It was alright. The story was very predictable. A much younger demographic that’s new to YA fantasy would enjoy this. Sadly, it wasn’t my cup of tea.

Overall, I thought this book was done well! The pacing wasn’t too fast or too slow, the characters were relatable and interesting, and the world-building was exquisite. The love triangle was interesting in the beginning, but it sort of fell off near the end of the book - I guess for a good reason though. I wasn’t expecting much on the trial scenes, as I’ve read a lot of books lately that have something similar. But I loved this refreshing take during the trials scenes - it was original, and you can feel the emotions Blaze (and sometimes the other characters) are going through. There were many twists and turns that I did not see coming, ending on a cliffhanger - I am curious to know what happens next!

Lauryn Hamilton Murray wrote this well and was engaged from the first page, it worked so well in this world and enjoyed the characters. This had that fantasy romance element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening. I enjoyed this as a forbidden lovers romance and am excited to read more from Lauryn Hamilton Murray. The characters had that overall feel that I was wanting and enjoyed the concept.

This one took me a while to get into but so worth getting through the initial learning curve!!

The different houses and powers all work together but oh the DRAMA. I was here for it. The twists at the end I only partially saw coming but made the book!!

This was a magical world, full of competition, tension, and drama. Blaze's entire life has been marked by disaster. Her birth resulted in a tragic storm that left thousands of people dead. Her magical gift disappeared that day. However, she and her twin brother are now forced to compete to be future rulers of the empire and she might need to find her magic to win.

I loved the world building and depth of the character building. The politics were woven intricately into the competition for the throne. It's not based on birthright, but rather on magical skill, which was interesting and brought a layer of tension and drama to the story. Blaze's story was emotional in a realistic manner and I found myself rooting for her to find her inner confidence and shine.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Murray’s world-building truly shines, painting vivid images of tempestuous skies, raging seas, and the delicate interplay between magic and nature. The magic system is imaginative and well-constructed, with clear rules and evocative consequences that keep you turning pages. The plot moves briskly, balancing political tension, heartfelt relationships, and edge-of-your-seat action. At times, though, the secondary characters don't get quite enough development, and a few plot threads feel underexplored, leaving you wishing for deeper resolution. The novel's emotional core—dealing with the weight of inheritance and the challenge of forging one’s own path—lands beautifully. The prose is engaging and accessible, with a lyrical quality that suits the elemental themes. It’s a satisfying read for fans of character-focused fantasy who don’t mind a few loose ends.

3.5⭐️
0🌶️

"Heir of Storms" is an engaging YA fantasy featuring trials, subtle political themes, elemental magic, captivating lore, and world-building. The story centers around a female main character who rises from being an outcast in the kingdom while uncovering the truths about her homeland and discovering her own identity and the power she possesses.

This first book feels more like a build-up for the second installment, yet it still offers plenty of action and a tension-filled romance that has yet to fully develop (I expect we will see more of Blaze and a certain mysterious heir in the next book).

In my opinion, the first 30% of the book was a bit slow. However, I highly recommend sticking with it—(this is significant, given that I usually stop reading by that point in other books. Something about this one urged me to keep going, and I’m glad I did); it turns into a gripping read that you won’t want to put down.

My only complaint is that I wished for more depth once the climaxes hit. It often felt like the story was building toward a significant moment, only for the chapter to end abruptly. When the next chapter began, the timeline had advanced, and the main character seemed to overlook the very thing we had been anticipating.

While I appreciated the slow reveal of secrets throughout the story, which kept the reader guessing along with the protagonist, I found that I could easily predict the revelations before she did. Many of the key moments that were meant to be shocking felt predictable, and I wished I could have experienced the same level of surprise as the main character.

(Also, while I loved Flint's brotherly affection for Blaze, I found something about him a bit annoying. I realize he’s a character that many will love, so I hope I’m not alone in my thoughts—but I stand by my opinion… sorry not sorry).

Despite these critiques, I really enjoyed this read, particularly the emotional and mental transformation the protagonist undergoes. This character development not only marks a crucial turning point for her but also allows us as readers to experience each painful and uplifting moment alongside her. I anticipate that while she will still be figuring herself out and facing uncertainty in the second book, she will evolve into someone formidable. I can’t wait for that moment.

I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I agree with many who believe that "Red Queen" fans will enjoy this story. While it provides similar "feelings" to "Red Queen" (in terms of vibes only), the storyline and many other aspects are quite different, offering a fresh perspective in the YA fantasy genre.

If you're looking for a book that features high-stakes competition, found family dynamics, elemental powers, secret lore, a hint of a love triangle, and some court/political intrigue, all while following a main character who must discover her voice and rise above the cruel labels imposed on her, since birth, by a fearful world and those (even some close to her) who wish to see her fail, then this book is definitely for you.

With all that said, thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press and Lauryn Hamilton Murray for this eARC in return of my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC!

