Heir of Storms is an intriguing new YA Fantasy. I loved the world building and character development and that romance took a backseat for this young heroine. The audiobook performance hooked me immediately and kept me.

This was a goood YA book! It’s got the formula to be the book of the summer. Fast-paced, strong romance and enjoyable plot!

The audiobook narrator did a great job and grabbing my attention throughout.

I was sucked into the story almost immediately, the world building is thought out and put together very well.
Were reading about or MC as she enters tournaments to compete for the status of ruler.

We’re watching as she experiences turbulence, enemies, treats, power training, and romance whilst struggling with her power and identity at times.

I felt like some parts were very cliche and predictable, there’s training scenes that just screamed fourth wing x divergent time.

I loved the banter and growth between characters, especially the romantic interest.

Despite feeling too familiar with the story as it’s really nothing original (sorry!) that can work in its favour, I think anyone can enjoy this as a new or experienced YA romantasy reader. Tropes are executed well and still feel fresh.

4 ⭐ thank you Netgalley for an eArc
Now time to wait for book

This is your run of the mill YA fantasy romance. If that is your kind of read then Heir of Storms is the pick for you. It’s a fairly fast paced, trial based fantasy book where the main protagonist has powers that haven’t been seen in a LONG time. This makes her special (and feared).

What I will say for this book? I LOVE that the love triangle did not love triangle the way it usually would in a YA book. For about 80% of the book, I was worried that we would have two brothers pitted against each other. I love the little twist that happened at the end.

I’ll probably pick up the next book when it comes out. I hope this series can continue to build and surprise me.

To start, I will say that I enjoyed this book and I do appreciate what the author attempts to do within it. The world is lush and the history detailed — I enjoyed the lore and magic of it all. It felt very well driven by plot. There’s depth and decent writing as well for a debut!

My only sticking point is that there are some areas where this feels like it romanticizes slavery. In our current world, we are understanding this is a topic that needs utmost care and consideration when including, even in a fantasy book, particularly around the romance. Attraction to an enslaver has been widely criticized, especially of late. I do hope the author, editor, and publisher keep this in mind as the series progresses.

I enjoyed the audiobook. I think there was enough various voice sounds that it worked nicely. The production was decently done! I do rec it as an audiobook.

Overall, a good read but some notes for moving forward with the next books. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

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!