✨ARC Review✨

✅Elemental magic
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Prophecy
✅ Reluctant hero
✅ Mentors
✅ Ancient artifacts
✅ True friendships

I did not know what to expect before reading Heir of Storms. I am so elated that I picked up this book though! The story gripped me from beginning to end. The plot twist was insane! This book had the right combination of adventure, mystery, suspense, and romance.

Blaze was a good FMC. Although at first she seemed to be always in distress, she eventually learned how to trust herself and her power. The book did her development justice. There is much to be learned in heartbreak and sorrow, and that’s what Blaze did.

Flint, Hal, and circle of good friends: All these characters played good roles in establishing Blaze as the FMC. They were well fleshed out characters.

Fox: A very mysterious yet endearing character. I surely would love to see how he interacts with Blaze in the future especially after his predicament.

Heir of Storms was well-paced and did not left me with a feeling of discontent. I crave to learn more about the rest of the characters. The only thing I am slightly upset about is that I have to wait a while to read the continuation of the story. I simply cannot wait!

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. I am always so excited (and grateful) to get an opportunity to get these early copies!

This has been the first fantasy book I've been able to enjoy fully since Onyx Storm. While the blurb for this is captivating, I was pleasantly surprised that there was so much more to the magic than it indicated. There were nuances to the magic system that I felt were really well done, and a bit of a fresh twist on the fantasy I typically read. While I did think the blurb was also fitting, there was so much more to this story than meets the eye and I felt like every time I turned around another piece was unfolding - whether it be history or a new twist. I can definitely see where this book has set up nicely for a series and I can't wait to see where it goes.

Blaze, the FMC, was astonishingly tolerable for someone who had been locked away for 17 years. Where I expected severe naivety and a complete lack of social awareness, she actually did pretty well and the way it was written was even believable. Her character development was really well done and her growth was believable. She's not the run of the mill B.A. FMC who is confident and slays her enemies, but watching her grow into her power was a nice change of pace and I can see where she still has room to grow and become that powerful character. I say this as someone who finds the change of pace refreshing.

The romance in this was very YA but I do think the tension was really well done between Blaze and one of the suitors, and there was a twist related to the other that I actually did not see coming (but in retrospect was there all along - which I love). I'm hoping to see more of the romance aspect come into play with the next book, because this still feels very unsettled to me but in an I am looking forward to finding out what happens kind of way.

The last 30% or so really picked up the pace and I found myself unable to put it down at that point, finishing the rest of it and abandoning my duties in a single sitting which is saying something since my post-Onyx Storm slump.

I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend to those who are fans of court intrigue, interesting magic systems, politics, and good old fashioned coming of age stories. I look forward to reading book two when it is released!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a really well done YA romantasy- the romance was romancing (we still got our banter), the world was building, and nothing was dulled down to a lower comprehension level. I think you really hit the nail on the head to feel like the more classic YA's.

Sometimes I hate trials- in this case it really kept the pace going and kept things interesting.
I loved the relationships/found family- it was executed in a way I could easily get connected to the characters.

It was overall a really enjoyable experience that took great things from other books and melded them into one- BUT with that, it was a bit predictable and missing the WOW/uniqueness to make it a 5 star.

4.2 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

ARC Review — Wow, this is an impressive debut novel! It’s a young-adult Romantasy book about elemental magical powers, trials for the royal crown, and forbidden love with a hint of a love triangle. Fans of Sarah J Maas, Lightlark, Powerless, Hunger Games, & Shadow and Bone… here’s a new series to love!!! Although majority of the plot was very predictable, the writing and pacing was captivating enough to where I couldn’t put the book down! I am SO sad that this was only an ARC! How am I supposed to wait so long for the next two books now?! & Who can I talk to about my feelings after reading this?! LOL


Writing: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Enjoyability: 5/5

(More in-depth analysis below)

👩🏻‍🏫💡 I received this book to read as an Advanced Reader/Review Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.


💕Would you recommend this book?
Yes!!! Even though the plot is too familiar from other fantasy series, it’s still captivating!

🪶Favorite Quote:
“ He was confusingly charming. Vexatiously pleasant. Maddeningly beautiful. I find him infuriating. “


🌶️ Spice Level:
Young-Adult appropriate kissing/making out. No explicit sex scenes.
——


📝Writing Style: 4/ 5
The story is told in first-person POV of the female main character. The writing is descriptive and organized; the dialogue isn’t TOO juvenile either. The word-building isn’t heavy and is actually easy to follow along!!! If anything, I’m curious to know if we’ll get another POV in the coming books!


🏃🏻‍♀️Pace: 4/5
The pacing is pretty fast paced. Lots of things happening one after the other. I do think there were some “air time” in between the three trials, but that’s the only part I was impatient about.


🗺️Plot: 4/5

Plot Themes/Tropes-
* Forbidden Love
* Love Triangle
* “The Chosen One”
* Elemental Powers/Magic
* ⚠️Trigger Warnings/Other topics: Drinking, violence, family deaths, murder, betrayal, slavery, bullying, grief

Summary: Blaze is a twin from a fire-wielding family line, but at birth, she doesn’t wield fire— rather, she ends up summoning a storm that drowns many cities & towns and leaves thousands dead. As she grows up, she is put in isolation at her own home, never to use her storm-weaving powers again. At her (and her twin brother’s) 17th birthday, a rare eclipse occurs that forces the chosen Heirs to fight for the crown of their Court; this event forces Blaze to learn how to wield her powers that has not been used in years.

The plot is VERY predictable; you’ll know which character is going to reveal themself way before the actual reveal. It’s easy to guess what’s coming for majority of the book. HOWEVER… the storyline is so fast-paced and interesting nonetheless, that I didn’t mind following the plot through.

There are some loose strings though… questions I have that weren’t answered, but it will probably be answered in the future books.


👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Characters: 4/ 5

Female Main Character (FMC):
Blaze - Despite her name, our heroine here is basically a version of Elsa from Frozen, with more powers lol. Blaze is initially very reserved and naive because of her social isolation, but she has major character development by the end of the book as she finally navigates who she is outside of the walls of her home.

Male Main Characters (MMCs):
I won’t be too specific with the MMCs or else I’ll spoil too much. Let’s just say the two MMCs are very different from each other. We have one that is proper & kind, while obviously the other is arrogant but mysterious. The love triangle isn’t what you’d think it to be though!!!

Supporting Characters: The supporting characters are carefully thought through, and we get enough personality from them to lighten the story or make us want to strangle them ourselves. Flint (Blaze’s twin) is so charismatic; he’s so protective of his sister and is great comedic relief. On the other hand, we also get “Mean Girls” to stir up conflict in the story. There are SOME characters that aren’t talked about as much, but again, I have a feeling we’ll get to know more in the future book.


🎬Ending: 4/ 5
Okay…….. how do I say this without spoiling the book? There are two things in the story that I didn’t predict & made my heart crumble and left my mind pondering on what’s to come. The good thing is that the book doesn’t end in an annoying cliffhanger, but it does leave you craving for more adventure!

🙂Enjoyability: 5/ 5
I read this book in ONE day. It was THAT captivating to read. It wasn’t too slow, and again, even if the plot isn’t that original & also very predictable, the action, the dialogues, the characters & pacing make up for it!!!


📈Final Rating Averaged: 4.2 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

——

Rating Rubric:
1/5: 🌟 Horrible - “Why did I even waste my time?”
2/5: 🌟🌟 Unimpressed - It could have been better.
3/5: 🌟🌟🌟 Good/Average- I would recommend this, but nothing was too out of the ordinary; it’s what’s expected.
4/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great! - There were some good surprises, but not enough to blow my mind.
5/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Outstanding - Above & Beyond, It left me wanting more and thinking more about it.

I really liked this book! I was stuck on the story from the very first sentence. I liked the all characters, even the not well-liked ones. It was finally something that I could get into after having some recent DNF's. I look forward to the next book. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillian Publishing Group for this Digital ARC.

An epic YA Romantasy! Red Queen meets Shadow and Bone. Hunger games, powerless vibes.

Forbidden love
Love triangle
Magic
Trilogy
Trails/competition
Worldbuilding

“And I see you storm weaver. I see all of you “

The plot was enjoyable and fun. Yes it was a bit predictable but I didn't mind that all since it was enjoyable. This book has it all, elemental magic system, world building, and characters with depth.

I loved the dynamic between both of the love interests and how both had their faults and flaws. I honestly couldn’t decide who to root for. After that ending I definitely cannot wait for book 2 !!

Highly recommended YA read.

Thanks to NEtGAlley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think I just found THE romantasy book of 2025!

enemies to lovers.
banter that will have you kicking your feet.
elemental magic.
and did someone say LOVE TRIANGLE??!?!?!?!

If you need me I'll be in a self induced COMA until book two comes out.

This is definitely a YA book! Very low spice for a Romantasy! Very well written and the storyline captivated me. I can’t wait to find out what is to come next

Heir of Storms is my new FAV! The world building was amazingly rich with a unique magic system. And while Blaze is an amazing main character, the side characters were just as good. Plus, if you like found family, get ready to be in your feels because these characters and relationships are strong and emotional.

So excited to get my first pre-approval from NetGalley! Lightlark vibes with a hint of Lion King? Like “Remember who you are Simba” and if Rafiki was a fire wielding grandma. Kind of wild to hate a baby for 17 years though imo. This had me kicking my feet and squealing at times and I would definitely read more of this series!

I wish I had a book like this when I was growing up because this would have been right up my alley and it still is! A power system based on the elements speaks to my inner Avatar loving self and this book does it justice. It was such a light and enjoyable read. The world building was easy to follow, the characters were fun, and the trials were so well done! You completely understood why they were happening. It wasn't some ambiguous homage to Hunger Games like some books tend to do. This book pleasantly surprised me with every turn of the page. It was hard to put down and Blaze was hard not to root for. Her, Flint and Renly were so easy to love.
There was once aspect I was a little meh about at first. I was worried that the romance would follow the ever so popular trope of a love triangle. If like me you're not interested in that either then I implore you to have faith in this read. You won't regret it. I definitely didn't.
Thanks Netgalley and the publishing house for letting me review this arc. June 3rd can't come quickly enough!

I absolutely loved Heir of Storms! The world is so rich, the magic is awesome, and the story keeps you hooked from start to finish. Blaze is a fantastic main character, but the side characters? Just as good—if not better! The found family dynamic is everything, and their relationships make the story even more emotional and fun. There’s action, intrigue, and plenty of twists that had me flipping pages way too late at night. If you love fantasy with great characters and a story that pulls you in, you need to read this. Can’t wait for the next one!

I loved this YA Fantasy. The magic system was easy to follow and the use of the elemental magic was great. I did enjoy Blaze being the unliked underdog but seeing her come into her powers. I also liked the talk of grief, especially parental loss. I am excited to see this story continue into the next book.

An epic YA Romantasy! Imagine a fusion of Red Queen and Shadow and Bone.

Prepare to be captivated by a forbidden love story, a love triangle, and magic intertwined with a thrilling trilogy. Imagine a world where trails and competitions lead to extraordinary adventures. And the best part? You get to write your own story!

I fell in love with the captivating plot, the well-developed characters, and the overall fun ride. This is a highly recommended YA read that will leave you spellbound.

I loved this! I couldn't put it down and finished in one sitting. The world building was easy to understand. I liked that there was a few twists to the element wielding but it was still a simple framework. There were some good twists that had me engaged the whole time. Can't wait to read the sequel! There's not much romance in this one it's more ya fantasy but I didn't mind since the plot was entertaining.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a sucker for books involving trials/competitions, so when I read the blurb for "Heir of Storms" & saw that it involved that, I pounced immediately. HoS is a story about a girl who's used to being ignored, shamed, the ultimate underdog (with a super cool power). I really liked the worldbuilding & the elemental powers (hoping to learn more about the other 4 elements in future novels). The supporting characters were endearing & the villains were ones you're gonna love to hate. It does end on a cliffhanger, so prepare yourself for that. Overall, a really solid addition to the YA romantasy subgenre.

Heir of Storms is a gripping fantasy adventure with everything you could possibly want from such a book. I desperately need the next in the series as soon as possible!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy for review.

Heir of Storms is a YA fantasy book that will be sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. We follow Blaze, the lost storm wielder, as she navigates court life and faces new challenges. I would elaborate further, but I’m afraid I’d give something away because there were so many plot twists, and I was there for it! There were a couple times where I was able to predict what would happen from very early, but there were several plot twists that came out of nowhere and surprised me. When I first started this book, I almost gave up on it because Blaze was sulking a lot, and it felt like a pity party. Luckily I kept reading, and I had the best time watching Blaze find peace with who she was. I did have an issue with the trials, elements of which were very expected, and did not feel very original to this book. Overall, Heir of Storms is a fast paced fantasy with trials and lost magic.

Features-
- Enemies to lovers
- Lost magic
- Trials
- Prophecies
- Brotherly love triangle
- Betrayal
- Political plot

#TeamFox 🤭

I think this book has potential, and will be beloved by many! For me, it felt like a collage of a bunch of things I've seen before. The competition, the magic, the characters, none of it stood out as particularly unique.

The one particularity I had the most trouble with was the entire idea of the inciting incident...Blaze being born, causing a massive storm/flood, and people dying.
- No one else's magic could protect the world?
- There was no actual evidence that it was caused by her at all, to be frank. And then the entire world somehow just agrees that it was her fault?
- I don't think the world would be so angry against a literal baby for 17 years.
- Blaze talks a lot about feeling empty without this rain power, but she only ever wielded it (really) that one time, as a child. I just didn't believe her when she said she felt hollow without it. Did she ever *try* to bring it back? *Try* to practice it?

Overall, I think this book is fine. If you read a lot of this genre, I don't think it's going to be anything groundbreaking for you, but it is a well constructed book with plenty of potential.

his book was chef’s kiss. Thank you NetGalley for providing me an earc for the first book in this YA ROMANTASY series. I honestly did not have super high expectations for the book when I saw the description being similar to hunger games with trials. I was pleasantly surprised because it was definitely much better than other ya romantasy books I read this year with similar descriptions. The elemental and world building magic actually surprised me with how well done it was. As well as the love interest twists! i was not expecting the author to solidify Blaze’s choice so certainly even if Blaze herself doesn’t realize it. The ending was gripping and makes me yearn for book 2 already. I will definitely be buying a hard copy once it’s on shelves/in stores !