Book Review: Heir of Fire

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)

By: Sarah J. Maas

Published By: Bloomsbury UK/AUS, Bloomsbury USA

Publication Date: September 2, 2014

Page Count: 565

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher (UK/AUS)

Genre: YA Fantasy
Review of Book #1: Throne of Glass
Review of Book #2: Crown of Midnight

Heir of Fire is the third instalment in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas. 

 Crown of Midnight ended with a rather massive cliffhanger and a revelation that left readers (well, me at least) reeling. Celaena, feeling betrayed and broken hearted, is sent off on a mission to kill the royal family across the sea in Wendlyn. Heir of Fire opens with her having arrived, but not yet completed her mission. She is wallowing in self-pity and self-loathing when she is approached by the Fae prince Rowan. Tasked with taking Celaena to the Fae Queen Maeve, Rowan will not fall for her charms as Dorian and Chaol did. He will, however, force her to accept the parts of herself that she has, by necessity, kept hidden for so long. Meanwhile, the witches are gathering with an agenda of their own. Manon Blackbeak is determined to reclaim the land taken from the witches and will stop at nothing to get it. Back in Ardalan, the King is concerned about a growing resistance, and Chaol and Dorian find themselves at odds yet again. 


This for me is the best book of the series so far, and one of my favourite reads of the year. While I wasn’t terribly interested in the witches’ storyline, I am looking forward to seeing how it develops in the remaining books of the series. 

 My favourite new character in this book is Rowan. He is brilliantly written. Utterly unyielding, damaged, loyal, powerful. I could go on with the adjectives, but I will let you discover him for yourself. The way the relationship between Celaena and Rowan develops is just wonderful to read. 

 I love the way the book is written. The combination of epic fantasy with a completely modern attitude is just so satisfying. Sarah J Maas manages to break my heart over and over with the trials she puts her characters through, and this third instalment is no exception. Characters will be brought together and torn apart, and nothing is certain. I read much of this book with my hand clasped over my mouth, and the end left me gasping. 

 It will be a long wait for the next title in this series!

Summary:

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?