Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Unputdownable, intense fantasy epic set in Ember universe.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Set 20 years after the events of A Sky Beyond the Storm, HEIR is author Sabaa Tahir's two-book return to the Ember universe. In this follow-up, the story follows three main characters in alternate point-of-view chapters. Aiz is a gutter Snipe (a lowborn orphan) from Kegar, an impoverished nation far from the Empire. She is determined to kill a tyrannical military commander who once set fire to her orphanage. Guided by a voice in her head claiming to be Kegar's first queen Mother Div, Aiz escapes prison and finds her way to the supernatural remains of Mother Div. Sirsha was cast out by her tribe but remains a powerful tracker. When she makes a blood oath to seal a contract to track a mysterious killer, she has no idea the trail will put her in such danger— even with her own tribe. Quil is the nickname for the Empress Helene's sole heir apparent and nephew. When Kegar invades the Empire, Quil must join forces with Sirsha to find the monster that killed two of his loved ones and countless others in a horrific way.
Is It Any Good?
An excellent and explosive return to Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes universe. Some authors can't stay away from the fantasy worlds that solidified their careers (Cassandra Clare, Brandon Sanderson, Terry Pratchett, Pierce Brown, to name a few), so it's no wonder why Tahir felt compelled to revisit Elias, Laia, and Helene two decades after they remade the Empire and saved the world. They are the supporting characters here as the next generation takes their turn to stand up to tyranny and injustice. Tahir loves writing messy young adults who are flawed and fall for the wrong people and occasionally allow their ambition to blind or corrupt them. Heir also deftly explores a character who "breaks bad" in a subtle but heartbreaking way. It's a fascinating bit of character development, watching as the thirst for vengeance and freedom overtakes reason and empathy.
There's a fairly large twist in this story, so the less said the better. It's a deliciously executed "before and after" that reframes how readers engage with a particular set of plot developments. Quil, like Elias, is a handsome hero with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Sirsha is refreshingly snarky and skilled and desperately in need of friends. Aiz is utterly devoted to her faith and her people. Elias and Laia's son Sufiyan is a supporting character but a good blend of his parents. And the golden trio from the first series still looms large without taking the spotlight away from the younger protagonists. This book is long—more than 500 pages—but nearly impossible to put down, particularly after the first act. Prepare your hearts and bodies for all the feels, and the wait for book two.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Heir. How does the death and violence impact readers? Do you think violence against children and young adults affects readers differently than violence against adults?
Discuss the two romances in this book. Does it feel like a love triangle? How do the two romances differ? Are you rooting for the couple sworn to each other?
There's an adage that one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter. How does that idea play out in this book? Can you think of any real-world examples of this?
All three of the central characters keep secrets for different reasons. Are some of the secrets easier to forgive than others? Why? Can you be a role model even if you lie?
Talk about the ending. What do you hope for in the second (and final) book in this spinoff? What storylines do you want to see explored?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : October 1, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 512
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate