Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3)

by Sarah J. Maas

Elizabeth Evans (Narrator)

The third instalment to the global #1 bestselling series.

As the King of Adarlan's Assassin, Celaena Sardothien is bound to serve the tyrant who slaughtered her dear friend. But she has vowed to make him pay. The answers Celaena needs to destroy the king lie across the sea Wendlyn. And Chaol, Captain of the King's Guard, has put his future in jeopardy to send her there.

Yet as Celaena seeks her destiny in Wendlyn, a new threat 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 global #1 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.

• ISBN10: 1491586583
• ISBN13: 9781491586587
• Publish Date: 14 October 2014 (first published 2 September 2014)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Brilliance Audio
• Edition: Unabridged
• Format: Audiobook (CD)
• Duration: 20 hours and 22 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Ashley]

She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.

My review of this book might change as I continue with the series

I listened to the audiobook for most of this one, and I think Heir of Fire might end up being my least favorite in the series. The constant POV switches made it tough to follow—I’m all for multiple perspectives when they add to the story and bring everything together in the end, but this was a lot. Like… (show spoiler)[who the hell is Manon???] (hide spoiler) The only POV shifts I actually enjoyed were the ones set in the castle. The ending was great, but honestly, that was the only part that really hooked me.

Also, this book felt way slower than the others so far. With so many perspectives, the character progression felt scattered, and at times, it dragged. Now that I’ve started Queen of Shadows a few days before writing this review, I can see how things are coming together, but I still feel like there could’ve been a different way to go about it. Some of these POVs felt like they came out of nowhere, and it made the story harder to follow.

Spoiler warning for the ending of CoM and some of HoF:
(show spoiler)[Celaena’s POV, though? That was one thing I did love. Seeing her go through training, struggle with her heritage, and slowly embrace it was such a great progression. You could feel her going from Celaena to Aelin. And that ending?? "She was Aelin Ashryver Galathynius—and she would not be afraid." I was SCREAMING. Easily one of the best moments in the book, and it might just be my favorite overall.] (hide spoiler)

My reviews of the Throne of Glass series
- The Assassin's Blade
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight

[neurospicybookworm]

These books are soooo goood

[herseriallife]

Review of this amazing third book in the Throne of Glass series coming soon...

[FranJessca @ A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog]

Heir of Fire is the third novel in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. This book picks up where Crown of Midnight left off at, so if you haven’t read up to that book in the series, then I would recommend not reading this review. I try not to spoil, but I always warn just in case. 

Storyline/My Thoughts: Celaena has survived a brutal contest that the King put on in the first book. She has survived a betrayal that broke her heart in the second book. She is now on a mission to Wendlyn to find out the truth about herself and find out more about the Wyrdkeys. In the meantime, though, the place she just left is having its own troubles. Chaol has found out the truth about Celaena and who she really is and will team up with some people he never thought he would help. Dorian has to find a way to hide his abilities and ends up getting help from one of the healers. There are a few new POVs also in this book that readers will find fascinating. There’s a witch named Manon Blackbeak, who is not someone you want to mess with at all. She and her team of witches have a mission to tame flying beasts that the King has created for them. There’s also a Fae Prince who has a blood oath to Celaena’s Aunt Maeve, and his name is Rowan Whitethorn. Maeve has tasked him to train Celaena in her Fae powers before Maeve gives out any truths about Celaena and the Wyrdkeys. Another POV Aedion is a General to the King, but he’s also Celaena’s cousin. He is one character I was hesitant of liking at first because he’s working for the King, but then things fall in place why he is where he is, and he finds out that his true Queen is alive and well.

This book will make Celaena realize that she can’t hide from her past once and for all that she needs to embrace her future. She needs to win against the evil forces that are brewing that the King has on his side, and she also has to battle her Aunt Maeve. She first has to get through Rowan, who is not nice at all to Celaena. He’s a complicated character to like at first. I know it took me a while to like his character. He was harsh, but the truth of what happened to him in his past came out, and now I knew why he acted the way he did, and it is heartbreaking. Celaena is starting to grow more in this book because she’s finding out the truth about her past and what is happening. At the end of this book is what kept me on the edge of my seat. Sarah J. Maas will have everything crumble back in Rifthold with Chaol, Dorian, Aedion, etc. Celaena will not be happy, but she’s ready for anything now that she knows the truth.

I love Celaena’s character because she has grown so much since the novellas and the first book. She’s been a fighter, and now she’s becoming a Queen. She wants to fight for her people and her country.

This series from Sarah J. Maas is one I can’t get enough of because of the world-building and the character development. Each character is growing, and some are realizing they are on the wrong side. I’m a little wary of Manon’s character, but I know she will grow on me, too. I remember when I read this book the first time, I didn’t like her at much.

Overall, this book receives 4.5 stars from me, and I can’t wait to re-read the next book.

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Throne of Glass series. I highly recommend reading this series in order.

Cliffhanger: Yes.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you are a fan of Young Adult Fantasy with the Chosen One trope, you may enjoy this book. There is no romance in this book, but a lot of action-packed scenes and truths being revealed.

[Mad Soul Child]

КРЕТИНЫ, как вы могли так поступить с Дорином

[pamela]

I couldn't decide if Heir of Fire was a 3-star book, or a 4-star one. I settled on 4-star just because I still really enjoyed reading it. It was a vastly different book to the ones that came before and felt very much like it was setting up for the series to go in a much more mature direction. Maas' writing is still absolutely excellent, but there were a lot more plot crutches, and a lot more filler in this book than in the previous ones, and I have to admit, it felt a little repetitive in places.

One of the things I want to mention as excellent, however, is the natural addition of close, loving, platonic friendships. I thought that Heir of Fire was going to move into toxic love territory, one of my most hated YA tropes, but thankfully it didn't do that which was a pleasant surprise. I also really liked Chaol's character development in this book as he came to terms with what it meant to be a true friend to someone and the fact that two of the main male protagonists can openly express their feelings.

There was a lot about Heir of Fire that was excellent. Gorgeous prose, fantastic world-building, real character growth and development (in most cases), and a more mature plot that was about the characters' personal growth. But it was let down by a lot of repetition, a host of poorly developed new characters that I just didn't really care about, and some obvious plot additions that served only to create a source of conflict for the ending.

I found that some of the world-building was inconsistent. The way Aelin/Celaena's back story was revealed was excellently done. It felt natural, made sense, and developed her character. But when we hear her aunt, Maeve's back story, it's literally an info-dump. Celaena just gives a speech, and we just have to trust that she worked it out, without it having happened naturally in the plot. I also wasn't entirely convinced by anyone's motivation for anything. I hope the remaining books in the series help to clear up the why's of the plot, because at the moment, it feels very much like things are just happening "because tension."

Manon Blackbeak was an exciting new addition to the story. I'm interested to see where her story leads, but I found her sections a bit of a challenge. Because of the POV shifts in Heir of Fire, it was sometimes difficult to engage with her story as there would be vast stretches of the novel in which she wasn't present. The coven tensions between the Ironteeth witches were a neat addition, but I found the animal cruelty and servitude a bit difficult to swallow, especially from a character that I think I'm meant to grow to like. Manon had better start treating her flower-loving, badass, abuse-surviving Wyvern with respect, is all I'm saying.

Ultimately, Heir of Fire was my least favourite in the series to read, but also the one with the most potential as far as series development is concerned. The end quarter more than made up for the slow, repetitive beginning, and I can absolutely see how things are going to start hotting up in Queen of Shadows.

[cornerfolds]

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

This was obviously a book to set up the world and characters that will become more important in the rest of the series. The beginning was very slow. I understand why a lot of people hate this book, and others love it. If you do not care about the characters, this book is not for you. There is not much of story, we just see Celaena training again, and again, like in previous books, and until the end, nothing really happens.

This is the first book in which we have multiple character perspectives that are not just two characters who just talked to each other. A couple of new characters are introduced, which did not really feel that interesting to me yet, but who knows what the next book will bring? I did not have any feelings, positive or negative, towards Manon and Rowan. They were just there, not enough to care for, missing a story arc.
I read a lot of reviews mentioning that Chaol was behaving differently in this book. I did not really feel that way, not that it bothered me at least. I saw Chaol being completely blown away by his beliefs and in doubt. He had no clue what he should do if he did the right thing, and how to do the right thing in the future. It felt real, because even people who seemed so sure about their actions before, will have a point in which they start doubting themselves. It's only natural.
Dorian seemed to change the most in this book, as far as I could tell. He became more confident, less afraid of his magic, and started trusting people faster as he had done when Celaena was in the castle. Talking about Celaena, at the beginning of the book it frustrated me that there was no explanation why she would not change in her Fae form, other than not being able to control it properly. Rowan was trying to train her, and she just kept refusing until I'm sure every single reader was done with her. I would have liked to see that explanation earlier, even if it was just in her thoughts, or anything, such that I would at least understand her. Besides that, the training was very repetitive, but I did enjoy the new world in which she was situated.
I do think that there had to be more repercussions since she did not complete the king's task. Even when the time limit was over, no one really cared about it. The king did not, Calaena did not. Unless I am mistaken and the time limit was not over yet, it felt as if that storyline was just forgotten about?

Don't get me wrong. I did really enjoy this book, however, I did not think it was anything special. Just a set up for future books. It did what it was supposed to do, it made me excited to read the rest of the series. Do I think it's a great novel on its own? No. Do I think it was necessary and done well? Yes.

[thepunktheory]

Full review on my blog: www.thepunktheory.wordpress.com

I can't even tell you how excited I am after finishing Heir of Fire. The story is picking up speed and a huge plot twist is dropped. Admitted, I had seen it coming and had hoped it would happen. Maybe not quite this way but I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.
First of all, we get to explore a bit of Wendlyn and Doranelle. Magic is still free in the east so you can prepare yourself for some cool stuff. However, not only new places but also new characters are introduced. If Prince Rowan and Celaena don't end up together, I will be so mad. I'm already shipping them so hard.
Well, Rowan isn' the only interesting new character. We first meet Manon Blackbeak, who is on the road to becoming my new favorite character in the entire series. She's a super bad-ass witch and she's awesome. No more words needed.
In Aderlan, the rebellion is brewing and I can't wait to see when shit will finally hit the fan. The King is annoying me to no end. Could somebody please send him to hell?

[bgsbooks18]

I honestly really enjoyed this book and I for sure plan on reading the rest of this series. I really do Sarah J Maas and the way she writes.