The excerpt I have been given to read, consisting of two chapters was enough to get me hooked. The worst bit? It ended on a cliffhanger and now I’m desperately awaiting reading the rest of the book. Amelie had managed to get me invested and curious about the two characters she had introduced so far. I enjoyed their brief interaction and I will love to see it unfold with the rest of the story. The chapters were fast paced and kept you on the edge of your seat as you waited to see what Ana, the protagonist, would do, and what her magical ability had the potential of evoking on others. Based on what I have read, I would certainly recommend the book.

I had wanted to read this book ever since they announced it as another Anastasia retelling. I had no hopes of ever reading the book for a while there, but I'm so glad the author decided to publish it anyway!

The first two chapters had me hooked. I loved it so much that I ended up buying the book to read the whole thing. I loved the magic system and I loved that it wasn't too clichéd like most YA novels these days. Ramson is a perfect grey character, and I adored him!
I just wish they had cut out some of the unnecessary parts and made the plot tighter. After a point, the story started feeling a little too repetitive and the flashbacks felt a little too long. I liked the characters too to an extent, except Anastacya started getting a little too frustrating there at the end by making the same mistakes over and over and over again.
This was going to be a solid 4 star read but the story dragged on so much that I'm giving it 3.5 stars!

Overall, a very solid debut! Would recommend.

Fast paced first two chapters but not enough to entice me to purchase the full book.

Fantasy is not really my genre, but for those that like it, this would be a good read, I think.

Well this sample has really whet my appetite to read the rest of the story.

I really love the authors writing style and enjoyed the characters so far. I will hopefully read Blood Heir in full soon.

I have bought the finished copy of Blood Heir, which I will be reading and reviewing instead of this brief sampler. I am very excited for this dark and bloody Anastasia retelling! Thank you for considering me, though.

Based on the first chapter only, this book promises excitement. The beginning builds a good introduction to the magic system and the core two characters; I feel like I know them reasonably well already. Questions were raised that would keep me reading to uncover the answers. This is a book to add to the list.

I recieved the first two chapters from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review, and they were amazing!
Even though I barely scratched the story, it was intriguing and compelling. It is well written and easily read, the characters seem good and I can’t wait to get this book - the first two chapters laid out the premises of what seems like a fantastic story.

The opening is full on, dramatic and pacy with hints of a fantastic fantasy adventure. Sparing characters spice up the dialogue nicely and the world seems a well built, convincing one.
I’ll definitely be reading on. Great stuff!

Argh! I despise chapter samples. They suck you in and just when things get interesting.... you have no more chapters to read and are desperately waiting for the book to be released. Not nice, publishers. Not nice at all!

A great introduction. Fast paced and interesting characters and magic system. Will definitely be picking up the book.

What a start to the book. Fast moving, all sorts of questions to be answered in the rest of the book. Already there is a feeling of Ana and Quicktongue staying together in an uneasy alliance for a long time. I do want to read the rest of the book.

Aaaah! Two chapters was not enough! I really hope I'll get approved for the rest of the book on Netgalley, I need to read mooorrreeee.

Writing style: The writing immediately pulled me into the story. I can't quite describe what style it is, it's just lovely to read.

Characters: I don't quite care about the main character yet, but I do love her ability. SHE. WIELDS. BLOOD. I kinda want to marry her just because of that. And Quicktongue, oh yes I want to read more about him. He has intrigued me. I have always had a soft spot for criminals *insert heart eyes and mayor swooning*

Story: Not much is revealed in the first two chapters (duh), but I am very interested in where this book is going.

I'm giving four stars to these two chapters and will cross my fingers and toes in hopes of getting approved for the entire book.

My thanks to HarperCollins/HarperVoyager for making available a preview via NetGalley of Amélie Wen Zhao’s ‘Blood Heir’.

My initial impression of these first two chapters of this highly anticipated YA fantasy was an overall positive one. Her description of the setting captured my imagination as well as quickly establishing the banter-rich relationship between Ana and the roguish prisoner, Ramson Quicktongue. I wanted to read more.

Since downloading this preview the full book was made available for request on NetGalley. I was very pleased to have been approved and I will be now be sitting down to read and review the entire book ahead of its 21 November U.K. publication date.

Giving this preview 5 stars.

The first few chapters have me completely hooked and I cannot wait to read this book! It seems so well written and I am excited to see where the story takes us.

Wow, those were an explosive couple of opening chapters! Hard to give much detailed feedback on such a short sample but I'm very intrigued by the characters of both Ana and Ransom Quicktongue, and by the world-building. I'm definitely keen to read more. It seems Ana's going to be a bit of a morally grey protagonist, which is always one of my favourite things.

The first couple of chapters of this book are very intriguing and I can't wait to read more. This seems like it will be a brilliant debut and the prose and characters are beautifully written.

I was sent a sampler of this book via netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

This sampler was so good! It got me drawn in straight away and has left me really wanting to read the rest of the book. I have so many questions just from those first few chapters that I need to read the rest of the book to discover the answers. This book starts off diving straight into action and adventure. Fantastic!

The first 2 chapters were an incredible start so fast paced a has me super intrigued to explore more of the world and spend time with these characters. I can't wait to read the rest of this book.

Blood heir starts by plunging you into a dark & terrifying situation where we find the deposed princess Ana in prison. Whilst initially a visitor, rather than a prisoner, Ana is mentally & physically trapped in a world that demonises those in the minority.
Ransom, her reluctant saviour in the opening chapter is definitely no angel. A trickster and conman with the skills and knowledge Ana needs to clear her name,
The opening chapter initiates world building with a bang. This is definitely a book I want to explore further and hope will provide the depth and development of character across both protagonists, rather than melt into the predictable that has let down many a promising tale.
This brief opportunity to read the start of this story gives me hope that the story will take on the challenge of the depth of corruption, persecution and demonisation of the Affinites and I’m really looking forward to reading it in full.

What a fascinating beginning! I can't wait to read more and find out exactly what's going on. This is going to be a great read, I can tell.

I was hooked after the first page and it turned pages as fast I could. I'm lucky because I was approved for the entire ARC because I couldn't put it down.
If the book is up to this sampler it's going to be an amazing read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.