4.5/5 Stars

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book based off the synopsis but I was pleasantly surprised! I could not put this down and, even when I had to, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The plot was intriguing and sucked me in almost immediately. I need more of Fox in book 2 and 3 with all of his mystery and secrets. And the banter. There were several points where I thought I could guess what was happening, only to be proven wrong in the best of ways. I can't quite pinpoint what exactly Heir of Storms reminds me of but I can say that it felt new and unique mixed with preteen nostalgia of borrowing a book from the library and discovering the magic of a new favorite story.

Wow. Okay. I am having a hard time organizing my thoughts about this one. It was super easy to read. I just had surgery, so I was struggling to get back into reading, having a hard time focusing, stuff like that. And when I picked up this book, the story immediately drew me in.Buy bestselling books online

Blaze has a lot of guilt. She’s a twin child in a family with powerful fire magic, but she somehow has water magic. And not just water magic, but water magic that killed a ton of people on the day she was born.

I thought it was interesting that the book created this moment to focus on what might happen when babies are born with magic power. She had no understanding of what she was doing to anyone else. She was literally a baby. And yet, people died. It’s one of those things that maybe other magic-based fantasies skim past or overlook. It was interesting for this book to highlight that and make it a critical moment in Blaze’s life.

I loved the magic competition. Basically, the gods of the story world determine when it’s time to pass the crown to the next generation. When this happens, there’s an eclipse. Competitors with different types of magic fight for the top positions serving the emperor as kings or queens. They remain rulers of their own magic users and serve as advisors to the emperor. So that process begins and Blaze, of course, must compete.

The competition brings up some interesting magic rules and political intrigue. Blaze herself feels caught between the attention of two powerful guys. I wasn’t the biggest fan of either one of them, but I’m intrigued to see where the story goes. The conclusion of the book kind of makes it clear who the true love interest is, and I think I’m willing to see if he’s actually worthy of her.

Overall, I definitely see the comparisons to Red Queen and Shadow and Bone. There’s a lot of politics and magic, as well as at least one possible love interest who might turn out to be the villain? I will absolutely follow this series into the second book.

Blaze was born to a family that wielded flame, but shortly after her birth, a storm began, and until her mother brought her into it, it raged and killed. Blaze was not like her family, but instead is the last storm wielder. Hated throughout the land, Blaze is kept hidden away until her birthday, when a large celebration is thrown for her and her twin. Shortly after an eclipse signals it is time to compete for who will take the 4 crowns and support the new emperor. But unlike her brother, Blaze has never trained with her gifts, and she thinks they are gone. When she is chosen to compete, she must get in touch with her gifts.

This is a stunning beginning to a series with a ton of potential. I look forward to seeing where Lauryn Hamilton Murray will take it from here.

This is young adult, and there is no real spice. the world-building was rather slow and came together more as the book progressed.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Probably a 3.5 rounded up. This book gave me some mixed feelings but managed to be entertaining throughout so I was willing to overlook its flaws. I also hope that as Murray develop, those flaws can be outgrown.

Heir of Storms follows Blaze (yes, thats her name) a water bender born into a fire bender (no, they aren't really called benders but THEY ARE) family and at her birth caused a massive storm that ended up killing a bunch of people. Since then she hasn't had any access to her powers beyond a little drizzle. But when the eclipse happens, which signals a competition for the new leaders of the bender nations, Blaze is shocked to find herself in the running for the water throne.

Its a royalty competition with bending powers and honestly, I am such a sucker for these that I was totally drawn in. It managed to have enough original flavor and entertaining twists and turns (if not wholly unpredictable) to keep you turning the page.

My only problem felt like it was the pacing and the build up. The way scenes jumped almost felt like a cut screen, it was rather abrupt and didn't always sit well and how problems are solved or not was always a little jarring. The final battle felt a little bit like a let down after all the build up towards it. It also was painfully YA at times, which is fine! Its YA! but some of the teenage drama scenes had me thinking this would not be a functional form of government but they were pretty fun as teenage drama if not world leaders.

Overall, this was a light and fun YA fantasy novel that I definitely won't mind picking up the second for!

Heir of Storms is a YA chosen one fantasy with elemental magic and court politics and plenty of villains. There's a bit of a love triangle, but not for very long. This was a fast and interesting read. I have a huge problem with the writing though, and I'm going to honestly beg, Lauryn Hamilton Murray, stop ending chapters at the climax and starting the next one a significant time later. It's terrible writing, and I've seen it sadly before. The chapter should not finally get interesting after loads of rising action and then abruptly end, starting the next with "after I had some time to think about xyz." No. Show me what happened immediately after, don't tell me. I felt robbed of the satisfaction of watching the characters deal with fallout over and over again while reading this, and it ruined my experience of reading an otherwise solid YA novel. Please, please follow through in the next book and don't make the chapters feel like they were put on an assembly line after being mixed in a Yahtzee cup.
Back to the plot: there's some mythology, lots of ambiguously aged elders, predictable battles with impossible odds until they aren't, and a cliffhanger ending. There is barely any banter or romance, so don't expect it going in. Characterization really shines though. I'm not sure if it's because it relies heavily on known tropes (so handsome he hurts to look at with his corded muscles and green eyes iykyk), but regardless there is comfort in the known. I mostly enjoyed the more complex character relationships, even if they were predictable. There has been some criticism of some language being racist and ableist. The slavery aspect is dealt with poorly. Once a character is disabled, there does seem to be this idea he's "damaged," but I think there is space to course correct that in the next book easily. I hope to see all these issues corrected in the sequel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for this ARC!

Thank you so much for this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely devoured this one! This was such a good YA fantasy. I ate it up! Blaze and Hal were just so good! Loved it!

Yes yes yes! THIS. THIS is what I want in a YA fantasy. It had all the formulas while being it's own story.

For once I actually agree with marketing on this story being in the same vein as Red Queen, only this was so much better because there weren't long winded descriptions every other paragraph.

It was the perfect amount of world building and action. The romance is budding and the set up for the next book is golden. (Pun intended)

This is a phenomenal fantasy/Romantasy read! If you love Queen Elsa, with her extreme powers and having to hide from the damage they can cause, this is your FMC. If you want to see her enter trials of heirs among a variety of elemental powers. This is your read. The writing is excellent. It flows well, the world is nicely described, the characters all have their own complete personalities. This was a book I couldn’t put down and I would recommend it to anyone to read.

I expect this to be a tik-tok sensation because of the action and story. Warning - You have to stick with it and get past the first 20-30% of the book while the world building is being done, it's a bit confusing with the fantasy terms that aren't really defined. But, if you hang in there past that road bump you are set to go for an amazing ride! This trilogy promises to be one that will become an instant favorite of many people.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press and Lauryn Hamilton Murray for the gifted eARC of Heir of Storms! All opinions are my own.

I’m quite literally reeling. This book is a wild, electrifying ride. The opening was a bit of a slow burn—as fantasy often is while laying the groundwork—but once it picked up, I devoured it. And I’m vibrating with excitement for this book to hit shelves so I can scream about it and start theorizing with the rest of you!! I know this book is going to take the world by storm (pun 100% intended).

I’m normally a tough critic when it comes to comparisons to popular books but man, Red Queen was right on the money!! And not in a spoilery way, this book is 100% its own– in the way that I think fans of Red Queen will be feral for Heir of Storms!

There’s so much to love: the slow drip of secrets that kept me desperate for answers, the banter, the emotional arcs, the found family dynamics that hit in all the right places. Please please please, read it. Then DM me so we can talk theories because I am quite literally going insane.

P.S. I am so psyched that this book is getting a Fairyloot special edition! I can’t wait to see the design💙

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review was posted to Goodreads on 5/24/25.
My Instagram review was posted on 6/21/25.
My Amazon review will be posted on 6/3/25.

“Heir of Storms” follows Blaze, a young woman born into a royal family blessed with power over fire, but Blaze has the power to call storms. She is haunted by the destruction and death from a storm she caused as an infant which killed thousands of people. Every generation, there is a competition among each of the royal elemental families to choose their heirs. Instead of competing against her fire-starting family members, Blaze must fight for the throne of the Aquatori, who have power over water. She works to grow her power, and the prince starts to show an interest in her; however, she is drawn to another competitor who caused a devastating earthquake as a child, much like her own storm.

This is yet another addition to the YA “fantasy competition to earn a throne plus love triangle” genre, and frankly, I don’t think it has much to add. A magic system based on the four elements has been done many times, as has a love triangle between a kind but bland man and a dark, mysterious, morally gray one. I couldn’t find Blaze especially compelling, but there were many supporting characters around her that I did enjoy more. It’s not a bad read by any means, it just didn’t have anything new to say.

I was offered this ARC on NetGalley due to a previous review I left for another book and I’m so grateful! All opinions are my own and unbiased.

This is an absolutely phenomenal debut and I’m already itching for the next instalment when (at the time I finished this) the first one isn’t even officially out yet!

I do think Flint is kind of a little bitch who shoves everything under the rug and I do think Blaze really should be more upfront with her brother and friends about her cousin and the vile things she says… because seriously, what the hell. Elaith is 100% right about Ember, and I genuinely hope she gets what’s coming to her… no redemption arc, please. Same for Marina. And Cole? Fuck you dude.

I loved the flow, the writing, and the plot. It was engaging and intriguing, and kept you turning the page. A super refreshing tale of finding yourself, getting past old traumas and giving yourself grace and acceptance. After being thrust into not only the unknown, but a freaking trial, with no idea what she’s doing—thanks for the prep grandma—she manages to keep her head above water and hold her own. Despite starting out hiding under tables, behind her brother, or with the Prince, she grew to be able to take her own stand. It was great to see her discover herself, her powers, and gain a voice of her own, shedding the confines of the words others had labeled her, her entire life.

Also, I knew I’d love Fox from the moment he appeared. And Hal? I respect the hustle, but come on dude.

I can’t wait to jump back into this world in book 2!!!

I also cannot wait to get my hands on the Fairyloot version of this in June. If you’re hesitating on this book, trust me… just go for it, you won’t regret it.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Unfortunately this one just didn't land for me, I think I was out of the target age group that could truly appreciate the love triangle and magic system that we were given. I'm sure that many will love this story, but I had to DNF at 20%