4.5/5

This is my first ever Sabaa Tahir book and that ending was absolutely diabolical hello? Don't do this to me please Sabaa I'm new here??? Heir got me stressed out and torn between finishing it or wait until the second book is out, because if i never finish reading this book, then whatever bad thing that is going to happen, will never happen (to ME) at least until we have the sequel, RIGHT???? #readerlogic I laughed, I cheered, and I might have also shed some tears in the process.

This book is told from three different perspectives and the POV switches had me going "DONT DO THIS TO ME GO BACK" as it ALWAYS changes at the worst possible moment ever. Quil and Sirsha (Quirsha?) hit EVERY SINGLE ONE of my favorite tropes, the tension!!! the usual "let's not get attached because we'll have to separate after this is all over" that always fails!!!!!! I NEED both of them to be okay, Sabaa. PLEASE I am on my knees begging...Over 48 hours have passed since I finished reading this book yet the two of them would not leave my mind. Need book two in my hands already my God.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Atom for my gifted e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Just wow.
My feelings are so complex that I don’t even know how to form them into words.

This book was an amazing adventure of magic, love and dark evil force.
How evil can take control of someone if you rationalise it.
How love can be a very strong aid

The characters were magnificent. I loved Quil and Sirsha!!! Actually I love everyone in the book!
Also, Quil! Bloody briliant and handsome and sensible and smart Quil, you are my new book boyfriend, you are the greenest flag
I tried to have an objective view on Aiz and honestly, you’d understand what drove her to this point.

I struggled a bit at the start as every time I was hooked on the story, the story would cut to another character and it was frustrating but it also had me continuing the story to find out what happened next.

CAN I JUST SAY: MY MIND WAS BLOWN WHEN I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT AND PIECE EVERYTHING TOGETHER!! Of course, I think if you don’t struggle with names and actually remember them as you read, it won’t be as much of a wow factor. (Idk if you would consider what I say next spoilers so read at your own risk? I don’t think it’s spoilers) But for me??? I was like, wait wait wait… Sarsha is encountering this too…? Which kingdom did she enter…? Which kingdom was Quill from…? OMG
Orrrrr when Quil said the name of his previous lover (mind you, this wasn’t at the start, this was like 50% of the book, which he had mentioned it before but it never crossed my mind and also because I’m slow lmao) I WAS LIKE WAIT WAIT WHO?? I KNOW THAT NAME (of course I know, this was after a full chapter of that character lmao)

MY TOP READ OF THIS YEAR SO FAR! A FULL 5 STAR READ BECAUSE IT WAS SO BRILLIANT!!!
I’ve probably missed some points that I wanted to make but that’s okay, you can tell I love this book and is soo sad I’ll have to wait for the second book 😭 I even wished that it ended right here in this book so I wouldn’t suffer the wait 😭

When I was much younger, I found escapism in books and authors like Enid Blyton, J.K. Rowling, and Roald Dahl. They were a good time, but let’s not pretend they were winning any diversity awards unless you count Moonface as a breakout star.

Fast forward and I’m so glad things have become more inclusive in literature since I was a child. Heir has the revolutionary concept of different skin shades and tones amongst main characters (same deal for AEITA), one of them being brown eyes, brown skin, and black hair on a three-dimensional FMC, Sirsha Westering, and portrayed like it’s the most natural thing in the world, as it should be.

It’s painfully obvious this book hit home for me, making me feel seen in ways my childhood reads never did. But it wasn’t just my sassy queen Sirsha stealing the show for me. I also felt supremely connected to the other MCs, Quil and Aiz, and even the supporting side characters were serving up personality, layers, flaws and shades of grey.

Additionally, I thought the world-building was mesmerising—rich with culture and even language. "Jaldi" is a word I caught which is Hindi/Urdu, some characters have names with glottal stops etc.

Moreover, the storytelling and plot were ace, with brutal themes that are all too relevant today. Mind your triggers: Genocide, colonisation, war, death, poverty/suffering, child death, mentioned family violence and abuse.

Furthermore, I never felt bogged down by info dumps or suffocated by action scenes (which are plentiful). You can truly see how much Tahir has levelled up as a writer from her debut to this book. It’s classified as YA, but it didn’t feel overly young. There’s some mild fade-to-black spice, and the characters are aged around 20, so it strikes a good balance.

My one nitpick? I prefer shorter chapters, and some of them are quite long. But that’s a minor quibble in the grand scheme.

Now, let’s address my bold decision to read this series out of order. Let me save you the suspense: If you don’t want spoilers for An Ember in the Ashes , do yourself a favour and read that series first. I only read the first book before diving into Heir, and while I did spoil myself a bit, it was fine. That said, knowing a little about AEITA characters like Laia, Elias, and Helene added an extra layer of enrichment and enjoyment.
Bottom line: I highly recommend reading the entire AEITA quartet first. I’m not here to tell you how to live your life though, so if you wanna read this as a standalone, you definitely can.

I know I’ve seemingly given out plenty of 4 and 5 stars this year willy-nilly. Maybe I’m easily pleased, maybe I rate based on mood and enjoyment, maybe I have impeccable taste in bookish friends who filter out the duds (you know who you are), maybe I'm super picky with my reading choices, maybe I'm hyper-aware of what floats my boat, maybe I don't take star ratings seriously, maybe I'm a Starman waiting in the sky, or maybe it’s a mix of all that. Either way, yes, I’m giving this one another 5 stars (6 in my head) and I'm not sorry.

If you love high fantasy with incredible characters, you may need Sabaa Tahir in your life. Consider this my highest recommendation.

Special shoutout to my darling friend Heather, whose shared enthusiasm made this reading experience even more memorable.

My heartfelt thanks to Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Atom for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This gripping novel follows three unique characters, each dealing with their own challenges in a vividly created world. Aiz is an orphan from the tough Kegari slums, driven by a burning desire for revenge due to a painful past. Her fierce determination leads her to make a big mistake that lands her in what seems like an unbreakable prison. Then there's Sirsha, a tracker who's been kicked out of her tribe and takes on a dangerous mission to catch a killer targeting kids across the Empire. Meanwhile, Quil, the crown prince, struggles with the heavy weight of his family’s legacy. With a new threat hanging over the Empire, he has to confront his doubts about leadership and figure out if he can step up to be the leader his people need. Sabaa Tahir does a fantastic job weaving their stories together, exploring themes of power, love, and the fallout of greed. This dark and captivating journey will definitely keep readers hooked, proving that the search for justice often comes with a hefty price.

Note: I haven't completed the “Ember Quartet” series yet, and while this book works well as a standalone, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment in any way. I do think that reading the series first would enhance your understanding of the world-building, but I feel as though Sabaa Tahir effectively summarises key events in each perspective, so personally, it was quite easy to grasp the story.

➸This book is super interesting because it gives us three different points of view. At first, I thought the pace was a bit slow, mainly due to all the world-building—it felt a little overwhelming with the characters’ varying perspectives. But as I read on, I realised just how crucial those viewpoints were to the story, and Sabaa Tahir’s storytelling really shines. There was even a twist that completely caught me off guard! I loved how each character faced their own challenges and grew from them; their journeys were really engaging. The book does a fantastic job of expanding on the world from An Ember in the Ashes , seamlessly introducing new characters alongside familiar ones, which kept the plot layered and interesting. It’s definitely one of those reads that makes you want to go back and revisit all the different POVs to fully appreciate everything. Plus, it’s filled with jaw-dropping moments and unexpected twists that keep you on your toes, along with some emotional hits that might just rip your heart out.

“In the name of Mother Div,” she whispered, “I take my vengeance.” Aiz brought the blade down.


Aiz ➴
Aiz is an orphan living in the rough Dafra slum of Kegar, where her limited windsmithing skills really hold her back. We meet her as the lone survivor of an orphanage fire started by Tiral, a tyrant who killed innocent kids out of rage and jealousy. Kegar is ruled by three powerful triarchs, each representing a different kind of magic: bloodsmithing, mindsmithing, and windsmithing. Aiz has a lot of resentment toward her childhood friend Cero, who’s really good at windsmithing and has become a pilot for Tiral, the son of the windsmith triarch.

Driven by a need for revenge, Aiz is dead set on assassinating Tiral, thinking it’ll free her people from suffering and help her reclaim their ancestral home. But when her plan goes south, she gets captured and tortured in prison. While she’s there, she discovers that other innocent kids are also trapped, which only fuels her determination. Inspired by a prophecy about Mother Div coming back to lead her people home, Aiz believes that if she can escape, she can stop Tiral’s tyranny and save those kids. Fully committed to her people, Aiz’s journey is all about finding her place in the fight for Mother Div’s liberation and turning her thirst for revenge into a meaningful quest for justice and hope.

Love was pain. Love was hurt and betrayal. But it was also the reason she stood here, battling a creature of ancient and unrelenting hunger, instead of on a ship a few hundred miles away. Love was why for the first time since her family cast her out, Sirsha didn’t feel alone.


Sirsha ➴
I loved Sirsha right from the start—she’s such a badass and sassy character with a big heart. As a Jaduna tracker, she can control the four elements to hunt down all kinds of beings. But after a terrible choice that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people, she’s been shunned and can’t use her powers to track magical beings anymore. That really weighs her down, making her feel isolated and diminished. Everything shifts when she meets Elias Veturias, who desperately needs her help to find his son’s killer. Stuck with a promise that could drive her mad if she doesn’t keep it, Sirsha reluctantly sets off on a dangerous journey. Along the way, she runs into Quil and his group of allies with their own missions. This unexpected connection challenges Sirsha’s beliefs and adds some real depth to her quest for redemption.

“Grief is a strange beast. Some battle it, their souls scarred from its abuse. Some bury it, and live life waiting for it to reemerge. And some tread water, the grief a weight about their necks. Every reminder makes the weight heavier.” She turned halfway, her face in profile. “You and I tread water, nephew. And I would not see you drown.”


Quil ➴
Quil is such an interesting character, and I really enjoyed following his journey. He’s the nephew of Helene Aquilla, the Empress of the Martial Empire, and was raised by Tribe Saif. Even with his noble background, he struggles to take on leadership responsibilities when his aunt steps down, especially since there's a ruthless killer going after innocent kids, including Ruh, Laia and Elias’s youngest son. When the Kegar army, led by the brutal Tel Illasi, starts causing chaos across the Empire, Quil knows he has to step up. He takes his aunt’s urgent advice to heart and teams up with his cousin Arelia and Sufiyan, Elias’s son, to figure things out and find a crucial artifact from their ally, the Blood Shrike which could help end the war. As they go through this dangerous journey, they cross paths with Sirsha, whose mission connects with theirs, adding even more layers to what they’re trying to accomplish.

The only reason I didn’t give this book a higher rating is that I found the twist a bit predictable. While it was definitely shocking at first, the story's direction felt pretty obvious afterward. I also thought the plot dragged on a bit too long after that reveal, which dulled some of the excitement (I know this is vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything). Once you uncover that character’s true intentions and get a glimpse of the past, it shifts everything in a way that felt a bit stretched out.

Overall, this book does an awesome job of bringing together the journeys of Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil, each facing their own unique challenges around themes like power, revenge, and redemption. Sabaa Tahir really nails the storytelling here, weaving these narratives together smoothly and creating a rich tapestry of interconnected lives that makes the story even more impactful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the arc.

What an ending! I really, really enjoyed this one!

I will admit I spent the first 30% of the book confused, but I feel like that comes with the fantasy territory. And also the fact that I never finished the Ember in the Ashes series, which, although it isn’t a prequel, considering Heir was a second-generation follow-up, it would have been beneficial to finish before.

But once each of the main characters meets and you figure out how they connect, you will be at the edge of your seat.

