Heir of Storms is a beautifully written fantasy with immersive worldbuilding and layered character development that left me immediately craving book two.

The story follows Blaze, born into a family of fire-wielders but gifted with the rare and feared power of a Rain Singer. Her birth sparked a devastating storm that killed thousands, leading to her being hidden from society. Her powers vanished—until years later, when she’s chosen as one of the royal heirs vying for a crown. Alongside her twin brother, Blaze is brought to the Golden Palace, where she begins training and unraveling the truth behind her past… and her powers.

The worldbuilding is rich and well thought out, blending elemental magic, high-stakes trials, and ancient prophecies. If you love fantasy with court politics, deadly competitions, and mysterious legacies, this book hits all the right notes. It definitely gives Throne of Glass, Red Queen, and Lightlark vibes in the best way.

Blaze’s arc was my favorite part—misunderstood, bullied, and haunted by her reputation, she slowly grows into her strength and confidence. Watching her prove herself, both to others and to herself, was so satisfying. She’s passionate, brave, and easy to root for.

This book is clearly setting up a much larger story, and Heir of Storms is just the beginning. I’m really looking forward to what’s next in this series—especially with all the secrets still left to uncover.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! ⚡🔥🌧️

Predictable, boring story with laughably named characters. I can't take a book seriously when everyone is named Blaze, Flint, Fox.

3.5 stars - I enjoyed the start of this new series. My initial reaction was that this was a bit longer than it needed to be, the pacing was a bit off. That said I thought the plot and premise was well done and the world development was unique. It did feel a bit hunger games-ish with the sponsors and the trials but still kept me turning pages. I really enjoyed the relationship between flint and blaze and liked her interactions with Fox but looking for a bit more in book 2!

Thanks for the opportunity to read early

Extremely well done YA book. It didn't feel too young and childish. It handled grief and the loss of a loved one really well.

Our FMC has powers, but they are dormant and come back to her as she finds her way out of her shell.

I was a bit hesitant about another book with trails, but this was well done. We didn't spend so much time in them that they became tedious.

The magic system was really well planned out. Fox's was my favorite.

I definitely look forward to the next book!

Review left on goodreads as well

3.75*

If you've been in the fantasy book space in the 2010s, then you have read this book, lol.

Heir of Storms is a fun, quick read about a sheltered, reluctant heroine chosen by the gods to compete in a (relatively) deadly trial for the throne of one of the four elemental courts. The plot was very predictable (I kept a fun little list of potential plot points and whaddaya know, almost all of them occurred in this book), and the world building isn't anything new either. But wow, was it fun to read something that knew it wasn't serious (you can't convince me this is a serious book when your fire character is intellectually named "Flint" and your water character, "River" and "Fjord").

The characters fell a bit flat for me, and I didn't feel anything more than the average human desire for the good, agreeable main characters to stay alive, but they were fun to read about. Most side characters fell into cookie cutter archetypes and I hope that they get developed further down the line (especially Flint... I felt like we could have seen more of him considering he's literally our mc's TWIN BROTHER).

I feel like this book was for the author to laydown the groundworks needed for the next couple of books to be absolute bangers, as there does seem to be something interesting and unique cooking in the background. The book also read like it was trying to check off "things that will make your book a #1 NYT bestseller, probably" but never really wanted to commit to those tropes, which makes me think the author might have something very cool up their sleeves.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian for this ARC; all thoughts are my own :D

Heir of Storms was a fun start to a new fantasy series. The beginning dragged a bit for me, and it took a little while to really get invested in the story. Some of the plot twists were pretty easy to see coming, but there was one surprise that I genuinely didn’t expect and really enjoyed.

I thought the author did a great job with the world-building—it felt natural and not like a giant info dump, which I appreciated. That said, I’m hoping the next books dive a little deeper into backstory, because there are still a few things I’m confused about, especially when it comes to some of the characters’ motivations.

I’ll definitely pick up the next one because I’m curious to see where the story goes.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

I was so excited to find out that I had received an ARC of Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray, which was pitched as “Red Queen Meets Shadow and Bone,” because I was a huge fan of both of these books. I have to say, Heir of Storms definitely met my high expectations and even exceeded them! The premise of the novel is so unique and interesting. It centers around Blaze, a young woman who was born as a Rain Singer despite hailing from a very powerful fire wielding family. When Blaze is born, there is a devastating storm that kills thousands of people and results in people being very fearful of her and isolating her as she grows up. The story gets very interesting when Blaze and her brother Flint, along with others from powerful families, take part in a deadly high stakes competition to determine if they will be future rulers of the empire that rules over all of them. I loved the characters in this book and felt personally connected to Blaze as I was reading. She goes through so many different journies throughout the story. I also am a big fan of the romance in this book as it didn’t feel forced and I love how it slowly develops throughout the book. I am really looking forward to reading the sequel of this because I loved this book so much. I think a lot of people will really enjoy this one, especially if you love fantasy books with high stakes competitions and a touch of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Heir of Storms is the debut of Lauryn Hamilton Murray, the story has a compelling blend of elemental magic, intense trials, and a richly crafted world. Set in an empire where power is earned through the brutal Choosing Rite, the story follows Blaze, the last Rain Singer, as she navigates a path fraught with danger, self-discovery, and forbidden romance.

Murray's world-building is meticulous, introducing readers to a society governed by elemental courts and a magic system where emotions fuel power. The trials, central to the Choosing Rite, test not only physical prowess but also mental resilience and emotional growth, adding depth to the narrative. My favorite part of reading this book was Blaze's evolution from a reluctant participant to a determined contender was both empowering and relatable. Her internal struggle with her identity and powers resonates deeply, highlighting themes of self-acceptance and the strength found in embracing one's true self.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for honest review.

5 stars! Oh. My. Gosh! Could not put this book down. Started and finished this book in one sitting and adored every second!

In this debut YA Romantasy novel, we're swept into a world of magic where those with power are the Etheri and those without are the Fidra. Our main character is Blaze, who was born into a family of fire wielders as a water wielder. But not just any water wielder, a Rain Singer. As soon as Blaze was born, her powers summoned a massive storm that killed thousands and she's been kept hidden ever since.

The magic system picks new leaders for each realm after an eclipse comes and marks 4 potential heirs to each realm. Each of the 4 contestants must travel to the Emperor's palace to compete against each other to claim their throne.

Blaze was shocked to be picked, thinking her magic had left her shortly after birth, but travels with her brother (an heir to the Fire realm) to the competition. Once arriving, Blaze must find herself, her magic and her will to fight. She also discovers history that had been hidden and must work with one of the Emperor's sons to try and right past wrongs.

Speaking of the Emperor's sons, we meet them both. One is his heir by birthright, the other is the son of his beloved mistress, who's been named Earth Cleaver after he split their world into two. These two brothers have never gotten along and at first glance it appears both are vying for Blaze's heart.

Overall, I ADORED every second of this book, I cannot wait for book 2 and I'm so excited that this one is speculated to be a Fairyloot pick for a summer box!

Thank you so much for this ARC.

Overall I'm sitting around a 4 star rating for this. The writing was built to draw you in and I was constantly trying to sneak a page whenever I could. The characters were complicated and grey which I loved, and the overarching world was pretty interesting, I think I just wanted it to feel a little less chosen one.
This book felt similar to Avatar the last Airbender mixed with a gauntlet book. The plot felt predictable at times but many of my predictions turned out to be wrong or they were twisted in some way which was fun. Overall, I highly recommend reading this when it comes out.

A bit predictable, but enjoyable. Wish the writing was tweaked a bit. Doesn't make sense why the MC would believe the rumors about the bastard prince, given her experience of how she was treated. Would read the following book, regardless.

About halfway through this book, I thought that I would give it three or four stars for being overly predictable. I felt that I saw many of the typical tropes in the author's writing. Turns out I was partially wrong, and I didn't expect it. For that reason, this is definitely a five-star book. I enjoyed the world building and the characters, characters and the story, even when I thought that it was overly predictable. I look forward to future installments. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the free e arc

4.5 Stars!

If you enjoy YA fantasy with games and trials, elemental magic and good family dynamics then this is the book for you! I really enjoyed Blaze as our FMC and the relationship she shares with her Grandmother and brothers. She, as a character, had a great arc and had a lot of development room for the next book in the series.

I did enjoy the plot twists that were written but did think a couple of them came out of left field with no foreshadowing, which I think made them a little unbelievable, BUT they were still enjoyable!

This book felt like it was in the same genre realm as Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Red Queen, so I almost felt nostalgic reading it! I started reading slower so I wouldn’t finish it as fast. I’m very excited to see what the next book holds and sad that I have to wait so long to read it!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.25

A YA romantasy done well and keeps you wanting to turn the pages as quickly as possible to see what happens next! This book is centered around the four elements, with Blaze being a part of the fire power family of the empire. When she was born, she was deemed as a Rain Singer as her birth brought on a terrible storm, resulting in numerous drowning deaths and destruction of the empire. She has been hidden away for her entire life and then is chosen to participate in the Choosing Rite, which is a dangerous competition where the competitors battle for the four thrones.

There are two love interests in the book, and it leaves you wondering who she will pick. The characters were all great, including the side characters. The banter was great throughout as well and definitely helped with character building and likeability. The competition itself was adrenaline inducing, making you feel like you are there with Blaze and fighting for your life and playing mental gymnastics. There is a twist at the end, which I figured they might be leaning towards for the next book.

