Book Review - Heir of Fire

Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Genres: Fantasy | Young Adult
Release Date: 2nd September 2014
Publishers: Bloomsbury
No. Pages: 562
Source: Purchased
Rating:
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Consumed by guilt and rage, Celaena can't bring herself to spill blood for the King of Adarlan. She must fight back...

The Immortal Queen will help her destroy the king - for a price. But as Celaena battles with her darkest memories and her heart breaks for a love that could never last, can she fulfil the bargain and head the almighty court of Terrasen? And who will stand with her?

The following review may contain spoilers concerning earlier books in the series.
If you have not read the previous installments, please proceed with caution.

If you have read my review for Throne of Glass or Crown of Midnight you will know that I had a hard time writing them both, and it's not going to be any different for this review. Why do I and so many others find it hard to voice our opinion about Sarah J Mass books? Because she has this ability to crush you, give you hope and make you angry at the same time. Here writing is just... well it's next to none at times, her world building, character development,  relationships, EVERYTHING! she is a pure genius and I am yet to find anyone who didn't feel spark of magic while consuming the story. That being said, it did take me a long time to finish the book, 565 pages of goodness and the fact that there wont be another or a while caused me to savoury it as much as possible, regardless of wanting to read it in one sitting I just didn't think that would be right. However when I had finished it I was left with a part of me that didn't want to write this review, because it would mean remembering and hurting all over again and a part of me had no idea at all what I would say that hasn't already been repeated constantly by people.

When you start reading Heir of fire, don't think for one second that you know what to expect from the series, that by this book you've become accustomed to the twists, turns and pure devastating feeling that comes with reading the books, because let me tell you now that this one is so much different to the other two. With Throne of Glass we had a broken girl, trying to survive. In Crown of Midnight we have love in it's purest form and in Heir of Fire? We have heartache, dear god this book has more heartache in it than those before it. Celaena isn't a different character in every book, but because her situations and gaols change we see a complete knew side to her all the time, her character development is some of the best I have seen in a long time and I really feel like I'm on this journey with her.

In Heir of Fire we have just as much action and adventure that we have come to love from the series. Not only is Celaena training with a Fae prince called Rowan (well get to him in a minuet), but we are also lucky enough to have chapters every now and again from a new character, Manon Blackbeak, heir to the the Blackbeak witch clan. Having a new group of characters in the shape of witches was something really interesting and though the chapters involving them weren't always the longest I still felt like they had a lot of substance, offering a lot of backstory. Also in the story we have two new hunks to get our knickers in a knot about. Rowan and Aedion, both Fae, both related to Celaena. Both men are stubborn, standoffish, rude and arrogant. But they are also some of the most honest and loyal characters in the story. Their connection to Celaena, be it there for 10 years ago or a new found friendship/relationship, and how much they care or come to care about her is something to make you say aww for sure.

But I hear you ask, what become of the other men in her life? Where is Dorian and Chaol, well don't worry everyone, I haven't forgot about them (as if that was possible). Our favourite boys are back home trying to deal with what happened over the last few weeks, Dorian with his powers and Chaol with losing the love of his life (..I'LL HAVE YOU!..) While trying to get their head around everything that’s going on, they start to drift apart, both of focusing on different things and different people. But when the time comes, and they are needed to once again work beside each other, it's like nothing has happened and they're as close at they were before.

Is this book as good as the others? Well no, they aren't. Heir of Fire is in a differently league to the others, just as Crown of Midnight is that bit better than Throne of Glass because with this series we are lucky to have one great story after another, instead of the dip after the first book. With every chapter, ever new character, every heartache and happiness the Throne of Glass series goes from strength to strength. I don't know about you but I am as excited about continuing the story as I am scared at the thought of it ending. Brilliant, pure brilliant.