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From Horn Book

January 1, 2025
This epic-length fantasy novel (the start of a new duology set in the world of An Ember in the Ashes and sequels) follows three disparate characters: Aiz, who fails to assassinate her oppressor and is taken to prison along with fellow religious devotees of Mother Div; Quil, heir to the throne, whose empire is falling to invaders and who has been sent to fetch a secret weapon; and Sirsha, a magical tracker who takes a job to find a killer. Sirsha and Quil's paths intersect first; they flee a besieged city together, and a blood oath that binds them magically to each other becomes the only thing protecting Sirsha from execution. Meanwhile, Aiz (whom Quil loved in the past but now believes to be dead) has a connection with Mother Div that drives the rest of the story in ways the author judiciously pieces out. The sweep of the narrative is vast and sustains its tension well even over multiple shifts in point of view, greatly aided by the luscious sexual tension between Quil and Sirsha. Aiz's journey from scrappy underdog hero to portentously tyrannical antihero will take readers on quite a ride. This impressively constructed novel ends with its characters in a predicament, setting up a challenge for a sequel to resolve. Anita L. Burkam

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From School Library Journal

Starred review from November 15, 2024

Gr 9 Up-In the same world as the best-selling "Ember in the Ashes" quartet, three characters embark on journeys that bring them together in surprising ways. Aiz, an orphan, wants her people to have enough food to eat without having to rely on their magic-powered flying machines to raid other villages. She goes in search of a spiritual leader to help her people rise up against the current rulers. Sirsha is a tracker who has been given her most lucrative assignment yet; she accepts, not understanding the extent of the entity she is tracking. But she swore an oath and is bound to see it through. Quil, reluctant heir to the throne of the Martial Empire, seeks a resource to help his people fight against an invading force. Meanwhile, a serial killer rips out the hearts of victims across the Empire and must be stopped. All characters, both lead and supporting, explode from the page with a fullness that displays both their strengths and their flaws in equal measure. The complex, brutal world presents questions of leadership, spirituality, and morality. Characters explore these and other hard questions with varying shades of gray answers as they seek to make sense of the world and their role in it. Nonstop action, tight pacing, and surprises from start to finish take readers on a thrill ride that will leave them breathless and eager for the next book in the duology. Reading the "Ember" quartet first is recommended. VERDICT Tahir is an expert at swoonworthy heroes, fierce females, and slow burn romance. Accompanied by adventure, family and found family ties, and political intrigue, this multilayered, quick-paced story is a must purchase.-Florence Simmons

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Kirkus

August 15, 2024
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir's duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series. Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz's fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar's first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div's trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who's been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir's deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically. A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.(Fantasy. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Booklist

Starred review from August 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Tahir's new series demands your attention and never lets go. Aiz knows that the only way to protect the Kegari people is to assassinate a murderous tyrant. Magic-wielding Sirsha is on a mission to find the killer who is ripping the hearts out of children. Quil, the reluctant crown prince of the Empire, must uncover a spy and save his people after a Kegari invasion. Despite having different agendas, Aiz, Quil, and Sirsha find their paths interwoven as each one has to face their pasts and determine what and whom they're willing to sacrifice to complete their missions. Fans of Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series will delight in this new duology. Taking place one generation after the events of her freshman series, Heir introduces new faces while furthering the stories of beloved characters from An Ember in the Ashes. Despite heavily relying on characters and landscapes from the first series, the author expertly welcomes new readers to this world and the characters' backgrounds, making this an accessible read. Tahir is an expert storyteller, and Heir is another feather in her cap. This is a book that will linger with readers long after the final pages--enjoy the ride.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from July 29, 2024
Set 20 years after the events of the Ember in the Ashes series, this propulsive, action-packed duology launch by Tahir (All My Rage) finds the world once again in danger from both human and supernatural forces. Desperate to save her people from the cruel false prophet laying claim to the throne, orphaned Kegari-born Aiz escapes prison to search for the all-powerful cleric who once led her people before disappearing. Elsewhere, Sirsha, a down-on-her-luck Jaduna tracker banished by her tribe for an unspeakable crime, is contracted to use her ability to communicate with natural elements to hunt a killer targeting children. In her pursuit, she encounters Quil, the reluctant crown prince of the Martial Empire, as he evades attacking Kegari forces and attempts to reclaim the empire's land. Tahir expertly balances a large cast of rotating narrators that incorporates new characters and fan favorites from the previous books. The stakes are higher than ever in this enrapturing spin-off series, which builds on established lore and adds layers of complexity, culminating in an expansive and brutal adventure ideal for longtime followers and newcomers alike. Characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 14—up. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, CAA.

From AudioFile Magazine

Esme Lonsdale, Vidish Athavale, and Rachel Petladwala bring palpable chemistry to the complex relationships in this epic fantasy. Something is afoot in the empire as three young people walk toward their destinies: Aiz communes with a holy spirit to get power to avenge her oppressed people, Prince Quil must soon step into a leadership role, and tracker Sirsha gets wrapped up with Quil as she hunts a murderer. The three journeys intertwine as a violent darkness takes hold--and the narrators' performances express the tension perfectly. While Petladwala's Sirsha and Lonsdale's Aiz are portrayed as powerful, complex women, Athavale's Quil helps bridge the multiple timelines. Together--with Joe Pitts and Marco Young as two supporting characters--the narrators start this duology off with a bang. A.A.H. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine