This was such a great book! I loved Blaze she was brave enough to handle what was being thrown her way and naive enough to go with the flow. Her twin brother Flint was he typical male. Their friends were great, they were definitely characters.

The scenes were well developed and I love the palace. The place was huge. I never seen that ending, but so worth it!

I would highly recommend this book.

I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

HEIR OF STORMS is a book that, I think, is going to do well with its 12-16 year old readers. It’s got a love triangle with TWO princes (who are, of course, the kind one and the bad boy), powerful but doesn’t know how to use her powers FMC, an interesting magic system and world, and action. If I was a teenager, I’d be all over this book.

And it’s got some really cool elements. The story has lots of action and some of the familiar tropes of the romantasy genre that readers have come to love. The author does a good job explaining these ideas, creating this new world, building up tension, and crafting this story. For a debut novel, it’s a lot to tackle and I think for the demographic, the author does this well.

However, I’m an older reader who does enjoy YA. But I struggled with this one. I found all the dialogue to be, well, immature. And the characters as well. Blaze, the FMC, was bland. She’s supposed to be this once in a generation individual that everyone loves but she’s just got no personality until more than halfway through the book. And this pivots to the rest of the characters. Each needed to be fleshed out more. There are a ton of them, and none, I feel, have depth that I’ e seen other YA novels do, and do in a sophisticated way. And that really hindered my ability to enjoy the book because I felt like I was reading a book that did not translate well to older readers.

Overall, this book is going to be a hit with the YA crowd. It’s got some many good things going for it. But, if you’re an older reader, you may not enjoy this one as much. I’m rating this high because of what I perceive others will enjoy and knowing who the primary audience is intended to be. On a personal level, this is more of a 3 star read for me.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, what a fun YA fantasy read!! I went into Heir of Storms with no expectations, nothing. And I was blown away. I found myself picking up this book whenever I had the chance. I was never once bored. We have angst, tension, trials for future king/queen, forbidden magic among some. The ending really threw me for a loop in a good way and I can’t wait to see how the story will progress from there. I’m so happy Blaze found her voice or should I say song?! I felt all the emotions alongside with her and she discovered her true self.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were a few grammatical errors that threw off the reading pace but that aside, the book was enjoyable and very well paced. It wasn't the most original story but if you are reading for vibes then it is a good book to crack. The FMC comes off as pretty normal, maybe a bit naive. I found the side characters as interesting but not fully trustworthy. I was suspicious of pretty much all of them. I feel like there is still a lot to learn in this world and with these characters and look forward to reading the next book. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

As a storm chaser, I’m no stranger to the awe and wonder that accompany the clash of sky and earth. So when I cracked open Heir of Storms and met Blaze—a fierce, storm-weaving heroine—I knew I was in for something special. Lauryn Hamilton Murray doesn’t just tell a story. She summons it like a thunderhead rising on the plains full of beauty, fury, and unrelenting momentum.

From the very first page, the prose grips you like the inflow into a supercell. The writing is lyrical and evocative, each sentence crackling with emotion and tension much like the way Blaze’s powers are bound to her deepest feelings. It’s a bold and brilliant choice to link magic to emotion, especially when those emotions are not just felt but embraced. As Blaze’s grandmother wisely said, “You must embrace it all. Don’t bury your emotions. Don’t hide from your heart. To feel is to be alive.”

The pacing of Heir of Storms is fast enough to keep the adrenaline high, but with moments of calm that allow the emotional weight to settle like heavy rain. Even when a few plot turns were visible on the radar, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. There’s something about the rhythm of this story that feels like chasing a tornado. You may have a sense of where it’s going, but you still hold your breath every second of the way.

Blaze is the eye of this storm. She is resilient, relatable, and raw. Her journey of empowerment isn’t just about learning to control her rain singing powers; it’s a pathway to choose strength and to claim her destiny.

Her bond with her little brother Renly was one of the most tender aspects of the book. A grounding force amid the chaos, and a poignant reminder of how loss and grief can forge unbreakable ties.

The quote “you have found a way to turn pain into power” sums up Blaze’s arc so powerfully. She doesn’t just survive, she transforms. And when her fury finally ignites—particularly toward the loathsome Ember—I could feel her cold rage burn through the pages. I’ve never hated a character quite as much, and I mean that as the highest compliment to Murray’s writing.

And then there’s Fox. Oh, the banter. The tension. The slow-burn intensity. The way their dynamic builds is like a pressure system just waiting to break. I can’t wait to see their connection deepen. There’s still so much left simmering beneath the surface.

