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helengarrawayauthor's review against another edition
4.0
A talking cat! What more can I say? But seriously, Chow has created a complex world full of magical creatures and cultures, and an interesting magical system. Within this world there are three heirs, one has control of fire, another controls shadows and the ability to disappear and the third has control over Time and healing. They are stronger as a triad, each complementing the other. But one is missing.
This is an enemies to lovers trope as Kaia and Klaus have to learn to rely on each other to succeed. It takes them a while to overcome their constant bickering and they slowly begin to appreciate the others skills as they gather the warriors they need to overcome their enemy. A war they have been training for all their lives and probably never thought was real. An enjoyable adventure which builds into a satisfying finale, with some engaging characters, some of whom you just want to knock their heads together, but they get there in the end.
This is an enemies to lovers trope as Kaia and Klaus have to learn to rely on each other to succeed. It takes them a while to overcome their constant bickering and they slowly begin to appreciate the others skills as they gather the warriors they need to overcome their enemy. A war they have been training for all their lives and probably never thought was real. An enjoyable adventure which builds into a satisfying finale, with some engaging characters, some of whom you just want to knock their heads together, but they get there in the end.
biblioleviosa's review against another edition
4.0
Odriel's Heirs is about the adventures of two mystical heirs out of three - the Dragon and Shadow heir to fight an undead army and their master, Nifras. It's all about the difficulty and biggest challenges of 17 y/o girl to defeat the monster.
⠀
Reading this book is such riding a roller coaster. Purely amazing! I love the combination of the epic and slow flow between each story. You can feel a variety of emotions too. I like it when you can feel the rage, angst, heart-breaking, loved etc.
Although the blood rushing impact doesn't really reach me sometimes, but I do love how the fantasy world created, I still can imagine it. I can feel the Final Fantasy vibes there. It is like a high fantasy level. I love the action, what an epic battle! I really can imagine that, just like an RPG or an action movie. But more likely a video game. It's very unique and so interesting.
I like the main character, Kaia which portrayed a protagonist character with
her own vibes. However, female protagonist can be such an annoying sometimes, yeah! But, I love all the characters. Klaus is a perfect companion for Kaia. Sometimes, I tend to get confused which characters are humans or creatures but it doesn't affect the story.
Overall, I love it! It's beyond my expectation. If you are a fantasy FREAK, you definitely NEED TO READ THIS!
I'd love to thank the author for reaching me and sending me a copy in exchange of an honest review.
⠀
Reading this book is such riding a roller coaster. Purely amazing! I love the combination of the epic and slow flow between each story. You can feel a variety of emotions too. I like it when you can feel the rage, angst, heart-breaking, loved etc.
Although the blood rushing impact doesn't really reach me sometimes, but I do love how the fantasy world created, I still can imagine it. I can feel the Final Fantasy vibes there. It is like a high fantasy level. I love the action, what an epic battle! I really can imagine that, just like an RPG or an action movie. But more likely a video game. It's very unique and so interesting.
I like the main character, Kaia which portrayed a protagonist character with
her own vibes. However, female protagonist can be such an annoying sometimes, yeah! But, I love all the characters. Klaus is a perfect companion for Kaia. Sometimes, I tend to get confused which characters are humans or creatures but it doesn't affect the story.
Overall, I love it! It's beyond my expectation. If you are a fantasy FREAK, you definitely NEED TO READ THIS!
I'd love to thank the author for reaching me and sending me a copy in exchange of an honest review.
thefunsizereader's review against another edition
3.0
Odriel’s Heirs was a YA fantasy that kind of reminded me of Mulan. It had this young girl who was the fire yielding warrior in charge of battling an army of, essentially zombies, led by a madman. I thought this book was way better geared for a younger YA crowd that is starting to dabble in the fantasy genre and needs somewhere to get started! I will say there were times that I was a little confused as to who we were talking about, and wished there was a little more character development in the scenes so I would remember who characters were. I also wish that Kaia (at least in the beginning) was a little stronger than she was! She is the Dragon Heir! Own it girl!!
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hannargh's review against another edition
4.0
This book gives you all the fantasy tropes that you are looking for - slow-burn romance, undead army, evil necromancer, boy who won't call the girl by her first name, both cute and snarky animals, grumbling wizards and imaginative species and place names. All done simply and all done well.
The story itself is very Eddings-lite, with the forces of darkness threatening the land and untested heroes having to come to terms with themselves and overcome their differences in order to try and save everything, even in the face of overwhelming odds. What was a particularly welcome addition, though, was the different approach that some characters take towards fighting that evil (fighting evil with evil) - given that half of the kingdom seems to support this approach and presumably do not support the Heirs, I would love to see that explored in more detail, especially given the outcome ...
One of the most impressive things is how restrained Chow has been in her writing - it can be so easy to read over-florid fantasy stories and not enjoy them. The brevity of this story meant that, even if the story itself was somewhat simple at times, it was well-told and enjoyable. There are no wasted words, although there are times when the reader would probably enjoy more detail and backstory - something that can always come in a later novel.
Best of all, for me, was a very short Epilogue that hinted at things to come, but also that victory comes at a price ... I love an ending that implies that things aren't always as clear as they seem.
