5000000/5 stars. I loved this book. It deserves all the hype and special editions. This is easily my top book this year.

Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray is a stunning fantasy that kept me completely captivated from start to finish! The world-building is rich and immersive, and I loved how the magic system was so unique and well-developed. The characters are full of depth, and the protagonist’s journey is both compelling and emotional. The mix of adventure, suspense, and complex relationships made this book hard to put down. The plot is packed with twists that kept me guessing, and the slow-burn romance added an extra layer of excitement. If you love epic fantasy with strong characters and an unpredictable story, this is a must-read!

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book is a fantastic start to a YA fantasy trilogy! The story is easy to follow, with an intriguing premise that keeps you hooked from the beginning. The characters are well-developed and lovable, making it easy to become invested in their journeys. If you're a fan of YA fantasy, this book is a must-read, setting the stage for an exciting trilogy.

Ugh... how long till book 2?!?!

A Thrilling and Fiery Start to a New Romantasy Trilogy- ‘Heir of Storms’ delivers an electrifying blend of politucs, forbidden magic, and a blazing romance sure to make you swoon.

We meet Blaze- a compelling heroine, torn between the weight of her past and the promise of her future, while the simmering romance and high-stakes battles keep the tension crackling.

This book is perfect for fans of the ‘Red Queen’ and ‘Shadow and Bone’ series. Truly, it promised the fans those vibes and gave exactly that. Although, I would say because of that it made the plot twists, and even romantic elements feel very similar to something read before.

Minus that part, I would say this is a an absolute gripping start to a series with plenty of stormy surprises ahead.

A solid YA fantasy with plenty of intrigue to set us up for the rest of the series. I liked the worldbuilding and the trials. I would have liked to see more depth in the female characters and less mean girl behaviour: the two Princes in particular had a lot more depth than our lady supporting cast.
But that being said I enjoyed it and will read the rest when they're out.

A fast paced YA Fantasy with elemental magic that's Red Queen meets Avatar. I'll start with everything I loved about this book because while I found it to be a largely fun read there were some flaws. Well onto the good. The book reminded me of 2010 YA. Which was such a pleasant nostalgic experience. There were plenty of twists. The romance wasn't simple. There was insta love but also a slow burn. Overall it was a really fun read. What put me off at times was the motivation. She was a child just born when she caused a storm that killed many. It doesn't make sense that so many hate her for it. There was also something that kept bothering me as I read and I later came to the realization that the constant short scenes made it feel very disjointed. The girl hate was so weird to read in 2025. Like I said I did end up enjoying it.

Omgggg if you love the following: Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Crave series, Red Queen and Powerless….THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! If you have had hangovers from any of those?… omg pick this up when it comes out!

I really wanted to FEEL more of what Blaze was feeling so I could connect with her more but it was still just soooo good. The characters really start coming together. There’s a lot of world building happening in the beginning but don’t worry…it’s actually entertaining and enjoyable!

If I go on about this too much more I will probably spoil something but just read this if you love romantasy with zero spice because, duh! It’s YA!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book and give an honest review.

Too much exposition, characters dubiously explained, and a plot that I just, for the life of me, couldn't find it within myself to care about. All in all, I ended up disappointed with this story and hoping for more.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
# Pages: 416
Publication Date: 06.03.25

“Fate has many faces, my darling one. Make sure you look them all in the eye.”

“I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world. And I’m coming for my crown.”

👑 YA Romantasy
👑 Chosen One
👑 Feminine Rage
👑 Love Triangle
👑 elemental Magic
👑 Forbidden Love
👑 Deadly Competition

Book Blurb:
RED QUEEN meets SHADOW AND BONE in this explosive start to a YA romantasy trilogy about dangerous magic, forbidden love, and a cut-throat competition for the throne in an empire where crowns are not inherited -- they're won.

“Heir Of Storms” by Lauryn Hamilton Murray was an amazing first book to this trilogy series. The storytelling was creative, unique, captivating, and engaging. There’s so much room for her to expand upon in this series but in a great way. I loved the elemental magic system and that there’s bits that felt familiar to the story but not. Loved the trials and twists.

The character development was great and I really loved our FMC. Seeing her growth and self discovery was 🤌🏻

Overall, I really recommend this book. The love element in this story was the perfect balance. Pacing felt just right. I truly cannot wait for the second book to come out.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for this ARC.

I enjoyed the characters, and loved that the chapters are short! Wish there was a tad bit more world-building and romance. Decent fantasy novel, overall.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC. I could not put this book down! I can’t believe this is her debut novel! This book was breathtaking beautiful and stunning in every way a story should be. Lauryn is already a master of storytelling and I can’t wait for book two. If you are a fan of Sarah J Maas, Rebecca Yarros or Callie Hart, Lauryn Hamilton Murray is going to be your new favorite! This book will keep you on your toes and wanting more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Some might say this book feels too familiar, but I strongly disagree. Just because it incorporates well-known tropes doesn’t mean it lacks originality. There is definitely room to further the story and magic involved.

I enjoyed the characters but wanted more depth, especially in their interactions with side characters. The world-building felt a bit underdeveloped—I would have loved more detail to bring the setting to life.

One of my favorite aspects (minor spoiler!) was how the FMC powers were tied to her emotions. She wasn’t powerless because she lacked magic, but because she suppressed her feelings. Only when she allowed herself to grieve, get angry, or truly feel did her abilities emerge. It was a fresh take on the “powerless” trope and a beautiful metaphor for how emotions can be a source of strength rather than weakness.

My biggest critique is Chapter 50. A significant event is summarized after a time jump rather than shown as it unfolds, which made it feel less impactful. I hope to see more of this explained in the final book or second book.

I enjoyed this read overall and would recommend to anyone looking for a fun YA book to read.

Blaze, the last Storm Weaver born into a family known for fire magic, has always felt like an outsider. However, when the Gods choose her as a potential heir to the throne, she is thrust into a brutal competition where the stakes are high, the dangers real, and the line between friend and foe is anything but clear.

Their names are so silly.

At its core, “Heir of Storms” feels like a retelling of “The Hunger Games”, but with an elemental twist. The familiar structure of a reluctant heroine, a deadly contest, and an uncaring audience is present, yet the world-building here is what makes it just a bit different. The concept of elemental courts is interesting, especially the unique exploration of water magic. However, while Blaze’s role as the last of her kind has immense potential, the story doesn’t fully delve into the significance of her powers or how she ended up so different in the first place. We are left wanting more depth into her backstory and the weight of her rare abilities. The destruction she is capable of is hinted at but never fully explored at least not on her own merit in the later half of the book, leaving the reader to question how truly unique and dangerous she might be in this high-stakes game.

The romance, while somewhat predictable, is a welcome addition to the plot. It feels natural within the context of the story and serves as a potential grounding force for Blaze in a world where allegiances are fickle even if things may not be as clear cut as they seem. While the trials themselves are entertaining, they often feel watered down, lacking the true intensity you might expect from such a high-stakes competition. However, Blaze is very easy to root for as a character, which makes it easy to overlook the relative ease of her journey through these challenges.

One of the main drawbacks is the underdevelopment of its secondary characters. The supporting cast feels like they’ve been pulled from a checklist: the charming brother, the mean girl rival, the nice guy with a bad boy foil. While they serve their roles, none stand out in a meaningful way, and at times I honestly forgot who was who. In some instances, the dynamics felt shallow, leaving the potential for richer relationships largely untapped.

Not a bad book but a weaker version of something I’ve read before, that being said I think there is plenty of room for this story to grow into something unique and I really hope it does.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Fantasy politics and clean romance lovers - here you go!! This was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC gifted in exchange for my honest review.

5/5 STARS!!!!! I finished this book about 2 days ago and it has found a way to consume my every thought. Heir of Storms was so beautifully written and the world building was out of this world. This book was filled with magic, trials, romance, plot twists, grief, and all the feels. I know that i just finished the book but I already want to re-read it. I can't wait for book two.

The world of The Heir of Storms has an interesting power structure. One people(with power), four elements(earth, air, fire, water), one ruler for each element. Every generation there is an eclipse which marks the end of one each rulers reign and the search forn the next four rulers. Four people of each power are chosen by the gods to fight for the next right to rule. There is more but this is just one of the things this book is about.

The Heir of Storms stars a woman born of a family of Fire whose cry at birth brings about a great and powerful storm that changes the world. She is the Storm Weaver, the only of her kind, able to call the rain. She is a young woman cloistered from the world, hated and feared for the storm her first cry called. Does she have what it takes to save it? Read the book. Haha.

The only reason I dont give 5 stars is because this book left a lot unanswered. And my guess would be it it because it sets itself up to be the first of a series. I still enjoyed the read enough to get very caught up in the story.

I LOVED how addictive this book was. It reminds me of Powerless in some ways, a page-turning romantasy you won't put down. However, I did have a few problems connecting with the MC Blaze, which is why I don't find myself thinking about this novel often. Still, I loved the world Murray has created, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

I think what sets this "romantasy" read aside from the many we see out today is the balance of themes Lauryn Hamilton Murray includes. First and foremost, this is an epic fantasy story of loss, self-discovery, deception, mystery and power. There is a romantic theme between some characters. Yet it's not the sole focus. I loved that. How many great romantasy books have we read that don't even introduce the FMC/MMC love interest until the second book in the series? This book sets a great foundation for the character relationships to develop naturally instead of forcing a happy ending before the characters and plot are ready for that.

Lauryn does an amazing job of character introductions, most leaving you wonder, "can I trust this person?" The answer is most likely maybe, but probably not.

My only qualm with the story is the sense of irony the FMC doesn't seem to grasp in regard to how she treats a specific character. I know that is probably what the writer intended, but it was difficult to read.

I don't feel it necessary to reiterate to book blurb, you can read it for yourself. I just wanted to highlight my favorite aspects of this book!

I highly recommend Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review!

4.5/5

I’ve avoided YA for a while because in my last few ventures into the genre, it felt as if “young protagonist” became something of a veiled excuse for poorly written characters. However, this was the perfect book to get me out of that slump!

✔ Blaze’s growth and struggle to figure out her powers was very well-written and felt earned. She didn’t become a powerhouse overnight - she actually had to work for it.
✔ In general, Blaze was an excellent protagonist (except her name). She has this quiet strength that makes her very readable and sympathetic as a main character.
✔ Within the cast of characters, there are a lot of representations of what strength is, particularly strength in female characters. Though there were some stereotypically antagonistic female characters, there was also excellent representation of women as friends, mentors, and leaders.
✔ I don’t normally like love triangles but I really liked this one. There was something really authentic about how each relationship developed - crushes, hurt feelings, but avoiding insta-love.
✔ I’m very intrigued by how the magic and history of this world is set up and I’m rather eager to learn more. Lauryn Hamilton Murray did a great job of feeding the lore throughout the action but keeping enough back that there was a sense of more to discover.

✖ Some parts of the story were a little bit predictable but that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

5/5 stars!

I’m really excited to grab my own copy of this book on release and I will definitely be watching this author for further works.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honesty review.

With a dash of mystery and drama, this book was lighthearted and entertaining. The worldbuilding was enjoyable, and the story's inventive approach to power dynamics impressed me. Overall, the story moved along at a nice pace!