The magic system is another standout. It’s original and compelling. The three Eyes gave me Deathly Hallows vibes in the best way, but the world of Etheri is entirely its own map with more lands and secrets I can’t wait to explore.

In short, Heir of Storms is a debut as percussive as a positive lightning strike. It’s a story about claiming your power, choosing your path and letting yourself feel. And I’ll be chasing this series into the horizon. Book two can’t come soon enough.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and MacMillan Publishing Group for an ARC!

I had to DNF this one unfortunately. I feel like younger me would have enjoyed this and was reminiscent of other books I have read. I wasn't able to connect with the characters on a deeper level or care for the plot as it felt like it was a bit predictable. I just wanted a better Wow factor. I do think that this will go over well with other readers, especially the younger YA side.

Blaze, a rain singer born into a powerful fire wielding family must come to terms that her very birth caused a devastating storm that left many dead. To protect her and others, her family has kept her locked up until her debut. Shortly after her debut, her fire wielding twin brother and her are selected as Heir's to compete to be the next generation of leaders.

This book is an adventure through self discovery, learning how to gain and control your own powers, and how to deal with those trying to make you feel inferior. Not only does the main character Ember learn a great deal about herself, but she also starts learning the secrets of the empire that she lives in and is fighting to help rule.

I really enjoyed the world building, the self discovery Ember went on through the book. The amount of romance was also well done, and didn't take away from the overall story, but enhanced what a seventeen year old girl may be going through. It was also written appropriately for a true YA book. There were some twists, that I wasn't quite ready for near the end of the book, and make me even more excited to read the sequel whenever it is released.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Book Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️
Thank you to Macmillan, Roaring brook press, NetGalley, and Lauryn Hamilton Murray for the eARC (all opinions are my own).

Fairly by the numbers YA fantasy (with some romance sprinkled in) but world is intriguing and definitely has potential as the series expands. As debut work I can look past many of my smaller complaints of the book as I assume they will improve in future books.

Blaze is one half of twin siblings destined to be heirs of the fire magic royal family. Except Blaze was born without any fire ability and is instead a Rain Singer (water gifts but also able to summon water which other water wielders cannot). In fact as she is born her gift causes devastating floods across the kingdom (killing many). She has lived a sheltered life with her grandmother until she is selected for the choosing rite. Every 25ish years 4 heirs are chosen from each magic ability (fire, water, earth, and heir) and have to partake in series of trials to determine who will inherit the throne. I’ll leave summary there so as to not give much away.

The book follows many standard tropes (rivals to lovers maybe?, lost magic, ancient prophecy, etc). While no of it is ground breaking I did enjoy the world building that we got and think there is lot of potential as the series expands beyond the trial setting. There is definitely a lot of potential in where the story seems to be going both in our main setting and abroad and has me intrigued enough to want to continue reading the series.

I think one of the flaws here is the combo of trials, lost/dormant magic, overcoming sheltered life which together are a lot and therefore I think world building that could have helped and provided a lot of context is kind of last in priority and there isn’t quite enough of and therefore ultimately hurts towards the end.

Wasn’t a huge fan of romance as it felt little too insta-love in many ways and we don’t learn nearly enough of the background of either love interest to make them seem attractive as partners. There is definitely intrigue but it’s left at that (hopefully comes as series progresses).

Again, I’ll be interested to see where the story goes after a fairly by the numbers first entry and I will read next entry. I hope branching out into the wider world provides for more original plots and ideas as series develops.

A great YA fantasy that doesn't do anything terribly new, but doesn't need to - the story and the structure hold up well and will keep especially younger readers (who the novel is meant for) glued to every page. With so many YA actually just being poorly marketed/categorized adult fantasy these days, it's nice to see something that does feel better suited to teenagers like the category should be - but I worry that may garner it some more negative attention when it hits book boxes and an audience that's expecting something a little edgier. For those looking for a great fantasy for your teens, there's action, romance, self-discovery, and heart here that they'll really appreciate.

Thank you to MacMillan's and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Okay, I absolutely loved this!!
The world building and the characters were great, the magic system and romance were fantastic—I have nothing to complain about. Well, I definitely would've preferred more scenes between Blaze and a *certain green eyed character*, so that may be my only complaint, but I'm hoping for more romance in the sequel.

There were a lot of familiar things about Heir of Storms but I didn't mind that one bit—the story still felt uniquely its own thing.
One of the comps for HoS is Shadow and Bone and at first I didn't see much connection between the two but eventually there were a few things that reminded me of it. The rift, Hal's powers and the way most characters acted towards Blaze were the main ones. So, if you love books like S&B I think you should check this one out, especially if you want something with the same amount of romance.

I loved Lauryn's writing, I'm so impressed that this was a debut! I was sucked in right away and I just loved the way she was able to invoke emotion early on. I connected with Blaze right away and I really felt for her.

As I mentioned earlier the world-building was great and well fleshed out, all of the courts with their different types of elemental magic were so interesting and I'm super excited for the MCs to explore the Otherlands in the sequels.

The pacing was also great—I was never bored and had no trouble following the plot.

The romance was one of my absolute fav parts and I only wish we'd gotten more of it 😩😩 I dont want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything but there's a love triangle... that's not really a love triangle and let's leave it at that 😂 Let me just say that the moment a *certain green eyed character* showed up on the page I was done for. 😂 But seriously, I fell for him immediately and it didn't take me long to figure out the mask he was wearing and what he was hiding behind it. My baby has been through so much 😭😭 I couldn't believe everything that happened at the end as well!!

Now, I just wanna address a few things I've seen people complain about like plot predictability, the characters' names and the negative female relationships.

To start with the latter—what you would encounter in this book isn't different than what you've read in Shadow and Bone or The Cruel Prince. The FMC Blaze is often bullied and hated by just about everyone and the reasons are given to you right in the beginning of the book, my point is this is an important part of the plot and it's not just a random girl on girl hate just because. It's not even just the girls, there are plenty of men and boys who attack the FMC be it verbally or physically. Also, a lot of the characters surrounding her are not much older than her (some even younger) so yeah teenagers are cruel lol. Blaze eventually finds her people but there is a lot she needs to deal with constantly.

The characters' names could be a little silly given that depending on your court and elemental magic the name given to you matches your powers (Blaze, Flint, Ember etc.) but honestly it didn't make such a big impression on me and i didn't particularly care. Maybe the author thought it was fun—who am I to judge?

Lastly, about the predictability of the plot—given that it's YA, yeah, maybe there were things that were predictable, but I found the story so entertaining and captivating I did not care at all. There was so much more to the plot than just those parts.

As I already said—I absolutely loved this! Adored Lauryn's writing and the world's she's created and I cannot wait for the sequel—I have a feeling it's gonna be even better!!

eternal gratitude to netgalley and the publisher for the arc

I really enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The story started off very interesting because I found the plot unique. Although, I was a little hesitant about the typical “competition to fight for a crown” that seems to be in every variation of a YA fantasy novel. But I actually really enjoyed this!

By halfway through I didn’t want to put it down and ended up binging the rest in a few hours.

I really liked the realism of Blaze as a main character and empathized with some of her struggles. The romance at first was bland but then got very intriguing and fun when some enemies to lovers came into play.

I really liked the introduction of Fox who is just mysterious and cool enough to make you wish he was on every page.

Overall, the magic and the plot system was developed very well. I could get a solid grip on the world by the end which was ideal. And I’m excited for what I assume will be more books to come! Very pleased with this one and sad I have to wait for the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This book comes out June 3. 2025.

Heir of Storms follows Blaze, born into a home of fire weilders but possessing the power of rain instead. While this was predictable in some ways, this YA novel still stands out in many others: I thought the portrayal of grief and family issues in particular was really well done. This book is so readable, the pacing keeping you engaged the entire time. This felt like a lot of the YA I read as a teenager in the best way. While there is a live triangle, which I don't usually enjoy, the romantic elements don't overshadow the main plot of the story. This was a great start to a new trilogy and I'm excited to see where it goes from here.

This is a beautiful story of overcoming grief and guilt, all encompassed in a world of politics and dangerous trials that make for a book that is hard to put down!

The characters in this book are well-written and intriguing - friends and foes alike. There is a cute romance and a bit of a love triangle, but this is YA, so it is all clean. If you like YA fantasy, you should definitely try this one out!

I am so interested to see where this series goes! Warning that this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

5 Stars – A Must-Read Romantasy Masterpiece

“I was the beginning that brought the end. The story begins and ends with me.”

From the prologue alone, I knew Heir of Storms was going to be HUGE. Elemental magic ✔️ chosen one ✔️ trials ✔️ love triangle ✔️ feminine rage ✔️ world building + an in-depth magic system ✔️ Lauryn Hamilton Murray delivers a dark, high-stakes fantasy that utterly captivated me from start to finish.