3.5 stars, but rounded up to 4 stars for that ending.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The story itself is very Eddings-lite, with the forces of darkness threatening the land and untested heroes having to come to terms with themselves and overcome their differences in order to try and save everything, even in the face of overwhelming odds. What was a particularly welcome addition, though, was the different approach that some characters take towards fighting that evil (fighting evil with evil) - given that half of the kingdom seems to support this approach and presumably do not support the Heirs, I would love to see that explored in more detail, especially given the outcome ...
One of the most impressive things is how restrained Chow has been in her writing - it can be so easy to read over-florid fantasy stories and not enjoy them. The brevity of this story meant that, even if the story itself was somewhat simple at times, it was well-told and enjoyable. There are no wasted words, although there are times when the reader would probably enjoy more detail and backstory - something that can always come in a later novel.
Best of all, for me, was a very short Epilogue that hinted at things to come, but also that victory comes at a price ... I love an ending that implies that things aren't always as clear as they seem.
3.5 stars, but rounded up to 4 stars for that ending.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
charliadams's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Let me say, this book blew me away. There is so much packed in this book, but yet it did not feel overwhelming. Everything was well balanced, from the struggles of the characters to the magic and world building. The tempo was great, and it always kept me on the edge of my seat. This book is up on my top favorites of this year!
Being the eldest child, Kaia Dashul has a lot resting on her shoulders. Next in line as Dragon Heir, one of three of Odriel’s Heirs, she is an outcast and hated by the people she is supposed to protect. Because of this hate, she takes it amongst herself with her trusted companion hound, Gus, to stop the threat that is happening to her land. During this journey, you can see the struggle, both mentally and physically, Kaia goes through, and with this, the challenges she puts herself through to grow as a character. Kaia is a well-written character. She is stubborn, has a temper, and determination once motivated.
Klaus Thane is the next Shadow Heir and Kaia’s childhood rival, turned travel companion. He is one of those characters I describe as hard exterior and gooey interior, stubborn but sensitive. Klaus wants to help Kaia with her problems and tries to, but he knows they have others depending on them. I feel he is Kaia’s anchor alongside Gus. Even though the two fight, they both need each other. Klaus is a great overall character. His light-hearted teasing, along with his criticism towards Kaia, helps lighten the mood in the story. As a reader, you can see his own struggles, but unlike Kaia, Klaus keeps it together.
The villains of the story were sometimes wishy-washy for me. I enjoyed them, but sometimes, they felt flat, and other times well done. The necromancer was someone you knew was coming and when he showed up; you were not disappointed. Every time the necromancer’s undead came to the page, I actually thought of the orgs from Lord of the Rings. There was some confusion about what was going on, on the evil side, but once figured out, one could follow.
The tales of the old Heirs were a great treat and background story. I wish we had a little more background story with the royals and the heirs, but it was not too much of a bother. Everything was balanced well, and the story was not to boggled down for a fantasy. The richness of the world building made me immediately fall into this world. I love how the magic worked and how it was different for each race.
I enjoyed this book! It was full of everything you can imagine in a fantasy story. The overall development was well done, being on the short side. I defiantly recommend this story to everyone who loves fantasy.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
peachykeenreviews's review against another edition
5.0
Quick Take
Odriel's Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow is a captivating fantasy adventure filled with a storm of female power and breath-taking world-building.
Tell Me More
Odriel's Heirs is one of those rare novels that you read once maybe every ten years or so and can't get it out of your head. Hayley Reese Chow's writing provided me with an emotional catharsis for experiencing and releasing passion, rage, and excitement, and I am changed after reading her astonishing novel.
Our story begins with Kaia - the Dragon Heir and our protagonist - who has inherited the power of the flame to protect her people from the necromancer's undead army. Unfortunately, the necromancer is now a thing of legend, and Kaia is outcast because others fear her power. Kaia is forced to manage her gifts on her own while living remotely until the undead begins to terrorize her people once again, and her powers are needed so she joins the battle.
There is some ambiguity when it comes to interpreting Kaia's circumstance, but I found it interesting how she was feared because of her power and outcast; however, as soon as her powers were needed, she was "useful" for once. Kaia's situation echoes some of the dilemmas facing modern women (such as others being intimidated by a woman's talents and successes) and I found the ideology of feminism to be present throughout the novel. I am a sucker for kick-ass female protagonists, and Kaia is the epitome of a world-rocking female. Rather than taking on fighting the undead herself, Kaia teams up with the Shadow Heir - her rival - to embrace her power and bring justice back to their land and protect the people she loves. Kaia is powerful while keeping her sights on protecting others and using her powers for the good of all. She is a wildly complex character, and I simply fell in love with her.
But there is a reason behind why Kaia's story is so powerful, and that is Chow's writing style. Her writing blew me away. I found her world-building technique to be flawless and without wordiness that can often be present in high fantasy novels. I floated away on her charming words and I was fully absorbed by the third page of the novel - a record for me. Odriel's Heirs filled all of my fantasy dreams, and I look forward to reading more of Chow's work.
If you are a fan of high fantasy and strong female protagonists, then you are going to adore Odriel's Heirs! It is a book that will stick with me for a very long time, and I am so grateful to the author for allowing me the chance to enter her awe-inspiring, richly imagined world. I didn't want to give away too much of the story, so go pick up a copy and find out for yourself what happens! You will be glad you did.
Odriel's Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow is a captivating fantasy adventure filled with a storm of female power and breath-taking world-building.
Tell Me More
Odriel's Heirs is one of those rare novels that you read once maybe every ten years or so and can't get it out of your head. Hayley Reese Chow's writing provided me with an emotional catharsis for experiencing and releasing passion, rage, and excitement, and I am changed after reading her astonishing novel.
Our story begins with Kaia - the Dragon Heir and our protagonist - who has inherited the power of the flame to protect her people from the necromancer's undead army. Unfortunately, the necromancer is now a thing of legend, and Kaia is outcast because others fear her power. Kaia is forced to manage her gifts on her own while living remotely until the undead begins to terrorize her people once again, and her powers are needed so she joins the battle.
There is some ambiguity when it comes to interpreting Kaia's circumstance, but I found it interesting how she was feared because of her power and outcast; however, as soon as her powers were needed, she was "useful" for once. Kaia's situation echoes some of the dilemmas facing modern women (such as others being intimidated by a woman's talents and successes) and I found the ideology of feminism to be present throughout the novel. I am a sucker for kick-ass female protagonists, and Kaia is the epitome of a world-rocking female. Rather than taking on fighting the undead herself, Kaia teams up with the Shadow Heir - her rival - to embrace her power and bring justice back to their land and protect the people she loves. Kaia is powerful while keeping her sights on protecting others and using her powers for the good of all. She is a wildly complex character, and I simply fell in love with her.
But there is a reason behind why Kaia's story is so powerful, and that is Chow's writing style. Her writing blew me away. I found her world-building technique to be flawless and without wordiness that can often be present in high fantasy novels. I floated away on her charming words and I was fully absorbed by the third page of the novel - a record for me. Odriel's Heirs filled all of my fantasy dreams, and I look forward to reading more of Chow's work.
If you are a fan of high fantasy and strong female protagonists, then you are going to adore Odriel's Heirs! It is a book that will stick with me for a very long time, and I am so grateful to the author for allowing me the chance to enter her awe-inspiring, richly imagined world. I didn't want to give away too much of the story, so go pick up a copy and find out for yourself what happens! You will be glad you did.
amanda_lee's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read. I really enjoyed the storyline. Kaia got on my nerves at points and I wonder why she wasn't going on missions sooner. I'm left curious about why the heirs fled. There were parts that were slow but it definitely picked up.
I'll definitely be checking out the second book.
I'll definitely be checking out the second book.
itssyryus's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this short book with all my heart. It has dragons, the words flown while you are reading them and it's also very well detailed. I loved the author's writing, the fantasy genre book and also the whole Kaia's adventure. I like the idea od a dark lord that has been banished and now returns even stronger in order to rule the world forever. When you'll find out more about the Fire heir and the Time heir everything will became clearly predictable (a bit of the end of the book too) but it still remaibns an epic fantasy.
Shadmundar was like I imagined it would be a grumpy cat and the Shadow heir really surprised me. Looking forward to reading the second book!
Shadmundar was like I imagined it would be a grumpy cat and the Shadow heir really surprised me. Looking forward to reading the second book!
theseliterarydelights's review against another edition
3.0
I’m thankful to the author for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for a review.
Odriel’s Heirs is overall a tense adventure fantasy with fun characters, a clever storyline, and unique (although sometimes clunky) world building. I enjoyed the descriptive yet succinct writing style that often made for a quick pace, the witty dialogue, as well as the creepy and diabolical villains.
My only major complaints are some issues I had with the world building and villain motivations. Although this book never info dumps, I felt confused at times keeping straight different pieces of lore, history, and the magic system. These all intrigued me, but I think more time could have been spent developing these. Again, I liked the villains, but readers don’t get much of specific motivations until late in the story and even then, much feels left out. Although, this might be purposeful, as we may learn much more in the sequel.
With that said, Odriel’s Heirs is a great debut and will appeal to new and seasoned fantasy readers. I look forward to reading more of Hayley Reese Chow’s work in the future.
Odriel’s Heirs is overall a tense adventure fantasy with fun characters, a clever storyline, and unique (although sometimes clunky) world building. I enjoyed the descriptive yet succinct writing style that often made for a quick pace, the witty dialogue, as well as the creepy and diabolical villains.
My only major complaints are some issues I had with the world building and villain motivations. Although this book never info dumps, I felt confused at times keeping straight different pieces of lore, history, and the magic system. These all intrigued me, but I think more time could have been spent developing these. Again, I liked the villains, but readers don’t get much of specific motivations until late in the story and even then, much feels left out. Although, this might be purposeful, as we may learn much more in the sequel.
With that said, Odriel’s Heirs is a great debut and will appeal to new and seasoned fantasy readers. I look forward to reading more of Hayley Reese Chow’s work in the future.