Okay well now I need book 2 right now! This was a fast paced and super fun read. I really enjoyed the world and the characters and can’t wait to learn what happens next! Def an add to your TBR!

This book was very interesting, with a well done storyline! I enjoyed the world building in this book, with lots of twists and unique magic system. I loved the characters
I would recommend this book to everyone!

I was immediately sucked into this tale about a girl who thought she was the "downfall" of the family because she had no power (and may have created some drama the day she was born). This book series would be perfect for fans of Hunger Games or the DIvergent series.

Heir of Storms is a gripping fantasy with just the right mix of court politics, magic, and slow-burn tension. The world is richly drawn, and the stakes keep rising as secrets unravel and alliances shift.
The pacing keeps you hooked, and while a few moments feel a bit rushed, the strong character dynamics and immersive setting more than make up for it.
A great pick for fans of fantasy with twists, power plays, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world.
And I’m coming for my crown.”

📖 On the day Blaze was born, she summoned a powerful storm that killed thousands and almost drowned the entire empire. Blaze is a Rain Singer, born into a powerful fire-wielding family. Ever since that day, her power that summoned the torrential storm has been nonexistent… and Blaze has been hidden away like a dark family secret.

But in this empire, crowns are not inherited - they’re won, through competing in high-stakes, magical trials with four heirs competing per throne, one for each of the four elements. When Blaze and her twin brother, Flint, receive an invitation to compete as future rulers, Blaze can no longer stay a secret and is summoned to battle. At the Golden Palace, Blaze is thrown into the spotlight and encounters two handsome suitors: the charming Crown Prince and a more dangerous, bad boy newcomer at court. As Blaze learns how to control her power, she realizes the throne may be within her grasp… if she can only move past the stories told about her over the years and instead carve her own path.

📝I devoured this book and already can’t wait to reread it in advance of the second book being released next summer. The magic system, the lore, the unique trials… I’m obsessed. Blaze’s underdog story, the way she defies all expectations and rises above her family’s negative attitudes toward her lack of fire wielding, and her lack of initial belief in herself all made me immediately invested in her story. She is determined and fierce but she also has a lot of emotions, many of which she has suppressed, but those emotions may be her greatest strength in the end.

She seems to be the only Rain Singer in the empire and no one really understands why or how she created such a storm at her birth, but they are fearful of her nonetheless. Blaze is constantly curious and clever, which proves an asset in competing in the trials and learning the secrets of the empire. Her relationship with her twin brother Flint was such a beautiful connection to read about as well.

Read if you love:
⚡️forbidden love + rival love interests
⚡️dangerous, elemental magic
⚡️cutthroat competition for the throne
⚡️”powerless” FMC… until she’s not 👀
⚡️feminine rage
⚡️YA romantasy (book 1 of a trilogy)

Why did I read?

This YA fantasy touts a magical competition, elemental magic and compares it to Shadow and Bone -- of course I was so there.

My thoughts:

Unfortunately, this one wasn't quite the winner I wanted it to be.

I'm not sure if I disliked this more because I was also reading ANOTHER YA book where there was a competition and two princes and this was the inferior of the two... But there were times I thought I wanted to dnf this. I think the whole book felt very... Formulaic and predictable. I also thought the MC Blaze was a little dense. There were many incidences where I was like surely she's put two and two together? No? Oh, okay.

There also seemed to be a lot of telling instead of showing and periods of what felt like info dumping especially in the beginning. However, there were aspects of the story and world that WERE interesting. I like the set up of the magic and their way of ranking power and rule. But even with the exciting ending (which is the only reason it's above a 3 star), I don't think I'll be reading the sequel. Sometimes I can still be convinced to continue a sub-par first book in a series if there's enough of a hook for the plot or enough of a draw with a character that I'm invested in, but unfortunately, just not the case for me with this one.

In Short...

There were a few glimpses of a captivating fantasy story but they were too few, and many of them didn't happen until I slogged through a slow and formulaic first half. If you are a big fan of elemental magic, you may have better luck with this than I did.

