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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Heir of Storms has everything I should love. I love the idea of elemental magic, competitions and chaperones, and politics. But I just needed a bit more. It was like a spark that needed to be lit. It starts off with a bang and then I felt like the tension loses some steam as the competition gets started - which seems like it would ramp it into high gear? I loved the idea of the courts, magic, and their hatred of her, but I found that it lacked some depth and felt a bit too fast paced. The amount of characters we have to get to know in terms of the court of the world, could get overwhelming at times.
Heir of Storms has everything I should love. I love the idea of elemental magic, competitions and chaperones, and politics. But I just needed a bit more. It was like a spark that needed to be lit. It starts off with a bang and then I felt like the tension loses some steam as the competition gets started - which seems like it would ramp it into high gear? I loved the idea of the courts, magic, and their hatred of her, but I found that it lacked some depth and felt a bit too fast paced. The amount of characters we have to get to know in terms of the court of the world, could get overwhelming at times.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Heir of Storms is a really solid YA Romantasy! I liked the mystery behind some of the characters and how not all the revelations were easily guessed. It was also refreshing to read about a FMC who does have love interests but is focused on herself and her growth throughout the book.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
The first chapter of this book really hooked me in. The concept of this whole magic and royalty system and the circumstances pertaining to Blaze’s birth was so eye-grabbing. Once I started, it was hard to put it down.
This book really rocked my world. If I had a comparison to draw from regarding the love interests in this slow burn romantasy, it would be like the book version of Damon and Stefan Salvatore from TVD. It’s making me want to watch TVD actually, but more specifically I am EAGER to read the next two installments of this trilogy when they come out.
Blaze is one of the best fMCs I’ve ever read in a fantasy. She’s so witty and practical and her journey throughout this book was often stress-inducing. The trials she had to go through, the GROWTH she had to experience, and the pain she had to withstand made me admire her even more. I absolutely love her first-person narration since it felt more personal to hear her inner monologues and how she views the world as a Rapunzel-like character.
Blaze’s relationship with her twin brother, Flint, and younger brother Renly made me giddy and happy to see such unwavering support and kindness. I loved the friendship squad in particular and I won't name names BUT I have my eye on a ship that pertains to Flint. I'm catching a vibe, and I'm usually 80% right when it comes to those. As for Blaze’s romance, I won't spoil anything other than the fact that I have a bad track record with love triangles in books but this one in particular was done so well that I wish I could sprint to the next book just to see these characters again. This author really knows how to write really charming dialogue and I was giggling and kicking my feet whenever certain characters had scenes together.
The first chapter of this book really hooked me in. The concept of this whole magic and royalty system and the circumstances pertaining to Blaze’s birth was so eye-grabbing. Once I started, it was hard to put it down.
This book really rocked my world. If I had a comparison to draw from regarding the love interests in this slow burn romantasy, it would be like the book version of Damon and Stefan Salvatore from TVD. It’s making me want to watch TVD actually, but more specifically I am EAGER to read the next two installments of this trilogy when they come out.
Blaze is one of the best fMCs I’ve ever read in a fantasy. She’s so witty and practical and her journey throughout this book was often stress-inducing. The trials she had to go through, the GROWTH she had to experience, and the pain she had to withstand made me admire her even more. I absolutely love her first-person narration since it felt more personal to hear her inner monologues and how she views the world as a Rapunzel-like character.
Blaze’s relationship with her twin brother, Flint, and younger brother Renly made me giddy and happy to see such unwavering support and kindness. I loved the friendship squad in particular and I won't name names BUT I have my eye on a ship that pertains to Flint. I'm catching a vibe, and I'm usually 80% right when it comes to those. As for Blaze’s romance, I won't spoil anything other than the fact that I have a bad track record with love triangles in books but this one in particular was done so well that I wish I could sprint to the next book just to see these characters again. This author really knows how to write really charming dialogue and I was giggling and kicking my feet whenever certain characters had scenes together.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Heir of Storms, and I’m so glad I did—it pulled me in right away with its rich elemental magic system, intense trials, and emotional depth.
✨ What I loved:
• The elemental court system. The idea that anyone chosen by the gods can compete for a crown—and earn their magic—was such a compelling setup.
• Blaze. She’s chaotic, powerful, and on a journey of learning to trust herself. Her arc kept me rooting for her.
• Fox. Whew. Broody, soft-hearted, secretive… he had me hooked. Their chemistry is a slow burn full of tension, and that masquerade maze scene?? YES.
• The lore. The lost story of the three magical sisters whose powers were trapped in amulets added so much intrigue.
• The vibes. Kittens, treehouse beds, magical towers, stolen moments in gardens… so many whimsical details that stuck with me.
🔮 What I wanted more of:
• More connection-building. The character arcs and relationships were compelling, but I wanted a few more quiet, grounding moments to really feel the emotional shifts.
• A little more backstory to help flesh out some of the stakes and dynamics.
Still, I absolutely devoured this book. It’s emotional, rich with magical lore, and full of little details that made the world feel alive. I’m very invested in the characters and can’t wait for book two.
⚡️Perfect for readers who love:
• Secret trials and royal politics
• Elemental magic with emotional depth
• Slow burn romance with tension and mutual respect
• Stories about power, legacy, and finding your place
• Soft-hearted men gifting kittens (yes, really)
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! 💛
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s for the e-arc!
This was a big surprise to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this and ate it UP. I think the slow burn romance had me hooked and having 2 potential love interests enticed me.
The world building was simple but interesting. It’s basically a world with people that have Avatar powers but there’s an oppressed sector of magical people that we will discover more of in the next books.
The TWISTS! Oh my gosh I had no idea. I tried to guess but wow I was caught completely off guard for a couple of them.
For this being a YA novel, I was impressed since I’ve been leaning away from them cause of out growing them. But it was a great first book in a trilogy.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced