Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 576
Published: 1/09/14 by Bloomsbury Publishing Australia
Source: Publisher
Synopsis (from publisher):
Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien's only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan's Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King's Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan's biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?
Review:
Sarah J. Maas’s Heir of Fire is a fantastic novel written by
a truly captivating author. Always surprising, Maas’s writing transports you to another land that is rich in history and
culture. Previously, I would have classified the Throne
of Glass series as a 'low fantasy' despite its second world setting, however, Heir of Fire sits squarely in the epic fantasy
realm and has reignited my dormant love for the genre.
The world of Heir of
Fire is much more complex and diverse than touched upon in Throne of Glass. Maas has cleverly expanded her world with each book, allowing her to delve deeper into her mythology
and the characters she’s created, without overwhelming the reader with backstory.
While Throne of Glass was a more personal journey of Celaena’s transition from slave to Adarlan’s Champion, Heir of Fire explores the broader scope of Erilea’s people and their dark history.
While Throne of Glass was a more personal journey of Celaena’s transition from slave to Adarlan’s Champion, Heir of Fire explores the broader scope of Erilea’s people and their dark history.
Celaena is unlike any YA protagonist I’ve read before; she’s
often foul-mouthed, ill-tempered yet fragile and broken. Heir of Fire is particularly satisfying due to Celaena’s character
arc. She was left shattered by the events of Crown of Midnight, and none of these events are forgotten in Heir of Fire. These
events drive Celaena’s actions, they become a part of
her. It’s thrilling to watch her journey unfold and witness the empowering rebirth of a hero.
While some could argue that the new characters in Heir of Fire dilutes the reader’s
connection to the main protagonists: Chaol, Dorian and Celaena, Maas has the knack for rendering
complete, flawed and empathetic characters where each addition improves upon
the diverse cast. My favourite new character was Manon Blackbeak, a witch
with iron teeth and claws who’s ruthless in her ambition to lead her clan. The cinematic
chapters detailing the witches trials to train their Wyverns, dragon-like
creatures, are so distinctive it’s as though Manon has clawed her way into Heir of
Fire, regardless of Maas’s original plans. Manon is a fresh and wonderful
addition to the Throne of Glass world and I can't wait to see where she journeys next.
I have to admit, I missed the main romantic thread that was
dominant in Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight. Heir of Fire is a darker book, with serious themes of loss and
sacrifice. Instead of focusing on romance, Maas’s shifts to follow the budding friendship between Rowan and Celaena. Their relationship is a kind of love story that slowly unfolds and it is a
joy to observe—this is what it feels like to read Maas’ novels, as if you are
witnessing the dynamics of real, flesh and blood people as opposed to reading the stories of fictional characters.
Heir of Fire is an
outstanding entry in the Throne of
Glass series, there are no symptoms of the dreaded mid-series slump here. My only complaint is that I must now wait a year or so until I discover the fates of all the beloved characters—both new and original.
Wonderful review, Astrid! You describe this book so well, and your description, particularly, of Celaena was just tops, definitely. I’ve never been completely taken with the romance in this series, either- I enjoy Celaena’s happiness, when she feels it- but I think it’s quite wonderful that she doesn’t feel like the kind of protagonist who needs romance. It will never define her and she is just as strong without it as with. I like that she is her own person whether in a relationship or not. (Have you read The Assassin’s Blade? THAT was so, so good. Such good backstory, and learning about Sam… gosh that was very emotional.)
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