When I saw another book from Sabaa Tahir I HAD to have it. And it's in the Ember in the Ashes universe?? My expectations were high, and they we exceeded. I loved diving back into this world, seeing what's new and what stayed the same. Once I started it, I could put this down with all the twists, turns, and perspectives seeing things in different lights. Sabaa Tahir's writing just draws you in and doesn't let go in the best way possible. I'm already excited for the next one to see where this new generation takes us!

I’m going to be in the minority here and maybe that has a lot to do with the fact that I did not realize this was part of a series.
This is a complex world and I had a hard time putting it all together and following the characters. Needless to say, I ending up DBF’ing it halfway through. This is not something I normally do.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this early release in return for my honest opinion.

Pub date: 01 October 2024

It’s been a while since I’ve been in the Ember of the Ashes world. But reading this story reminded me just how much I loved this series! And now here we are back again. 20 years have passed since that series ended. But we see plenty of familiar faces and new faces as they embark on a whole new journey and problem arising. We have three point of view characters in this book. Quil, who you will remember from the previous series was just a baby. Well he is grown up and the heir to the Empire and the nephew of Empress Helene. But taking the throne isn’t exactly what he wants. Too bad he doesn’t have a say, and when his home is attacked, he will come to realize that defending his people is where he wants to be. Then we have Sirsha. A tracker with magic who finds herself hired to find a monster on the loose. A terrible monster who has been killing children throughout the lands. But she’ll realize that there a lot more to this monster than she first believed. And then there is Aiz who wants to help her people after all the terrible things they have been through and are currently going through. But she’ll find herself going down a dark path where sacrifices will have to be made. I’ll admit, it took me a hot minute to get back into this world and the story. But once you start getting to know these characters (for me, I loved Quil and Sirsha), then you’ll want to find out what happens to them. Especially when we get some crazy twists and turns. There hit a point in the story where I just couldn’t put it down! And after that ending? Well, I’ll need the sequel asap! If you loved the previous series, you are definitely going to like this one!

I have to admit it took the first third of the book before I became truly interested in it. The last two-thirds I loved and I loved Sirsha the most but did really like Quil too. I was not expecting some of the things that happened, but I am so excited for the next book.

Sabaa Tahir is back at it again and she did not hold back. I absolutely loved this book and I think it might be my favorite book of the year. It was very good to return to this world and even revisit some old characters while also falling in love with the new ones. Highly recommended!!!

Okay, this was a ride. Sabaa did what she does best—dragged me through every emotion possible and left me questioning my life choices by the end. The story? Amazing. The characters? Let’s talk.

Sirscha? I’m obsessed. Her entire arc had me glued to the page. Every moment with her was gold, and honestly, I would read an entire spin-off about her because she’s THAT good.

Ruh? My heart can’t take it. Every time he showed up, I just wanted to scream, “Why is life so unfair?!”

And then there’s Aiz. Where do I even start? Her level of stupidity was unmatched. She was SO weak-minded and delusional. Every time she popped up, I wanted to slap some sense into her.

And that ending? I. AM. LIVID.

I wasn’t able to review this book before it’s publish date but now that I have read it I am giving it 5 stars.

As always, Sabaa crafts an incredible world and masterful characters. She is incredibly talented and will continue to be an autobuy author for me.

The main reason I gave this 4 stars was regarding violence. The violence is both graphic, personal, and includes child being killed in front of the reader/MCs. I could not really stomach this level of violence, especially include children, and wished their had been a content warning at the beginning.

As a Huge fan of the Ember in the Ashes series, I had high expectations!

Sabaa has exceeded all my expectations! This book is amazing!

Love the new characters and storyline. Obsessed and happy to see some of the OG characters mentioned.

As always Sabaa had me feeling ALL the emotions while reading her book. I can’t wait to read the next book!

(Thanks to the publisher Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an advanced galley of this read.) The first 30% was a snooze-fest for me (sorry!) and I could barely keep the characters, cities, and world-building straight. Then FINALLY the POVs started to mesh and I was totally sucked in. It took me over a month to get thru the first third and then only 2 days to get through the remaining 70%. I’m afraid that if there’s a sequel, I won’t remember the characters, tribes, and lands. But I probably would still try to pick it up - I think that tells me I really did enjoy it!

This book will be great for readers who enjoy world building and fantasy heavy reads! There's some romance, but it is not the major focus. Perfect for young adults and older teenagers.

I’m really mad with myself for delaying this for so long, but I think if I had tried to push myself to read it, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I did. This was my first time reading a book by Sabaa Tahir, and it was such a fantastic experience. I really wish I had read the AEITA series already, but I’ll definitely get to it eventually. Since this story builds on the original series, there are spoilers from the previous books, so I’d recommend starting with the AEITA series first.

At first, it took me a little while to really dive into the story, but once I got into it, I was completely hooked. The narrative revolves around 3 key characters: Sirsha, Quil and Aiz, each with compelling motivations that drive their actions. Sirsha, a skilled tracker, is on a mission to hunt down a killer targeting children across the empire, and she's definitely my favorite along with Quil.

Quil, the crown prince, is struggling to find his place and cope with the weight of his responsibilities, especially with his aunt looming over him. I was really into the romantic tension between him and Sirsha; their connection felt so real, and I loved the dynamic of their relationship. Meanwhile, Aiz is fueled by a quest for revenge due to her people's suffering over the years, and she’s tied to a dark force that is much more formidable than she realizes.

This was a great beginning to the duology, and I’m definitely going to read the sequel for sure!

I love Sabaa Tahir's writing. She has a way with words that really draws you into the world. I loved An Ember in the Ashes series and I was so excited to revisit this world. It did not disappoint! I really enjoyed all the little connections between this book and the original series. Can't wait for book 2.

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

Sabaa kills me with her stories every time!!! I love her writing so much and I'm so glad we got to go back to one of my favorite worlds!!!

First of all Sabaa, how dare you..

incredible addition to the world of an ember in the ashes and i am convinced that sabaa lives off of the pain of her readers :)

Overall: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plotline: 5/5
World-Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Tropes: MF; Multiple POV; Secret Identity

Themes: 5/5
Romance: 4.5/5
Spice Factor: 1
Enjoyment Factor: 5/5

Review: Sabaa Tahir is one of my favorite authors; this book is a testament to that. This was so immersive and captivating that I could not put the book down. I loved all the small connections to the original Ember in the Ashes series and how we got to see how everything unfolded after that final book. There were so many twists and turns that I audibly gasped at times, and when I finally made certain connections, I was in shock and awe at how seamlessly Sabaa Tahir wove this story. I am so excited for the second book, but equally sad that this is only a duology. I love this world so much and never want to leave.

I'm a big fan of the Ember in the Ashes series, and therefore, Sabaa Tahir in general. I'll be honest and say I didn't even realize Heir was part of the same universe; I wanted to read it simply because it was a new fantasy book from Sabaa Tahir. Realizing I was back in the Ember world was a lovely bonus. Heir introduces some fabulous new characters and scenarios, and I am honestly mad I have to wait for the final book in the duology. While you can definitely read this as a stand-alone book, you are doing yourself a disservice if you haven't read Sabaa Tahir's other works. In a fantasy landscape that is taken up a lot by fae, I'm so glad we have authors like ST exploring other lore.

Heir was, without a doubt, one of my FAVORITE fantasy reads of 2024. While not 100% necessary, I do heavily recommend reading Sabaa's "Ember in the Ashes" quarter before diving into this one as it makes it so magical seeing/reading the beloved characters back on the page.

Aiz wants revenge for her people. She knows there's a life outside of where they are living now and will stop at nothing to get it. Sirsha is a tracker who's magic is based on the wind patterns. She's given a mission to find the killer who's been taking innocent children's lives in the Empire. Do that, and she'll have riches to get her out of the life she's living. Quil is the prince of the Empire, soon to be king, but wants NOTHING to do with the throne. But when a killer puts itself in his path, destroying familiar cities and hoards of people, he takes up the search.

Heir has left me baffled, in the best way, and I am STILL not over the ending. It was delightful reading and discovering the "clues" Sabaa provided for her three main characters storylines and when the reveal happens, your jaw will DROP. This book is the perfect read when you want to dive into a fantasy world and be heartbroken, but then pick up your tears on the next page and continue to root for the hero/heroine. It's THAT book that I will proudly display and then push onto all my fantasy lover friends.

The An Ember in the Ashes series did not need a sequel series but I’m so glad it did. The conflicts this world introduces is similar to the original with nations at war but with a fresh take. It didn’t feel unnecessary, just another issue in this complex world.
I loved the main characters, none felt like they were out of place, all were necessary. I loved seeing the growth with each character and how their stories merged.
The plot in the one tended to drag at times but it was still very good. I can’t wait for the finale!

Once again, Sabaa Tahir crafts a spellbinding tale full of intricately layered characters, and a powerful plot. Heir is a phenomenal start to a new series set in a world fans know and love.

If you haven’t read the Ember in the Ashes quartet, you can still read Heir and follow the story; it follows new characters and takes place 20 years after the events of the original series. That being said, the cameos, hints, and nods to past events and characters will resonate with you more if you’ve read the original series.

Where to start? How does one review a Sabaa Tahir book?

The writing is phenomenal. Trust me, you’ll never want to put the book down. And the characters, oh, they stole my heart—which was no surprise. Sabaa knows how to create lovable characters you root for and feel attached to. The found family between the characters warmed my heart (gosh, I love them).

I could go on and on about how great this book is, but, trust me, you’ll never should pick up the book and find out for yourself. Go on this journey with the characters and I’m sure you’ll feel the same way I do.