A review by anouk02
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

4.0

 

It’s very well written compared to the earlier books. It only felt a bit like a filler book of the series; Manon was introduced and the POV’s constantly changed even though I didn’t care about her yet. I just wanted to read about Rowan and Aelin with a little bit of Dorian and Chaol. But Manon’s chapters were very long and not really interesting; i really had to drag myself through her chapters. 

I will say that I like the way Maas portrays friendships and makes them as important - if not more important - than the romantic relationships. I find it especially refreshing to see a platonic relationship between male and female characters crafted so well. 

”So you’d save another land, but not yours. Why can’t your friend save her own kingdom?”“Because she is dead!” She screamed the last word so loudly it burned in her throat. “Because she is dead, and I am left with my worthless life!” 

It hurt to read about Aelins feelings after Nehemia’s death, it hurt to read how much she ached and wished she could have been someone else and how she slowly expressed that to Rowan. That she could have saved her friend. That Nehemia would live instead of her. In this book she’s finally coming to terms with her inner strength and accepted her heritage. I cried when she was “captured” by the Velgrims, when all of her dead relatives and friends appeared in front of her, telling her to get up. I really can’t wait for her to kick the king’s ass in the next book. 

Speaking of whom, the king of Adarlan is a truly detestable villain, devoid of any redeeming qualities. You have villains with a tragic backstory to back up their actions, but the king is just true evil (which makes him a good villain in my opinion). Dorian really didn’t deserve for Sorscha’s head to be severed; it all happened so suddenly, I was in actual shock and had to pause for a second. I also let down a tear when he began screaming. 

In this scene I really loved Aedion tho; he is such a quick-thinker. It was because of him they weren’t all doomed. He offered himself to be thrown into the dungeons because he betrayed the king by not being influenced by his ring. I would absolutely die if he doesn’t get to see Aelin again tho. He loves her so much, for everything she is and has done. I can’t decide if I want her to end up with Rowan or with Aedion. 

Kinda have a love-hate relationship with the ending tho; Dorian is being shackled by the king, Aedion is thrown into the dungeons, Chaol is a fugitive with Ren (still don’t know who he exactly is, his character isn’t that highlighted for me to remember) and Aelin is going to retun to Adarlan where she’ll probably be reprimanded because either the king probably knows Celaena is Aelin or he will punish her for not succeeding his mission. I guess he can’t punish her anymore by hurting Chaol tho. But he could use Dorian as leverage.