I've been wanting to read a Sabaa Tahir book for a while, so I was very excited to get the ARC for Heir! I loved the multiple perspectives and the different characters and how their stories fit together. However, I did think it was hard to get into and a little slow/too long at times.

I'm a lifelong reader and fan of all Sabaa Tahir works and anytime i pick up her books i'm nothing short of drawn into her world. I stay there and watching the words play out like a movie. HEIR was the same and again i'm not happy it's ended because i have to wait for book 2 lol. This book was absolutely breathtaking...i'm so happy my hardcopy will be arriving tomorrow as well as the audiobook, yayyyy. I can't wait to delve back into HEIR again for an immersive read. Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil were the 3 main characters and boy were they xters to follow and root for. We start off with some worldbuilding to set the scene and then it takes off. Action-packed, edge of your seat or bed, clutching your blanket wondering what would happen next...there was one beginning scene in the first chapter that when it happened, i was like yep, i'm here to get thrilled. The chatter (a lot of the dialogue gave me pause to think 'a message within a story'), plot, violenceee, magic, amazing pace, tensionnnn, Sabaa's awesome humor (IYKYK) and writing style is just muah and beautiful, rich, seamless worldbuilding left the reader (me) just flat out needing more. We go through a lot of emotions with all 3 characters. Sirsha was my girl, but no i shall not pick a favorite because they all were..Quil was a reluctant heir and gosh his internalization i lovedddd. I'm really trying not to be spoilery. You just need to read this gem, and guess what you will meet fav characters from AEITA (i literally squealed when they came on the page lol). I'm happy there's a book 2 and i can't waitttttttttttttttt. To the publisher, would be nice if you made this a trilogy so we don't have only 2 books. I already know i want 3 or more lol. Thanks Netgalley for the arc, much appreciated.

Sabaa Tahir is a true master of fantasy storytelling, and Heir brilliantly expands upon her beloved Ember in the Ashes quartet. This compelling sequel invites readers back into a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly new, filled with intricate secrets and complex political landscapes.

Set 20 years after the events of the original series, Heir introduces a new cast of characters grappling with their own profound dilemmas, each of which propels them into a war-torn landscape. Tahir captures the depths of longing, grief, and vengeance with a haunting authenticity, as if she’s experienced every emotion known to humanity. Each character is thoughtfully developed, given the space to shine and evolve in their unique struggles.

The magic and world-building in Heir are just as stunning as in her previous works. Returning to this rich universe feels like coming home, yet Tahir expertly unfolds new layers, offering readers a wealth of fresh discoveries. This continuation not only honors its predecessors but also enriches the entire saga, leaving us hungry for more.

I hadn't realized this was connected to an Ember in the Ashes when I first started this book. I was also taken aback by the different timelines.

Aiz's story was heartbreaking. I'm not sure how to feel about her character. She and her people were treated unfairly for so long, and then she was corrupted by "Mother Div" who is a horrifying creature and even after knowing what she was she continued to draw power from her.

I liked Sirsha a lot. Her sister is such a horrible person. I like the enemies-to-lovers thing she and Quil had. That ending, though!

I liked Quil as well. I can understand his hesitance to rule after knowing who his father was. But, he is far from his father.

I'm curious to see how this all ends.

-screams in excitement- I was absolutely honored to be approved for the arc of this book. The story is beautifully written and returns ro a world I loved but could be read separately if you wanted. There are twists and turns and characters who are just trying to do what they think is best. I missed laia and Elias and am glad to meet their children within this story.

Can I give this book 10 stars??

First things first, you MUST read the An Ember in the Ashes series before reading Heir. Heir takes place about 20 years after the end of A Sky Beyond the Storm and includes characters from that series, as well as information that will spoil the Ember series :)

One of the main things I loved about this book was the mix of characters and storylines from both An Ember in the Ashes and Heir. While Heir is a new storyline with a large cast of new characters, it also features some of our OG favorites from Ember. It really was a perfect mix of past and present.

As with all of this authors books, prepare to audibly gasp and get your heart ripped out at least once or twice (though this book was not as rough as the Ember series…it is however a duology so maybe I shouldn’t speak too soon)

There was literally nothing I didn’t enjoy about this book. The characters, the story, the twists, the callbacks to the Ember series…everything about it was great. My only complaint is it ends on a cliffhanger and now I have to wait for book 2 😭

I want to thank Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest feedback. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Just as some background, I have not read Tahir before. I know this series is somehow connected to An Ember In the Ashes and I'm not sure if I should have read that series first, but I was able to understand this book so I am not sure it's necessary. But I did see it recommended.
I'll start by saying wow, Tahir can write. I don't read a ton of YA these days so if I do I want something that will draw me in and Tahir did that immediately. I was super curious and invested in the story trying to figure out who each of the three POVs were. Yes, THREE POVs, though later in the book Tahir does incorporate two more! I was worried it would be confusing but it was not. And I can only assume introducing the other two POVs will be integral in the next book of this series.
Tahir builds a fabulous world. A world full of magic and political intrigue as well and romance. I loved the culture the author created. It was very rich and even included language which supported it. Tahir holds nothing back and often keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the book. She drives the story with a fantastic mix of plot and character development. I often thought of Bardugo's Six of Crows series when I was reading this one (and Bardugo is a favorite author of mine!). There is a great deal of layering in this world with things building on top of each other until finally they come together and it all makes complete sense.
All three main characters, Sirsha, Aiz, and Quil were uniquely done and very well developed. I understood each of their motivations and who they were in relation to the politics surrounding them. Each of their stories was important to what was happening around them and to them. I related to all three, as well. The prince who doesn't want to assume his position. The girl who stole his heart but had an agenda all his own. And the other girl who just wants to save her found family. The rotation of their POVs keeps the story moving and kept me wanting to turn the pages to know more. Each character faces their own demons and challenges and grows from this.
he one thing I will complain about was the length or the chapters. I prefer shorter chapters for the most part so I don't feel bogged down.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book with that bit of a cliffhanger ending.

I LOVE Sabaa Tahir. I really, really do. And I love this world. Unfortunately, this spin off wasn’t my favorite though. I the first half really dragged and I wasn’t very invested in any of the characters. I liked the twisty ending but it didn’t hit as well just because I was kind of ready for it to be over. It was just very long. Sabaa is still a queen though and I’ll read anything she writes!

This book is quite simply incredible. Tahir deserves all the praise. It’s truly remarkable to tell readers that an event will happen, so they’re fully prepared and then still shred their heart to pieces when said event occurs. It’s one thing to know but it’s a whole other to Know. I’m still reeling from it. This book also gives peek Harvey Dent energy with either dying a hero or living long enough to see yourself become the villain. IYKYK. I am obsessed with how Tahir structured the plot of this book with weaving the different POVs together. That decision alone lead to wild revelations. This book is full of action, political machinations, and mind blowing plot twists. I was so invested in Quil and Sirsha’s POVs mainly because of the chemistry between them. They had great banter as well which kept me interested. I enjoyed Aiz’s POV as well, but I wasn’t as invested as I was with Sirsha and Quil. It was also great getting to see beloved characters from the An Ember in the Ashes series pop up. I loved that Elias and Helene were still formidable warriors. However, I don’t believe you need to read that series to understand this book. I also found the chaos storyteller element fascinating and hope we learn more in the next book. With the way Heir ended, I’m fully preparing for utter devastation in book 2, and I can’t wait to read it. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Aiz is a Snipe, an orphan living at the very bottom of the social hierarchy in Kegar. She will spend her life dedicated to doing the bidding of the Hawks, those at the top. Which will most likely include becoming cannon fodder for them as the raid one of their neighbors for food so her people won't starve. But Aiz is sick of this life. She's sick of being abused, and she's sick of watching her people die, so she thought she'd hatched the perfect plan. An assassination of the Command Tiral, he was so easy to fool all she had to do was sleep with him a few times. Or so she thought, but her plan horribly backfires, and she finds herself on the run.

Quil is the Heir to the Empire, whether he likes it or not. And his Aunt this Empress has finally made it very clear that he will ascend the throne, sooner rather than later, even though she's keeping secrets from him. Masks and children keep winding up dead all across the Empire, and instead of telling him what's going on, she keeps pushing him away. Little does he know that the mystery behind these murdered children is one that will bring the Empire to its knees.

Sirsha is a tracker. She can find pretty much anything and anyone. Within minutes of losing her life savings, a man approaches her with an offer she can't refuse. Track a murderer and he'll give her enough money to escape the Empire and live the life luxury she deserves.

These three lives will collide, and in doing so, an ancient evil will be unleashed. One will feed it, one will fight it, and one will sacrifice everything to destroy it.

I wasn't a big fan of Ember in the Ashes, so much so that I never even finished the series. And I'll probably get back to it eventually, but it is very low on my never-ending TBR, so I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. This hooked me from page one.

I think the big difference for me with this one and Ember was that I enjoyed each character immensely almost as soon as they were introduced. Especially, Aiz. She's one of those bad guy characters where it would be really nice to just say that the ancient evil she unleashes takes her over, but, at the end of day she's just evil to begin with. She's just spent so much time feeling sorry for herself that no matter how depraved her actions are, she truly believes she is doing what's good and right. She's one of those bad guys who believe their own bullshit and I find them to be the most terrifying of bad guys. Cause if you can convince yourself that you're good, you can convince anyone even while you are stabbing them. And Aiz demonstrates this perfectly.

