TITLE: Heir of Fire
AUTHOR: Sarah J. Maas
SERIES: Throne of Glass, #3
RELEASED: September 2nd, 2014; Bloomsbury
GENRE: Fantasy
AGE RANGE: NASYNOPSIS: Celaena 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. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?
book 0.5 | book 1 | book 2
Every time I think this series can’t get any better, I read the next installment and it blows me away all over again. This was easily my favorite book in the series thus far, and I feel like it was so much more well-written and intricate than the first two—comparing Throne of Glass in particular to this is like comparing night and day, with how much Sarah’s writing developed over that time span.
It would not take a monster to destroy a monster—but light, light to drive out darkness.
We finally get to see Celaena/Aelin come into her own a bit more in this book, but we also get some insight into her psyche that can be tough to swallow at times. Gone is much of the snarky humor and arrogant wit we saw in the palace; as her walls start to come down, it becomes evident just how much self-loathing she carries with her everywhere she goes. I know I sound like a broken record by now, but I just don’t understand why people love to hate her character so much. Maybe it’s the side of me that is drawn to broken things, but she endeared herself to me so much in this installment.
A cry went up from the witches, save for the Thirteen—who stayed cool and quiet. They did not need to cheer, for they were immortal and infinite and gloriously, wonderfully deadly.
On the flip side, I was so happy to finally meet Manon, a character who I’ve heard so many people rave about that I felt like I loved her before she was even introduced. I loved the characteristics of the clans, the Thirteen (squad goals), and Manon herself, but more than anything, Abraxos. He broke my heart, but damn, if I don’t love him so much and want a little bitty version of him for myself. I’m such a sucker for person-animal bonds in stories—or in this case, witch-wyvern bonds—and I literally cried over how precious they were when she first claimed her (and he, her).
Their hands clasped between them, he whispered into her ear, “I claim you, too, Aelin Galathynius.”
I can’t write this review without talking about Rowan and how obsessed I am with his stupid, grouchy self. If you know me, you already know that my number one favorite character type is the grouchy warrior/soldier/leader, etc., who secretly has a heart of gold but takes forever to show it and hides behind a lot of snark and general rudeness. We all have our vices, okay? Anyways, Rowan fits that mood one hundred percent, which means I absolute adore him. Yes, I recognize that he has trope-y alpha male issues. Yes, I like him despite those issues. I’m not going to parade him around as real life significant other goals, but that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to enjoy him as a fictional character. (Sorry for the miniature rant there…)
“Because I am lost,” she whispered onto the earth. “And I do not know the way.”
There’s so much else I could say about this book, but most of it would be spoiler-y and/or not entirely beneficial to the review, so I’ll cut this one short. I will say that my only problem with the book was the fact that the Chaol/Dorian chapters are so boring in comparison to all of these way cooler, more action-packed perspectives, and I can understand why a lot of people feel that Chaol’s character was actually rewritten at this point in the series, because he definitely didn’t feel entirely like the same guy that I enjoyed in the first two books. That said, I’m not losing sleep over it, because, well… I’m a magpie at heart, and fancy warrior Fae (and brutal witches and iron-toothed wyverns) are my shiny things.
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allthebooksandpineapple
September 9, 2018THIS is still my favorite ToG book! My boo Rowan is too perfect for me!!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 10, 2018He is so lovely! I swear, as he started to warm up to her, I was just a PUDDLE.
booksandblends
September 9, 2018Great review, Destiny!! I’m so glad that you loved this one! This series is becoming a favorite of mine!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 10, 2018Thank you, love! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it so much too and I can’t wait to snap you all of my Queen of Shadows feels haha!
booksandblends
September 11, 2018I can’t wait! ?
alexcanread
September 9, 2018Abraxos is my favorite and I just want to protect him forever.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 10, 2018Ugh, hard same. I got so emotional when she claimed him. It broke my heart. I’m such a sucker for animal/creature bonds in books, especially when they’ve been abused and they’re being rescued – though I feel like he rescued her as much as she did him. When she told him he was part of the Thirteen now, I literally cheered a little.
DeeReadsThings
September 9, 2018Loveeeee this review! This one has always been my favourite of the series and no one else seems to agree and it makes me so sad aha. So happy you loved it! (And Rowan) ?
Emily
September 10, 2018It’s my favorite in the series too!!!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 11, 2018I’m glad it’s not just me! 😀
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 10, 2018Thank youuuu! Right, I honestly didn’t have very high hopes for it because so many people told me it was one of their lesser faves, but I loved it so much!
Danielle @ Life of a Literary Nerd
September 9, 2018Now onto my favorite book in the series! I know it can be divisive, so I hope you love it.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 10, 2018I have very high hopes! 😀
trufflereads
September 10, 2018Gah I love Rowan too with all my heart! This is definitely my favourite ToG book in the series so far ?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 11, 2018He is so wonderful! He’s just such a fascinating character and I love him.
Kathy @ Books & Munches
September 10, 2018I think this actually was my least favorite of the bunch? Queen of Shadows is my definite favorite though.
I don’t know. Maybe, when I was reading the books, this one simply felt too different compared to the others and that made me go “eh” about it.. Curious to see what you’ll think of QoS! 😀
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 11, 2018I feel like a lot of people didn’t love this one!! I honestly had low expectations going in because I’d heard so many people say it was their least favorite. I think I just really love watching new characters be introduced, if that makes sense? It does also feel super different to the ones I’ve read so far so I could see that. I’m very excited for QoS 😀
Kathy @ Books & Munches
September 11, 2018Manon though. SERIOUSLY. I love that character to pieces. Her chapters are my favorite throughout the ENTIRE series and I can’t wait to read moooooore.
I think a ToG-reread will be scheduled for.. like.. 2020 or something, haha. Reading a finished series one book after the other feels amazing and I believe ToG will top even the “amazing” I’m already expecting. :’)
[Where’s Kingdom of Ash.. I need it..]
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 11, 2018She’s such a badass and I love her narrative “voice”. I feel bad for her but she doesn’t let her grandmother’s abuse wear her down, she just takes it and then does whatever she wants to do anyways. I dig.
Kathy @ Books & Munches
September 12, 2018Same! Honestly, Maas creates the best characters. I can’t believe I hadn’t read any of her work before I started blogging, tbh.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 12, 2018She really does! I think I started the ACOTAR series right after I started doing reviews on Goodreads, but right before my blog was created? I can’t remember for sure. I had been out of the YA loop for so long at that point that I’d never heard of her until maybe mid-2016!
Kathy @ Books & Munches
September 14, 2018Try 2017 in my case! It’s so weird not knowing about such a big author who had SO MANY BOOKS OUT at that point and I was like.. “Maas who?” ?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 16, 2018Bahahah it’s such a weird feeling. Lately I’ve been getting into the indie/self-published horror scene, and I keep finding authors like that there, too. I read an ARC from a small, brand new horror press recently and thought it was the author’s debut, and then found out he has something like 8-9 books already out… I was like wait, what??
Kathy @ Books & Munches
September 17, 2018Ha, I love how you’re going more and more into horror lately. Is it Halloween creeping closer or more in general too?
It’s something I like happening though! Simply because then you can read ALL THE BOOKS if you loved their latest without having to wait, instead reading a promising debut and then.. being stuck for a year waiting for another one of their books. :’)
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 17, 2018Haha, it’s just in general, I think. Well, I always read a lot of horror in the second half or so of the year, because it feels so cozy to me (I KNOW that sounds weird, but I can’t explain it, it’s just a weird sort of comfort for me). But I think a lot of it lately has to do with the fact that I spent the first year and change of my blog not touching horror much because nobody cared about the reviews in the beginning, and as my audience grew, I didn’t realize that so many of my followers would actually be willing to read my horror reviews now. :’)
Kathy @ Books & Munches
September 18, 2018It’s just your weird Halloween-addicted brain – I get it! 😀
Hm, true. I’ve always stuck with the books I love reading. Granted, I read way more YA than I used to, but I’m not giving up my rare outbursts of other genres. December is all about the cozy romance for me – can’t help it. :’)
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 18, 2018Basically ? ooooh, cozy gushy December reads, I love it. I find that I like a fair bit of romance in December, too. Something about the holidays always put me into a mushy mood. ?
Kathy @ Books & Munches
September 19, 2018Saaame. It’s because it’s that magical time a year where everyone claims to fall in love and all that mushy bullshit! ?? Why is Christmas romance such a thing, really.. Can only be the snow-effect.. Has to.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 21, 2018Bahaha exactly! ? I think it’s actually considered a psychological phenomenon attached to the holiday season and cold weather, but I can’t remember the name of it!
Kathy @ Books & Munches
September 23, 2018Seriously? Never heard of it! But it does make sense in a way. ?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 24, 2018I found it! It’s called “cuffing season” (not sure where the name came from) and it’s literally the descriptor for a time of year where people who normally would prefer to be single will intentionally seek out a relationship with someone to spend the winter with. I think what differentiates it from just general horndoggedness (like the word I just made up? lol) is that it’s more focused on companionship and cuddling than it is on sex, but it usually ends when the weather warms back up.
Kathy @ Books & Munches
September 25, 2018Hahaha. Oh my lord. The things people do sometimes.. Pretty much sounds like “I LOVE FLUFFY, WARM BLANKETS IN WINTER” and the moment it’s too warm they just shove them in the closet to not look at for three seasons. :’)
Funny how, looking back, I was mostly single during Winter.. Guess I never had any issues with the cuffing season. 😛
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 28, 2018Bahaha, I guess not! I’ve only ever fallen prey to cuffing season once, and that was the winter of 2014. 😛 I had just moved to a place with no functioning heater, and it was one of our rare SUPER cold winters. I’m not ashamed to admit that I escalated a new relationship very abruptly just so he would invite me to spend the night with him, and then somehow that turned into him inviting me back almost every night, which led to me having a warm bed to sleep in 5-6 nights a week until the coldest part of winter ended. ? You do what you gotta do, I guess… but that guy was a jerk, so I don’t feel bad.
jamsu
September 10, 2018i’m so happy to see a blogger liking Rowan!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 11, 2018He’s fantastic! <3
jamsu
September 11, 2018I love him but TOG fandom has kinda made me stop mentioning him for all the hate he gets.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 11, 2018Yeah, I have noticed a LOT of people don’t like him… actually when I first mentioned to a friend that I liked him already, like right after I started this book, she was like, “Oh, you’ll hate him by the end of the book,” and I was like… uh, no, sorry? Lol! I loved him more with every single freaking chapter, I swear!
jamsu
September 11, 2018I can’t really decide which one I like more Rowan or Rhys. It’s kinda funny though how everyone forgave Rhys but not Rowan.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 11, 2018*sips tea* Mhm! Haha. I mean, full disclosure, I adore Rhys to no end and have forgiven him for what he did in the first book, but like you said, there’s a double standard at play there for sure.
Kelly Brigid
September 11, 2018Beautiful review!! I absolutely agree with everything you said! ❤️❤️
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 11, 2018Thank you love!! <3
Leigha
September 12, 2018Great non-spoilery review! I think you really highlighted the best parts of the novel. I love the entire TOG series except for the last book – wasn’t crazy about the Tower of Dawn. Interested to see how you like the rest of the series.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
September 12, 2018Thank you, Leigha! 🙂 I always try really hard not to veer anywhere near spoiler territory, haha. I’m really excited for the entire rest of the series except Tower of Dawn, I feel really apprehensive about that one lol!