Wow!!! That was a better story than I was anticipating. Honestly a very slow start at the beginning. Blaze's voice felt so childish at times that I'd thought she was younger than 17 but I feel you literally begin to hear her grow up and into herself as the story progresses. I clocked Hal from the beginning and knew he was up to something so I was glad my instincts were correct. I also just really enjoyed Fox so I hoped she'd be with him in the end. It feels like it's heading in that direction but we'll see. The one thing that truly, truly, upsets me is what happened between Ember and Flint. I do not feel like Ember should have one. It was explained that she was more diligent with her training than Flint was but even with all that, Flint has several years of experience on her AND he was being trained by the previous monarch of fire himself so he seriously should've been the one to win and not her. I also just don't like Ember so maybe that's also why I'm bitter. If anything I feel like she should've been disqualified for maiming him after it was all over. Flint should've also been disqualified for throwing the fire first but Ember should not be rewarded as Queen for purposefully hurting another competitor.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Publishing and Lauryn Hamilton Murray for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book and there were definitely elements I did appreciate. It had a lot of the usual tropes that I typically enjoy, like the elemental powers, the trials aspect and the enemies to lovers/love triangle situation.

That said, I found myself waiting for the story to really kick off for the majority of the book. Even around the 70% mark I was still hoping for things to finally get moving, and while the action did eventually arrive, it was often followed by a return to the slower scenes that made it hard to stay engaged. The twists toward the end were genuinely surprising and gave the story a much-needed jolt of energy however, the overall pacing just didn’t quite work for me.

Overall, a creative world with intriguing powers and politics, but the pacing and tone didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

A refreshing book of finding yourself, grief, family, first love and everything in-between. I love the concept of having trials but death not having to be a given. The bond between Blaze and heirs brothers is so endearing. Especially her and Renley. Her journey to find her magic again and the people who help her along the way is the perfect path to the and epic surprise ending.

This has been one of my favorite reads of 2025. The beginning was a little slow, but it was worth it for the second half. There wasn't as much world building as some other series, but that might be perfect for someone who wants to try out the fantasy romance genre and not be overloaded with too much lore and political intrigue. I am all for the slow burn romance, especially when you are not sure who the FMC will end up with and the ending was one I never saw coming. Can't wait for book 2.

“It’s just that people wear their hurt differently. Nobody hurts the same.”

“Heir of Storms,” by Lauryn Hamilton Murray

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the romantic tension with whom she should choose, it was my favorite part, loved the intensity. I really loved the plot and tropes with the death trials and magic system with controlling storms and stuff, so freaking good. The ending was perfect, and I can’t wait for book 2!! I think this book is perfect for readers who love fantasy with romance but with fantasy being a big part of the book. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Storm Magic
-Death Trials
-More than one romantic possibility

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I enjoyed this from beginning to end! It is effortless fantasy, which I sometimes appreciate. I enjoyed all the characters & appreciated the twists and turns. It was entertaining, simple in its world building, and kept me intrigued!

I enjoyed this book a lot and looks forward to reading the next book.
The magic system is cool. There where twist and turns that I didn't see coming. I love that the FMC riases above everything to be an honorable person when she has the right to seek revenge and female rage against the world for how she was treated since birth. I love the contrast between her and the earth clever, how they are viewed and treated for their power and destruction.

I’m a little surprised by this, I was very interested in the premise and enjoyed the first few chapters of set up, but it just felt very basic for a while. A plot we’ve read a million times, but it was very easy to consume and fast-paced. At about 60% I really started to enjoy it, the pace picked up even more and I was able to get more invested into the characters and the trials and it ultimately ended in a way that makes me really excited for the next book! Is it formulaic? Yes, but I think book two will be amazing and hopefully break out of the cycle we constantly experience with this genre.

3.75 stars

This was surprising a quick, easy read. There is minimal world building and a medium-fast pace to the plot. The magic system (other than Blaze’s mysterious birth) is quite straightforward - powers are hereditary and society likes “pure” bloodlines so they know that Fire produces fire etc. Maybe we’ll learn how and where Blaze got her water powers from, maybe we won’t. The author doesn’t seem overly concerned about it.

How refreshing to see a government that forces out the “old” though - magically imposed term limits - what a novel idea! Though it’s no surprise some don’t want to give up power. But creepy is as creepy does. Spoiler: I’m not down with any man calling a teenage child “little dove” with such attention. I have to assume it was meant to be obvious who the villain is.

Also, predictably the heir to the kingdom doesn’t get to marry for love but the brooding mysterious bastard is obviously fair game. Thank goodness. They’re also more handsome and exciting anyway. But at least the Prince turned out to be not a complete slimeball. Clearly Blaze is going to need an ally when she goes search for and saves Fox - I mean the amulet. And her brother is a bit too drunk to be reliable me thinks.

I’m simultaneously happy the trials didn’t end up tied up in a little bow but grumpy a twat like the cousin won - though as the brother is a drunk I wasn’t all that surprised. But man I hope Ember meets a fitting fate. I genuinely hope she doesn’t get a redemption arc (same with Marina) as I’m determined to dislike the mean girl/pick me girl and refuse to believe they’ll ever change. Fantasy can only expand my mind so much.

Anyway, it was a fun if predictable ride. Fox is obviously the most endearing and interesting of the characters so I’ll probably keep reading thr series to see where that tension leads.

I love it when I can't see plot twists coming! Original and emotional and intriguing enough to keep me reading long past bedtime!

A bit overwritten--you don't always need to both show AND tell--and the main character has a tendency toward the dramatic, but overall really well executed. I definitely can't wait for the next book to find out what happens, because that ending was AMAZING!


***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

Heir of Storms blew me away! This book is a whirlwind of magic, betrayal, slow-burn romance, and jaw-dropping twists. The world-building is rich, the characters are fierce (and morally gray in the best way), and the tension? Chef’s kiss. I could not put it down—definitely a new favorite!

I DNF'd this book. I know it will be spectacular, I just don't have time right now! I still totally plan to read the book, i just cant right now!

Lauryn what have you done to me!!!!!!!!!
I need book 2 now please 🥹

Thank you NetGalley & MacMillan for this ARC.
This is definitely one of my top favorite books of the year.

The writing was fabulous. The story flowed. I felt Blaze’s emotions as she felt them, thought her thoughts and she thought them and so on.
This book is seriously one I will treasure for a very long time and I highly recommend for all fantasy readers and out there!


Blaze is the storm weaver, last of the rain singers. Plot twist she was born into the family of fire ability users. At her birth, a storm was caused killing many throughout the kingdom. At 17, right after her Name Day celebrate she along with many others are chosen by the Gods to be heirs for the council crowns. Going forward she is forced to practiced her elemental magic abilities but she’s never practiced because she lost all of her powers that historic day so long ago. Through perseverance and sheer willpower Blaze learns about her magical abilities and slowly learns how to control her immense power. Along with the support of her friends and family as well as some other characters here and there.

Throughout the book we see how much she grows and how important many things are including her emotions, memories, and her grief.

Side note: I KNEW I would love Fox upon nesting him and he did not disappoint!!!!

Tropes:
Underdog badass FMC
Love forbidden triangle (between 2 princes who happen to be brothers)
Betrayal
Dark secrets (skeletons are falling out)
Competition
Grief
Strong family bond
elemental magic
deadly trials
political intrigue

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an ARC of this book. I am always quick to pickup royal court based books and this definitely was a great one! This book had great story development and I really liked the main female character, Blaze, and how all her relationships with the other main and minor characters developed. I always enjoy a book with two love interests and I was not expecting the plot twists that developed there. The book was entertaining throughout, but once I got midway-towards the end as the story developed I was not able to predict the turns in the story and could not put the book down. The ending of the book was not a total cliffhanger (which I dislike) but was set up with what would be happening next. I will be anxiously awaiting book 2!