Quil and Sirsha are fantastic as well. Quil definitely comes across as this kind of laid-back noble who doesn't really see himself as a noble, but it's a mask he wears to cover up the fact that he's extremely insecure. And one that slips off the minute you mess with someone he cares about. He goes from sweet and innocent to I will end you in like thirty seconds, and I really loved that. He's just a genuinely good person. Sirsha is pretty much the exact opposite and runs strictly on smart assisms and being the most badass woman in the room. There's nothing sweet there, at least on the surface. She's just straight, "Stay away from me, or I will end you." And that played nicely off of Quil.

World building was excellent, especially the explanation of the magic systems, and that Tahir took into consideration that some readers may not have read the rest of the original series. She also ensures that the readers get a good idea of just how far away each of these countries are from each other, which is so important given the plot line.

Honestly, though, Aiz is 100% why this is getting five stars. I know I already talked to her, but she is just so well done. It's not just that she thinks she's the smartest guy in the room, she whole heartedly believes it. She finally has to admit that not only is she not the smartest guy in the room, but she is 100% the villain she leans into it completely. I've read so many books lately where the bad guy is just evil, but they just haven't been as believable as Aiz is. She was cracked to begin with, she knew what she was doing was wrong, not just wrong but just straight up Genocide and not only did she not stop she starting telling herself more lies about the people she was killing to justify her actions and she believed each and every lie she told. And I really don't need her to be redeemed in the second book. I hope to every god ever she isn't. Used by an ancient evil or not, Aiz would have eventually done something monstrous anyway she is too damn bitter to not.

Overall, I definitely recommend this one, especially if you enjoyed Long Live Evil. The characters are well written. It's got an edge of your seat story that grips you from the very first page with one hell of a cliffhanger ending!

As always, thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the eArc!

Wow. Sabaa Tahir proves once again that she is a master storyteller with this immersive and layered novel with amazing characters, a gripping plot, and intricately developed world-building. This was even better than I expected, and I expected it to be great. I absolutely loved the first series, An Ember in the Ashes, and was so excited to return to this dark and deadly world. Like the first series, Heir starts off intense and doesn’t let up AT ALL! It’s a brilliant read and a spectacular start to a new series.

Heir is told from three main POVs, and each perspective is compelling and so engrossing. Aiz’s story was heartbreaking from the start, and I immediately sympathized with her character. She’s suffered so much loss and grief, and her thirst for vengeance is strong. Quil also seeks vengeance but for an entirely different reason. He mourns the loss of two young people whose deaths he feels deeply. Quil also struggles with his parentage. Being the son of a monstrous man weighs heavily on him, as does the crown he is to inherit. The third POV is Sirsha. Sirsha is one of my favorite characters, and her journey alone and with Quil and his bff and cousin is suspenseful with strong quest and found family vibes. They go on a perilous journey, and it’s almost impossible for any of them to let their guard down.

There are so many characters I’d like to talk about because even though the story isn’t told from all of their perspectives, they are all important to the story. Quil's bff Sufiyan is fabulous, Aiz's mentor is super wise, and I liked the friendship between Quil, his cousin Aurelia, and Sufiyan. The trio make a good team, and they make an even better one when the mysterious Sirsha joins them. And I'm kind of hoping Sufiyan and Aurelia end up together because I definitely felt some chemistry between them. Speaking of chemistry, Quil and Sirsha have a boatload of it, and I loved it!

Sufiyan is the son of Laia and Elias, and I have to say, I adored that we got to see Laia and Elias again. Their story in AEITA was incredible, so to see their lives 20 years after the conclusion of their series is more than I ever hoped for. Quil’s aunt is Helene, who is now empress, so we get to see her and several other characters from the original series, too. Though these secondary characters have important roles in the story, you don’t have to have read the first series to follow this one.

All of these characters are as richly layered and explored as the setting and world-building, and they all have such interesting and unique stories to tell. I love how you see them and their stories slowly intertwine. It made for some interesting subplots and a bunch of unexpected surprises. There were a couple of revelations that I reread because I literally couldn’t believe my eyes. I don’t want to give anything away, but throughout the story, many characters are hunting down a predator that’s killing children, and OH, MY WORD. I just didn’t expect what happened to happen! It took the whole story in a direction that I totally didn’t expect, and I loved every shocking minute of it.

