So many feelings.
Where to even start… This is the first in a duology that takes place in the same world as An Ember In The Ashes. Twenty years later, we meet new people and check in with some old favorites. It was lovely to see Laia, Elias, and Helene again. But they definitely were not the focus.

Aiz, Quil, and Sirsha have their own journeys to go on and it is an adventure. A stressful fantasy if you will. And I loved every moment. Sabaa brought these characters to life with the same care as her previous books. And she asks tough questions about morality and how far people will go, especially when they feel they have a higher power on their side.

I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for the next book.

🌬️ Book Review 🌬️

Heir by Sabaa Tahir
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The only way to describe this book is epic. It was an action-packed, romantic story about vengeance, greed, and power. The plot was complex, the characters were well-developed, the worldbuilding felt thorough and intentional, and the way each character’s storyline wove together with each other created a truly magnificent tale. There are so many twists and turns, and just when you think you’ve figured out how the book is going to end, you find out that you’re wrong. I can’t wait for the next book in this duology! I haven’t read An Ember in the Ashes, and it wasn’t necessary to understand what was happening in this book. However, there are some characters from the original series, and if you don’t want spoilers, you should read that series before this one. I loved Heir and Sabaa Tahir’s writing so much that I’m going to go back and read An Ember in the Ashes just for fun! If you want a darkly breathtaking book that will completely captivate you, I highly recommend this book!
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️
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Read if you like:
▫️multiple POV
▫️warring kingdoms and politics
▫️magic and spirits
▫️reluctant allies
▫️found family
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Thank you to Penguin Teen, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Penguin Random House, NetGalley, and Sabaa Tahir for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I just finished my reread of the Ember in the Ashes series and dove head first into Heir. It is everything I ever could have wanted in a follow up!! It is so fun to see where all my faves ended up and see how time has changed the world. It feels brand new at the same time. Some sequels can feel like a money grab, that is NOT the case here. I am falling in love with all of the new and old characters, the new regions and magic. The villian is terrifying! I get shivers thinking about how incredible the audio book will be! I will be raving about this one to all my friends and family! Please come read this one and fangirl with me!!

HEIR is a masterpiece, just as Sabaa is a master of fantasy. This book takes place 20 years after the An Ember in the Ashes series wraps up and it feels so effortless to be back in this world. Things have changed, but the incredible world building, intriguing politics, ruthlessness, and morality conversations remain the same. I highly, highly recommend anything by Sabaa, though I'd start with the Ember quartet if you want to read this one - and trust me, you want to read it. Despite its very serious nature, there are great moments of humor, friendship, and love, as well. I can't wait for book 2.

In Heir, Sabaa creates an incredibly well-written multidimensional, emotional fantasy with a new cast of complex and endearing characters, each harboring their own struggles and running from their past, and I couldn’t help but FALL so immensely into this read that I already wanted to be back with the characters immediately after finishing the last pages of this book.

Set in the world of An Ember in the Ashes twenty years after the last book, we follow Helene’s young nephew Quil and his group of friends as a new foe challenges the hard-earned peace their family fought to achieve years ago. Now Quil must venture into the unknown, where, at every turn, his skills and intuition will be tested, and the path in front of him is one he never imagined.

THIS BOOK!! The writing was so effortlessly easy to escape into and crafted the pieces of this ever-changing and moving story flawlessly. Sabaa will always make me fall for her layered and beautifully tragic characters (Ah, I love them so much!! My heart!), and this new found family was no exception. They immediately found their way to my heart just like Laia, Elias, and Helene did before them. And speaking of past characters, we see a couple of familiar faces that had me highlighting my book like crazy, cherishing every minute we see of them on page.

I can gush on and on about this story and its previous series forever!! You know a book is really great when the next day after finishing it, you’re anticipating picking it back up again only to realize you’ve finished and have to wait for the next one!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

THIS GAVE EVERYTHING I HOPED IT WOULD GIVE!
Such an incredible start to a new duology. If you are a fan of the An Ember in the Ashes series (like I am) you will LOVE this book! I was smiling, kicking my feet, gasping, crying, laughing, and yelling out loud at times. So much emotion, so many great characters. There are a few plot twist that made me pause in shock. There was incredible action, mystery, deception, found family, and some romance. I highly recommend this book!!

Thank you to Sabaa Tahir and Putnam Books for this ARC

I loved An Ember in the Ashes (AEITA) when it first came out and sped through the series after each book was released. So, to say I was excited for this new book set in the same world is an understatement.

Similar to AEITA, the worldbuilding takes center stage. I was immediately sucked into this magical, violent environment. It was full of culture, rich descriptions, and intrigue. We also see religious politics take center stage, adding a new dynamic to the plot.

This book presents multiple POVs, and they certainly made an impression. I loved to hate Aiz, I was rooting for Quil, and Sirsha stole my heart. Even the side characters were full of personality, layers, flaws, and shades of grey.

Finally, this is labeled as a YA fantasy, but it never felt young. I could see how Tahir has grown as a writer, and from her AEITA days, I never felt bogged down by info-dumping, and the action scenes were perfectly paced. There are a few fade-to-black scenes, but they made sense and only enhanced the plot and relationship dynamics.

I hate to say that you should read 4 BOOKS before diving into this one, but I highly recommend doing just this. The plot of “Heir” is set 20 years after the events of the original quartet, and there are A LOT of nods and appearances by the original characters. You won’t be confused if you decide to dive straight into this one, but I think you will miss a lot of backstory.

The first part of this is a lot slower. There is a lot of foundational worldbuilding and character introduction. It wasn’t overwhelming or boring, but you can tell that this pace significantly shifts once you hit part 2. Some major twists and reveals will keep you hooked until the very last page.

This is a 5-star book for me. From the worldbuilding to the characters to the twists to the overall plot, I fell back in love with this world that had captured my attention years ago. If you want a rich fantasy with hints of romance but a lot of addicting plot points, betrayal, action, and a found family, try out “Heir.”

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

Sabaa Tahir can do no wrong. This book was a masterpiece, as are all of her books. If you loved her writing in the Ember in the Ashes series, you will Heir. I have no critiques.

5/5 STARS

This book is non-stop adventure and will take you on a roller coaster of emotions!

First, this book is a new series that picks up in the same world as the An Ember in the Ashes series. It's not technically necessary to have read that series before this one, but it's amazing so you really should, and there will be characters and references that you won't understand. Even so, it's possible to enjoy this book all by itself.

This book is told from several points of view, but not too many so as to make it tedious or confusing. Because of this, there's an element of anticipation that is created that will make it nearly impossible to put the book down!

I fell in love with the characters and was completely invested in each of their journeys to accomplish their unique goals/quests. This is not a "romance" book but there are elements of love and friendship that are truly beautiful. It will break your heart and fill you with joy. Like I said, a roller coaster!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did not realize this book was going to become nearly as viral as what Fourth Wing and others in a similar genre have become when I requested it on NetGalley, However, if those are the books you enjoy, then this is definitely one you need to add to your TBRs as soon as possible,

Quil does not want to be the Emperor and is not ready for his regent Aunt to hand over the crown she has been holding for him, but as time grows short, war comes the shores of his home lands and he is sent running for his safety as his aunt stays to stand her ground.

Sirsha is probably my favorite with her flaws and her ability to track. She has a mysterious past we, the reader, get bits and pieces of as we learn more about her to know what makes her tick and what drives her. Her family seems to be awful as well, no wonder she lives in fear of crossing their path.

Aiz is the most angry it seems, with so much loss and grief and tragedy fueling her in her quest to fulfill her religious duty and seek vengeance.

This book weaves and twists and turns in so many wonderful ways. There are moments which caught me off guard and I actually had to pause in stunned silence for a moment before continuing. I cannot wait for the next installment of this duology. Let's finish this journey and see where their roads lead.

Sabaa Tahir can do no wrong. But what she can do is break our hearts over and over again and still convince us to come back for more. LOL. I loved this newest chapter in her Ember world. Seeing some of our favorites come back (Laia, Elias, Helene) was really wonderful, especially Helene. They were interspersed enough to satisfy my Ember itch, but the real stars of the show were the new generation. Quil, Sirsha, Aiz....we have so many new characters to grow to love and root for.

As always, Sabaa Tahir's storytelling is unparalleled. Her world building is intricate and unique and once again, I found myself completely lost in her words. We have multiple points of view, characters with secrets and painful pasts, complicated family relationships, romance, a mystery to solve....so many good things packed into this book!!!

Now I am just waiting for my hard copy to arrive so I can add this beautiful book to my collection!!

Tahir does it again! Expanding the world created in the AEITA series, we follow three new characters who are inexplicably entwined. I kept trying to figure out how they fit together and was not correct in my prediction (I love when that happens!). Absolutely enthralling.

Title: Heir by Sabaa Tahir
Genre: High Fantasy
Pub Date: October 1, 2024

✨️ Female Rage
✨️ Unique Magic System
✨️ Multiple POV
✨️ Arranged Marriage
✨️ Ongoing War
✨️ Sci-Fi Fantasy
✨️ Corrupt Tribe Leader
✨️ Unchecked Greed

Three unlikely companions whose stories intermingle, a corrupt tribal leader whose thirst for power sends the world into chaos, and a killer who is set on destroying everything.

I really loved how Aiz, Quil and Sirsha's stories came together. There were some twists I wasn't expecting, and the world building is EXTENSIVE! Tahir went so in depth, we not only got information about their different magical abilities, but the political issues and corruption that ignited the war and the multiple tribes.

Heir is an immersive story which touches on grief, greed and corruption, with a romantic subplot, and it's must read for lovers of sci-fi/high fantasy!

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Penguin Teen, for the digital review copy!❣️

Heir is one of my favorite books that I’ve read so far this year! Heir is a much-longed for return to the world of An Ember in the Ashes, but this time following Helene’s nephew Quill. It is finally time for Quill to assume the crown, but disaster strikes the empire before he can. To save the empire and his family, Quill must work with an unlikely ally and retrace the history that brought them to this point.

Even though I just finished Heir, I already can’t wait to reread it! Sabaa Tahir is one of my favorite writers and I was thrilled to be going back to the world of An Ember in the Ashes. It was a joy to see familiar characters make appearances and see what happened after the last page of the quartet.

From the beginning, I was swept away by Sabaa’s rich worldbuilding. Heir is an exploration into different areas of the world not explored in the original quartet. One of my favorite things about Sabaa’s writing is the poignant sensory details that make you feel as if you walk alongside the characters. The descriptions of the food, smells, magic, and locations are excellent.

Sabaa Tahir is a writer who will make you shriek out loud at the incredible twists that she pulls off. Her beautiful prose and witty dialogue make you want to highlight every word. I loved the characters so much, especially Sirsha and Quill. Sirsha was such a compelling character with deep secrets and fascinating magic. I loved the romance that sprung up between Sirsha and another character (no spoilers!); I can’t wait to see how it continues.

I would highly recommend Heir to anyone! I truly can’t wait to see how Sabaa continues the story and am so happy she returned to the world of An Ember in the Ashes.

Thank you to Sabaa Tahir, Penguin Teen, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved being able to come back to this world and see how it is now with all the decisions and the turmoil that was being caused in the previous books. I really was so excited to read this and heartbroken throughout the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it will be added to that series as some of my most favorite books.

I LOVED the An Ember in the Ashes quartet. Seriously one of THE best fantasies I have ever read. Not to mention it has my favorite male character ever written, Elias Veturius.

And to get the opportunity to read this continuation within the same world with all their children, I have no words.

Sabaa has such a way with words, you just get sucked into the story and the characters lives. You get so close to the characters and rooting for them, no matter the choices they may make, or the way they may act.

This one follows three, Aiz(a Kegari orphan who wants vengeance), Sirsha(a tracker with secrets), and Quil(the upcoming emperor who does not want to be emperor). I loved learning about each of these characters and the relationships developing. You could feel the pain each of them are suffering from personally whether it’s the burden of becoming emperor, or being shunned by your own people. You just fall in love with them all.

Not to mention the many side characters we get to learn about and get closer too, including Elias’ son. He may not be Elias, but I still swooned.

The mystery in here was also a nice addition wondering who is causing the murders. It really kept you on your toes through the story!

This was truly an adventure and a great start to this duology. I’m so honored to have had the opportunity to read an early copy. I cannot thank NetGalley or the publisher enough for the opportunity. You need to read this book.

This book is a masterfully crafted narrative that interweaves the lives of three young individuals as they grapple with the burdens of survival, responsibility, and love.

Each chapter shifts between different characters' points of view. While I have my personal favorites and found myself more invested in some over the others, I never felt the usual frustration that comes with multi-POV stories. I was always eager to read every chapter, regardless of the character's perspective. The way the narrative threads came together in the end was incredibly satisfying.

One of the standout elements of this book is the intricacy of the world-building. We are introduced to several distinct races, each with its own way of life and unique worldview. The depiction of class struggles, both between nobility and the poor within a single race, adds depth to the story.

I'm a sucker for characters pushed to their very limits, leaving them with no choice but to act, and this book delivered that quite well.

As the queen herself, Sabaa Tahir, so aptly put it, "𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐳𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘."

I recommend this book to anyone who loves YA epic fantasies with a romance subplot. And if you're a fan of full cast narrations, don't miss out on the audiobook version!

Returning to the “An Ember in the Ashes” series is so special to me. I still remember buying each of those books, and a continuing spin-off series is incredible. I love the way Tahir write and builds a story and world. I also love that this will be a duology, so the story isn’t over yet. “Tell me a dream, little love.” BRB crying.

Heir is book one in the Heir Duology by Sabaa Tahir.
Hooked from the beginning. Intrigued and surprised!
Some fantasy worlds take a bit of preliminary world building to get into, but that was not the case with Heir. I was immediately swept up in the story.
Such a good writing style, pulls you right into this world with a really interesting concept.
Sabaa’s writing, characters, and storytelling deserves all the stars in the world.
I can’t wait for book two!

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you so much to Penguin Canada for the ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed this book! This is my first book by Sabaa and I am officially a fan!

This story was very complex and intricate, I loved how it unfolded and how it’s told from the 3 different viewpoints! It kept me on the edge of my seat, needing to know what was going to happen! If you are a fantasy lover, you will love this book!!!

My only complaint is that sometimes I did find it hard to follow. The world building that happens is very well done but so many new terms get introduced that it was hard to follow at points for me.

I highly recommend this book!