in this story. You can still enjoy the daylights out of this book but just do yourself a favor and read them all.

Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read #Heir.

This book was fantastic! I loved that it focused on 3 points of view (okay technically 5) that end up tying together. I kept trying to figure out the twist as I read and yet I was still surprised. I loved following Quil and Sirsha and watching their characters develop. The ending killed me.. just ask my husband! Can’t wait for the next book

Heir is a spin off of the An Ember in the Ashes series, and it was so much fun!

It’s been two years since I read the original books, and I honestly struggled a bit to get back into the world building, but once I did I really enjoyed this. I do feel like reading the original series is necessary. There are some epic twists and turns that I was not expecting and Tahir did such a great job with this plot.

I really enjoyed the characters, although I feel like I wanted more time to get to dive deeper into their personalities and lives. I am expecting this to happen in the second book!

Definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fast-paced & action packed fantasy!

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/ G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the advanced copy — Heir releases Oct 1!

This was an incredible return to the world of An Ember In the Ashes and was everything and more I could have hoped for from this book. I would definitely recommend reading the original series first before picking up Heir as this takes place years after the events of A Sky Beyond the Storm and spoils a couple of things. Heir expands upon the lore and adds even more to the world. I was so excited to be back seeing new and fresh perspectives from this world and adding onto the story. The characters were great! I thought it might be strange to read from different POVs in this world, but it felt so natural and I fell in love with so many of the new characters. I think that this will not disappoint anyone that loved the An Ember in the Ashes quartet and I am absolutely going to be reading the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you thank you THANK YOU to Netgalley & Penquin Group for approving my request for an e-arc of Heir by Sabaa Tahir! Heir is the beginning of a spin-off series, set in the same world as An Ember in the Ashes, and while reading that series may help you settle in with Heir faster, I don’t believe new readers would feel lost. Heir jumps between a few different viewpoints, with 3 main ones at the center of the story—Quil, Sirsha, & Aiz—who all start out in seemingly separate storylines that Tahir merges beautifully into a master plot. I won’t go too much into the main characters because it’s hard to express my opinions without spoilers, but I will say I feel kind of meh about one, I love one, and I hate the other and hope they die painfully. I very eagerly await the sequel!

Unlike most people I have yet to travel into Sabaa Tahir’s world she created in Ember in the Ashes series, but after dipping my toe in (which let me be clear is indeed possible and enjoyable) I can promise Ember in the Ashes has SHOT up my TBR. The characters in this new series have not only stolen my heart but my sanity, the love story, the tragedy, the camaraderie between groups, the INSIGHT INTO A CHARACTER YOU WILL NEVER SEE COMING has easily earned this book 5 stars and driven me up the wall needing the next one. So once again let me say, regardless of weather you’re a Sabaa junkie or a baby you will not want to miss this new tale coming October!

THANK YOU to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for allowing me to read an ARC of this book....truly....the joy I felt when this was accepted was not small, I think I squealed out loud, not flattering... but very genuine.

To preface, I really, really love Sabaa Tahir's books. An Ember in the Ashes series remains an all-time favorite of mine, and All My Rage was beautiful and heart wrenching in all the ways a book can make you feel. I was so excited to head back into the world established for us in An Ember in the Ashes and to catch up on what has been happening since I last said goodbye to those characters and the world that I loved so much.

Heir is set around 20 years after the fourth book, we see several familiar characters and meet many new ones. While I am sure there is a world in which you could pick up Heir without reading the first series, I think the readers experience will be SO much better if you have. I will admit, I was a little nervous to return to a world I loved so much the first time, I would imagine it is terrifying for an author to revisit a world that received so much love and figure out how to add to it while making sure not to detract from it, and oh my goodness does Sabaa Tahir succeed.

Perhaps even more than a typical ARC review, I am terrified of giving a single drop of this book away, so I won't be providing a summary, but I will leave you with this....YES!