It’s a hunt, trying to track a killer whilst also hiding from being hunted by that same killer….. It’s got magic, betrayal, promises, found family, and romance…..what more could one ask for?

I will definitely be going back and finishing Ember in the Ashes series; it’s literally staring at me from on my bookshelf.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette, for the eARC!

This was an incredibly strong start to what I can only assume will be a brilliant trilogy from Sabaa Tahir. I found it easy to attach myself to each of the characters and their own personal goals and struggles.

However, it took me quite a while to settle into the pacing and world building. I did my research before requesting this arc, and was told by several sources that reading the previous books in this universe wasn’t necessary. I would definitely say that it is. The first 20% felt incredibly confusing mainly due to my lack of knowledge about what was very obviously an already determined magic system and world.

In that being said, it was a good book and I can’t wait to continue the series! I’m just hoping to read the others beforehand.

This was an extremely enjoyable read! I have not actually read An Ember in the Ashes series myself, and I believe that I may have been able to make more connections between these two series if I had (i.e., characters) - however, Tahir provided lots of background and world-building that it's definitely able to be read as a standalone.

Heir had that more high/epic fantasy feel with the amazing and intricate world-building, magic systems, politics, and interweaving plotlines. I found there was somewhat of a slow start, but once it picked up I was so hooked. From there, it was such a fast-paced story with plenty of action and twist that kept me so engaged. I enjoyed all three POVs, each keeping me engrossed in different ways.

I found that Heir was slightly more plot driven than it was character driven, which for me is refreshing as I've been reading lots of character driven books recently. I also think that is somewhat typical of more epic fantasy based stories.

Highly recommend this (and I think, especially if you've read AEITA - which I'll have to read!) and looking forward to the next book.

Sabaa Tahir can do no wrong! Heir was such a delight to read and I feel very privileged to have received an ARC.

Tahir creates an intricate setting set in the same world as An Ember in the Ashes series, however 20 years in the future. Heir can be read as a stand-alone, however I would highly recommend reading the first series, as it will be less complex world building and a more enjoyable experience.

This book will delight fantasy readers as it is action packed, has many twists and turns and beautiful character development. I also enjoyed touching base with previous characters I had met in her other series.

We follow three main character ARCs in Heir, that all come together throughout the tale. I loved how all characters were woven together and interconnected.

The last 30% of this book had me hooked and I cannot wait for the second book in the series.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read and I would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for providing me with an eARC of Heir in return for my honest opinion! I had seen a lot of hype about this book so was ecstatic when I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this one!

I don’t tend to love high fantasy as much as fantasy or romantasy books, and to start off I didn’t know if I was going to enjoy Heir. The world building and the switching between three very different characters felt like a lot at first, but then a couple chapters in I got sucked in to this book! I ended up really enjoying Heir, I’d say it was one of my favourite YA books of the year, it is so interesting!

The POV’s are told from Aiz (an orphan), Sirsha (an outcast) and Quil (a prince), a major plot twist of the story is *SPOILER* that Aiz POV is not present day, and she ends up being another character in another main POV’s story! I didn’t really go much on Aiz from the get go, and as the story went on it was evident why! I did however really enjoy Quil and Sirsha’s POV’s.

There is a lil bit of romance in this story, however I don’t think it takes away from the plot, only enhances it! However, reader be warned there is no HEA at the end of this book, just a massive plot twist and set up for the next book in this series!!

Heir by Sabaa Tahir 🗡️💙

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙖 𝙏𝙖𝙝𝙞𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙.

As someone who reads a lottttt of romantasy, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about a more high fantasy book going into it, but I ended up really enjoying it! The worldbuilding was a bit confusing at first but once I got past the first 50ish pages, I got into it.

The plot of this had me SO INTRIGUED the whole time! Every chapter would leave on a mini cliffhanger and since it had multiple POVs, I’d have to read multiple chapters to find out what happened, which basically resulted in me flying through this way quicker than I thought I would for a 500 fantasy book 🤩.

I loved following so many different characters, seeing how they interacted, their own backstories and motivations and how they all grew throughout the book✨.

There was a small subplot of romance in this, but it wasn’t super prominent. I definitely still think it’s worth the read as a Romantasy reader if you’re interested at all, but just be aware! The writing and storytelling was really incredible and I can’t wait for the second one to come out to find out what happens next 😍.

I’m a big Ember in the Ashes fan and have been highly anticipating this release! The book felt epic; the world, magic and politics were all a step up in intensity from her young adult series that this book is set in. Sabaa Tahir is a plot writing genius, the twists and turns that flipped the story on its head and had me questioning everything. The book had a slow strat which took me a little longer to get into, but once the story picked up I was hooked.

I definitely felt this was a more plot heavy than character focused story, which meant at times the character work could have been developed more. That being said, I appreciated the direction that Sabaa took the story and the relationships she developed between characters.

If you loved an Ember in the Ashes and want to dive back into Sabaa’s world and writing, you need to pick this one up. If you haven’t read an Ember in the Ashes run don't walk to the bookstore and do yourself a favour!! I would say that you should absolutely read AEITA before Heir, but it is absolutely worth doing in order to experience this epic story.

Unfortunately I did DNF this, and that was a personal opinion. Absolutely loved the idea but It just wasn’t the book for me, which was really surprising.
Thankyou so much for this ARC!

A massive thank you to Netgalley, Hachette AU & NZ and Sabaa Tahir for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ya girl was thrilled when the approval email rolled in and oh my, does it feel good to be back in this world.

Although Heir can be read as a standalone, it hits differently when you’re familiar with the world and characters from the Ember In The Ashes series, especially as some of these characters make reappearances.

Heir follows our three main characters;

Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire who struggles with the pressures of his title whilst encountering a potential invasion.

Aiz, a scrappy orphan who grew up in the Kegari slums seeking a better life for her people, whilst being guided by the holy voice of Mother Div.

Sirsha, a gifted magic user and skilled tracker, outcasted from her tribe and hired to hunt an unnatural killer.

We get multiple POV’s as the characters storylines interweave whilst being immersed in Tahir’s rich world-building. The world-building itself does require a bit of attention to fully grasp but it’s well worth it.

I’m bursting to read the next book already!

Publication date: 08 Oct 2024

'Heir' by Sabaa Tahir
★★★★★​​​​​​​

'Heir' is a fresh and new addition to the 'Ember Quartet' world while doing justice to the original series. The novel is immediately exciting and expands the world we know from 'An Ember in the Ashes'.

Set twenty years after 'AEITA', we follow three main characters, each with their own ambitions, hopes, and responsibilities. One of which is Helene's nephew, Quil, along with two entirely new characters. Tahir really excels at creating layered complex characters who are complicated but also understandable. There are characters reminiscent of Helene, Laia, and Elias, and yet they are uniquely their own.

The plot was really well constructed—it was tight, exciting, and had lots of political intrigue that I really enjoyed. There is a twist early on that was beautifully constructed and made for more depth. I enjoyed the romance—it wasn't heavy, but it felt very real and believable within the landscape.

If you loved the original characters and world, read 'Heir'. It won't disappoint. I definitely suggest that you read the 'Ember Quartet first', as they are fairly well-connected. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy in October!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Australia / Atom, and Sabaa Tahir for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mixed review inbound.

This was not what I expected. I'm not going to go as far to say that I was let down, but it wasn't anywhere what I hoped.

Still enjoyable. Took several breaks to read other books that caught more of my interest. I got there in the end.

** spoiler alert ** Thanks to netgally, the author and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review. TEHEHEHE IT WAS MY FIRST TIME RECEIVING AN ARC AND IT MADE MY DAYY.

The review contains major spoilers and I cannot organize my thoughts in a coherent sequence 😍

I couldn't give two figs about Aiz, I know the girlie is possessed by a demon or whatever but she didn't even think straight before she was possessed. Using Quil when he had been nothing but kind and trying to kill Tiral when it was clear that he was stirring from his sleep?? While I did feel bad for her at times, I just couldn't bring myself to care and had ro resist the urge to skip her chapters.

Also I love Quil and Sufiyan's friendship and I wish we'd gotten more of them. ALSO I LIVEEE FOR SUFIYAN, HOPEFULLY HE HAS A BIGGER ROLE IN THE NEXT BOOK BECAUSE HE ONLY HAD ONE CHAPTER HERE😭
"Breathe, Suf," Quil said in his quiet way. "We're here. We're all right"

I am an ardent fan of the ember in the ashes series, so seeing characters like Laia, Elias, Helene and Tas was nostalgic.

WHAT'S WITH THE CLIFFHANGER THOUGH, SIRSHA BEING POSESSED BY SWEET DIV AND AIZ IS ACTUALLY STILL ALIVE??Mann I can't wait to see what happens next.

It did get boring at times though, I don't remember what happens in the middle section of the book other than characters traveling from one place to another or doing god-knows what. I don't know why but I felt kind of disconnected from the characters, as if watching them from a distance, if that makes sense. Overall I did binge read the book in three days and will be reading the next oneee.

Loved this book it’s a complex fantasy full of adventure and battles it will have you feeling a roller coaster of emotions with its diverse characters and multiple pov storyline’s

Thank you NetGalley and publisher

I wanted to love this book. My attention waxed and waned. I didn’t quite connect with the characters enough. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

5 stars! Spoiler free review
Sabaa Tahir does it again! Let me Start by saying An Ember In The Ashes is my all time favourite series it's the one I recommened everytime someone asks for book recommendations. So hearing Sabaa was writing a new book based in the same world as AEITA I was giddy!

First, Sabaa provides sufficient world-building and empire history backstory, allowing it to be read independently. However, I strongly recommend reading the An Ember In The Ashes series first to enhance your reading experience.

After 20 years, Heir returns us to the empire and expands to the southern continent, where we are introduced to our three main characters. Paths cross and destinies intertwine.
Aiz, a sole survivor of an orphanage fire, sets her on a path of vengeance.
Sirsha, an exiled tracker banned from using her gifts, enters a deal to hunt a killer that leaves her in danger.
Quil, heir to the martial empire, must fulfill his duty and become the emperor the empire needs..

Sabaa weaves an epic fantasy in this first book with her vivid world-building and fast-paced action. I particularly enjoyed the use of three POVs. Sabaa seamlessly weaves the three narratives, and I found myself completely engrossed in each perspective. I was living for the snippets of characters from AEITA and I was not disappointed. Sabaa really did an amazing job blending the old with the new.

I simply couldn't get enough of this book, it was everything I love in a fantasy I highly recommended picking this one up!

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

“Get ready for a dark and breathless journey that will captivate readers and may cost these young people their lives—and their hearts. Literally.”
- Heir synopsis

Firstly, before we get into the review, let me just say two things:
A) What the fuck, Sabaa, and
B) Did I finish this book, or did this book finish me?

Okay now onto the actual review:

“When you sacrifice other people’s children on the altar of your ambition, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be willing to sacrifice your own.”

“‘For the people’ was a blood-soaked shield brandished by tyrants everywhere.”

This was my most highly anticipated read of 2024, and it did NOT disappoint. Heir is Sabaa Tahir’s latest fantasy novel set in the same world as the Ember quartet, taking us back to the Empire. The story revolves around Quil, the crown prince of the Empire, Sirsha, a tracker with a tortured past and endless secrets, and Aiz, an orphan girl from a faraway land with dreams of liberating her people.

Expect a fast paced, multi-pov Fantasy novel with complex characters, intricate, intertwining storylines, heartbreak, and plot-lines that will invoke every possible emotion known to mankind as you read this book.

I laughed. I was stressed. I nearly threw my iPad across the room a few times. I had to take several walks around my room. I stressed some more. I cried. I rated it 5 stars.

All in all, I’d highly recommended adding this one to your tbr. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏻