My TBR list is miles long at this point, and there are books on my shelves that I really ought to get reading. I wish I could be locked in a room to read them all right now. That is not the case with Heir. From the moment it arrived, I knew it would be the next book I picked up after The Courting of Bristol Keats. If you haven’t noticed, my reading is focused around escapism. I long to be lost in the worlds that authors create, and with characters I only picture in my mind. Heir was fast-paced from the start, with three characters who couldn’t be more different, and yet fate is throwing them on a collision course that could end in destruction. YA fiction is always on my radar because it’s close to my heart, and this book was no different. If you’re a fantasy and romance lover and a huge fan of Sabaa Tahir, you’re going to want to pick this up. I think readers will have some big feelings after reading it.
Heir is the start of a new duology set in the world of An Ember in the Ashes. Quil is the heir of the Martial Empire and Helene Aquilla’s nephew, and he is fighting an internal battle regarding whether he will take on the mantle of king after his aunt. When the Kegari attack, he goes on the run and collides with Sirsha. Sirsha is an outcast, a young woman shunned by her people for her killing thousands of her people, on the hunt of a killer. Meanwhile, Aiz is an orphan, trying to free a goddess and get herself out of the slums. Each of these characters has a pivotal role to play in what will shape the empire or crumble it to the ground.
Something that I would definitely consider if you’re going to pick up this book is re-reading the Ember quartet. I think it helps make some of the scenes more impactful and give readers a better idea of where characters ended up within Heir. With that said, if you’re hoping to compare this book to the quartet, you are going to be sorely disappointed. I feel like what made the quartet so strong to begin with was the ability to connect with the characters flaws and there was a lot of emotional growth and depth throughout the series. There was incredible world building that awed readers and I think it was truly gripping storytelling that created a whole world before our very eyes. Heir feels like a slightly watered down version of the quartet.
I loved Quil and Sirsha, and from the beginning had trouble connecting with Aiz. It makes a lot of sense later on, but I will not be making an effort not to spoil the story for people. This story begins with hardship, and the way each character is facing their struggles. Quil doesn’t want to be king, but when the Kegari attack, he’s sent on a quest to find something that his friend Tas (who Helene sent on a journey) has that can turn the tide of the battle. He’s brash and a bit reckless, and when interacting with Helene he’s almost petulant. It’s not that he doesn’t understand the significance of his role, but rather his fear is keeping him from taking on the mantle. In Sirsha’s case, she’s tracking down a killer for Elias Venturias. The vow she’s taken is one that could drive her mad if it’s not completed. Her personality is one that is defiant, but also cautious and almost forlorn. She yearns for acceptance, but her life has been relegated to solitude.
Aiz is tricky to talk about. I had the most trouble connecting to her from the beginning, because I felt that her character might have been the least developed perhaps. Maybe it’s just me. However there are things regarding her later on in the book that made her fall flat for me. I know the book is intended to be a duology, but I’m curious what will happen next. Getting to see Elias, Helene, and Laia was also wonderful. As I think about the events of this book I wonder how Tahir is going to tie everything together again in the second part of the duology. There are a lot of things about this story despite its fast paced that felt disjointed to me, and there wasn’t as much depth of character as I would have wanted. However, I did still enjoy the book. Tahir is a phenomenal writer and still has a way to pull readers in even when they’re not sure where they might be headed.
Heir is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up Heir? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Prepare for a ruthless and romantic new fantasy from #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award winning author Sabaa Tahir that introduces a new generation of characters set in the same world as the unforgettable An Ember in the Ashes series.
An orphan.
An outcast.
A prince.
And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.
Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.
Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she’s willing to give up.
QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.
Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives—and their hearts. Literally.