I can’t say enough about Heir. It’s one of my favorite reads of the year and one I highly recommend to readers of YA fantasy. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This book was so freaking good!!!! Once you get past the first 10% of world building it is fast paced nonstop and such an addicting story. If you loved Ember in the Ashes and wanted a lot bit of a more adult version this is it. I was obsessed with every character and could not stop reading. The world was well thought out and I didn’t feel like they were any holes. The story telling was immaculate. The tropes and romance were to die for and I cannot wait for the next book. This book has trips like:
-forced marriage
-Forced proximity
-found family
-monster hunting
-a thirst for vengeance
-bad ass FMC
-grumpy sunshine

This book was so so so so good!! I loved every minute of it and I want more NOW.

It was so wonderful to be back in this world, and every twist and turn kept me captivated. I wished there was a bit more explanation of the magic, but the emotions more than made up for it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Tshirt is best-known for her “An Ember in the Ashes” series, but she has another hit with “Heir”. This one is set in the same world as the former book, around twenty years later. Please note: You can read “Heir” without having read the previous series, but you will get spoilers, FYI. I would recommend reading what came before so you can get a sense of the world these characters live in.
And what a world it is! Tahir really draws you into every nook and cranny: the slums, the marketplaces, the palace, and more. Aiz, Sirsha and Quil are well-thought-out characters, and you will be excited to read about them.

There’s a vicious killer on the loose. Join the hunt.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily.

Thank you for this e-arc! An Ember in the Ashes is an all time favorite series. Heir takes the world built in those books and expands upon it with new, but still familiar characters. Sabaa's writing always delivers, and Heir is no different. I'm so eager to see where this goes next.

Sabaa Tahir can do no wrong in my eyes! Returning to the 'An Ember in the Ashes' world was as exciting as I was hoping it would be. This had the same fast-paced narrative with multiple main characters. Seeing my beloved characters from the previous series made me a bit emotional if I'm being honest. This was an amazing start to the series and I cannot wait for more!

The layered, intricate plot of Heir had me completely consumed! At first, you're getting to know the world, and you wonder how the story will unfold with these three main characters' points of view.

Aiz: an orphan seeking retribution for her people's struggles, trying to find a divine Savior.

Quill: a prince of an Empire in need, trying to stop the invaders razing his land

Sirsha: an outcast, magical tracker hired to hunt a dangerous being that's leaving countless bodies in its wake.

I was aware the various storylines would eventually cross, but oh my, did they ever! When those puzzle pieces started shaping through foreshadowing, I had a very good inclination of where the plot was going. When the final piece clicked, the twist and tension did not disappoint! The world building, character development, building tension, betrayals, and action-packed adventure make Heir so hard to put down! And that cliffhanger?! I am dying for the next book!

Note: Heir takes place approximately 20 years after the events of An Ember in the Ashes. You don't need to read AEITA first, but it would help! I really enjoyed seeing familiar characters again and how their lives have changed. And if you loved AEITA, you'll love this!

This was my first one of Tahir’s books so none of my review is influenced or connected by the connection between this book/series and her previous works. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and how different they all were. There is something for everyone in one of them but when they come together it’s so sweet and develops so nicely. The pacing is wonderful and the story isn’t too fast nor too slow. I did get confused on the timeline and connection between some of the points of view in the story but once I figured it out I was good to go. I loved the slow burns and how well developed and unique the tropes were while remaining true to what makes them timeless and amazing. Tahir’s writing is beautiful and flawlessly crafts a vivid world with high stakes and even higher rewards. The twists were fully set up, albeit a bit predictable, but even knowing what would happen didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it. I absolutely adored this cast of characters and I will not be waiting, semi-patiently, for the next book in the duology!

I thoroughly enjoyed Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series, so I was ecstatic to find that her new offering occurs in the same world. Fast forward 20 years, and we are introduced to new and returning characters. Tahir is fantastic at bringing together characters from different walks of life, revealing their secrets and yearnings through their own points of view. The reader becomes engrossed into the deep emotions of each character. Some events seem to parallel actual happenings in the world, and while devastating, I was hoping it would not become to political. I believe it passed that test, but I can see where others may be triggered.

Overall, the story was enthralling, and of course leaves you hanging to find out what could possibly happen next. I will impatiently be waiting for the next installment.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir was such an exciting read! I loved being back in that world with some familiar and new characters continuing their stories. I originally started the ARC not having read the previous Ember in the Ashes series and enjoyed the start, but couldn't get a full grasp on the world building. So I went back and fully read the Ember series before jumping back in to Heir and I am SO glad I did! It made me appreciate so much more about the characters and the world Heir is set in having all that previous information. I think the book can be read as a stand-alone, but would highly recommend reading the Ember series first to fully appreciate the novel. I loved the pacing of the book and was able to follow each POV. Sabaa is such an amazing storyteller and I love that there are jaw dropping moments in all of her books, Heir included! I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy of the book to keep when it publishes! I will absolutely be recommending this book to my friends and followers.