Heir of Fire

Where do I begin? First off, this series made my favorites list the instant that I met Celaena Sardothien. I have a soft spot for heroines who are flawed and aren't afraid to admit it. Women who see the unimaginable space separating them from happiness, and still don't give up the fight. Celaena has been that character for me and, despite any slight qualms I may have had with the last book, her fire was back in spades in Heir of Fire. I love Celaena. I'd follow her anywhere.

True to my word, I did. This book takes the reader on an adventure well past the confines of the last two. Out of Adarlan, and into the lands beyond. I was breathless as I traveled through old cities, met new players in this ever expanding world, and finally ended up in the land of the Fae. I'll be honest, this story does take a bit to pick up. It makes sense, since there is a lot that must be introduced and explained, and it's absolutely worth it. My view of Celaena and the people who surround her is so much more vast now. This is the first book where I actually felt completely immersed, and I loved every minute of it.

I feel it fair to note that this is a much darker book than the previous ones. While our heroine's story has always been blackened by death and loss, she's always hidden that part of herself away. Now that Celaena knows that Fae blood runs through her veins, and she's finally forced to conquer it? Things take an even darker turn. I'll admit that when Rowan was first introduced, I didn't like him. I suppose that's the point. He's a cold man, much like what Chaol was originally like. He grew on me though and, after a while, I couldn't get enough of him. Adding him into the mix, giving Celaena a male counterpart who is worthy of her time, made things so much more interesting.

I honestly had no idea that this wasn't the end of this series, and I'm torn on how I feel about that. Heir of Fire definitely brings to the table a ton of things that are new, and need to be resolved. Which is great. On the other hand, it makes the book really long. Towards the end things started to drag a little. Still, the ending does definitely leave you wanting more! So there's that. I just hope this series continues to deliver stellar reads like this one. Book three, and I'm still hooked. Now I'll just sit here quietly and wait for book four.