This was a great read, and I definitely will be picking up the special edition when it comes out and will be eagerly awaiting the sequel!

OMG IM SO OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK!!!

In a world where there are magical powers; fire, water, air, earth, and light, the story follows Blaze a "Storm Weaver" that is chosen as a Heir that must go through trials to obtain the throne.

Murray's writing is amazing not only did she create an intricate world, but I could NOT see any of the plot twists coming. One of the plot twists at the end of the book, oh man, it was so good I had to put the book down!!!

Thank you NetgGalley for providing the free ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion.
(Im running to the store to purchase my own copy, thats how good it was!!!!)

This is a strong YA debut. The plot is fast-moving, the romance is engaging, and the world is fascinating. Once I started this, it was hard for me to put it down.

While the story was a bit predictable at some points, I found the way the author handled Blaze's magic and the world-building unique and super interesting. I also loved how grief and all the messy feelings that accompany it are dealt with in this book.

I didn't feel a particularly strong connection to any of the characters, but this book has enormous potential to grow with its characters and plot as the series continues. I will definitely be on the lookout for the sequel and read it as soon as I can.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts and opinions!

Okay, this book absolutely delivered on the “Red Queen meets Shadow and Bone” promise! Blaze is such a compelling heroine—flawed, fierce, and burdened with a past that’s literally drenched in destruction. The magic system was unique (Rain Singer born to fire-wielders? YES), and the competition for the throne added so much juicy tension.

There’s political intrigue, forbidden romance, and two swoon-worthy love interests (I’m firmly on Team ✨Dark & Brooding✨), and the stakes kept rising with every chapter. Blaze’s journey of reclaiming her power and rewriting her narrative was empowering to read. This is definitely a YA romantasy series to watch!

Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC honestly.

This book caught my attention from the very first few chapters and didn’t let go. The world felt rich with tension and beauty—like something big was always simmering under the surface. There’s a lot of magic in these pages, not just the actual powers, but the way the setting and plot pull you into this complicated empire and the secrets buried in its past.

The main character is strong in a very real way, not perfect or overpowered, which I really appreciated. The pacing was great for most of the book, though I’ll admit it dipped just a bit in the middle—it took a second to feel like things were moving forward again. I also think a couple of the side characters could’ve used more depth or clarity, especially when the plot started adding more layers. But none of it took away from how much I enjoyed the overall story.

I was hooked on the atmosphere and the dangerous political game happening behind the scenes. The magical elements felt fresh and not too complicated to follow, which I always love. Romance was in there too, and while it wasn’t overbearing, it added just the right amount of emotional tension. I found myself wanting to know more about everything—especially the power dynamics and the hints of a bigger conflict to come.

Overall, this one surprised me in a good way. It’s not just another YA romantasy—it has heart, mystery, and a sharp edge to it. With a bit more polish in the character department, this easily could’ve been a full 5 stars for me. I’ll definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.

This book was reminiscent of similar fantasy novels but still in a way that was new and entertaining. Blaze storyline grew stronger as the book went in and it was fun to see how she learned new skills within her element. If you are a fan of the feelings of 2010 fantasy books, This is for you.

3.5 Stars

This was such a strong young adult debut! I kept checking Goodreads and kept being surprised this was this authors first book as it is really well done.

The overall premise of this book was maybe not unique, but it was interesting none the less. It did have the classic chosen one and only she can save the world, but she doesn't believe in her self yet vibes. However, one thing I did find unique was the start of the book when we learned two babies came into the world and both had catastrophic events that killed many people. Magic they had no control of as they were babies, yet people growing up hate them for it. Finding them evil and worried they'll do it again. I thought that put a different twist on the book and made me as a reader understand why she may not believe in herself. Why she has a lot to overcome, not just because she finds herself weak.

So far the romance in this book is going slow and I am hoping in the next book there will be some more tension. This is no fault to the book, but its evident this is YA and some of the issues these couples are dealing with I think older teens and young 20s will be able to connect to. Although, I couldn't quite relate I did appreciate the characters and the romantic drama they found themselves in.

I liked the magic in this book and how they each have an element such as earth, water, fire. This was interesting seeing how they each wielded their magic. The trials themselves however left alot to be desired and I found them to be the least interesting parts of this book. It was really unclear to me how the trials were won and what the goals were. It wasn't clear to me either how they determine who would be king and queen. This was all really confusing.

Overall I did really enjoy the book. It was not perfect, but overall it kept my attention and I did enjoy the characters. I think this author shows a lot of potential for future books. I look forward to seeing what else she comes up with.

Thank you to Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own,.