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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
“I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world. And I’m coming for my crown.”
“Never doubt the tides of Fortune whether they break or bind.“
“It wasn’t a question of your possessing power, but of unlocking it. The answer was always inside of you. You just had to find it.”
A puppet master.
A rain singer.
An earth cleaver.
And a deadly game for ultimate power.
In this breathtaking debut YA romantasy— perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, The Red Queen, and Shadow & Bone, readers are swept into a vividly wrought world where elemental magic rules, bloodlines bind, and betrayal runs as deep as desire.
At the center of it all is our fierce and unforgettable heroine Blaze, the last of her kind and an unlikely hero, thrust into a brutal series of trials where the stakes are nothing short of survival— and power. With secrets stitched into every alliance, and enemies lurking behind charming smiles, she must navigate a perilous game of politics, pretend romance, and personal reckoning.
Fake dating? Check.
Backstabbing? Absolutely.
A soul-deep journey of empowerment wrapped in magic and heartbreak? Prepare yourself.
And the ending? A ruthless, breath-stealing cliffhanger that will leave you clawing for the next book in the tantalizing Storm Weaver trilogy.
Though marketed as YA, this novel transcends the category. As a notoriously selective reader (snob, because let’s call a spade… a spade) of the genre, I was wholly captivated, nay, SPELLBOUND by a fresh & original storyline and a cast of characters that feel heartbreakingly real. The elemental caste system is haunting, the world-building bloody and bold, and the romance, while age-appropriate, pulses with tension and longing that that you feel in your bones (and toes 🤭).
For those who crave immersive magic, high-stakes intrigue, and raw, romantic ache— this is the start of a journey you won’t want to miss. Fans of the Ahriman series? You’ll feel right at home.
Hamilton Murray has really set this trilogy off with a BLAZE-ing start. And I for one cannot wait to see what she delivers next.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan publishers, and the author for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
“Never doubt the tides of Fortune whether they break or bind.“
“It wasn’t a question of your possessing power, but of unlocking it. The answer was always inside of you. You just had to find it.”
A puppet master.
A rain singer.
An earth cleaver.
And a deadly game for ultimate power.
In this breathtaking debut YA romantasy— perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, The Red Queen, and Shadow & Bone, readers are swept into a vividly wrought world where elemental magic rules, bloodlines bind, and betrayal runs as deep as desire.
At the center of it all is our fierce and unforgettable heroine Blaze, the last of her kind and an unlikely hero, thrust into a brutal series of trials where the stakes are nothing short of survival— and power. With secrets stitched into every alliance, and enemies lurking behind charming smiles, she must navigate a perilous game of politics, pretend romance, and personal reckoning.
Fake dating? Check.
Backstabbing? Absolutely.
A soul-deep journey of empowerment wrapped in magic and heartbreak? Prepare yourself.
And the ending? A ruthless, breath-stealing cliffhanger that will leave you clawing for the next book in the tantalizing Storm Weaver trilogy.
Though marketed as YA, this novel transcends the category. As a notoriously selective reader (snob, because let’s call a spade… a spade) of the genre, I was wholly captivated, nay, SPELLBOUND by a fresh & original storyline and a cast of characters that feel heartbreakingly real. The elemental caste system is haunting, the world-building bloody and bold, and the romance, while age-appropriate, pulses with tension and longing that that you feel in your bones (and toes 🤭).
For those who crave immersive magic, high-stakes intrigue, and raw, romantic ache— this is the start of a journey you won’t want to miss. Fans of the Ahriman series? You’ll feel right at home.
Hamilton Murray has really set this trilogy off with a BLAZE-ing start. And I for one cannot wait to see what she delivers next.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan publishers, and the author for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, Vomit
Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
HEIR OF STORMS is a book that, I think, is going to do well with its 12-16 year old readers. It’s got a love triangle with TWO princes (who are, of course, the kind one and the bad boy), powerful but doesn’t know how to use her powers FMC, an interesting magic system and world, and action. If I was a teenager, I’d be all over this book.
And it’s got some really cool elements. The story has lots of action and some of the familiar tropes of the romantasy genre that readers have come to love. The author does a good job explaining these ideas, creating this new world, building up tension, and crafting this story. For a debut novel, it’s a lot to tackle and I think for the demographic, the author does this well.
However, I’m an older reader who does enjoy YA. But I struggled with this one. I found all the dialogue to be, well, immature. And the characters as well. Blaze, the FMC, was bland. She’s supposed to be this once in a generation individual that everyone loves but she’s just got no personality until more than halfway through the book. And this pivots to the rest of the characters. Each needed to be fleshed out more. There are a ton of them, and none, I feel, have depth that I’ e seen other YA novels do, and do in a sophisticated way. And that really hindered my ability to enjoy the book because I felt like I was reading a book that did not translate well to older readers.
Overall, this book is going to be a hit with the YA crowd. It’s got some many good things going for it. But, if you’re an older reader, you may not enjoy this one as much. I’m rating this high because of what I perceive others will enjoy and knowing who the primary audience is intended to be. On a personal level, this is more of a 3 star read for me.
Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
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
A Must-Read Romantasy Masterpiece
“I was the beginning that brought the end. The story begins and ends with me.”
