sabaa tahir you’ve done it again!!! we need to give her all the flowers #some ya fantasy authors get, and then so much more. thank you to netgalley for the arc. Phenomenal work

Thank you to @penguinteen for giving me an early copy of Heir! It was one of my most-anticipated reads of the year, and it definitely delivered.

Sabaa Tahir's new duology is set in the same world as An Ember in the Ashes, but with a whole new crew. It's been twenty years since the events of AETA, and now we're following the stories of our favorite characters' kids. The story is told from multiple perspectives, and the characters are awesome. Quil is such a sweetheart; I loved him from the start. There's never a dull moment in this book. Seeing my beloved characters again was like a warm, fuzzy hug for my soul.

Sabaa is a master Kehanni, and she shows the devastating consequences of greed, and how power can be corrupting to even those with the best intentions. We get to see new kingdoms and magic unlike anything we've ever seen before, but it all comes at a price. There were so many unexpected twists and turns, and I was constantly worried about my favorite characters.

But the romance and the banter between the main characters were everything. I also loved seeing Elias and Laia's kids, and I'm dying to know more about them. I'm on the edge of my seat, wondering what's going to happen after that ending, and I can't wait for the next book!

This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy.

First, thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for this ARC. I followed the Ember journey from start to finish. This is probably my most anticipated read closing out 2024, and as usual, Sabaa did not disappoint.

It’s so comforting to be back in this world with new characters and our old favorites. The Empire has had a 20 year reprieve from the battle with the Nightbringer, but now the world is expanding to reveal new threats. And goodness, Laia, Elias, and Helene need a break. (Also, murderous Elias was hot but murderous DADDY Elias??? Hold the phone!)

Sabaa may write YA, but her books read like adult. They are rich with characters and locations and thematically, they are some of the most powerful out there. The idea of conflict, of belonging, of home and homeland, of freedom and peace, of acceptance…. She does such a beautiful job. It is honestly hard to put into words so I’ll just let the novel speak for itself. Some highlights:

“Grief is a strange beast. Some battle it, their souls scarred from its abuse. Some bury it, and live life waiting for it to reemerge. And some tread water, the grief a weight about their necks. Every reminder makes the weight heavier.”

“You seek to understand the fibers that make the world,” Loli Temba said, “but not your own pain, nor that of others. You’d be better served understanding the latter.”

“For the people” was a blood-soaked shield brandished by tyrants everywhere.

And my personal favorite: She expected her soldiers to sweep in, to tackle the Empress. Instead, she saw bodies collapsed under rubble in the hallway. A huge, familiar figure entered, bloodied scims in each hand. “You,” Elias Veturius said.

And as per usual, Sabaa leaves you screaming at the end, at the twists and turns and the CLIFFHANGERS. Plural, as in more than one. It’s a ride and I can’t wait for more.

4.5 stars! Where to begin! AEITA is one of my ALL TIME favorite series, so to say this was my most anticipated release of the year would be an understatement. THANK YOU Penguin Teen!

Not gonna lie, the beginning of this book threw me. The setting and magic system is very different from the Ember series, because we’re seeing new countries (?) and I was actually starting to feel like my knowledge of the series made me MORE confused because the world felt so different. But lemme tell you, that 25% mark CLICKED and STAYED locked in until the very end!

There are a handful of POVs in this, but the main three were delightful! The Aiz chapters were what really started me off kilter but when it finally came together, it all seemed so masterfully crafted! I loooove Quil and Sirsha!! They were definitely the highlight of this book for me. And the spice is UPPED in this one! Woooo, they were so cute and had me giggling and grinning the whole time. Also loved Sufiyan and Arelia and the four’s friendships. Their scenes had so much heart and also Sabaa’s humor which made me so happy. The scene where they tracked the chain reaction of killings that would have to happen??? I was ROLLLLLING

Obviously I loooved being back with my fave Ember characters! LAIA & ELIAS ARE EVERYTHING TO ME (Sabaa why would u hurt them like that??? I was legitimately mad on their behalf lmao like they’ve suffered enough PLS). Helene, Musa and Tas were all great! I thought the old characters were woven into this one really well and I think we’ll see even more of them in the next one (with hopefully less pain??? Right??? *sobs*)

Honestly this was really fantastic and the only reason I wouldn’t give it a full five stars is because of the slow-ish beginning and some of the Aiz chapters felt like they dragged. But I’m so pleased with this one and can’t wait for the sequel!

THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS ARC. I HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN!

I understand that you can read this without having read An Ember and The Ashes, but please don't, lol. You will thank me later.
This read way more YA than Ember, which I found really surprising, but I didn't like it any less because of it. It was so fun to see this world expand even more and see the OG characters along with our new group. Sabaa still doesn't care about our feelings, but it's not as gut-wrenching as Ember. She really shined when it came to ending scenes. She makes you want to keep reading. At the end of every chapter, I was like, "Oh, shit," and when I read the last sentence I was like "oh, fuck." 😂 That cliff hanger really got me.

Sabaa Tahir returns to her An Embar in The Ashes Universe with three characters tied by one destiny and mission. I think this book has one of Tahir's best plotting with face pacing and characters that are memorable, distinct, and have great character arcs. The book touches on very relevant world issues while combining magic and romance in a captivating and intriguing way. I was fascinated by Aiz's character development, by the relationship between Quil and Sirsha. Every character had an important role that was detrimental to the plot enhancement. I was excited to return to a world I knew, however, Tahir has also ensured that readers who have not the preceding series will not be lost. I am incredibly excited for the sequel because that ending really had me gasping.

Jiminy freaking Christmas. This book was so well done and was an excellent revisit to the world of the Ember quartet and to the characters we fell in love with there. The storytelling, the way pieces fell into place and questions were answered but still leaving a healthy amount to answer in the next book were all amazing. I absolutely adored Quil and Sirsha and I can’t wait to see how he manages to find her. I desperately need the next book asap 😭

"Funny, isn't it? How sometimes the first time you meet someone, your heart knows, even if your mind doesn't."

No one does a gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, thought-provoking, and gasp-inducing fantasy series like Sabaa Tahir. Her ability to create the most brutal world showcasing the worst of humanity, while still instilling such hope and strength of character is unparalleled. Sabaa puts her characters through the gauntlet, and they break only to come back as the best version of themselves. Expect the unexpected is all I can say. I gasped and screamed multiple times throughout this book, and I don't know how I will survive until book 2.

It feels surreal to be back in this world, 20 years later, following the children of our beloved Ember characters. The glimpses of Helene, Laia, and Elias made me bittersweetly happy. I absolutely loved seeing the different sides of Elias depending on who he was interacting with: his family, Aiz, or Sirsha. The same with the Bani al-Mauth. Helene was still doing Helene things, not that anyone will be surprised, but seeing her still struggle with grief after all this time? My heart. And Laia... that ending... wow.

"When you sacrifice other people's children on the altar of your ambition, it's only a matter of time before you'll be willing to sacrifice your own."

This is a must read. 10/10 cannot recommend enough.

This is a book that is sure to envoke a lot of emotion in its readers, especially to those who loved an ember in the ashes. The fast pace will have you giggling and kicking your feet in one moment, and your heart pounding with anticipation in the next.

There are not enough words to accurately describe how much I loved this book, but I’m going to try…

Heir follows the lives of three main characters - Aiz, born in the slums and desperate enough to do anything to save her people, Sirsha, an outcast tracker who is hired to find a mysterious killer, and Quil, the crown prince of the empire who must find the braveness and fortitude to save his homeland and his people.

This book was absolutely PHENOMENAL. Easily one of the best reads I’ve had so far this year! Sabaa Tahir writes so beautifully, weaving rich descriptions of her world but never in a way that leaves you confused. The characters are relatable and interesting, and I enjoyed picking up on some of the subtle clues of how their lives intertwined. I generally like books with a little more smut, however I felt like the tension between characters was perfect and done in a way that it added to the story and didn’t detract by becoming only about passion.

The pacing of the book was also great. Many of the beginning chapters ended on mini cliffhangers, making you want to skip ahead to that characters next POV but knowing you’d end up loving the current characters chapter just as much. So much happens right away that it immediately captivates you and commands your attention. I read until the early morning when I couldn’t hold my eyes open any longer and then the rest of the next day so that I could finish.

I did pick out the ending of the book about 60% in so it wasn’t a complete surprise, however there were plenty of other surprises in this book to still throw me for a loop and I can’t wait to read more!

A sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group and Sabaa Tahir for the eARC. This book was truly a literary masterpiece and I cannot wait to continue the journey in this world!

Since I thoroughly enjoyed An Ember in the Ashes Series, I was excited to learn that this book was coming out, the first in a duology set in the same world. What I was surprised with, is that a few of the central characters are the next generation of characters from that series, and this book also has several of the main characters from the prior series appear in smaller roles. That said, I think that this story is separate from the prior series and can be read without any previous exposure to this world. The world-building, and the magics within this world are well developed and presented smoothly in the context of the story rather than info dumps. Characters are multidimensional and their relationships, romantic, familial, and friendly unfold nicely as the story moves forward. It is mainly told from three points of view, Quill, a prince on a mission to save his people, Aiz, an orphan who sets out in search of a savior, and Sirsha, an outcast who is commissioned with hunting a killer. The pacing is excellent with a good bit of suspense and action propelling the story forward and the timeline of the interwoven stories is an interesting plot device in the book. I was hooked by this story beginning to end and the cliffhanger has me eagerly anticipating the sequel. I am sure fans of An Ember in the Ashes series will enjoy this book, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast paced action adventure YA fantasy filled with magic and a touch of romance.
I received access to this ARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Wow! I’m so happy to return to the “An Ember in the Ashes” universe with this highly anticipated sequel revolving around three main characters: Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil. Reading Sirsha’s POV, with its action-packed, heart-pounding tracking journey, violence, smart tricks, and a pinch of magic, was especially delightful.

If you haven’t read the “An Ember in the Ashes” series, this first book of the duology can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading the entire series, which consists of four amazing books, to fully understand the world-building, character development, motivations, and important backstories. Even though Sabaa Tahir does an excellent job summarizing past events in each POV, you’ll need to read it a few times to absorb all the details that connect to the bigger picture.

There’s a time lapse in this series from where “AEITA” left off. We’re introduced to each main character, starting with Aiz, the sole survivor of an orphanage fire caused by Tiral, a tyrant who murdered innocent children out of envy and anger. Aiz, using her magic to control the wind and become a pilot, is left aimless when her childhood friend Cero embraces that title. Her only motivation is vengeance against Tiral, but when her plan fails, she is captured and tortured in prison. She discovers innocent children are also captives and believes Mother Div may help her escape to stop the tyranny and save the people. Could Cero find his way to her to team up for this suicide mission?

Another main character is Quil, the heir of the Martial Empire, as her Aunt Helena Aquilla demands. Helena even works on a marriage plan to create an alliance between empires behind Quil’s back. Quil, still grieving the woman he loved and dealing with guilt over not resembling his evil father, barely restrains his magic. Reluctant to take the throne, he is forced to fight back when an enemy attack puts the empire in danger, embracing the responsibilities he’s been given.

Finally, there’s Sirsha, a tracker with secrets and magical powers, connecting with the four elements to find her way in the world. When Elias Vertius approaches her with a job opportunity, she hesitates at first, as the job involves tracking a dangerous killer targeting children, including Elias’s child. As her journey begins, she realizes she has risked more than she expected.

As you can imagine, these three characters’ paths will intersect, and the fast-paced narrative will keep you on your toes. Get ready to enjoy this wild journey! Did I enjoy it as much as the “An Ember in the Ashes” series? Absolutely! It truly exceeded my expectations.

The character development, building tension, increasing pace, perfect world-building, fantasy, magical realism, and action-packed sequences are all blended adroitly. I couldn’t put it down and cannot wait for the second book! I highly recommend this new series to the author’s devoted fans, “AEITA” lovers, and fantasy enthusiasts. It’s a great start, and I have a feeling it will be even better in the second book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for sharing this highly anticipated fantasy book’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I read Heir without having read An Ember In The Ashes and it wasn’t until I finished that I learned the two were connected. I’m glad this story is a full story on its own and you don’t need the history of the other to understand the world. Heir was interesting from the very start. Sometimes having so many POVs can pull a reader out of the story but this was managed well and each POV gave what was needed to keep me engaged and turning pages. I do feel like this could’ve been wrapped in the one book but I do hope that book two is even better than the first.

An enthralling start to an epic YA fantasy series! The author’s writing style is vibrant and immersive, masterfully blending rich world-building with dynamic, well-developed characters. I’m dying to read the finale already.

Oh how I have waited for Tahir to bless us with another fantastic series, and the wish seems to have been granted. Every page is a delight, drawing the readers deeper into an imaginative and captivating adventure. Can’t wait for the next instalment!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

When I tell you that I could not believe my eyes when I saw the email saying that I got an arc of this book, I am not joking. The NetGalley gods have blessed me and I'm so excited to share my thoughts.

Summary of the plot:
This story starts approximately 20 years after An Ember in the Ashes (AEITA). We follow three main characters: Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil.

Quil is of course from AEITA. He is the heir to the Martial Empire and nephew to my favorite character, Helene Aquilla. While Helene taught Quil how to take care of himself and prepares him to take the throne, she wasn't always the best caretaker and sometimes leaves him out of politics. Quil feels rather reluctant to take the throne given its violent history (including how his parents died, which he doesn't totally have a good idea on how they died--only that they died during the war). However, he understands that he must take the throne and raises to the occasion when the Empire gets attacked by an enemy.

Sirsha is a tracker with magical abilities that make her exceptionally good at finding people. She's hired by the one and only Elias Vertius (from AEITA) to find and kill a serial killer who has been hunting down and killing children, including one of Elias's sons. However, she runs into more trouble than what is worth.

Aiz is an orphan and craves vengeance for her people. A while ago, a man named Tiral mass murdered an orphanage, killing dozens of people. His tyranny doesn't end there though. He also forces all the orphans and their caretakers into prison, torturing them for really no reason. Aiz stays faithful to her deity, Mother Div, and begins to hear Div speak to her in her mind. When Div gives her the power to save her people and return them home, Aiz jumps at the task, but again, at what cost?

As one may expect, their timelines merge into one and that's where the real fun begins!

Thoughts on the book:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was so excited to get a copy of this book (but now I have to wait extra long for the next book to come out).

I love how we got to see our main characters in HEIR interact fully with characters in AEITA. While you can read this book without reading AEITA, I would highly recommend it because it would add context to certain scenes. And if you don't feel like reading AEITA (since it's a four-book series), this book is meant to stand as its own series. AETIA fans, you will get to see your favorite characters enough, not just a passing scene! You can definitely tell that while the worlds are connected/the same, the stories feel like their own. Sabaa Tahir does a great job introducing new characters, new countries, new conflicts, new lore, etc. Think of Heir as an expansion of AEITA and not so much as a continuum of AEITA. That being said, it did take me a bit longer than expected to fully immerse myself into the world. I will definitely have to reread this again in order to comprehend and absorb everything. I don't think that is necessarily the author's fault--that's more on me as a reader.

One thing I appreciate about Sabaa Tahir is that she does not stray away from topics of violence and war. While this book isn't as graphic as the AEITA series (yet...), I think she does a great job illustrating how ideologies can start wars. You see this with Aiz, who makes it her mission to bring her people home. So much so that she enlists the help of Mother Div to do so, even when Mother Div starts to do some inhuman things. There are certainly fighting scenes and some slightly-graphic scenes, but it's much more toned down IMO.

One character who I'm really interested in and could have deserved a POV on his own is Cero, Aiz's childhood best friend. He doesn't show up too much in the book, though I think he could have if the author wanted him to. He's a Sailor, meaning he can control wind and is very talented at doing so. I think he's interesting because he wants to support Aiz but not through the methods that she uses.

To end my thoughts... I can't say much more since I can't spoil anyone. If I had to pick a favorite character, it'd be Sirsha. She's funny, flirty, smart, etc. I'm excited to see how her story plays out given out the book ended (but I will also say that about every character). Please pick up this book! You won't regret it.

This was SO GOOD OMG I loved every minute of it . Sabaa kills it again with this nonstop magnificent book. Every time I finished a chapter and just had to read the next one. I’m almost kicking myself for reading this now because now I have to wait even longer for the sequel!! I loved all her new characters and adored the appearances of the beloved characters from the Embers and the Ashes quartet. For those who don’t know, Heir is the first book of a spin-off duology to the Ember in the Ashes series. Technically you don’t have to read the Embers series to read Heir, but it would add more emotional depth to the reading experience.

I was so excited to be able to read this! I've been following this book since it was first teased and it was absolutely worth every part of the wait. The story was amazing. The characters were relatable enough to connect and the word building to story ratio was perfect

Wake up ember in the ashes fans you're going to love this

I was not expecting so many of my beloveds to make an appearance in this, as well as fall in love with a whole new generation of characters, but here we are. An ember in the ashes was just so good that I was expecting this to be a little less, but it was right on par. This is a duology, so shorter than AEITA series but a good 500 pages for the first book. This author is so good at multi POV and also weaving them together.