“An Ember in the Ashes” Author Returns with Spellbinding YA Romantasy, “Heir”

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

A perfect blend of romance, action and adventure.

An orphan, an outcast and a prince find themselves on the same path as they battle the demons that come with a world obsessed with power and vengeance in this spinoff of Tahir’s bestselling Ember in the Ashes series.

Sabaa Tahir is the type of high fantasy author who takes her time creating characters that deeply resonate with readers. These characters drive her stories and fit right into her beautifully imagined worlds. Her popular high fantasy series, the Ember in the Ashes quartet, introduced Tahir’s style, making her a powerhouse and proved her expertise in the genre. 

Tahir’s newest release, Heir is set in the same world as her last series, following three main characters who find themselves connected in unexpected ways.

Familiar Characters and Dynamic Relationships

The book is twisty and surprising, just like Tahir’s environment in the Ember in the Ashes series. While the events take place about 20 years later, Heir’s story can be read as a standalone.

Quil is one of the characters who comes from the Ember quartet. Those who read the previous series will enjoy following a new chapter of his story, and others will be introduced to him as a main character. His story adds to the prevalent themes of competitive political environments and how trust should be gained, not given.

The other two main characters, like Quil, are dealing with their own turmoil. But readers should not be surprised when select characters show who they really are past their innocent facades.

The Path of Vengeance — and Love

First there’s Aiz, an orphan whose main goal is revenge. She lost others just like her when she was very young, due to a violent attack by ruthless air commander Tiral bet-Hiwa. Once this happened at her home in Kegar, it forever changed her, and she became obsessed with ending Tiral’s life.

When Aiz attempts to kill Tiral, she ends up in prison and is lured by the voice of the former Queen of Kegar. She escapes in hopes that this voice means that the Queen’s spirit lives and must be released. When she heads out with the Tribe Saif to find Mother Div, she meets Quil and they fall in love.

Aiz’s determination and anger because of her loss are palpable in the book. It’s a perfect representation of a lingering grief that could cause anyone to suffer from bursts of anger that at times lead to negative reactions. 

Readers should keep a close eye on Aiz, as she feels sometimes like an unreliable narrator. Her relationship with Quil especially appears, at times, like one that she pursues for the wrong reasons, and these moments make for some great banter in the book.

Chance Encounters and Intense Worldbuilding

Aiz’s story arc works well alongside the character Sirsha. A tracker possessing powerful magic derived from nature, Sirsha is also an outcast struggling to stay afloat financially and emotionally. Sirsha’s life changes when she is hired by a stranger to catch a killer, a job that could help her reach a better life and protect her and her magic.

Then there’s Sirsha’s connection with Quil. She meets him during her journey to find the murderer. Readers will sense that she’s genuine when she falls in love with Quil during this journey as she gets to know him and his group more, and starts questioning everything about her own surroundings and choices.

Readers should set some time aside to work their way through the start of Tahir’s book, since the worldbuilding is quite detailed and intense. Yet, it’s a world that must be understood to get to know these characters, their plights and their hopes for the future.

The Struggle to Survive and the Power of Hope

Tahir’s writing is vivid, immersive and perfectly covers what it means to at times lose one’s identity due to a thirst for greed. It also highlights the dangers of the twisted roads greeting those who might seek quick and bloody vengeance. Most importantly, it explores the marked desperation that comes with wishing for a better life.

Heir is a definitive character-driven story. The beauty of it is largely due to a perfect blend of romance, action and adventure — all elements that lead to an ending that will surprise and leave readers hungry for book two in this duology.