4.07 AVERAGE

adventurous mysterious 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

Okay
I've been a little harsh on this book through my nitpicks to friends and family
So first,things I liked

The second trial was really cool, having them battle their own elements. Hell yeah 
The various plot twists surrounding the Magi, Hal and Fox and King Balen were pretty neato 

Anyway this book is an exposition heavy repetitive pussy BLIND THE FUCK BOY BLIND GHE FUCK BOY. YES HES MH FAVOURITE CHARACTER BUT IT WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE EMOTIONAL IF YOU WHOLLY BLINDED THE MAN WHORE. AND MAKE HIM GET TOGETHER WITH HIS AID OMG THEY HELD HANDS WHILE HE WAS IN HOSPITAL GUYS?????

anyway
My issues

Elemental stories have been rung dry- trust me, I once attempted one. Been there, done that, just watch avatar. Some things surrounding their powers were cool, like flirting, water portals, etc

Fox is such a tricky character. I should've known I was in danger when the blurb describes it as a romantasy. FFS rob/MY NANA WHY. 

I can't help but oft be reminded of the Arnold Schwarzenegger film End of Days, in which Arnie's main character is a recovering alcoholic.
They show this through subtle ways
Too many subtle ways, culminating in it being cartoonish in the sheer ways we can show and not tell that this fucker used to be an alcoholic.

This book is like that but worse, because instead of insinuating the same factoid over and over again, it explicitly repeats the same facts over and over again and it's like, buddy, I get it, from a character perspective, Blaze would probably be sad and repeat these sad memories in her head but like
Shut the fuck up
Oh my god WE GET IT your mum died waaa waaa waaaa

OHHHH noooooo my birth caused a giant storm that drowned like everyone waaaaa
Also some of the mean characters are so one dimensional
The fuck happened to Cole? He started off as a decent guy and then became a cartoon supervillain after losing the first trial. Like I understand being bitter but fucking hell stop TRYING TO SET BLAZE ON FIRE EVERY TWO MINUTES 

ugh

Anyway yeah fucking fine Blaze should end up with Fox. I GUESS he's not actually a slaver. So. Sigh. 
They would probably make a good pair. They both caused massive cataclysmic, deathly events that killed thousands. Bonding!

I am slightly intrigued to read any sequels, to see Flint and Blaze's (man these fucking names) dad, see Renlys power blossom, see what fuck ass Balen is up to, see more of Fox's backstory, etc

Overall pretty decent run of the mill fantasy book

THE FIRST TRIAL IS STUPID AND CLICHE OMG WE GET IT VISIONS OF YOUR LOVED ONES SAYING THEY HATE YOU WAAA WAAA WAAA DO SOMETHING NEW YOU WANNA BE THE ZCRANNERS FROM MY SALAD CAMPAIGN SOOOO BAD

anyway uh decent book to finish on the London underground.
Not a good sign that I wanted to loudly declare every now and then "WOW THIS BOOK IS MEDIOCRE HAHAHAH!"

Anyway
Sorry nana
You're not gonna like this review are you

P.S
Big up the gays, one of which dying, another one being permanently disfigured but also SHOULDVE BEEN FULLT BLINDED YOU PUSSIES UGHDKDKD

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Oh I loved this so much! I got it in my fairyloot box but did the audio. The narrator is lovely. And (as a person with a cat named Mouse) I loved that the cat was named Mouse. The first half is slow but the second half…. Fireeeeee 
I need the next one immediately 
adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective 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
lindssreading's profile picture

lindssreading's review

DID NOT FINISH: 37%
slow-paced
jbsoutiere's profile picture

jbsoutiere's review

4.0
adventurous 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

As a storm chaser, I’m no stranger to the awe and wonder that accompany the clash of sky and earth. So when I cracked open Heir of Storms and met Blaze—a fierce, storm-weaving heroine—I knew I was in for something special. Lauryn Hamilton Murray doesn’t just tell a story. She summons it like a thunderhead rising on the plains full of beauty, fury, and unrelenting momentum.

From the very first page, the prose grips you like the inflow into a supercell. The writing is lyrical and evocative, each sentence crackling with emotion and tension much like the way Blaze’s powers are bound to her deepest feelings. It’s a bold and brilliant choice to link magic to emotion, especially when those emotions are not just felt but embraced. As Blaze’s grandmother wisely said, “You must embrace it all. Don’t bury your emotions. Don’t hide from your heart. To feel is to be alive.”

The pacing of Heir of Storms is fast enough to keep the adrenaline high, but with moments of calm that allow the emotional weight to settle like heavy rain. Even when a few plot turns were visible on the radar, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. There’s something about the rhythm of this story that feels like chasing a tornado. You may have a sense of where it’s going, but you still hold your breath every second of the way.

Blaze is the eye of this storm. She is resilient, relatable, and raw. Her journey of empowerment isn’t just about learning to control her rain singing powers; it’s a pathway to choose strength and to claim her destiny.

Her bond with her little brother Renly was one of the most tender aspects of the book. A grounding force amid the chaos, and a poignant reminder of how loss and grief can forge unbreakable ties.

The quote “you have found a way to turn pain into power” sums up Blaze’s arc so powerfully. She doesn’t just survive, she transforms. And when her fury finally ignites—particularly toward the loathsome Ember—I could feel her cold rage burn through the pages. I’ve never hated a character quite as much, and I mean that as the highest compliment to Murray’s writing.

And then there’s Fox. Oh, the banter. The tension. The slow-burn intensity. The way their dynamic builds is like a pressure system just waiting to break. I can’t wait to see their connection deepen. There’s still so much left simmering beneath the surface.

The magic system is another standout. It’s original and compelling. The three Eyes gave me Deathly Hallows vibes in the best way, but the world of the Etheri is entirely its own map with more lands and secrets I can’t wait to explore.

In short, Heir of Storms is a debut as percussive as a positive lightning strike. It’s a story about claiming your power, choosing your path and letting yourself feel. And I’ll be chasing this series into the horizon. Book two can’t come soon enough.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Roaring Book Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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
emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes