“To feel is to be alive, Blaze. And I swear to you that no matter what, it is better to feel everything than to feel nothing.”

If you enjoy elemental magic and deadly trials, you’ll have a great time with this book! The magic worked in a slightly different way than I’ve seen before which kept things fresh, and the deadly trials for the crowns were so exciting!!

There’s mystery, intrigue, and romance with a love triangle that gets resolved in a way I’ve never seen before that really worked for me! (Even if you’re not a fan of love triangles I think you might end up liking how this one plays out)

I had so much fun with this one and ended up flying through it because I just had to see how everything would play out! I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thank you to the publisher for the copy.

This was an extraordinary debut! The YA romantasy must read of the summer! Seamless writing, outstanding world building, amazing characters, great magics system, remarkable storytelling, love triangle, found family, trials, it has everything you could want minus spice. I’ll be looking out for the next one! Perfect for fans of The Red Queen, Avatar the Last Air Bender, Hunger Games & Trial of the Sun Queen.

What a debut novel! Lauryn Hamilton Murray's book portrays someone who's been writing for years.

Heir of Storms hooked me from the beginning. I absolutely loved Blaze's story. The character development is huge as Blaze grows from a sheltered shy person to someone who is seen. She's remains who she is while becoming who she's meant to be. The plot twists in this book, I did not see coming. Heir of Fire keeps you on your toes as Blaze competes, while building another story in the back ground. I did not expect parts of the ending. This book had me laughing at the banter, crying at the way Blaze was treated, and intrigued about her past and who she is. I honestly can't believe that this is a debut. It's absolutely amazing.

Thank you Lauryn Hamilton Murray and Macmillan Children's publishing for giving me a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I devoured this 416 page young adult romantasy book in less than 36 hours and it only took me that long because I had to sleep. I did not want to put the book down. The characters became my friends, their story became mine, and I was invested in who would be the future rulers.

Blaze experienced so much loss in her young life, but she is a character full of love for her family and strength. It is a strength that she gave herself, a strength that she received from the few around her who see her and love her. She goes into the battle of her life feeling powerless but she has more power than she knows and has the strength within her to make a difference.

The relationships between those who go into battle are intense. Those against Blaze were especially hateful but I felt it was fear of the unknown…Blaze. The romance, sigh. I looked forward to those small scenes and love how it played out. I cannot wait to see what will come next. This is a series that I cannot wait for more of. Lauryn Hamilton Murray is a new to me author and I cannot wait to see where she will take the reader in book 2 of this series.

Heir of storms is a fun YA fantasy read. Blaze has spent her life hidden away from society who fear her magic because she almost flooded the world when she was born.She believes she has lost her magic because she hasn’t been able to use it for years. Then she is chosen by the gods to compete in a competition to be heir to the throne. She discovers she in fact does still have her magic and must now learn how to use her magic and survive the competitions. While most of her competitors have been training their whole life she has not making her the underdog. Of course there are potential love interests and a love triangle. But this is YA so there is no spice in this book. The elemental magic and trials were fun but I would have liked to see more about the trials. There is a fun cast of characters and you do find yourself rooting for Blaze. This is a fun fast paced fantasy book that would be perfect for the teen reader. Thank you net galley for the eARC of this book.

thanks netgalley and macmillan for the arc. at first this was giving 2010s YA (complimentary) but slowly morphed into giving 2010s YA (derogatory). it started off super tropey, but in a kind of nostalgic fun way, like i was playing trope bingo with myself and hitting a bell every time i spotted something, but then the issues started drizzling … then pouring (lol 2010s vibes begets 2010s humor)

the drizzles started with some uncomfortable comments about the slaves from the ‘otherlands.’ the lore is set up as this: after the war in which the etheri triumphed over the magi, the magi lost all their powers and were taken as slaves. obviously there’s going to be ‘more going on,’ but the etheri are shown as more refined, whereas the magi are more primitive and savage-like. yes, the main character is a sheltered young person who is going to have her beliefs challenged, but i don’t think it was necessary for her to think of the slave girl serving her as a 'source of information about the otherlands.' plus the way that character was used as a romantic plot device to cut the love triangle? mmm. there were also some pretty clear parallels drawn between the magi and indigenous populations. it’s just giving casually racist?? to the point where you're like am i imagining things? surely the author is using this as a way to help her character growth! but they were all just throwaway comments in her inner monologue

there was also just barely anything going on for like 70% of the book (there were a lot of parties tho and her trying to summon rain) and then the ‘big plot,’ where our main character finds out that ~nothing is as it seems~, comes in kind of late and pours seemingly from nowhere. i was fine to go along with it, but my last straw was the very end (’the big bad reveal and battle’) where someone is exiled for a crime they didn’t commit, when everyone that survived in that room could have just told the truth?

I thoroughly enjoyed this as the start to what looks like a really promising trilogy! For the first 60%, I was hanging out in solid 4-star territory, feeling like I was waiting for the action to really kick off—and when it did, I was all in. This one leans more on plot and character development than romance (which I love—court politics and magical intrigue > forced flirting any day). We’ve got elemental trials, secret powers, a “chosen one” setup, and plenty of fantasy world-building to sink your teeth into. I will say, I’m very glad the FMC finally came into her own, because I was getting real tired of the weakling shit—once she found her spine, I was rooting hard. The ending set the stage perfectly, and book 2 is officially on my TBR. There is a lot of potential here!

I really enjoyed this one! This book sucked me in really quickly and had me not wanting to put it down. I really enjoyed the magic system in this book and loved how the trials in this book were portrayed. The naming for the characters was a bit on the nose and of putting for my taste but I tried to not let it bother me to much as I was reading. I also really enjoyed the world building in this book it felt easy to imagine the world and go through the story as if you were in the world with the characters. I also quite enjoyed the characters, the FMC felt realistic and her personality really shined through the story and her actions. Some of the reveals were easy to spot before they happened but the ending was an intriguing twist that definitely left me wanting to know what will happen in book two! Definitely recommend picking this one up!

4.25 out of 5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. I wanted to first say that this cover is absolutely gorgeous!! It really made me want to read based on the cover alone. This book is one of my favorite romantasy reads of the year! From the very first paragraph I was drawn in with Blaze's story. I was on the edge of my seat and can't wait for the next two books to come out!

If you like The Red Queen series, The Hunger Games, and Shadow & Bone, this book is for you!
Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murry was a YA book that completely took me by surprise! Follow Blaze through the brutal Choosing Rite competition while she battles ruthless court politics and life-changing events from her past. This book is perfect for those who love to develop strong character relationships, as Blaze’s story is one of true strength. There is a juicy cliffhanger at the end- I cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for this ARC!
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My rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ (4.5 stars rounded up to 5)
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I loved this book! The elemental powers and the world building around them was great. I liked the characters and relationships, especially Blaze's relationships with her siblings. There is a love triangle situation but I didn't mind it. I can't say anything else about this without giving away spoilers. But just know that it's rare that a love triangle situation doesn't make me want to rip my hair out. There are sweet moments and swoony moments. And the ending left me needing the next book immediately! I feel like this book is going to be the next YA sensation.

4.5 stars

A big thank you to Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: June 3rd, 2025

Heir of Storms is a fun, action-packed fantasy that hits the ground running with high stakes from the beginning. The world building is reminiscent of popular fantasy series but has just enough of its own flair to be original. I also really loved how even though there is a love triangle, Blaze's character arc isn't dependent on which man she'll choose. The book focuses more on Blaze confronting the Storm Weaver narrative and trying to make a name for herself, which I adore. This might be one of the few romantasies that doesn't revolve around the romance - it has just enough to be a significant plotline, but not too much that it overshadows the fantasy plot.

A great read and I can't wait to read the next book!!

3.5/5

For a debut novel, this was a pretty strong start to a trilogy!

This book follows our main character Blaze, who has been hidden away by her family ever since her birth brought a storm that left thousands dead. She receives an invitation to compete in trials to become the future leader and now must navigate the hatred she faces from her past, some romantic entanglements (😏), and of course, the deadly trials.

The writing is easy to comprehend and I flew through the second half in one sitting, but my biggest critique is that the story itself wasn’t that original. I think trials as a way to create stakes is overused and it’s pretty obvious that a main character will survive (how would the story continue on?? ☠️☠️), so it just takes away from the stress and adrenaline I might experience from a higher-stakes situation that I want from a fantasy novel.

The ending pulled me back into the story and I got a lil crush on the love interest (🫣), so I’m excited to see the direction this takes!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lauryn Hamilton Murray for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was golden! I loved this. I was kind of a sucker for this book (and maybe perfect example of target audience) because it had all my favorites in a fantasy: trials, high-stakes, random enemy pre-teens, chosen one trope (I am, at heart, a chosen one too), baddie fmc, baddie love interest, mystery history, etc etc. I will be waiting (not-patiently) for book 2.

In this book, we have Blaze (main character, I know, it's a weird name, just stick with it though), who is born a super powerful lineage of fire wielders, except she, for some reason, wields water instead!! Not only does she wield water, but when she was born, she created a giant storm (she is the storm weaver, duh) that made everyone super scared of her. Now, fast-forward like 15 years, and she feels she has no power. Then however, she is chosen as a potential heir for the water throne and she has to compete in trials to receive the throne (ah!!! high stakes!!). But... are there more enemies hiding in the shadows.

Please just read this.

This book instantly drew me in and kept my attention the whole time. The characters are well written and interesting. The plot twists are perfectly done. I enjoyed that this book had trials but that wasn’t the whole premise of the book. I look forward to the next book in this series!

solid debut YA fantasy that’s perfect for fans of classic tropes with fresh twists—especially around its elemental magic system. The story moves at a good pace, balancing action, emotion, and romance well. While some parts feel predictable and a few side characters can be a bit annoying, the unexpected plot twists and fun banter, especially with Blaze’s twin brother, keep things lively.

Thanks to Roaring Brook Press for the gifted copy of this book!

I love both Red Queen and Shadow and Bone, but unforutnately, Heir of Storms didn't grip me quite like either of those. Elemental magic, trials, and a Rain Singer who is somewhat of a black sheep, I loved the elements that set this story up. However, it felt like a lot of other predictable YA fantasy to me.

While following the usual formula to create a young adult romantasy book, Heir of Storms still manages to remain engaging and enjoyable to read. In this book, we follow Blaze, a 17 year old girl who is the last rain singer, born into a family of fire wielders. Throughout her life, she has been sheltered from the outside world. When she was born a devasting storm fell across the land which resulted in thousands of deaths. She has been hated by the public who view her as a murderer, and sheltered by her family ever since. That is, until she is selected to compete for a position as a ruler of the land, and must learn how to harness her powers in order to compete for the throne.

This book follows the classic young adult romantasy checklist, there are trials, there is a love triangle, and our main character has special powers she must learn how to use. That being said, I really enjoyed the elemental magic system in this book and the characters. I did find the plot predictable, but there was one part that surprised me at the end of the book, and I anticipate that since this is a trilogy the series will steer away from the mold and offer a unique take on the genre in the next two books to come. I am excited to read the next book in this series.

To my fellow political fantasy lovers you will find this will be right up your alley. Lots of intriguing characters who are very well thought out and the magic system is pretty cool also. Their are trials and warring gods and crazy stuff happening literally all the time in this book it never let's up. Really fast paced YA fantasy that a lot of people who read similar will like. Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this one early it was a wild ride from start to finish.

Heir of Storms in an invigorating read. It keeps you on your toes, it keeps your mind turning, it keeps your heart beating a mile a minute. I could never predict what was behind the turn of the next page, but I couldn’t wait to find out. I needed to find out, that’s how addicting reading this book became. I became part of its adventure, its thrill, its danger, and I was enraptured every step of the way.

When Blaze was brought into the world, she brought with her a storm. Her powers took form for the first and last time, almost drowning the world. She’s been raised as a figure others fear, ridicule, and disparage. But now she must emerge into the public eye under the obligation to enter a competition where element-wielding heirs compete to be chosen as one of the future rulers of the empire. Forced to confront her long dormant powers, and as well as her carefully guarded heart, what lies ahead is more than a sought after title, it’s a chance to reclaim her voice, and her power.

The stakes are high in this plot. And I invested heavily in it. Danger lurks at every corner, prickling the skin; there is also the prickle of heart thump-thump-thumping as romance blossoms, as there is the warmth of humming camaraderie found in friendship and family that lights the fire to keep going. At the center of it all, is the heart of it: our beautiful heroine Blaze.

I invested every step of the way thanks to Blaze’s awe-inspiring journey.

I loved Blaze so readily as I accompanied her on her journey. I came to feel so protective as well as so proud of how she grew over the course of her journey. I felt proud of how she came to reclaim her agency, including her name. How she came to embrace her power rather than view it as something wrong. How she righted her path and marched forward, regardless of the hurdles at hand, regardless of the setbacks, and regardless of every voice of doubt ringing in her head. And even as she grew, her soft edges never sharpened, she kept true to herself. She embraced her vulnerability, her heart, her kindness, and her forgiveness, and it all amounted in a lasting surge of inspiring courage.

Blaze is absolutely the type of heroine I most adore in romantasy, and I can’t wait to continue her journey alongside her.

If I felt any minimal amount of set back in enjoyment, it’s probably not feeling fully invested in the romance. I never engaged with it the same as I did the overall plot, that said, I do find the way the romance is assembled to be highly dynamic and appealing. From singular promising love interest, to conflicting love triangle, to truths being revealed turning the entire potential romance on its head and shifting in a very unexpected direction. Just like the overarching story, the romance keeps you on your toes, and I very much commend the direction it takes and it’s one that I absolutely will grow to love.

The journey found in Heir of Storms is wholly captivating, and its ending left me at the edge of my seat, eager to see what follows. For I certainly will be claiming a spot in line for the rest of entries in this trilogy! Let’s go!!!

Thank you so kindly to BookSparks, NetGalley, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced complimentary, I leave this honest review voluntarily.