Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass, #3
Format: Paperback, owned
My rating: 5 / 5
Pages: 562
Add to Goodreads
Consumed by guilt and rage, Celaena can't bring herself to spill blood for the King of Adarlan. She must fight back...
The Immortal Queen will help her destroy the king - for a price. But as Celaena battles with her darkest memories and her heart breaks for a love that could never last, can she fulfil the bargain and head the almighty court of Terrasen? And who will stand with her?-- As seen on Goodreads
My Thoughts
I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a very dangerous habit to become attached to characters in the Throne of Glass series. Odds are every one of them will be brutally killed. But! HOLY CRAP THIS SERIES IS EPIC!! I am completely captivated by it and everything – the characters, the world building, the plot, the atmosphere, the tension, the EMOTION – is just phenomenal. Sarah J. Maas is one author who loves torturing her characters, and as a by-product, her readers!
I’m not going into specific detail about what happens in Heir of Fire, but I have to say that I thought it was an excellent continuation after the events in Crown of Midnight. I LOVE that every little piece of information that’s revealed is linked to something in the previous books. Everything has a purpose, everything is interlinked seamlessly, and it’s so captivating seeing it all slowly unfold.
While I’m writing this review, I’m trying to pin-point what is my favourite thing about the Throne of Glass series. I think of the characters… and each one is phenomenal! Then, I think of the world-building, and… it’s breath-taking! I’m finding it so hard to say that ‘this one thing’ is why I love this series so much. Seriously, it’s a combination of EVERYTHING that makes it epic. It’s seamless. The characters bring the story to life, the world-building enhances and shapes everything that happens to the characters, and the plot tortures everyone and everything! The balance between all these elements is simply incredible.
If I HAVE to pick one ‘favourite’ thing, it’s the characters. Each one is so complex: they represent so many different traits, and they’re all believably portrayed. The King of Adarlan, for example, is absolutely terrifying – he’s one of those rare villains that you can sense is a credible threat to each and every character in the book. And not just the characters that we get to know through the course of the series, but all the unnamed characters and citizens both in Adarlan and in the neighbouring countries.
Heir of Fire introduces us to lots of new characters, and I loved what they brought to the story. The witches in general were a brilliant addition, but Manon in particular was such an intriguing character! And, oh my gosh, Abraxos! I loved his story, and the bond that developed between him and Manon. I know there is a lot of love around for Rowan, but… I wasn’t too sure of him. He got on my wrong side pretty quickly if I’m honest. It wasn’t until very near the end of the book that he began to redeem himself a little. I’d be deliriously happy if the relationship between Celaena and Rowan remains a friendship and completely platonic – similar to Roar and Aria’s friendship from the Under the Never Sky trilogy.
I have a completely unwavering love for Celaena, Chaol and Dorian. I love their dynamic together, and I love each of them individually. I LOVED learning more about Celaena, and her back story in Heir of Fire. I was wondering what happened to her as a child, and it’s awesome to finally see a little bit of what shaped her into the woman she is today. Dorian continues to have a tough time, and I feel that things have come to a breaking point for him. But Chaol… *sigh* Oh Celaena! Wake up girl! Get your big-girl britches on and cut him a little slack! I don’t even mind if you let him grovel and beg for forgiveness for the next thirty years, I’m not pushy, but give him a second chance! Pretty please ;-) (Yes, I firmly ship Chaolaena!)
I wasn’t expecting to really ‘click’ with yet another character from the series, but… Aedion! His character was briefly introduced in Crown of Midnight, but we get to meet him properly in Heir of Fire. Oh my gosh, I really liked him right from his entrance into the King’s court! I can’t really put my finger on why I clicked with him almost instantly - maybe it’s because he reminds me of a male version of Celaena? I’m really hoping things work out… fine… for him. (Sorry I have to be so vague, but I don’t want to spoil things!) This shall be hard… but I’m really hoping for a certain reunion, if you catch my drift!
The endings in this series are incredible! The amount of emotions you go through within a few dozen pages is unbelievable. I’m too scared to imagine how the remaining three books will pan out. If the first three are any indication, this will NOT be a smooth ride, and holy crap I’m anxious, excited and terrified to see what will happen next!
Great review! I love this series as well, and you've managed to include practically everything I like about it, in more words than I could! I can't wait for the next book, and want to cry every time I remember it will be 2017 by the time it's finished. I'm waiting for this to be "the next big thing" already, it deserves it, and I want more people to gush about it with (IRL). I wish they'd make a movie series out of it, it would be amazing to see it adapted, if they didn't muck it up... R x
ReplyDeleteHere's my review - https://confessionsofabookgeek.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/review-heir-of-fire/
I really wish it was more popular with the masses! I was in Eason's before Christmas and I was SO HAPPY when I spotted Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire on the shelves :D (No ToG though :/) They only had one copy of each, but hey, it's a start!
DeleteAnd wow, a Throne of Glass movie, now that would be EPIC! If it ever happened, I'd pray it was done right. But, 2017... AARRGHH! I don't think I can wait that long :( Thank goodness she has ACOTAR coming out as well, but... it'll be another series to become obsessed over, and even more wait times. I've had a peek at some early reviews, and it looks like it'll be fantastic!
I've seen so many amazing things about this series, but I still haven't started it! Your review has obviously made me rethink my hesitance to pick up book one. It's interesting that there are so many new characters being introduced this far into the series, but it sounds like it was done well! I'm definitely going to have to get a copy. Great review!
ReplyDeleteTracy @ Cornerfolds
Oooh, Tracy, you NEED to try this series!! I was in your shoes last year before I read Throne of Glass. I was so scared that the hype would build up my expectation too much and I'd end up hating ToG... Thankfully (as you can probably guess!) that wasn't the case, and I've become almost OBSESSED with this series now.
DeleteWith the characters, Sarah J. Maas is just masterful at creating them! I have zero faults with any of them - they're just... perfectly real. They are all so approachable and likeable, yet they have realistic flaws that make them even more human... oh gosh, I'd be here all day gushing about them! I really, really hope you love the series if/when you try it :D
Firstly, loving the new look! So with you there, she really does love torturing her characters. >.< Although this time, I wasn't that attached to you know who that was killed, so didn't really bother me. But exactly! I know a lot of people loved this but some complained about the pace. I get it, it's a big book, and yeah, it was kind of slow, but like you said, everything has it's place. Everything thing that's revealed and shown is a build-up, one you need, considering it's #3 out of 6. It is going to be slower, and that'll make it all the more amazing as it goes along.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very much character driven story, and I love them, especially because you can't tell what's going to happen, all the way through it, I've had no clue, because it's up to the characters with which way they go (if that makes sense). Loved Manon, and I actually really like Rowan, though he was hard to like in the beginning (but I already read a few reviews before I even started the series, so that probably helped me to warm up to him), I loved how he helped Celaena become herself. I'm hoping it's not going to go to romance because I don't know, there's just this...unbreakable bond between them and I think it would cheapen it if it did go to romance, you know? Besides, I'm still rooting for Chaolaena.
So can't wait for #4, but then again, I also don't want to read it, haha. It'll put me through the ringer again (and of course I'm going to have to reread them all beforehand). ;) Glad you loved it!
*Nods* I agree with you about you know who. I wasn't terribly attached to that character, and I was a little suspicious at one stage... but the reaction of another character to 'that event' really pulled at my heart strings! I wanted to reach through the pages and give them a hug! LOL! =)
DeleteI hadn't read any reviews for any of the books before I started the series, but I did see the names Chaol and Rowan floating around on lots of different blogs! I knew Rowan would be showing up... but I'm kinda stuck in Chaol's corner, teehee! I'd love if things go the Chaol way, but I completely agree with you - the characters do seem like they're in control, so ANYTHING can happen (which makes it even more awesome!) I agree with you about the bond between Rowan and Celaena - I see it as platonic and I really, really hope it stays that way. Then... I wonder how Aedion would play into the mix? You never know how Celaena will react, and it's a more family bond I suppose... oh gosh, there are so many possible ways the series could go! And not just from a relationship point, but politically as well. Each choice would create a completely different outcome. It'll be awesome to see how it will turn out - even if the wait times between books will be agony!