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

4.5

LOVE!
This was so good. SO good.

I have to be honest, it did take me a minute to get into the story but once I was in, I was well in.
The world building is great and the premise reminded me of Lightlark but with the Triwizard Tournament, the vibe made me feel more like the OUABH series.

Blaze is not an innovative character in how she's framed, yet I found myself particularly intrigued and immediately invested in her journey and development. Especially when interactions with other characters increased.

Between her family and the new acquaintances, her view on people is so tainted with trauma that it's difficult to discern who is actually in her corner and who isn't. Her mistrust and doubt are so strong and it makes watching her grow in these dynamics even more interesting.
The insecurity also heavily influences the romantic tension in the book and it's so well written!

She generally has a lot of progress to make and I love that while plot wise the focus is on her abilities and strength, it isn't terribly drawn out and allows for the natural development of her social persona.

As for the romance arc, I will not say much as not to spoiler anything. Except that I loved it so, so much! The banter, the confusion, the plot twists. So many secrets and layers and I feel like we only just got started. It kept me on my toes and oh I am so in love although we don't know everything yet.

One thing that took a bit of warming up for me was the narrator but this is such a subjective thing. They are totally doing a good job, this was very much just a me thing!
The writing is good and the author hit the spot with the pace in my opinion. The trial arc can easily feel either drawn out or rushed but was perfectly timed and had just the right amount of attention. Lauryn Hamilton Murray generally did a great job at structuring the plot and crafting the web of characters.


Heir of Storms is such a great romantasy read and comes with some of my favourite tropes and I cannot wait for book two!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Lauryn Hamilton Murray for an ALC of this book.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! The magic system is so fun, and the main female character is a force to be reckoned with. I love those kinds of characters! I also never knew who to trust throughout this story, which makes it more exciting to read. This might be a new favorite YA fantasy series for me. I can’t wait for the next book!

A strong YA novel with elemental magic, trials and finding your powers.

The beginning is really great and immediately puts you into the story. This is also thanks to the narrator of the audiobook who I really really like for the FMC. Both her voice and Blaze, our main character, are very emotional and raw at times, yet strong and determined as hell.

As the throne in this world has to be won, there is a trial with elemental magic. And as trials go, this is really of the unique and engaging kind.

All in all I enjoyed the book a lot, however I was not blown away (excuse the pun).

4/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the eARC!

#HeirOfStorms #Netgalley #Bookstagram

Audio first . Marvelous. Amazing voice. Loved the way the narrator did with each character and how well you know who is who . Perfection.
Now the book wow just wow and where is my second one. Omg I was expecting good but this was phenomenal. I like the way the story starts. The development and how our main character grows into her power, her personality and learns how to stand up for herself. The side character phenomenal too and most of the times even that is from Blaze point of view you wish you get more from them..
Great twist and surprises , the story is well passed and it doesn’t feel rushed at all. I love how she put a lot of detail on make you understand this world without being too much. I liked the tension between two of the characters and I hope it develops into more !!!!
The ending 😱. That cliffhanger is so good like what!!!!! Where is book 2 .
Definitely loved the book and I cant wait for what is next .

i was lucky enough to get the audiobook for Heir of Storms from netgalley, and i thoroughly enjoyed it

it took me a little bit to get fully into it, about 30%, but after that i was in for the ride! enough that i bought the physical copy, in preparation for book 2 lol

i'm not personally a huge fan of love triangles, but i actually found myself genuinely not knowing who she may actually end up with, and enjoying that - i hate when the 2nd mmc is there PURELY for competition, and that didn't happen here in my opinion

the narrator was absolutely amazing. i've tried to listen to other audiobooks before, and usually find the narrator and the voices they do to be grating (and then end up quitting and switching to the book), but that absolutely was NOT the case here. Isis Hainsworth did an amazing job conveying feeling and playing the different voices of the variety of characters.

i will absoLUTELY be following this series, and am excited for the next one!

thank you netgalley for allowing me access to the audiobook!

When Blaze was born, the world drowned. She was born a rain Singer, and brought devastation to the Lands. Shunned for an event that was completely out of her control, Blaze lives a relatively sheltered life and hides the secret that she can barely weild any power. When she is chosen to fight for the crown, she's thrown into the limelight, and catches the eye of the crown prince and his Bastard brother , another powerful outcast. I cannot wait for this story to continue. The Narrator, Isis Hainsworth, does a magical job bringing all these characters to life and keeping me thoroughly engaged in the story. I hope she sticks around for book two! A wonderful debut!

It's been a long time since a YA fantasy book got 5 stars from me, and I'm so glad to finally find a book to end that streak! Folks, we have a winner. This book has everything I love in a YA romantasy: an FMC coming into her power, strong and snarky side characters, a love triangle, a crown that is won rather than inherited, a bloody and witty competition, and political unrest. Add a swoon worthy prince and his brother who literally cleaved the world in two both vying for a girl who drowned the world when she was born, and you have YA gold. This debut by @laurynhamiltonmurray promises to be just one book in a series that will fasinate and enthrall readers. I cannot wait to meet her at Romantasy Con Orlando this October.

The narrator, Isis Hainsworth, did such a spectacular job bringing these characters to life. I was skeptical at first because I love dual narration, but this story didn't lend itself to that, and I wasn't even mad about it. She kept me engaged and immersed in the story.

Seriously, a solid start to what could be a beautiful series. I love the world building, the atmosphere, & the narration ties it all together in a lovely little accented bow. I'd probably listen to anything she narrates.

This story follows Blaze, as she's thrust into the world just days after her 17th birthday. Prior to her name day, she's never even left her house, but it doesn't make her oblivious to the world. I love her relationship with her brothers, & her grandmother is a strong matriarch to a power family. Although she is feared & hated, she gains the attention of the Crown Prince, which makes her more comfortable. I'm happy that she wasn't outcasted from every other person her age, gaining some friends made the storyline unique.

This world has many secrets, hidden powers, & plenty of dirty laundry. I'm already excited for the next book 😂

4 Stars ✨

YA Fantasy

Weave the Storm. Win the Crown. 👑

“I am the girl who shook the world, and I’m coming for my crown”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy of Heir of Storms.

Blaze is the last surviving Rain Singer in the empire of Ignitia. When she was just a baby, she summoned a storm that caused major destruction and casualties. She has since lost her abilities and has had kept a low profile for the last 17 years, until a special eclipse happens, marking her destiny. She is summoned to the capital to compete for the throne. As she begins to train, she must face her past and court challenges. During the trials, Blaze will be forced to embrace who she is and hopefully find her power once again.

This was such an entertaining and enjoyable read. It felt fresh and new, unlike a lot of the same repetitive fantasy stories bleeding through the genre lately. I found the pacing perfect, heavy on plot, with a dash of slow burn romance. The world building was good, although, I did find myself wondering about a few things, feeling it could have been fleshed out a little more. The characters were diverse and interesting. I really liked the family dynamic between Blaze, her grandmother and brothers. Their relationships were sweet and they were anchors for each other. My favorite character was the brooding Fox, and I can’t wait to find out more about him! Overall, I had a good time with this one. It was different, clean, and entertaining. For me, that makes a good book. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series! Would recommend.

Audio 🎧 Narration 5/5 ✨
Narrator : Isis Hainsworth

The narrator was perfect for this story, with a unique voice. She did a great job with all the change in characters and spoke clearly. She gave the FMC life with her inflections and sounded around the age Blaze would have been making her an excellent choice for this audio.

Content ⚠️
No language
Kissing only
Mentions of same sex couple
(mentioned only no details)
Mild Fantasy/trial violence
Drinking (one character is mentioned as being drunk)
Death of a parent

This felt so incredibly classic nostalgic 2010's YA (that is a such a compliment)!

So, if you are craving that classic YA fantasy novel feel, I think you should check this out! There's something about the writing style and how the descriptions are written that feels so nostalgic to me.

I read this via the audiobook and the audiobook narrator reminded me so much of Bella Ramsey, they have the same sort of vocal quality (I looked it up, it is not Bella Ramsey, just someone with a similar voice).

I did find this to drag a bit though, I think that it was a bit longer than it needed to be. I think that would've made the pacing a bit better, getting rid of that dragging feeling.

Another aspect of this book that feels very classic YA fantasy: there is a sort of love triangle situation and a magical battle/tournament/vying for the crown situation!

I did find it a bit predictable at times, but once you've read as many YA fantasy novels as I have, I assume that's going to happen.

Such a pretty cover too!

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Wow the audio adds so much more depth and quality and personality to this book. T
I personally loved this. I thought the audio was wonderful and I loved the accent of the narrator, I thought it really pulled everything together for me. Wonderful job! (I already reviewed the book)

Omg! I need the next book in this series NOW! This book had me from the first chapter! Most of the time, especially with fantasy, it takes a while to “get into” the story. But not with this one! It took no time at all for me to get connected to the characters and engaged with the storyline. I found both the world and the magic system unique and fascinating. I also found the trials to be well thought out and felt like I was there with the characters. What a great read!

This was one of the best books I have read this year. It’s nice to read a YA fantasy that is not heavy in spice. I was left jaw wide open at the end and I am so excited for the next book.
Blaze was born into a pure blood fire court with all her family being of fire kind even her twin brother. Here is the twist she was born storm kind who have been extinct for a very long time making her the only one of her kind.
I highly recommend this book.

I am rather conflicted over this read—and ultimately believe this an instance where I am just not the right reader for this book.

I say this because as one who reads quite a lot of Fantasy, this felt quite predictable, and the reveals a little obvious, which in turn left me frustrated with the FMC for not recognizing all the clues and putting the puzzle together quicker herself. I had to keep reminding myself she was sheltered her whole life and therefore quite naive and that helped, but even so…

I should also note I listened to the audiobook and initially the breathy, airy vocals of the narrator irritated me and enhanced my frustration with the FMC—but only during the first third or so of the book. That said, I am not certain if I just adapted/adjusted to the vocal tone at that point? Or whether this was due to creative direction/choices intended to reflect personal growth and further character development.

I do think that for a YA debut, and the first in a series, the author established a reasonable foundation worth further exploration—just by a proper YA audience maybe? Or at least those newer to the Fantasy/Romantasy realm?

Audio Narration: 5/5
Excuse me, this narration has no business being this FREAKING GOOD! The infliction, the pacing, the pausing, everything is perfect! The narrator sounds perfectly age appropriate, young enough to be believable as a teen without being awkwardly high pitched (a common fault with YA audiobooks imo).
I was immediately sucked in and didn’t stop listening all day (sorry not sorry my plans for the day lol). Definitely recommend the audiobook!

I stayed up till 4am devouring this book!

You won’t want to put this one down!

If you love YA fantasy, especially if 2010s YA fantasy was your jam, this is going to feel like a warm hug BUT it’s a warm hug from a new friend you’ve not yet been physical with. It’ll feel comforting and safe, while still feeling new and exciting.

My absolute favorite things about this book and what really sets it apart from other YA fantasy is the portrayal of loss and grief, the way emotions are represented, the family forward narrative, and the quiet strength in the FMC.

If you’re not a fan of “powerless” FMCs I implore you to still give this one a shot - I’m confident you’ll appreciate the way it’s handled!

What’s to love…
- Chosen one (honestly one of my FAVS)
- Elemental magic
- trials (that are trial-hater approved!)
- love triangle (done well I promise - it’s juicy in the best kinds of ways!)
- family forward story
- portrayal of grief and loss
- feminine rage + and a bit morally gray
- great world building + interesting magic system
- fast-paced
- unique take on the "powerless" FMC

Lukewarm Thoughts…
- Some might find this a tad predictable - I actually don’t mind that, especially in YA novels - but I know some find it frustrating.
- I saw a few reviewers say that all the females relationships are negative and hateful and while I do think the rivalry between the FMC and Ember & Marion, etc could be seen as that typical “woman against woman” trope we do not love, I’d like to point out that there are even more positive female relationships, but since the hatred is so strong with the villainous females its easy to get blinded by it.
- I absolutely adored the connection to her powers that is revealed BUT I would have liked to see her struggle a bit more with learning to regain them and use them.

I feel pretty certain that some people are going to say this feels too much like what we’ve already seen but I’m going to disagree now and LOUDLY…

Just because this story has elements & tropes from popular books does NOT mean it is not a wholly new and original story!!!!

3.5/5 stars!
The Storm Weaver is a really beautiful and interesting combination of a (Scottish-inspired) world with elemental magic, lush royal courts, games and trials, and a sprinkle of political intrigue. Think Avatar The Last Airbender meets Disney’s Brave with a healthy dose of the Percy Jackson series. It’s a great combination!

This story is good, clean YA fantasy fun with a hint of romance. The romance isn’t that deep, the story as a whole is a bit predictable and formulaic with a lot of “well isn’t that convenient” moments, but considering this is a YA book, some of those things come with the territory. Overall, this is good! As I listened, I felt interested and curious about what happens next, but not fully gripped.

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. And for the audiobook lovers Isis does an amazing job bringing the story to life.