Friday 29 August 2014

Heir of Fire, Sarah J Maas


Pages: 576
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: 11th September 2014
Edition: NetGalley proof, review copy

Other Titles by this Author: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight

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 he did. And 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 the same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena leanrs of her true identity, 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?

This third novel in the Throne of Glass sequence, from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J Maas, is packed with more heart-stopping action, devastating drama and swoonsome romance, and introduces some fierce new heroines to love and hate.

I feel like this review is a rambly mess, but...onwards...

Heir of Fire I had a lot to live up to with the pure awesome of Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight and the huge cliffhanger we left Celaena on.

This was easily the most emotional book in the series so far. Celaena’s departure from Adarlan happened in grief and turmoil and that was a state of mind that she continued with for a long time. She was a walking disaster. The emotional arc of Celaena over the course of the novel was astounding and underpinned the entire novel. She had to reconcile herself to Nehemia’s death, the end of her life in the Rifthold palace, come to terms with her secret and mourn the end of her relationship with Chaol – the girl had a lot going on.

The growth in her power and the development of her magic was astounding. I loved seeing how she learned to wield her power and use it, as well as how it changed Celaena and helped to heal her. She is an exceptional heroine and I love her. She sank to the bottom of despair and clawed her way back up to strength and surety, but it took time and effort and a new friend.

Rowan was a great addition to the cast of characters. I could tell he would be good for Celaena from the get-go – he didn’t take any of her crap and pushed her on and up. I was refreshing to have a hot, interesting and mysterious male character in the hot seat that wasn’t there to provide a romantic entanglement. The development of their friendship felt genuine and reliable and I hope we see more of it as the series continues. Their connection didn’t lessen what Chaol and Celaena had in any way and it was so clear that they still loved each other, even thousands of miles apart and knowing that they weren’t quite in the right emotional place to be together at that moment. Another refreshing element from Sarah J Maas!

One of the most unexpected elements of the novel were the chapters focusing on Manon Blackbeak. I usually want to skim the chapters that take me away from the central action but I loved the change of scene, pace and the general distance from what was happening in Wendlyn and Rifthold. The dirty tactics the witches employed to one up each other in the contests to rule the covens, the surprising attachments that they formed and the stirrings in Manon’s twisted, blackened and shrivelled heart. I think those witches are going to be very important very soon.

In Heir of Fire, Celaena went from an assassin to a queen, Dorian evolved from a prince into a king and Chaol went from a warrior to a man. An amazing third instalment of an incredible series – Sarah J Maas is a genius with characters and emotions.

Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the review copy.

Sophie

No comments:

Post a Comment

Leave a message, I'd love to hear from you!