Review: Heir of Fire - Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Genre: YA, fantasy
Published on September 2, 2014
Published by Bloomsbury
Pages: 562
Read From: 3.22.15 - 2.28.15












SYNOPSIS

Celaena Sardothien has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak - but at an unspeakable cost. Now she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth. . . .a truth about her heritage that could change her life - and her future - forever. 

Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength not only to fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed.

Review

Dear Heir of Fire,

I have had such a love-hate relationship with your series. I detested your protagonist so much that I despised everything in Book #1. I was so tired of the unromantic romance that I barely tolerated Book #2. But my gut told me, Heir of Fire, that the series had so much potential that it couldn't not get better. So I continued to give it a chance.

Heir of Fire, I'm glad I did.

You pick up after Celaena has traveled to Wendlyn, to assassinate the royal family for the cruel and evil king of Adarlan. But Celaena has her own mission - to seek out Maeve and find a way to defeat the king. Meanwhile, Dorian is struggling with his newfound powers, Chaol is caught up in rebellion, and the Ironteeth witches are up to something.

There is no denying the masterful world building - or engaging plot. Though I confess, after a while Celaena's training got old. However, everyone else's plots - Chaol and the rebels, Manon and the witches - made up for the sometimes-plodding pace of Celaena's narration. There is a ton of setup in you, Heir of Fire, and if it hadn't covered so much world building and character development in the process, I would complain.

What saved you the most, though, were the multiple perspectives. My dislike for Celaena was as acute as it's always been. She's broken and messed up and been through hell and back, but she's so whiny and has such attitude. And sadly, you presented us with a pathetic version this time. I could do nothing but loathe her.

So it was super nice to take breaks from her. With Celaena on a separate continent, Chaol went back to being sensible and productive and a friend to Dorian. Dorian finds new love in Sorcha, a healer, and we're also introduced to Aedion - Celaena's cousin and seemingly loyal general to the king of Adarlan. Aedion was an interesting new player; ruthless, calculating, a chameleon. I didn't necessarily like him, but he was interesting.

You also brought Manon into the mix - the leader of the Thirteen Ironteeth witches. The most ruthless coven. Manon is strong, brutal, practical, unflinching. She could take on so many roles in the future; I can't wait to see it.

And finally Rowan - the Fae prince in charge of Celaena's training. I liked Rowan if only because I appreciated his dislike and loathing of Celaena. Once that was taken away, I was indifferent. Rowan was not a bad character, and perhaps even good for Celaena. But I suspect him to be a future love interest, and I'm done with love interests. How many can Celaena go through? All fairly awesome characters - until they become involved with her.

But, Heir of Fire, your ending was downright epic. So much goes down, and by the end of it all, I actually felt a tiny stirring of like for Celaena. She starts acting like a queen. She loses her aggravating bravado because she doesn't need it anymore. She embraces her losses and turns her energy to more productive things, other than self-loathing. The Celaena at the end I can get behind.

Heir of Fire, you make me hopeful for this entire series. It has so much promise.

Feeling hopeful,

Mara A.

Others in This Series:
0.1)The Assassin's Blade

1)Throne of Glass

2)Crown of Embers

3)Heir of Fire