Why Heir By Sabaa Tahir Needs To Be Next On Your TBR!

Buckle yourselves in for this one, folks! The iconic Sabaa Tahir is back with Heir, her latest fantasy novel and the first book in the Heir duology.

Set in the same world as Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes quartet, Heir takes place 20 years later. It follows the lives of three young characters: a vengeful orphan named Aiz, an outcast and tracker named Sirsha, and the Empire’s Crown Prince Quil. They struggle with power, love, and greed in an adventure that had us on the edge of our seats.

Sabaa Tahir takes our breath away yet again with Heir. Here are three reasons why you should read it as soon as possible!

Book Overview: Heir

Content Warnings: murder, death, parent death, child deaths, decapitation, warfare, graphic violence, torture (Read at your discretion!)

Summary: 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 the love of her people 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.

It’s So Immersive

Maybe it’s because we both read Heir and listened to its audiobook, but we were locked in! This fantasy world is everything, from the physical and political landscape to each character’s dark history. Aiz sails across the Southern Ocean and back to rule her people in the name of Mother Div. Sirsha races across sea and land in the hopes of tracking a killer. Meanwhile, Quil is forced out of his palace in search of safety. We fully lost ourselves in this story and even had to reread the ending to cope.

The Intersection Of Characters

With three alternating points of view, it can be difficult to keep track of the plot while learning the individual backstories. But Heir weaves everyone’s stories together so well. Not to mention those of the beloved characters from An Ember in the Ashes! There’s a point in the novel where we must stop and think, is this all happening simultaneously? (IYKYK) But once we figured out the twist, everything else came together. Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil all play their destined role in the final battle, and we’re interested in seeing the aftermath in the sequel.

Of Course, The Romance

We couldn’t write this review without mentioning the romance between Sirsha and Quil! From their first chance encounter to bantering while traveling together, we absolutely loved seeing their chemistry develop. Because who else would get fake engaged and bonded to someone just to save her from her sister’s wrath? Soulmates, that’s who! Honestly, that is one of the most romantic moments we’ve ever seen in a romantasy, and we’re not afraid to admit it. Here’s hoping Sirsha and Quil get their happily ever after!

Heir by Sabaa Tahir will be released on October 1st, and you can preorder a copy of it here!

What do you think about Sabaa Tahir’s Heir? Are you looking forward to this new duology? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

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