From the prologue alone, I knew Heir of Storms was going to be HUGE. Elemental magic ✔️ chosen one ✔️ trials ✔️ love triangle ✔️ feminine rage ✔️ world building + an in-depth magic system ✔️ Lauryn Hamilton Murray delivers a dark, high-stakes fantasy that utterly captivated me from start to finish.
Blaze’s story is gripping—born into fire yet cursed with storms, reviled yet fiercely determined—her journey is a powerful exploration of identity, resilience, and the courage to rewrite one’s destiny. The intricate political intrigue and the morally complex characters add rich layers to an already immersive world. The dynamic between Blaze, her twin Flint, the enchanting Crown Prince, and the dangerously alluring newcomer sets up a compelling enemies-to-lovers tension that keeps the pages turning.
“I am life. I am death. I see stars. They skim my skin. I am a star. I am nothing at all.”
If you crave elemental magic intertwined with forbidden romance and high-stakes battles for power, Heir of Storms will not disappoint. It’s a thrilling blend of magic, romance, and political scheming in a fantasy world that feels fresh and fully realized. I can’t wait to see where this story goes next—this book is definitely one to watch for!
“Remember who you are. I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world. And I’m coming for my crown.”
“I was the beginning that brought the end. The story begins and ends with me.”
From the prologue alone, I knew Heir of Storms was going to be HUGE. Elemental magic ✔️ chosen one ✔️ trials ✔️ love triangle ✔️ feminine rage ✔️ world building + an in-depth magic system ✔️ Lauryn Hamilton Murray delivers a dark, high-stakes fantasy that utterly captivated me from start to finish.
Blaze’s story is gripping—born into fire yet cursed with storms, reviled yet fiercely determined—her journey is a powerful exploration of identity, resilience, and the courage to rewrite one’s destiny. The intricate political intrigue and the morally complex characters add rich layers to an already immersive world. The dynamic between Blaze, her twin Flint, the enchanting Crown Prince, and the dangerously alluring newcomer sets up a compelling enemies-to-lovers tension that keeps the pages turning.
“I am life. I am death. I see stars. They skim my skin. I am a star. I am nothing at all.”
If you crave elemental magic intertwined with forbidden romance and high-stakes battles for power, Heir of Storms will not disappoint. It’s a thrilling blend of magic, romance, and political scheming in a fantasy world that feels fresh and fully realized. I can’t wait to see where this story goes next—this book is definitely one to watch for!
“Remember who you are. I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world. And I’m coming for my crown.”
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Action packed, swoony romance, and trials that are interesting.
Blaze is a main character I can get behind. She has been put into a spot where she believes she's unworthy and unwanted by the court (not her family) because of the magic she was born with. The friendship dynamic is wonderful the side characters shine in the story and everyone is brought into light even though it's first person and in Blaze's pov. The book keeps you wanting more and is a very fun read. Absolutely recommend it to those who love YA fantasy!
Blaze is a main character I can get behind. She has been put into a spot where she believes she's unworthy and unwanted by the court (not her family) because of the magic she was born with. The friendship dynamic is wonderful the side characters shine in the story and everyone is brought into light even though it's first person and in Blaze's pov. The book keeps you wanting more and is a very fun read. Absolutely recommend it to those who love YA fantasy!
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure if I disliked this more because I was also reading ANOTHER YA book where there was a competition and two princes and this was the inferior of the two... But there were times I thought I wanted to dnf this. I think the whole book felt very... Formulaic and predictable. I also felt like the MC Blaze was a little dense. There also seemed to be a lot of telling instead of showing and periods of what felt like info dumping especially in the beginning. There were aspects of the story and world that WERE interesting and even with the exciting ending (which is the only reason it's above a 3 star) I don't think I'll be reading the sequel.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Blaze, a rain singer born into a powerful fire wielding family must come to terms that her very birth caused a devastating storm that left many dead. To protect her and others, her family has kept her locked up until her debut. Shortly after her debut, her fire wielding twin brother and her are selected as Heir's to compete to be the next generation of leaders.
This book is an adventure through self discovery, learning how to gain and control your own powers, and how to deal with those trying to make you feel inferior. Not only does the main character Ember learn a great deal about herself, but she also starts learning the secrets of the empire that she lives in and is fighting to help rule.
I really enjoyed the world building, the self discovery Ember went on through the book. The amount of romance was also well done, and didn't take away from the overall story, but enhanced what a seventeen year old girl may be going through. It was also written appropriately for a true YA book. There were some twists, that I wasn't quite ready for near the end of the book, and make me even more excited to read the sequel whenever it is released.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Book Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is an adventure through self discovery, learning how to gain and control your own powers, and how to deal with those trying to make you feel inferior. Not only does the main character Ember learn a great deal about herself, but she also starts learning the secrets of the empire that she lives in and is fighting to help rule.
I really enjoyed the world building, the self discovery Ember went on through the book. The amount of romance was also well done, and didn't take away from the overall story, but enhanced what a seventeen year old girl may be going through. It was also written appropriately for a true YA book. There were some twists, that I wasn't quite ready for near the end of the book, and make me even more excited to read the sequel whenever it is released.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Book Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.