Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Review: A captivating spin-off that will make your heart pound. 

 

“Heir” follows Aiz (an orphan), Sirsha (an outcast), and Quil (a prince) as they grapple with the burdens of power, the treachery of love, the devastating consequences of greed, and a killer who will bring the empire to its knees. 

 

I loved everything about this book, which is not surprising seeing that the “An Ember in the Ashes” quartet is one of my favorite series of all time! “Heir” takes place in the same world, but 20 years later, and follows the next generation of Tahir’s most beloved characters. It warmed my heart to be able to catch up with Helene, Elias, and Laia after so long (even though their happily ever afters were tampered with by Tahir) and see new dynamics form between them and Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil. 

 

The characters are the driving force of this story. Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil are three-dimensional, contending with complex inner conflicts. Aiz is devoted to her faith and her people, but she lets power corrupt her humanity. After being banished from her tribe, Sirsha struggles with trusting others, something she must face head on when she discovers that she alone cannot hunt down the killer who has murdered children across the Empire. Born to a Plebeian and an Illustrian, brought into the world by a Scholar, and raised among the Tribes, Quil feels as if he belongs nowhere. What’s more, he’s loathe to inherit the throne in fear of becoming his father (the most hated emperor in the history of his people). 

 

I particularly enjoyed reading from Sirsha and Quil’s point-of-view because of the relationship that developed between them when fate crossed their paths. While not the focus of the book, the subtle romance made my heart flutter! 

 

The alternating perspectives allow the reader to explore the Empire alongside the characters. Tahir builds off the fictional world she established in the “An Ember in the Ashes” quartet by seamlessly introducing new cultures, religions, peoples, and magic systems. The dual timelines also add an element of intrigue. As with her other books, Tahir doesn’t reveal all her cards at once, slowly relinquishing information the further we get into the story until the part each character plays in the larger narrative becomes clear. I’m on the edge of my seat as I wait for book 2!