I have a feeling "Heir of Storms" is going to be THE romantasy of 2025. This book has it all: enemies-to-lovers romance, deadly trials, elemental magic, and witty banter that left me wheezing. I'm OBSESSED with this book. 5/5 stars!

It's official: "Heir of Storms" is among my top three favorite books of the year (and as someone who reads over 175 books a year, that's saying something). I LOVE how this book takes famous tropes and uses them to create something new. "Heir of Storms" follows Blaze, one of four people with water magic chosen to compete for the crown. The trials help raise the stakes, but more than that, they highlight Blaze's personal growth. The trials aren't a marketing ploy to attract fans of "The Hunger Games" and "Powerless"—they actually matter to this story.

And speaking of the story, there are sooo many plot twists that I didn't see coming! The way everything ties together for an explosive ending is nothing short of a masterpiece. I want to reread this book again and again to see if I can pick up on the clues leading to the grand reveal. It makes me appreciate how incredible Lauryn Hamilton Murray's writing is for her to pull everything off.

I also really like the characters. Writing a strong female character can be tricky—nobody likes a passive character, but you also don't want someone so powerful that their success feels unearned (I'm looking at you, Captain Marvel). "Heir of Storms" has multiple powerful women, and they're written so well! I also like how this book focuses on different types of strength. Some of the trials involve riddles, while others challenge the characters to overcome their inner demons. It makes for a more complex (and compelling!) story.

Finally, I have to talk about the romance. THE ROMANCE! "Heir of Storms" has two love interests—a golden prince and his mysterious half-brother. I'm usually not a fan of love triangles, but this one had me hooked! I don't know what sorcery the author used to make me root for BOTH love interests, but I was invested! I laughed at the witty banter, gasped during a grand reveal, and had a minor heart attack during the coronation scene. This book kept me guessing until the end, and I can't wait to see how the relationships progress in book two.

In case it isn't clear... I LOVE this book. It's my new YA romantasy obsession and one of my favorite books of the year. I can't wait for "Heir of Storms" to come out on May 6th so I can share it with my friends and fellow bookworms. 5/5 stars and a shiny recommendation. Run, don't walk, to get your copy!

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher; all opinions are my own.

this book was a powerless copycat in the worst way. the writing was terrible, 10/10 would not recommend