Heir by Sabaa Tahir is a beautifully woven dark fantasy that explores the delicate threads connecting its complex characters. Initially, I found it challenging to keep track of the multiple POVs, but once the story revealed how Aiz, Quil, and Sirsha’s paths intertwined, I was completely hooked. Following these characters as they hunt down a creature terrorizing young lives made for a captivating journey, rich with atmosphere and tension.

The character development was one of the highlights, as each protagonist transformed throughout the story, showing raw and vulnerable sides as they faced their inner and outer battles. And that ending—I didn’t see it coming at all! Now, the wait for the sequel feels like an eternity. Luckily, I have The Ember in the Ashes series on deck to dive into while I wait for more. Sabaa Tahir has crafted a world and cast that linger long after the last page.

Look, I KNEW Sabaa was going to destroy me with this. And she DID. And somehow I’m still… a deeper level of moved and devastated that I even imagined I’d be. And that’s saying a lot.

This is an absolute must read if you enjoyed Ember in the Ashes, which is one of my favorite series of all time. Even without, though, this book is really a masterpiece on its own. We have a brand new batch of main characters, all of which feel distinct and lovable and imperfect. They have motivators that change and grow throughout the story, sometimes enough so that they begin to seek unrecognizable. I was lucky enough to meet Sabaa on release day for this, and she talked about it being a story about what happens when you begin with good intentions but lose your way, and good lord did she do this theme justice.

We begin with Quil, the next Heir to the empire; and the empresses nephew. He living with the ghosts of who his family is and was, and has had the benefit of growing up alongside all manner of different cultures and peoples in peace. Regardless, the pain his family has faced still lives in his bones, and it changes him multiple times throughout this story. When his people become the displaced and oppressed, he knows he has to do anything in his power to save them, while also managing to keep from losing himself. We also meet Sirsha, a magical hunter from another land with secrets, a whip-smart humor, a chip on her shoulder and a bottomless well of an heart that she doesn’t anyone to know about. Not to mention, we have a villain that strikes a deeper level of fear in me than I’ve ever really encountered before.

Everything from here is an absolute adventure. It hurts brutally, but it also makes you laugh and scream and swoon. We got to know a whole additional country we knew nothing of before, and the world feels even larger, more fantastical and more exciting.

Sabaa is an absolute master at writing about colonization and oppression, and she’s not afraid to rip your heart and stomp on it (ALWAYS with reason). I come away from every one of her books a changed, better and wiser person, and I couldn’t recommend this book more. It has easily landed in my top 5 of the year, and I think literally EVERYONE should read it.

Thank you so much to Penguin and NetGalley for this eArc!

Sabaa Tahir crafts a spellbinding tale in this captivating fantasy that follows three unforgettable characters: Aiz, a fierce orphan seeking justice; Sirsha, a resilient tracker forced into a deadly pursuit; and Quil, a reluctant prince grappling with his legacy. With vivid world-building and beautifully interwoven fates, Tahir delivers a story brimming with suspense, fierce loyalty, and unexpected connections. I'd only read her contemporary YA, All My Rage, and loved it, but now I need to read her other fantasy books! This thrilling journey of power, sacrifice, and resilience. The book starts slow, building up the world and the characters, but about halfway through, the pace picks up, and you won't be able to put it down.

Take all my money, Sabaa Tahir. Honestly, her story telling skills are just fantastic. The light touch of romance and the constant action plot always keeps my attention. As a reader of the An Ember in the Ashes series I loved how this just picked up where that one let off. It was really neat to see how these former characters were doing. While you do NOT need to read AEITA series to enjoy this book I highly recommend you do. Heir has all new characters, however the plot of AEITA will be spoiled for you.

I was provided an ARC of this book via the publisher and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

If you are a fan of Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes Quartet, you will love this! This is set in the same world and follows the next generation of the beloved (and hated) characters from that series. I would say you don't have read that series first as the author does a good job giving enough backstory for you to follow along if you haven't. I do recommend reading that series first as it was amazing and it will give you some insight into the empire and into some of the older characters that play supporting roles in this book as they were main characters in the previous series. It isn't necessary though as this has a fresh new plot and new characters to keep up with.

This is told from the perspective of 3 characters with 2 brief perspectives from additional characters that I expect to play major roles in the next book. Aiz is on a quest to save her people and seek vengeance for the wrongs done to them, Sirsha has been contracted to find a murderer, and Quil is the crown prince who wants nothing to do with the throne. They are all connected by by magic and murder.

This was amazing! This has everything you could want from a fantasy story. It has action, magic, great world building, great characters, and a little bit of romance. The pacing starts out slow as we get to know the characters and are introduced to the world, but it picks up as Sirsha and Elias get closer to finding the killer they seek. I really enjoyed the plotline, and while some of it may have been predictable, I didn't mind. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.

In full transparency I also listened to the audiobook (borrowed from my library after publication) while I was reading the ARC. It was fantastic. It features a different narrator for each POV, which I always appreciate. It helps me keep track of which character is telling the story. All 5 narrators were excellent, and really brought this story to life for me. If you enjoy a good audiobook, I highly recommend this one!

Tahir’s world-building shines once again in Heir, creating a rich and immersive setting that seamlessly blends the familiar with the new. The story is rooted in the Kegari slums and the Martial Empire, and while it's a continuation of the world introduced in An Ember in the Ashes, it stands on its own with depth and complexity. The magical elements play a crucial role, especially through Sirsha’s tracking abilities, which she has to hide after being exiled from her tribe. Aiz’s chapters are particularly enchanting—her use of magic, gifted by the goddess Mother Div, is both mystical and haunting. Even though Quil’s relationship with magic is less prominent, his role as a crown prince grappling with his lineage and responsibilities adds an essential layer to the story’s depth.

The character development in Heir is where the book truly excels. Aiz's transformation from an orphan driven by a need for revenge to a character whose choices have far-reaching, catastrophic consequences is fascinating to follow. Her journey is full of unexpected twists, especially as her power becomes corrupted by a dark force. Sirsha’s arc, too, is compelling. She starts off on a quest for survival, tracking down a murderer for a payday, but soon realizes that much more is at stake—including the world she thought she understood. Her unexpected romance with Quil adds another layer to her story, bringing personal stakes into play. Quil himself evolves from a reluctant prince, fearful of repeating his father’s mistakes, to someone who understands the weight of leadership. By the end, he recognizes that his duty to the throne is not about wanting power but about serving his people.

While Heir didn’t necessarily need an enemies-to-lovers subplot, the romance between Sirsha and Quil adds emotional depth to their individual arcs. Their relationship emphasizes the stakes of their mission, showing that love can be both a vulnerability and a source of strength. There are a few steamy moments, but overall, the book isn’t focused on romance—it’s there to heighten the tension. Although it felt a bit like a nod to the current romantasy trend, it didn’t come across as forced. Instead, it provided a balance to the darker elements of the plot, giving the characters (and readers) a few moments of reprieve.

Thematically, Heir explores power, vengeance, and the lengths people will go to for their beliefs. Sirsha longs for a peaceful life, free from the need to prove herself to those who wronged her. Quil seeks redemption for the empire’s dark history, struggling to balance his desire for change with the burden of his heritage. Meanwhile, Aiz is driven by a hunger for power, even as it twists into something dangerous. The intertwining of their stories creates a narrative that is tense and sometimes heartbreaking, but always engaging. This isn’t a feel-good fantasy—it's about the cost of survival and the sacrifices each character makes along the way.

One of the most exciting aspects of Heir is how all three main characters’ storylines come together around the halfway point, revealing their connections and the larger stakes at play. This plot twist keeps the story moving at a breakneck pace, leading to a dramatic climax where Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil confront each other in a scene full of action and emotional weight. The build-up is intense, and the payoff is worth it, as each character faces the consequences of their choices.

Heir is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy looking for a story with rich world-building, complex characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing. Sabaa Tahir weaves together themes of power, love, and sacrifice in a way that feels both grand and deeply personal. It’s a book that will keep you turning the pages, even as it challenges you to think about the cost of revenge and the strength it takes to change.

I did not read An Ember in the Ashes before reading this & I think that is the main reason I did not like this book. It is its own story but I feel like I was dropped in this world & had to play catch up.

If I ever get around to reading AEIT I think I will give this another try.

Unfortunately, when I picked up this book I was unaware that it was a part of an already existing universe. While it could stand alone, other readers have informed me that it’s difficult to follow if you haven’t read the other 4 books, and I found that true for me. Others have said that if you want to read the other series you should do that first, and the chapters of Heir that I did read were so great that I want to pick up the author’s other books, so I will be saving Heir for after I finish those books.

Thank you so much for the ARC, Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Wow. Wow. Wow.
Holy Moses, this book is fantastic. This book moves like chess pieces on a board. Each character slowly revealing their significance through the telling, drawing you in and feeling every single ounce of their pain and hope. Sabaa Tahir has crafted a story so captivating and enthralling I could not put it down. I have not read her Ember in the Ashes series but that does not at all detract from the one being told. It was a painful and beautiful dawning realization to connect each piece in this telling. This book was fire. 1000/10 would read a million times over. This is fantasy and romance without being too much. It was such a journey to take through these characters. Love, love, love.

Heir is the first book of a new duology by Sabaa Tahir. It follows three main characters: Aiz (the orphan), Sirsha (the outcast), Quil (the prince). Their fates and stories are intertwined, as their worlds come crashing together. There's romance, political hunger, greed, old magic, greed, and adventure.

Once I started reading Heir, I did NOT want to put it down. The story captures you almost immediately. There was a great mix of world and character building that was paired well with action packed scenes. Though Heir has been advertised as a new series, I would highly suggest readers to read An Ember in Ashes series prior to reading this. Why? The background characters, Eli, Laia, Helene and others, AND the magic/world building will be more clear of how the people and pieces fall together. I did rush to read the series, and I don't regret it at all (very fast read).

Sabaa Tahir's writing and story telling holds true with Heir, but there is a maturity that has shown itself from the original series. I instantly give Heir 5 stars out of 5. I CANNOT wait until book two comes out. I highly recommend this to all.

Thank you Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Sabaa Tahir for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I will be posting to social media.

Cawpile: 8.43/10

This new series is sure to entice readers with its rich lore and unique magic system. The world felt well developed with different nations of people that have different relationships with magic. There were a few different types of magic including elemental and more abstract magic.

The story follows three main characters - each from different nations as they journey across the lands. I grew to love the characters and felt like they were well developed and dimensional. There is Aiz who is trying to save her people with the help of her god, the prince who doesn’t want the crown and the bounty hunter who is exiled from her people. The characters coming from different parts of the world made for interesting contrasts between POVs.

The book switches points of view each chapter and made many references to the authors first series. I haven’t read the first series yet but could see how it may make the story feel richer in depth and didn’t have any issues following the current story.

I enjoyed seeing the character growth and how the plot thickens and develops. The intrigue was built subtly and did sneak up on me. There were a few good twists here and there and a lot of good hints to things. I thought the ending was great and I am excited for the next book.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a lighter high fantasy read (mostly 3 POVs) who is looking for a book with magic but where magic isn’t the main focus us of the book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing me with an eARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher of this book for this eARC.

I never finished the Ember ion the Ashes quartet, so there were a few context clues missing for me, otherwise, Sabaa is an amazing writer.

4.5 stars

Told between three interwoven perspectives, Heir is an epic fantasy dealing with themes of sacrifice, power, betrayal, and love. There wasn't a single POV I didn't enjoy reading - Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil were all distinct perspectives and I had a great time with all three of them. The first 40% of the book was entertaining, slowly building out the world and our characters, but right around that 40% mark is when the puzzle pieces start clicking into place and I was hooked. I am super looking forward to the sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Yes, this is a stand alone book, but as someone who did not read the Ember in the Ashes series, I felt like I was playing catch up for the first half of the book. I would have appreciated knowing that going in. It is fast moving action for the majority of the book. That said, it took me about 40% of the book to really care about what was happening. I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first. I was not happy with the ending. For grades 9 & up.

Heir is the first in a duology that interconnects with the Ember in the Ashes series. While it is POSSIBLE to read this as a standalone - I would highly recommend reading if after finishing the other series first. I went into this book without doing so and the world building was very difficult to get into. I believe the first half of the book would have been much more enjoyable if I had the background.

That being said, the first 50-60% of the book was very difficult for me to get engaged in. The multi-POV also contributed to this as it felt like it took a really long time to get any momentum built up. Once the character's intertwined stories started to become clear, it got better.

The last 30% of the book was fantastic. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and cursing. For that reason alone, I am willing to read the next installment. My hope is that the complex world building in this book will help lay the ground work for the next one.

I didn’t realize that you had to read her other four books. I read from other people that people should read those four books to understand this book. I wish I would have known that before I picked this book out. I do want to thank u for the arc.

This was my first book by Sabaa Tahir and it definitely won’t be my last. Love the world building and the banter. Have added An Ember in the Ashes series to my tbr!

IMPORTANT: If you have ANY plans to read An Ember in the Ashes or you haven't finished the quartet yet, do not pick up Heir until you have done so. There's a ton of spoilers.

Can you read Heir without having read AEITA first? Sure. I think it works well enough on its own. SHOULD you? Heck no. Not if you want that full emotional ride, baby~ (no seriously the way my heart weeped at every little cameo/hint.. T.T)

Heir picks up about 20 years after AEITA concludes. The story follows none other than baby Zacharius Marcus Livius Aquillas Farrar, heir (hehe) to Empress Helene Aquillas. Obviously he's not a baby any more, and calling him by his full name or even first name in any given sentence is way too long so he goes by Quill now. Plus all that baggage, oof.

We're introduced to a smattering of new characters, some with connections to old. And while I don't think Heir quite lives up to the amazingness of AEITA (first book, not series), I still loved every second of it. Heir feels faster paced and I'm not sure we get to spend as much time getting to know the characters as much as we'd like. I also felt like the big reveal was revealed way too soon and while it did make me curious as to how events turned out it did not emotionally scar me as much as possible.

All in all though, I loved this book and cannot wait to pick up the sequel. I'm also insanely sad I missed out on my local Sabaa Tahir event because I was sick T.T so I could not tell her in person how much I loved it. Ugh, dumb cold.

4.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

WOW WOW WOW. She did it again. I am in awe how you can write an series like "An Ember in the Ashes" and then follow it up years later (in real life and in their fictional world) and still give you that same feeling and connection.
And if you don't read the OG series, you are 10000% reading this wrong. DO NOT start with Heir, whatever you do. You need to know everyone, the back stories, the history, the heartache and love. It is essential.
And "Heir" put you back in that perfectly imperfect world and ripped my heart out again. I love how Sabaa Tahir knows how to make you feel so connected to her characters, you read from their perspective and feel what they feel, and in some ways, it is a horrible way to feel. No spoilers here, but I love how Tahir is not afraid to give you real life and real struggles rather than fluffy romance and a happy ending. Not to say there isn't happy endings here, just more realistic ones. And now thinking that I have potentially years to go until I can get some closure on the ending of "Heir"!! I am UNWELL.

Dates read: 07/17/2024 - 07/27/2024

Set 20 years after the events of A Sky Beyond the Storm, Heir tells the gradually converging stories of Quil, Empress Helene’s nephew and reluctant crown prince of the Empire, Aiz, an impoverished Kegari attempting to fulfill her cleric’s holy order, and Sirsha, a banished Jaduna tracker who’s just trying to survive, through their connection to a mysterious killer.

I loved the Ember Quartet, and I had so much fun diving back into its universe. The characters were well developed and intriguing, and I was eager to learn more of their backstory as I read. The story was relatively fast paced with some slow scenes here and there but I was never truly bored of the story. There was a good amount of romantic scenes throughout the books, and I loved every second of it! The story was told in an interesting way, and it kept me turning the page to see how everything would line up. Only life responsibilities prevented me from binging this book in one go. I think it would’ve been nice if there was a prologue or chapter that summarizes the events of the original series because I’m sure I’m not the only one who hasn’t read it in a while and may have forgotten certain scenes or information; however, it's definitely not necessary to have read the original series before reading Heir!

This was an amazing read, and I am so grateful to be able to experience this universe again. I’m really excited for the final book of this duology and I can’t wait to see the storyline of each character unfolds as the story continues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.