Give me some good characters and I will follow your story anywhere - and I was thrilled to meet Teia, half-sister to the murdery, soon-to-be-king Jura. Teia is morally charcoal, but she has to be, because with her parents already gone and Jura almost on the throne, she knows that her life is in severe danger.

An opportunity appears and Teia is ready to seize it and trade it for her safety, but it is not that easy. As a determined Teia realizes that this is not as clear as choice as she initially thought, there are choices to be made that will impact not just Teia but the rest of the kingdom.

I was Team Teia from the moment I met her - and I loved her journey from the first page to the last.

3.5 Stars
I want to start by saying that this book was by no means bad, just not necessarily what I am looking for.

Let's start with the positives. I am a sucker for any kind of elemental magic system and I think this one was well-developed for its fantasy world. The world building was great; not too much info dumping even though it is a first book. The characters were intriguing and I appreciate that a character that was marketed as morally grey was actually morally grey and not just a moody teenager. Writing a debut fantasy novel is no small feat and I absolutely applaud Tiffany Wang for her hard work.

However, there was a few issues that I couldn't really get past. The pacing was great for me until about 60% of the way through. Past there it felt like the author maybe had to keep the book to a certain minimum word count because it felt like we were really rushing through the ending. Building on this, I feel like large chunks of the plot were left out. For example, later on we hear a lot about what has happened in the previous two days without actually living through them; the main character just recaps the events for the reader (which I'm not really a fan of).

Overall, if you're looking for a fast-paced fantasy, found family, determined fmc story, I recommend giving this a shot!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Inferno’s Heir is a solid debut. Although, I disagree with others comparing it with Six of Crows, that’s not fair.

Tiffany Wang did a beautiful job with writing this one, I loved how it was written, truly.
The cover is stunning and immediately captured my interest.

The story itself is fun, witty and engaging. Books with heists have a very special place in my heart and Inferno’s Heir made its way in to my heart as well.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, Bindery Books and Tiffany Wang for the opportunity to read Inferno’s Heir.

🔥First, I have to mention the stunning cover—it's what drew me in initially to this book, and after I read the synopsis I had to request it.

🔥In “Inferno’s Heir,” we follow Teia, the king's half-sister, who is embroiled in a deadly struggle for survival as her brother seeks to get rid of her. Teia allies with a group of rebels aiming for the throne, and the adventure, complete with two thrilling heists, that made me think of Six of Crows.

🔥While I found some plot points lacking in logic, which prevented me from giving it a full five stars, the writing style and character depth were impressive.

🔥The ending hints at a potential series, and I’m eager to see where Teia's journey will lead next.

3.5 stars!

I didn’t love this book but also didn’t hate it but I feel like this book wasn’t meant for someone like me. I say that because I don’t love political fantasies because they just hard for me to follow in general, regardless of what book it is. There wasn’t a ton of politics in this book but definitely enough.

I was really lost in the beginning of the book because there was a lot of info dumping imo and I had a hard time following. It definitely picks up the second half of the vol and things get much more interesting. The beginning was just hard for me to get through. There were also too many characters for me personally to follow and understand who is who.

I really liked the authors writing though. Very mature and enjoyable to read. I really like the way Teia was written as a character because it felt like she was a hero and a villain at the same time and it was interesting feel support for a character like that. I just wanted her to succeed haha.

Thank you Net Galley and Bindery Books for this ARC!

This book really wasn't for me. The pace moved very fast and there were so many different characters that i could not keep up with them. I like the general idea of the story but I just could not get into the story. Thank you netgally for the arc!

Maybe I go in with too high of expectations for books that get all the attention. This just didn't grab me the way I thought it might. The characters weren't developed enough for me to understand their motivations, so I didn't really care about them. With most of them hovering in the moral gray areas (and whining about it), I found myself hoping they'd all be killed off at some point. I know this is part of a larger series, so maybe once the rest of the story comes to light it will all make sense.
It is a moderately paced adventure with fun fantasy vibes. It was an enjoyable read but won't make my faves list this year.

This debut book was incredibly awesome. It's been a while since I read a true fantasy book and I was enraptured by the world of magic and political schemes I found. In addition to this, the characters were so interesting - everyone had something going for them even if it just was being plain awful (I'm looking at you, Jura). My only problem was that I got kinda lost when they talked about the different countries but I don't think I missed something important.
Thanks to Violetear Books and NetGalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

A fun fantasy debut about Teia, an outcast half-sister of the soon-to-be king. The character development and world building are intriguing, and it is easy to get engulfed in the story, making the 400 pages breeze by.

Looking forward to reading more for this (hopefully) series and author.

I expected a lot more from this book based on how well the prose and the line level are.

I cannot stress how well Wang curated her prose. Every sentence was well constructed and the description really stood out. I personally really enjoy all the quirky gen z slang insert that she made fitting for the time period of this book.

The plot: I expected a LOT more from the plot, but it reads like 2017 YA fantasy, following the hype of Six of Crows. The long pacing really made me forget there is a heist going on. The point of Teia, who planned to betray the Dawnbreakers for her own gains, did not return for the majority of the book. And the attempt to circle back to it got less and less convincing when the girl literally almost died twice for them.

The magic system: Seems to only be fire and water even though there are Five Kingdoms and they all have different abilities. Kyra's role in the book was heavily diminished to make Teia more special.

The characters: are pretty much cookie-cutter of tropes.
- Teia: A Halfling princess, who goes around saying she's morally gray for half of the book (when in reality her actions are actually in good will and needing context) and that she's a Halfling (personally, I wouldn't even know she was supposed to be half-Asian until I saw the FC on the author's tiktok). In the world where everyone has very white names, like Teia, Tobias, Jura, Kyra etc, it makes you wonder why she doesn't use this opportunity to include more East Asian / Chinese cultural aspect.
- Tobias: grumpy
- Alara: poison master, supposedly femme fatale trope without really doing anything about it
- Enna: a thief who ALWAYS steals hehe quirky
It got tiring after the 50% mark.
And Jura. For a person who appears on the front cover, you would AT LEAST expect to see more of him in the book. He is just #abadguy through and through. The characters feel very one dimension.

Personally, I think the writing is strong for a YA debut, but without a strong plot, Inferno's Heir sadly reads like when you hired Greg Fraser for the cinematography but a plot written by Wattpad studio.

Ok, so for a debut this felt really well written. I also liked the world building, it was very easy to read and easy to get into the story. And the cover is just BEAUTIFUL. Caught my eye instantly.

The problem, for me, was the so-called morally gray protagonist. I do have a faible for the morally gray but Teia was just thoroughly unlikeable. Here edginess and all the banter felt very forced. Also her motives are not made understandable throughout the book, which just makes her allthe more obnoxious. She is just acting ignorant and selfish all the time. The other characters were okay, but a bit bland as well.

This book was a good and solid debut and I can't wait to read more from Tiffany Wang!

I was hooked from the start because of the FMC's unpredictable choices and actions. She kept me interested and even though she is considered to be a morally grey character, I found myself rooting for her.

The world and the magic system was straightforward and easy to understand, so that's a plus. The secondary characters made the book much more enjoyable to read. They had their own unique personalities that really shines throughout the book and I need more of their interactions!

There were some pacing issues where the chapters dragged for me but overall, I had fun reading the story and I'm eager to know what's next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!

I liked this! I saw some of the author’s tiktoks and became intrigued, so I’m super glad I got a chance to read this. I like an ensamble cast of characters, and this one had some greats. A morally grey protagonist is always fun, and I enjoyed the magic and political twists and turns. The end twist was a bit predictable, and I would’ve enjoyed a longer story. I think the character development could’ve been done better if there was just more to read. That being said, this was a fun YA heist/fantasy novel, and I’m hoping for a sequel. Another book could help with the character development and the world building, and the ending of this one is set up perfectly for another installment, so I’m crossing my fingers! 🤞

4/5 stars and an excellent debut for new author in the fantasy YA space!

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. I found the characters to be complex and interesting, while still hitting on those familiar archetypes that we know and love - the shifty thief, the handsome guard, the sunshine-y idealist. I found Teia to be an interesting character, and more morally grey than we usually see in YA protagonists. The general magic system is interesting and I would like to learn more about how it is magic gets passed down and is integrated into the story. This book definitely sets up a lot more of a fantasy story going forward, as magic was not very central to this story line beyond political ramifications and minor action sequences.

I felt the pacing was a little uneven, but once things got going, they really got going. The plot was also a bit repetitive (breaking into the same prison twice?) and there were some word choices that kind of snagged on my attention in distracting ways.

I think this is a great choice for fans of The Ember in the Ashes, Defy the Night, and Graceling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for access to the eARC of this book!

this book was exceptionally good! Thankyou to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for this wonderful ARC inexchange for an honest review! RTC soon after the publication!🥰💌

It is neither great or awful, it just simply is. For YA I do think it is fine, since it doesn't go too in depth about certain aspects, but since it's lacking in areas I wanted more of (the whole plotting and scheming and politicking) I feel rather neutral about this. I also went into this thinking it would be a standalone, so for it to end as it did...

This book is a light and humorous fantasy that explores the political landscape of Erisia. It has a fast pace, but some sections feel rushed, especially in the second half, while the beginning drags a bit. Some lore elements seem haphazardly included, making the plot less cohesive. However, the characters and action sequences stand out. the heist scenes are enjoyable and well-crafted. The diverse and witty characters add depth, and I appreciated their interactions whenever they were together. Overall, it’s a fun read that I was lucky to access early through Netgalley. Thank you!

“Their eyes followed her as she left, taking in every step of the Halfling Princess, the Shaylani Half-Witch.”

“This was something strange and new, the fragile weight of a friendship. Built from the barest of bones, spanning the thinnest tightrope-and yet unequivocally there nonetheless.”

I loved it !!! Wow !!! This fantasy book surprised me deeply !!! I never thought it would have turned out the way it did !!! A morally grey, heist driven, royal fire magic, young princess, halfling and bastard daughter of the king who plans on dethroning her terrible, awful, evil brother by joining the rebels. Isn’t this the premise for a very very good fantasy book? Because it truly is !!! It’s fantastic !! Our fmc Teia is the morally grey character we usually fall for and whose motives we try to understand but unlike some other characters we have already met, she stays strong and true to herself until the very end. She is badass, she is powerful and she is strong. But she is also determined to get what has been denied to her for too long. And the rebel she meets are gonna give her a new perspective on the war to come.
And when old legends and mythical powers will start playing a part in it all … Teia doesn’t know what to do, how to move or whom to trust. But I loved going through her story!!! The narrative felt so easy to get through and there was no info bombing at the beginning or in any part of the book, which I really appreciated!! That last 30 pages probably screwed me up for real but … it felt like an unexpected good surprise that left me wondering. And after that epilogue … I’m interested in more !! So much more !!!

“Teia wasn't sure when they left the Temple of Past-only that they stood there for the longest time, the Halfling Princess and the rebel boy, until the very last candle had burned down to nothing.”

“She held back a laugh.
It was the stuff that forever was made of, if only time would slow down.”

I got a copy through Netgalley, this however didn’t affect this review.

Inferno’s Heir is a political fantasy and while I usually pick up some lighter fantasy, I really did enjoy this!

We follow Teia, who’s set to mary and abusive lord on the outskirts of her kingdom, the match secured by her half-brother, the prince and heir to the throne. Teia also has been spying on everyone in the palace and learning all of their secrets to use against them.

I really liked Teia as a main character, because you never knew what to expect from her, which shows in all of her actions. The dynamics between her and the other rebels in the story are heartwarming, but also tentative, because Teia knows these friendships will have an ending.

There was a very small sub plot of romance, which I actually liked, because if it would have been a bigger part of this book, the rest wouldn’t have felt as strong as it did now. Of course, I’m eager to see how it will develop in the next book(s)

The middle part was the weakest of the book as it was a bit repetitive at times, but the beginning and ending more than made up for it.

This book started very strong for me. I was instantly hooked and thought it’d be a favorite of the year. The magic system and world are easy to understand, and different from other books I’ve read. The main plot kept my interest and the FMC’s next move had me guessing.

My biggest issues were the pacing and the length. This dragged multiple times for me. I needed to be shown more in this instances and not just told. Or it just needed to be shorter. There were several times when I thought it started to pick up, but again I felt myself wanting to just skip to the next chapter.

That being said, I enjoyed the cast of characters and wouldn’t mind getting some varied POV’s in the next one. I think the supporting characters were one of the strongest parts of the book and I’m excited to see where we go with them.

Overall this is a good debut and I’m interested to see where the next book goes. The main plot and the characters are enough to make me want to finish this duology (I think?) out.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.