Heir

A new series from Sabaa Tahir? I'm in! Her stand-alone novel All My Rage was my #4 Book of 2022, and after enjoying that I went back and read An Ember in the Ashes, her first novel (and first of a fantasy quartet) that was also a 5-star read for me. For some reason, I never prioritized the remaining three books in that series despite really enjoying how it began.

I assumed Heir was something entirely new from Tahir, but that's not altogether the case. It takes place in the same fantasy world as An Ember in the Ashes, but does so years after the conclusion of those books. It's essentially a second-generation novel (the first of a two-book duology), which follows the scions of the main characters of the original tetralogy. However, those main characters -- Laia, Elias, Helene -- all make appearances and play a role in this novel. The outcome of their journey in the Ember tetralogy is also revealed and discussed, and so when I realized that I almost stopped reading Heir to preserve the potential of reading those original books fresh. However, I figured if I hadn't read them in the last three years, the chances are I probably wouldn't, and so I plowed ahead.

Heir follows three main characters: Aiz, an orphan from the slums of Kegar; Sirsha, a skilled tracker commissioned to find and capture a mysterious killer who is burning the hearts out of its victims' chests; and Quil, the nephew of the queen and titular heir to the throne. Tahir's world-building, plotting and creativity are once again on display, and so without a lengthy explanation into the core plot of the novel, suffice it to say that the world is embroiled in conflict and the three primary characters' stories shall intersect.

The novel is branded as a fantasy novel for young adults, and while there's no Fourth Wing cock talk, there's enough lightly-described sex that I raised an eyebrow at the designation. The characters are well-developed, and the novel has its share of compelling moments. However, it fell short of the high bar set by Tahir's other work. If I loved An Ember in the Ashes but failed to finish that series, I find it unlikely that I'll complete this one despite there only being one additional forthcoming book. It was entertaining, and better than average, but not by much. If you haven't read it yet, I'd suggest you pick up An Ember in the Ashes instead. And if you have read that series, you might enjoy returning to that world, but temper your expectations.