This book? A STORM, truly. If you love elemental powers, twisty competitions, and that sweet spot between feminine rage and emotional vulnerability, this one delivers.

Our girl may start off powerless, but don’t be fooled, this is a Chosen One story through and through (aka one of my all-time favorite tropes). Each noble house is tied to a different element, and the trials to decide the next ruler? Absolutely brutal—but in a way that even trial trope haters will appreciate. Think Powerless but with even more magic and political heat.

What’s to love…
-Elemental magic
-Trials with real stakes
-A love triangle (done so well—it’s juicy in the best kind of way!)
-Great worldbuilding + a super cool magic system
-Hal gets her a cat??
-A powerful, honest portrayal of grief and loss
-Family-first themes woven beautifully throughout
-And let’s not forget the knife-to-throat scene (you know I screamed)
-Also—Hal vs. Fox??? I cannot choose.

Quote that hit hard: “We must lose our footing to find our balance.”

It’s fast-paced, emotionally resonant, and filled with enough twists to leave you gasping by the final page. Honestly, this book proves that being "powerless" doesn’t mean being weak, and I was here for every second of her rise.

Perfect for fans of 2010s fantasy—think Throne of Glass, Red Queen, Shadow and Bone era vibes with a fresh, fierce twist.

A big thanks to MacMillian and NetGalley for providing an eARC and advance audio book and YABC for providing a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave me such nostalgia for when I red Red Queen and Shadow and Bone in High School, and I am all here for it.

Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray is YA fantasy novel that is best described as Red Queen meets Shadow and Bone meets Hunger Games. The very day Blaze came into the world, she almost drowned it. A Rain Singer born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire, Blaze's birth summoned a devastating storm that left thousands dead. She's been hidden away ever since with a dark secret: the same torrential power that branded her an outcast disappeared that fateful day. And she’s not sure she wants it back. When an unexpected invitation arrives for Blaze and her twin brother, Flint, to compete as future rulers of the empire, she’s suddenly thrust into the limelight again -- and into battle. Threats abound at the Golden Palace, where intrigue and romance await with not one but two handsome suitors: the enchanting Crown Prince and a dangerously alluring newcomer at court. As Blaze explores her untapped power, she discovers the throne may be within her grasp. But in order to take it, she’ll have to leave behind the stories that others have told about her, and find the courage to write her own.

What I loved most about this book is the worldbuilding. Murray has this way of creating a world that is both so familiar and unique, that you almost can't help but to yearn for a way to join it. Though I most of this can be pinned down to the fact that it reads and resembles the likes of the good old beginnings of YA fantasy (ie. Cinder, The Selection, Shatter Me) in that it has a strong female voice that may not always be as fierce as the author was maybe intending, and often ends up quite doubtful and reliant on the male protagonists.

One thing I didn't quite like about this book, was the pacing. It felt like Murray either was too fast or too slow in her reveal of plot and backstory. In that the opening scene really sets the plot off with a brief narrative about Blaze's birth. But the actual book's start, is slogged down scenes that feel more like telling than showing. But blame this analysis on the fact that I too am writing a YA fantasy novel and often find myself struggling with what all needs to be crammed into the first 30 pages.

Regardless, Heir of Storms is a solid read and a solid start to Murray's YA romantasy trilogy. I can't wait to get my hands on book two, and see what else Murray has in store for Blaze and the rest of her loveable characters.

3.75⭐️
YA Fantasy
This was good. I had a good time with this story. There are a lot of great characters and of course Blaze is my favorite. I was rooting for her. The trials were good, and the plot and twists were good too. There were times when I felt the story was a little slow but overall great concept. I can't wait to see what happens in book two. The audiobook narrators did a great job.

I really enjoyed this book! Though in complete transparency, I only got through 50% of it before the archive date escaped me (in my defence, I am going through a lot right now) so I can only talk about one half of this book. I really enjoyed the plot and characters, and the narrator of the audiobook was fine! I am definitely going to pick this up again when I have more brain power to follow through Blaze and this story!

This book had me absolutely locked in from the first chapter.
Blaze is born into a family of fire-wielders so everyone is surprised when she is able to wield water instead. And not just wielding water, she is a rain singer who almost drowned the world when she was born. Now, she has to compete to be a ruler of her kingdom despite wanting to disappear.
If you loved Hunger Games or Red Queen, this is the book for you. The world building was rich and the characters jumped off the page.

I'm often nervous when starting a new series. When a book releases as "book one of the blah blah series", I tend worry about the satisfaction I will feel at the end of the book. Cliffhangers are great, but they tend to leave us readers rather unsatisfied and frustrated with the effort we just put into reading a book. Heir of Storms however, does it right. Yes, there is PLENTY more story to tell. Yes, it did leave me wanting more. However, there was also a sense of, if not closure, then at the least, the sense of " take a breather, and we will continue later". I didn't throw the book in frustration knowing it will be a year at least until I hear more, but I'm still looking forward to more. I also enjoyed that this was a YA romantasy. The love interests were still thrilling but not too spicy.

I listened to the audio of this book and the narration was wonderful.

This one was just okay for me. It felt like something was missing, and I never fully connected with the main character. She was fine, but I didn’t really click with her. I wasn’t a big fan of the love triangle either, but I’m glad it eventually got resolved. What I did enjoy were the trials. Those scenes were definitely the highlight for me. The story started to pick up around the 60% mark, and from there I found myself getting more into the storyline. At this point I’m very invested and eagerly waiting to see what happens next. I enjoyed the elemental powers, and powerless FMC. The narrator, Isis Hainsworth did a great job bringing the main character and the rest of the cast to life. She kept me engaged all the way. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for her performance I might have given up on the book.

DNF at 50% in.

The plot was pretty good. It had trials, and everyone loves a good trial. I could tell the MC had something special about her when she got through her first task.

There’s a bad boy love interest, and that’s always exciting.

Unfortunately, at 50% in, not enough had happened for me to be pulled in. The plot was a little too slow, and there wasn’t enough character development for me.

There’s a lot for teen fans of high fantasy to enjoy here, but overall this felt very unoriginal and derivative with no elements special enough to make it stand out. The narration of the audio was great and probably made me enjoy the story more than I otherwise would have, but I will note that the narrator didn’t do much to differentiate the side characters in any way that made them stand out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

Heir of Storms is an addictive, fierce YA fantasy with a captivating cast of characters and a propulsive plot.

I devoured this one. The quirky, entertaining, and vivid characters hooked me from the start, and I adored their character development. The love triangle was delightful and beautifully written, filled with tension, yearning, and emotion. The plot was action-packed and twisty, and I loved the cut-throat competition’s trials and the character dynamics. The magic system was intriguing, and the world-building was delightful, although I would have loved a bit more development of the overall kingdom and rulers. The ending was gripping, leaving me eager for book two! Lauryn Hamilton Murray’s prose was beautifully lyrical and poetic, presenting a fast-paced and addictive story. I highly recommend this debut!

Isis Hainsworth was a spectacular narrator for this one. Her voice and accents fit the characters beautifully, and I adored the emotion and enthusiasm she infused into her performance. I highly recommend the audiobook!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC/ALC!

Heir of Storms is the start of a YA romantasy series, and it was such a fun read! The magic system is unique, and there’s a solid amount of world-building that really helps you understand the setting and lore. I really enjoyed the main characters—while it’s categorized as YA, they didn’t feel overly young or immature. A lot happens in the first book, but it never feels overwhelming; the pacing flows nicely throughout. If this isn’t already on your TBR, you should definitely add it. I can’t wait for the next book!

🌧 Rain singers
🔥 Elemental powers
⚔️ Heirs To Elemental Thrones
🐈‍⬛ Milk & Mouse
⚔️ Trials

Starts off with a bang! Very good YA story, following Blaze on her journey of self discovery.

I really loved the part about the cats! 🥰💜

*I received an advance review copy for free in the form of an audiobook (advanced listening copy) from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my honest feedback about the book as an avid reader.*

The ending was super interesting & I'll be curious if there's a sequel!

Huge thank you to the author, MacMillanAudio, & @NetGalley for letting me read & review this book. 💜

Had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrator! Easy to listen to and engaging in a way that keeps you interested. The concept of this book really drew me in. All of the comps are books I’ve had a great time reading and so I figured this one would be perfect for me. There were many parts I really enjoyed but it didn’t hit as much as I had hoped. The competition, world building and powers were what pulled in me and kept me reading. I did find it a bit repetitive and some parts I didn’t quite vibe with but overall enjoyed it!

If you are a fan of YA romantasy that is tournament based, this book will be perfect for you. This book felt like Powerless meets the Hurricane Wars to me (without any actual battle, just the rain soaked vibes). While the storyline was very similar to a lot of other YA books, I did really enjoy the magic system. There were a lot of different cavaets to all the levels and types of magic and I found that fascinating. The love interests were only somewhat enjoyable to me, but I could see the main relationship growing on me as the series progresses. I do love a story of women finding their voice and their power and this does that well. I also found myself really getting drawn in more and more towards the end and the multiple cliffhangers at the end had me ready for book two. I received this as an ALC by Macmillan Audio. While the book itself was a 3-3.5 star read for me, I’m rounding up to a four because I always enjoy audiobooks done by Macmillan. Isis Hainsworth did a wonderful job of bringing all of the characters to life, but my favorites hands down were Blaze (obviously) and the mysterious old man (no spoilers). Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy and Happy Publication Day!

This book is really fun.
Magic system: based on elements and bloodlines.
MFC: super powerful and holds a no longer around power. (Also twin with expected power. )
EarthCleaver gives some enemy to possible lover vibes. Right from the beginning.
Love interest: Meet prince 1 and later prince 2.

The rose bit seemed really familiar to me but I think in the other book the servant flipped her lid.


The narrator voice I did need to speed up a little. The beginning dragged a little with the harping on name importance. However, I think the little details were woven together nicely to work towards the twist at the end.

I don't think you'll be disappointed if you read this.
It won't accept my link I don't know why
http://www goodreads.com/lenorebound2read

So this is a rounded up form 3.5 as I have to say that I struggled really hard with the narrator of this book. There are little to no differences in the character voices, a couple of subtle changes perhaps but overall I found I did have trouble following who was who and it did really hurt the story. Sometimes it doesn’t bother me but this time it had. The story itself felt a little familiar and while I love dangerous trials, I wasn’t quite so engaged in this one. It still captured my attention and the characters were enjoyable enough.

I do think the narrator overall put me off and I would love to explore this book with my physical copy when it comes in. I think it is one to be read more than listened to at the end! Give it a chance, the story may seem similar but the elemental magic is fun to see and described and I did like how our FMC was not someone people liked because of her birth and past. She felt such a big difference from her family and kept secluded and therefore we learned about things through her eyes.

I enjoyed her twin, the love interest(s), her little brother , I did like most of the challenges, even if the tropes are getting over done. I would certainly still want to explore the world and what happens next after the ending!

Audiobook/Book Review 📖🌩️⚡️🎧
thank you so much partner @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook!

Heir of Storms
by Lauryn Hamilton Murray
Narrated by Isis Hainsworth

About the book 👇🏽

The very day Blaze came into the world, she almost drowned it. A Rain Singer born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire, Blaze's birth summoned a devastating storm that left thousands dead. She's been hidden away ever since with a dark secret: the same torrential power that branded her an outcast disappeared that fateful day. And she’s not sure she wants it back.

When an unexpected invitation arrives for Blaze and her twin brother, Flint, to compete as future rulers of the empire, she’s suddenly thrust into the limelight again -- and into battle. Threats abound at the Golden Palace, where intrigue and romance await with not one but two handsome suitors: the enchanting Crown Prince and a dangerously alluring newcomer at court.

As Blaze explores her untapped power, she discovers the throne may be within her grasp. But in order to take it, she’ll have to leave behind the stories that others have told about her, and find the courage to write her own.

🌩️ My thoughts:

I had such a good time with this book!! This was equal parts physical read and audiobook listen. And oh man did they deliver! The best part is that switching between the two were seamless transitions making it an even better experience. This was a really easy fantasy to follow and would highly recommend for those who want to dip their toes into the genre as well as those already fans of it. The high stakes competition kept this story engaging and the slow burn romance with a love triangle kept me turning pages! There’s so many good things to find in this book, I will 100% be continuing the Storm Weaver series!!

Happy reading ⚡️📖🎧

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

I really wanted to be blown away by this book, but unfortunately, the spark just wasn't there. (Hehe, see what I did there?) It just felt like there was something missing, though I'm not sure I could put my finger on exactly what it was. The plot itself was very predictable. I normally love a magical competition, but this just felt rote and just like any other book with a similar premise.

Blaze unfortunately also didn't stand out to me. And her treatment of Fox seemed to incongruous to how she herself was treated growing up, it just felt as though there was conflict for the sake of conflict even if it didn't make sense in the characters' lives or personalities.

I'm not sure if I'll continue the series, as everything just felt very sub par to me. I can see where there would be an audience for the book, but unfortunately it just did not work the magic on me.

Heir of Storms was an amazing YA romantasy with morally complex characters, political intrigue, elemental magic, forbidden love, and a cut-throat competition for the throne. Blaze is born into the most powerful fire wielding family in the empire. But she’s a Rain Singer, able to control and summon water. On the day she was born, she summoned a terrible storm that left thousands dead, and she’s hated for it. She hasn’t been able to use her power ever since, and she’s been hidden away her entire life.

On the night of their eighteenth birthday, Blaze and her twin brother Flint are chosen to compete as future rulers of the empire. Each of the four courts has four potential heirs and they must battle each other in three challenges. The victor of each element becomes that court’s king or queen and serves directly under the emperor. Blaze moves into the palace and is thrust into a vicious battle for power, and as she learns to use and summon her forgotten gifts, she finds her own strength and the will to become who she wants.

Isis Hainsworth does an excellent with the narration, and I adored her accent! It made listening to the audiobook so engaging and she truly brought the character of Blaze to life!

This was a such a great debut! It had everything I could have asked for in a YA romantasy. The world was vibrant and well developed, the plot was fast-paced and filled with high-stakes action, threats, political maneuvering, and betrayals, and the romance was completely swoon-worthy. Blaze has two suitors, and I definitely had a clear favorite, but I don’t want to give anything away. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to see what happens next in the trilogy!

Thank you to Fierce Reads, Macmillan, Macmillan Audio, BookSparks, Lauryn Hamilton Murray, and NetGalley for the ARC, ALC, and finished copy.

📔 Heir of Storms
✏️ Lauryn Hamilton Murray
📆 June 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🌊 YA romantasy
🌊 elemental magic
🌊 deadly competition for the crown
🌊 court politics
🌊 morally complex characters
🌊 forbidden love

I received an ALC of this audiobook from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I really liked the narrator though she didn’t provide too much of a range for each character so they sort of all ran together besides Blaze and Flint.

Flint was probably my favorite character in this book and I loved their sibling bond. Blaze was a good main character but was quite gullible.

This doesn’t really feel any different from any other YA fantasy romance novel that I’ve read in the last few months. Girl has been locked away most of her life due to dangerous magic, girl falls for the first nice guy she meets, nice guy lies and uses her, bad guy lies and uses her but in a different way that she likes, girl becomes queen. Insert evil uncle/father somewhere in there and you’ve got yourself a plot.

I liked this and might read the next book, but I also might not and it wouldn’t bother me at all