Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas

Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: September 2nd, 2014
Pages: 565
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Source: Gifted
Rating: 5/5
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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 what he did. Any 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 that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, 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?

What is life? What kind of pleasure does Maas get from the torture she brings her readers? Heir Of Fire packs a bunch of gut punches. It's a massive book. And I'd even call it a little dense. But for good reason. There is a lot to take in. My usual reading in a week is five to six books. Heir of Fire took me four solid days. I'd have to put it down quite a bit to absorb what I'd just read. There is history and story lines I needed to keep straight. In fact I'd say Heir of Fire is a transition book. I don't mean that in a bad way. I effing love this book. But Throne of Glass introduced us to Celaena and Rifthold. Crown of Midnight is an epic sequel that lays down a bunch of massive twists and character development. Where Heir of Fire sees the story split into three different and equally as important story lines. We're introduced to new characters that start to have a role in the story but you get a feeling that there's even bigger things to come from them. Also Celaena, Chaol and Dorian have a lot of individual and internal soul searching and problems to work out that eventually lead to same massive epiphanies. And you're just waiting for their worlds to collide again.

The epicness of Heir of Fire is a true mark of how strong and brilliant a writer Maas is. There has yet to be a stale moment in any of the books. I'm honestly surprised and awed at every turn of the page. And of course shattered. My heart gets ejected from my chest way too many times to count. Plus the character development in Heir of Fire. Holy crap. I mean Celaena alone goes through some major developments and changes. When you first meet her again she's this broken and sad girl. It's hard to imagine her as the snarky kick-ass assassin from before. But she brings it. Man, does she bring it. I can't forget to shout out Chaol(my love) and Dorian, too. They were not just sitting in the castle looking pretty. They got their own shit going on. Every one is dealing with magic in some way. Whether it's Celaena learning to control her's and come to terms with her past. Or Dorian learning to keep his under control. Or Chaol learning to come to terms with what he thought was right. What his king has installed in him. Clearly Celaena and Dorian are changing his mind there. 

And the new characters. Perfection. I obviously don't want to spoil anything, but two of my new favourite totally platonic relationships are formed in Heir of Fire. They are just amazing. (C&R and M&A. Yea? YEA!) 

Because Maas is clearly a master destroyer of feelings. She so nicely throws a whole bunch of swords into your heart and ends the book. She's probably laughing at her computer right now. "Suckers gotta wait at least another year. Enjoy your life." I can guarantee that the next year of waiting is going to be torture on my life. I am probably going to need counseling in hopes I make it through. That ending! Seriously? 

God, how am I supposed to wait another year for book four? Guess I finally better get on building that time machine. 

I realize this review is pretty nonsensical and all over the place. But what did I just read? Seriously guys, Heir of Fire does not disappoint the reader. All the favourite characters are there plus some awesome new ones. There's magic, romance and twists at every turn. And I have a very strong feeling that book four is going to be the most epic one yet. A lot of shit was revealed and went down towards the end that is going to take a lot to fix. But I have total faith in Celaena(and Maas).

Happy reading!

Brittany