Not so funny story, I gave up on An Ember in The Ashes quartet (also written by this author) on the 3rd book, years ago. I loved the authors writing and the world showed SO much promise but the plot and characters unraveled to the point of agony. I decided to reach out for an ARC of her new book the Heir, HOPING with everything in me this book would would be the come back book that made everything better again.
Wrong. Imagine my brain having a trauma flashback when THE SAME CHARACTERS were in this book or mentioned. I said, "Nope she did not try to build off her other book. Please no. Please be original."
She did guys, she did. This book is set about 20 years after An Ember in the Ashes. I fought through until the end because I HAD to give this author a shot to prove me wrong.... I was so disappointed. This book has the exact same plot holes and needless YA Tropes that made her last series a DNF for me. On the other hand, I am thankful I even read one book of the last series or absolutely nothing would have made sense. She jumped straight into the world with no explanation. Overall the verdict is a big flop. So much for being a big book of the year.
Sigh... hoping this doesn't put me into a reading slump 😪

I feel like I'm coming up for air after reading this book; I absolutely devoured Sabaa Tahir's masterful writing and weaving storyline. I LOVE books with multiple character POVs, but Tahir really threw me through a loop with an added time jump, which pulled me in even more. Just when I thought I knew exactly how things were going, I'd be proven wrong, and the predictable pieces were written well enough that I didn't care that I knew the storyline. The world-building was phenomenal and the character development created a longing to know each character more - I found myself screaming at the book like one would with a scary movie: "DON'T GO INTO THE DARK, CREEPY PLACE." 1000/10 you must read this book!!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Sabaa Tahir for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There is nothing that makes me happier than an all-encompassing fantasy novel. This book has everything. The world building was done well and it was easy to get swept up. I loved each of the places that we were taken in the story. It took me a minute to really get the characters straight and keep the storylines straight but once i got me bearings i was absolutely hooked. I couldn't put this book down! I loved the characters and found myself really invested in their stories. There were so many twists and turns in this epic adventure and that ending!! I cannot wait for the second book and look forward to re reading this one before the second comes out!

The lives of an orphan, an outcast and a prince intertwine on a journey. While one is running for his safety, another is searching for a killer and the other is searching for answers.

This story starts 20 years after the ending of the Ember in the Ashes series. (I love that series but I don’t feel it is necessary to read before reading this). A predator is killing children and the individual journeys of Aiv, Sirsha and Quil give us multiple angles which presents a compelling story. They are easy to like and root for.

The story was full of exciting reveals and great characters. Even the side characters were great additions. The big reveal is one I didn’t expect but I think most will love this one. I recommend this for fans of YA dark fantasy with a unique magic system!

AUDIO REVIEW: I love a good full cast for such in-depth stories. Each narrator did well and sounded as I believe the characters should. It was well done!

Thank you to Penguin Teen, PRH Audio and NetGalley for the copy!

The book releases October 1, 2024.

If Sabaa Tahir writes it, I will read it. Heir was SO good — a continuation of the Ember universe set a few decades after the end of the last book, with a new set of characters as the focus but visits from our old faves. I love how she writes personalities, and the magic she imagines is captivating. There’s humor and warmth, but also devastation and stark reality. And I don’t know if she intended it, but I also read this as an allegory to Israel/Palestine, and the power dynamics at play. An absolute favorite, and I think I loved it even more than Ember. It’s out now and you should run to get a copy.

I loved the Ember in the Ashes quartet so I was super excited once Heir was announced. It focuses on new characters but old characters who are loved and so very dear to me also made appearances. I didn't give this five stars because I felt like it lacked something that Ember Quartet had but I still enjoyed it. Sabaa Tahir still has the ability to absolutely wreck me into pieces.

Sabaa Tahir does not miss! I have yet to read one of her books that doesn't hook me from beginning to end and completely rips my heart out and have me asking for more! Even though this story takes place in the same world as Ember in the Ashes, you do not have to read thst series to read this one but I do feel that you will miss out on some Easter eggs if you don't. I fell in love with all of the characters in this (especially Sirsha!) And the way this world is so vivid because of the way Sabaa writes makes you not want to ever leave it. The twist blew me away (and it is not where you expect it) I did not see it coming and was just amazed how Sabaa put it in so seamlessly. I'm really excited for the next book in this doulogy and cannot wait to see what other surprises that Sabaa has in store!

So many amazing books are coming out in October. One that I am SO excited for is Heir and even more excited for my B&N special edition of Heir to arrive.If you're interested in reading Heir (YOU SHOULD BE), I would recommend reading the four Ember books beforehand for the best reading experience. If you've followed my An Ember In the Ashes binge read, then you know I am obsessed. Laia, Elias, and Helene have taken over my brain, and I'm okay with that.

Heir is book one of a duology by Sabaa Tahir. We all know she could run masterclasses in her sleep on fantastic world building, character development, and high stakes action sequences. Meanwhile, I'm losing sleep because it's so addicting. The thought of having to wait for book two makes me kind of want to hibernate because this book is going to become my whole personality, and no one needs that tbh. I've already got about 50 pictures of Heir prepped for posting, so I'll be promoting this book for the next two years at this point.

Heir comes out tomorrow (October 1st, 2024!), so do yourself a favour and order a copy, give into the stunning special editions, or kindly urge your local library to add to their catalog!

Thank you so much, Julia and @penguinteenca, for sending me an ARC of Heir. You have my immense gratitude and also bear the weight of me losing sleep to read.

Aiz grew up in the slums, fueled by tragedy and suffering to help protect the ones that she loves. One mistake lands her in prison, where her anger grows even hotter. Sirsha is a tracker banished from her people for an unforgivable crime. She agrees to hunt down a killer for the Martial Empire, but her mission might not be worth it. Quil is the crown prince of the Empire, fully aware of how badly power corrupts. He's reluctant to take the throne when his aunt the Empress steps down, but a new enemy threatens the Empire. Their fates are now entwined, for better or for worse.

This is book one of a duology, and there's an incredible amount of worldbuilding here. Each country in this world has its own language, customs, and laws, and their values are sometimes diametrically opposed. Aiz attempted to kill the leader that burned down an entire wing of the orphanage she grew up with, and is willing to imprison and torture clerics to get his way. The Kegari are now attacking the Martial Empire, using their Sails and air magic to conquer others. She is following the guidance of her goddess, which has her eventually crossing paths with the Tribes and Quil, though it's not in the way we initially thought.

Sirsha and Quil cross paths, and vacillate between trust and mistrust. She's tracking a magical killer, and he's fleeing the carnage that Kegari soldiers left of his country. He'd always thought if the Kegari as isolationist and not worth knowing, and now it's all coming back to haunt him. As the story threads cross and we understand more about it, we see exactly what they're up against and what will happen if they fail. It's so deftly done, you're absolutely drawn into the story and rooting for them before you know it. Even though you know some of the history by the end, there are still questions left unanswered. The conclusion will no doubt be just as good as this part.

Sabaa Tahir is truly diabolical for this book. Like entirety of the An Ember in the Ashes quartet before it, this book has left me a crying pile of emotions on the floor. I missed this world, its characters and the emotional damage they inflict on me.

WHICH I highly recommend reading the An Ember in the Ashes quartet before reading Heir. Not only because it's a masterpiece, but because it's so important to understand the the world and the characters.

Back to Heir! The three POVs we get - Quil (heir to the Martial Empire), Sirsha (cast out by her people) and Aiz (an orphan trying to save her people) - are incredible and woven together immaculately.

I loved that our old friends made appearances and I screamed every time they appeared on page. And the magic! We get so much more of it in this book and it's both wonderful and terrifying!

Then there's the plot. It's got me on my knees. I am dying. At times I thought I knew where it was going . . . I did not! And the ending?! I'll be over here screaming into the void until we get book two. Read this and then come join me.

Thank you to Penguin & NetGalley for this e-arc!

I love being back in the Ember in the Ashes world! I was obsessed with the original story, and it seems the sequel series will be no different.

I love the new characters that we met in this book, and getting glimpses of our old friends. It is amazing the way Sabaa Tahir wrote a story that you do not even realize how it comes together until it does. When I read Aiz's connection to our current day heroines I was gobsmacked. I think I put my book down and actually screamed. That goes to show you what a talented author Tahir is.

The story and romance of Sirsha and Quil was very entertaining and sweet. It was great to see how those two learned to trust each other and strengthen their relationship. Their interactions were absolutely hilarious. The way they each would press each others buttons while also completely falling for each other was so fun to read. I also loved our side character, Sushiyan and Arielia. I can totally see them ending up together and I am excited to see how they get there. Aiz is obviously a complex character who we are defintely not done with yet. I at first was rooting for her, but by the end I wanted to scream at her. The twist involving her and Quil had be shocked as it was the best sort of twist.

While the original series, AEITA, is not necessary to read, I still think it is important. It sets up important players that make appearances in this book as well as giving some background on how Div came to be.

The cliffhanger will have me impatiently waiting for the next book. Tahir makes a ending hurt so good.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I reread the entire Ember In The Ashes quartet in preparation for this release! I've long considered Sabaa Tahir one of my favorite authors so I was super excited when I heard she planned to expand upon her original story and I was just thrilled to receive an ARC.

I was lucky enough to meet her at her first signing event at my store and heard her discuss the inspiration and origins of the story. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. When she said she thinks this is the best book she's ever written, I started to get a little worried that it couldn't possibly live up to all of the hype.

Without a doubt, my favorite character was Quil. He was just a baby in the original series and after it ended, I always wondered how everything would effect how he grows up, what kid of person he would become. He's just so good. I found myself getting frustrated with Helene for withholding information. We don't get the benefit of her POV in this book, so I think people who have not read the original series might not understand her behavior, I myself was kind of hoping that after 20 years of being empress there would be a little more growth from her. We do also get glimpses at Laia and Elias. I like how Sabaa Tahir kept their presence very much in the background to keep the focus on the new characters and their conflicts and motivations, so you see a lot more of their children.

As for the new characters, I really like Sirsha. It's interesting to get a deeper look into the Jaduna. I didn't quite understand her backstory but I enjoyed her as a character and her relationship with Quil. Her sister was the absolute worst. I appreciated what the author did with Aiz's POV. You realize at one point that it actually lags behind the rest of the story, so you get her whole backstory while the current plot is taking place. I just think Sabaa Tahir does such a great job of humanizing her characters, You see them go through hell and how it effects their motivations and decisions, so even the "villains" have such nuance and complexity.

Overall, I loved being back in this world. I really enjoyed Heir and I can't wait for the sequel!

Thank you, Netgalley, Sabaa Tahir, and Penguin Group for the ebook. Sabaa Tahir transports readers into a richly crafted fantasy world, loaded with graphic landscapes and intricate folklore. A great read that played in my head like a movie.

Heir returns us to the Empire's cruel universe while also greatly expanding it. Being back in this world, twenty years later, and following the children of our cherished Ember characters, seems quite bizarre but also it feels so great to be back in this universe!

In this novel, three characters—whose lives are undeniably connected—travel together in search of this dreadful monster, whose only desire is power. I had a great time following this story, and I really like how it all came together.

The numerous points of view in this novel contribute much to the story's depth. I was engrossed in the novel and developed a deep affection for all of the characters, particularly Quil, thanks to Sabaa's skillful writing of their points of view.

Heir clearly demonstrates Sabaa Tahir's significant growth as a writer and storyteller in comparison to her earlier works. The novel has amazing world-building, a hint of romance, magic, treachery, retribution, and themes of family—both rediscovered and lost.

I will read everything written by Sabaa as she is a fantastic writer. I finished it quickly and am eagerly awaiting the next installment! I strongly recommend for fantasy fans, as well as the author's loyal followers, to check out this new series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really liked this book though it is true it took me a while to finish I think the world is really intricating and never done before. I will sure keep an eye for the following book!!

I love this one so much!!! It's a fast-paced fantasy story with an intriguing world and scrappy characters. The characters were fleshed out really well and I understood all of their motivations. I adored the found family aspect and I really loved the twists and turns of the story. Every chapter ended on some sort of cliff-hanger and I couldn't put the book down. I'm on the edge of my seat desperate for book 2 now!!

I absolutely adored all the narrators. The accents they did made the world feel so rich. I especially love the lower class accent Aiz's narrator chose for her. It really brought her character to life in a special way.

Many thanks to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a spin off from the An Ember in the Ashes series, which I have never read but need to. Awesome story telling and world building! The violence and especially killing children was a little disturbing. It's one of the reasons it wasn't a 5 star for me.

I loved the twists and turns in this book. I had zero guesses on what would happen next. I definitely had to be on my toes or I would get lost. I get the switching from multiple POV's to get their stories in but I had to go back a couple times to reread because I would get lost. Pacing was a little slow at first but caught on about a quarter of the way through and I just wanted to see where this was going.

The ending has me hooked and I need the next book already!

This fantasy novel follows one woman trying to save her starving people, another hunting a magical murderer, and a prince trying to save his country from an invading force. As their three stories unfold, the ways they interact and intertwine are cleverly revealed. I really found myself connected to the prince's story and rooting for him to find a way to fight back, but as all the other pieces feel into place I found myself gasping in surprise. I loved both the friendships and the romantic possibilities in this book. The very end surprised me and I cannot wait for the continuation of their story.

WOW.
Heir is the first book in a duology set in the same world as the Ember in the Ashes series. While not a requirement, I would highly recommend reading that first to really get to know the world as this takes place 20 years later.
Having LOVED the masterpiece that is the Ember Quartet (it kills me that I don’t have a matching set 😭), I was so happy when I found out there would be a spin-off. It was great revisiting Helene, Elias and Laia while getting to know a wonderful new cast of characters.

Quil is Helene’s nephew and the crown prince of the Martial Empire. Sirsha is a Jaduna tracker who was banished by her people and now uses magic to find her marks. Aiz is an orphan who grew up in the Kegari slums and is fueled by both vengeance and a love of her people.
I immediately knew Sirsha would be my favorite - she’s a complete badass - but I absolutely adored Quil as well. Their banter and romance had me smiling so much. I loved them.
Aiz, not as much for…..reasons.

I loved being back in this world! The world-building was phenomenal (as expected) and this is loaded with high-stakes adventure, great character arcs, and a unique magic system. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that will have you on the edge of your seat.
And after that ending? I’m terrified for what’s to come but SO EXCITED. I just know it’s going to hurt a lot before it gets better.
I can't wait to see how everything worked out.

If you haven’t read the Ember quartet - or if you have and just haven't picked this up yet - please do yourself a favor and do so now!

A DNF sadly
I could not connect with this plot or these characters.
The writing was beautiful as usual, but it was giving “I’ve read this story a million times”