Blaze’s story is gripping—born into fire yet cursed with storms, reviled yet fiercely determined—her journey is a powerful exploration of identity, resilience, and the courage to rewrite one’s destiny. The intricate political intrigue and the morally complex characters add rich layers to an already immersive world. The dynamic between Blaze, her twin Flint, the enchanting Crown Prince, and the dangerously alluring newcomer sets up a compelling enemies-to-lovers tension that keeps the pages turning.

“I am life. I am death. I see stars. They skim my skin. I am a star. I am nothing at all.”

If you crave elemental magic intertwined with forbidden romance and high-stakes battles for power, Heir of Storms will not disappoint. It’s a thrilling blend of magic, romance, and political scheming in a fantasy world that feels fresh and fully realized. I can’t wait to see where this story goes next—this book is definitely one to watch for!

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

Thank you @macmillanusa #partner for the gifted copy of this eARC!

Loved this one! Heir of Storms is a YA romantasy packed with magic, fierce battles, and elemental powers — and while we’ve all seen elemental magic done before, Lauryn Hamilton Murray brings it to life in a way that feels fresh and immersive. The world she built is so rich and vividly described that I could practically feel the rain against my skin, hear the crackle of lightning, and taste the electricity in the air. It made me want to step right into those storms and stay awhile.

I adored the dynamic between Blaze and Flint and their ruthless, high-stakes fight for the empire. The training scenes were intense, the battles were brutal, and Blaze’s journey to claim her power and silence the people who doubted her was one of my favorite parts. She’s tough-as-nails and exactly the kind of heroine I love rooting for.

The immediately starts with an action-packed scene which is initially what I loved. While the pace slowed a bit in the middle, the tension never fully let up, and the explosive ending delivered plenty of jaw-dropping moments that solidified my need for the second book!

And can we talk about the found family element? Because yes please. That’s always my weakness in any story, and this one delivered those heartstring-tugging, ride-or-die bonds I crave.

If you love magic-drenched worlds, fierce female leads, intense rivalries, and a story where loyalty and power collide, definitely give Heir of Storms a spot on your TBR. I’m already in line for book two.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Six stars. Literally could not put this book down- I have been waiting for a fantasy book with magic tied to water. I love the idea of elemental magic having so many faucets, and the way the author shows just how destructive it can be not just to enemies, but unintentional innocent lives when used recklessly. As an adult fantasy reader, I didn’t even realize this was YA until after I read it. I think im going to spontaneously combust while waiting for the next one of this series to come out, truly

Heir of Storms, debut novel from Lauryn Hamilton Murray, is going to be the next big YA fantasy book… mark my words!! The comparison to Shadow and Bone truly piqued my interest, and this story did not disappoint.

There were moments that made me audibly gasp and giggle, and that is the best personal indicator of a fantastic story.

I cannot wait to see where this story takes us for book 2… but I’ll just have to (impatiently) wait to find out!!

Thank you to the Fierce Reads Team and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy!

4.25/5
Action packed, swoony romance, and trials that are interesting.
Blaze is a main character I can get behind. She has been put into a spot where she believes she's unworthy and unwanted by the court (not her family) because of the magic she was born with. The friendship dynamic is wonderful the side characters shine in the story and everyone is brought into light even though it's first person and in Blaze's pov. The book keeps you wanting more and is a very fun read. Absolutely recommend it to those who love YA fantasy!

This book is absolutely one of my favorite reads so far this year. I don’t know what Lauryn put in this but I absolutely ate it up. This books everything you’d want in a YA fantasy but there were some undercurrents of new adult. I have no doubt that this book will blow up. The unique magic system is fantastic the games/trials that were in this book were so unique. Lauryn has written a fantastic book for her first debut and I am just floored at her talent. I can’t wait to read the next book!

Read this book if you love these tropes:

-Games/Trials
-Elemental Magic System
-Love Triangle
-Forbidden Romance
-Dark YA Fantasy

I just wanted to thank Macmillan and NetGalley for the eARC this was absolutely jaw dropping for a debut novel.

Wow! What a unique and very captivating book! I was hooked from the very beginning and enjoyed every part of this book.

I thought the magic system was written really well. I liked that the magic was strictly elemental but there was different aspects to each element making them unique and interesting to learn about. I also really enjoyed having the lands and people separated by their magic.

I also really enjoyed the politics of this world. Having to compete for a specific role is starting to become very common in fantasy books so I was glad that this author was able to make the competition unique and interesting.

I thought Blaze’s character development was fun to read, to see her go from scared and isolated to confident and forming friendships and bonds was a fun journey to take.

You’ll enjoy this book if you like:
•Elemental Magic
•Political Competition
•Morally Grey MMC
•Weak to Strong FMC
•YA