What an excellent start to this series! I was immediately captivated by the magic system, world building and intriguing cast of characters. Blaze is a great FMC with great character development throughout. The final act was flawless and with that shocking ending I am very excited for the next book!

I actually really enjoyed this book! Definitely worth adding to my shelves! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

I need book two right this damn minute.

The characters, the magic system, the love triangle, the end - I enjoyed every single moment of this book and honestly couldn't put it down. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

While the story does focus on trials that the main character has to compete in (something that is done to death at this point), there is so much more happening. The rich world building, layered history and the mystery that needs to be unravelled meant that I was never sure exactly what was going to happen next.

This is all combined with the main character, Blaze, figuring out exactly who she is, what power she has and how she can and should use it.

Beyond the story, the pacing was excellent without losing too much of the world building and at no point did things drag. I was shocked to find I'd read over half the book in a day and am so excited to see where this story goes.

Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray is a stunning fantasy that kept me completely captivated from start to finish! The world-building is rich and immersive, and I loved how the magic system was so unique and well-developed. The characters are full of depth, and the protagonist’s journey is both compelling and emotional. The mix of adventure, suspense, and complex relationships made this book hard to put down. The plot is packed with twists that kept me guessing, and the slow-burn romance added an extra layer of excitement. If you love epic fantasy with strong characters and an unpredictable story, this is a must-read!

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers at Penguin Random House, for the opportunity to read this book.

When Blaze was born 17 years ago—one of a pair of twins to one of the most powerful fire-wielding families—the world was struck by a violent storm that destroyed cities, claimed lives, and altered their reality forever.

Blaze, the last Rain Singer, had unknowingly summoned the storm. Since then, she’s lived in reclusion, blamed by the world for the devastation. But everything changes when she's chosen to participate in the Choosing Rite, a competition to select new Kings and Queens for each elemental throne.

This was such a fun book, filled with interesting characters and a well-developed, well-paced plot. There are some unexpected twists and surprises, though a few aspects were predictable.

I loved Blaze and the journey she embarks on—one of freedom and self-discovery. Her compassion, especially for the serfs, reveals how empathetic and kind she is, despite being scorned by a world that holds her responsible for past tragedies.

Her twin brother Flint provides much-needed comic relief. It’s impossible not to love his personality, witty banter, and fierce loyalty to Blaze. Their sibling bond adds a beautiful emotional depth to the story.

While there’s a subplot of romance, I appreciated that the book doesn’t centre on it. Instead, it focuses on friendships, sibling love, the importance of family, and Blaze’s journey to understand her powers and emotions. The author explores themes of loss, guilt, and grief beautifully, tying them meaningfully to Blaze’s magic and the burden it carries.

Yes, it includes familiar YA tropes—balls, dances, trials, and elemental powers—but I was never bored. I was completely immersed and engaged from start to finish.

There’s still so much we don’t know, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into the world, spend more time with the side characters, and see how the relationships—especially with one of the MMCs—develop after that ending.

I’m genuinely impressed by the author's storytelling skills and reason for writing this novel. Her words in the acknowledgements really resonated with me:
“It’s a real privilege to write for young adults. I never needed books more than during adolescence. Being a teenager is tough. It’s a state of constant emotional whiplash. (...) I wanted to create a way in which pain could become power, so I wrote a story about a girl who can turn sadness into magic.”

I can’t wait to read the sequel and follow this author's journey.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the Publisher for an advance eARC of this book to read. I honestly had a great time, this YA fantasy had me hooked and I read it within a day.

What to expect:

Multiple love interests
Humans with powers
Trials
Court politics

This book focuses on Blaze a Storm Welder, a Rain Singer whose birth triggered a deadly storm which killed thousands. Hidden away from the hurt and anger of the population for 17 year Blaze is thrust back into the world when the gods choose her to be one of 4 heirs to compete for the water Elemental crown.
The writing in this book hooks you in, and the story leaves you not knowing who to trust. I really enjoyed Blazes journey. She started off naive and a little sheltered because of her upbringing, but soon she was discovering herself and her powers and making friends, (and enemies) along the way.
The love interest(s) were great well rounded characters and I can't wait to see how this develops in future books.
While some of the plot was a little predictable it really was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next book in this trilogy!

Highly recommend for anyone interested in YA fantasy, court politics and intrigue, Elemental Magic done in a new way, trials and mystery.

I really enjoyed this book, devouring it in almost one sitting. I usually dont connect with female main characters, often finding them irritating or too tropey (either they are mega powerful and angry or weak and helpless) but Blaze was a nice balance. She had the potential to be incredibly powerful, but fear has put a damper on her powers. She has a strong personality without being rude or catty. She was just a great MC to read about. I liked all the side characters, her brothers, the Prince and Fox. the story had some good twists, and unexpected romances are starting to blossom.
Overall, it's left me very excited to read more in this series! I think it's going to be a really good one!

I LOVED THIS SO SO MUCH!!!! THIS BOOK IS SO GOOOOD. I NEED BOOK TWO.

this book. just wow. its easily my fav read of 2025 so far, by literal miles.
I LOVED THIS SO SO MUCH!!!! THIS BOOK IS SO GOOOOD. I NEED BOOK TWO.

this book. just wow. its easily my fav YA read of 2025 so far, by literal miles.

Lauryn has written a wonderful debut, reminiscent of the golden years of YA (looking at you, 2010s). The worldbuilding is extremely well written - a book that has perfect EVERYTHING.

Seriously, this is THE BOOK to read this summer. Element based magic, reclaiming power, and accepting yourself - taking control of your life rather than being caught by how people view you.

Blaze lets her reputation stand in her way, which, fair, her birth meant death. But once she accepts thr fact that she couldn’t control it, and faces it head on - learning control instead of simply allowing her power to fade away, suppressed? She’s unstoppable. And she’s coming for her crown.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Did someone say incredible??? Because I am. This is a great first book in the story, we get great world building with unique magic systems in relation to the gods and the differing kingdoms. The characters and the hierarchies within the kingdoms are complex, but intriguing.

I am such a fan of a book with trials and this didn’t miss the mark, it creates a premise you may have read before but makes it fresh with our naive yet courageous FMC and the side characters we meet with many different intentions.

I love that despite how dangerous and engaging the core plot is, we get these revelations that come to the surface as our FMC explores new territory piecing together secrets long buried.

I highly recommend this for fans of YA fantasy.

I only read a few YA fantasy as I tend to find the pacing a bit slow for me - and that was the case here at first. But things really picked up around the 50% mark when Fox was introduced, and from there it was such a fun ride.

What I really enjoyed was the sibling dynamic between Flint, Ren, and Blaze. Can we also just take a moment to appreciate that plot twist at the end? I genuinely did not see it coming, and it was so well executed!

This is a fun read for anyone who loves YA, im intrigued to see where the next book goes.

Thank you for the ARC!

4 - 4.5!

If you love YA Romantic Fantasy - this wildly addictive debut is for you!

In a world with elemental magic, Blaze being born into Ignitia (fire) was expected to have fire magic. However, when she was born it started to rain. Blaze is the first Rain Singer the world has seen in a very long time. The storm left thousands dead and her sequestered away knowing that she has not been able to summon her magic since.

In Heir of Storms, thrones and crowns are not inherited, they are fought over and won. The Gods select four Heirs from each house to compete in three trials, leaving a winner to take the throne. When Blaze is summoned, she has no choice but to compete for a throne she did not want and for a different house.

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This is a fast paced, emotional filled book that had me glued to the pages and when I wasn't, I was thinking about it, and when I wasn't thinking about it I was asleep. I loved how Blaze explored her repressed emotions and how she is slowly starting to become who she really is. Her friendships that she makes along the way are amazing, and the love triangle take was brilliant I didn't see that coming! I am really really excited to see how her story goes and how she takes to everything happening at the end of the book. This is a bingeable book for any YA Fantasy lover.

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What to expect:
- Grief
- Chosen one
- Elemental Magic
- Politics
- Love triangle (DONT WORRY! PLEASE!)
- Trials
- Self-discovery
- Secrets/Mystery
- Balls

Thank you so so much Penguin for sending me an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own

Scheming royals? check! Deadly trials? check! FMC with a great character arc? check! This was such a fun read, I loved the premise and I cant wait for the next one!

I fell in love with this book - the characters, the world, the story - it was whimsical, heartfelt, exciting, adrenaline kicking!
It had this very gloomy, misty feeling - like sitting in a cosy warm living room watching a rainfall storm rage outside, and I loved it!
As a brief non spoiler summary - the main character- a girl born to the fire nation but blessed with water powers that could drown the world. She's hated and looked down on, but she finds herself having to brave the outside world, finding her true calling and the power to call on storms. There's trials, betrayal, romance - though very slow with only hints of affections, suspense, and lots of secrets.
I did find that though the book had action scenes, there was a lot more slow downtime scenes, which in fairness I didn't mind as I enjoyed being in the head of the main character, however I am now craving more action and a chance to see more of the powers and magic, with hopefully for more fights scenes if and when a second book is released. Which I will be 100% reading!
I did find the fight scenes that were in the book could have been more detailed and longer which I would say is the only downfall, as I wanted to see more of the different powers - however, the final trial does give you a good glimpse of it!
And I think the length of the book comes in to play with my feelings of wanting more, with only 368 pages roughly, its a very short fantasy book and I do believe it could have definitely been longer! But nevertheless, I enjoyed it and will be looking forward to seeing where the stories goes in the future.
All in all, a great reading experience!!xx

I will be posting brief reviews on my booktok - @thefantasyrealm4.5 x

This is such a great fantasy read!

I absolutely loved the characters, they had depth and were relatable thanks to the way they were cleverly written. The world building was excellent and I really enjoyed the way the author gave us enough detail to situate us, but left us to fill in the blanks of finer detail ourselves. And if you like magic, this book is one not to miss. The plot twists are brilliant and honestly, I cannot wait for the second book!

Review will be on Amazon, Tiktok and Storygraph when available.

Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray is a captivating fantasy novel that blends elemental magic, political intrigue, and a coming-of-age story into a richly imagined world. At its heart is Blaze, a Rain Singer born into a family of fire-wielders, whose very existence defies expectations and challenges the status quo. From the moment of her birth, Blaze’s life has been marked by tragedy and secrecy, as her uncontrollable power once unleashed a catastrophic storm that claimed thousands of lives. Now, years later, she is forced to confront her past and her potential when she and her twin brother, Flint, are invited to compete for the imperial throne.

Murray’s world-building is both intricate and immersive, drawing readers into an empire where elemental magic shapes politics, relationships, and identity. The Golden Palace, with its opulence and danger, serves as the perfect backdrop for the story’s twists and turns. Blaze is a compelling protagonist—flawed, relatable, and fiercely determined to carve out her own path in a world that has always sought to define her. Her internal struggle with her power and her place in the empire is portrayed with nuance and depth, making her journey one that readers will eagerly follow.

The novel’s pacing is excellent, balancing action-packed sequences with moments of introspection and character development. The competition for the throne adds a layer of tension and excitement, while the romantic subplots—featuring the charming Crown Prince and a mysterious newcomer—add complexity to Blaze’s story without overshadowing her personal growth. Murray skilfully explores themes of identity, power, and self-acceptance, making Heir of Storms more than just a tale of magic and politics.

What truly sets this book apart is its emphasis on storytelling and the power of narrative. Blaze’s journey is not just about claiming a throne but about reclaiming her own story from those who have sought to control it. This message resonates deeply, making the novel both entertaining and thought-provoking.

A very addictive YA romantasy read, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and R.F. Kuang.

I fear I don’t even know where to begin talking about this book because I quite literally consumed it wherever and whenever I had time to read, it was unputdownable!!

Blaze our fmc is the first rain singer in years but seemingly born into a family of fire (yes literally). Her birth caused a terrifying storm that destroyed an empire, resulting in her being hidden away for 17 years , until she is chosen by the gods to participate in a deadly competition in which the most talented young Etheri battle for each of the 4 thrones from the 4 different empires/ families! Did I forget to also mention both a charming prince and a dangerous but protective newcomer being also thrown into the mix!!

The way Lauryn Hamilton Murray had me HOOKED from the first chapter, her effortless world building, magic system and writing had me speechless at points because of how I could not stop highlight phrase from every chapter like ?!!
“Names have teeth. They bite right to the bone”
“If to feel is to be alive, then to be alive is to hurt”
“And I see you storm weaver. I see all of you “

The characters I honestly loved how we got to feel and see a lot of their true raw emotions from both grief, to joy to pain, all of it was detailed so beautifully, and it really made me feel like I knew them all personally ! Blaze herself is just an undeniable force of strength and willpower after the grief and hatred she’s endured by others,and the way she tackles that throughout the book is incredibly well written!! I also do love how the trials don’t only focus on physical strength as the main factor, but also on more mental strength and willpower.

The story itself, the plot twists I did not see coming whatsoever, I literally was in denial by the explosive ending which was honestly so well fleshed out and I definitely will have to re-read to see if I can spot anything I missed ! And I really loved how unique the magic system did feel especially with how emotions were a striving factor for Blazes Power

Finally the romance !! May I say I loved the dynamic between both of the love interests for Blaze and how both had their faults and flaws, and at one point I honestly couldn’t decide who to root for ! Both characters made their impact and honestly after that ending , I don’t even have words on how or what’s going to happen next but i definitely cannot wait and am hopeful for book 2 !!

Thank you net galley and puffin books for the e-arc ! Cannot wait to physically have this one in my hands on release day !

When Blaze was born, people died. And 17 years later, the she remains hidden from a world that still has not forgiven her. But when she is called upon by the gods to compete in for a throne, everything she thought she knew is turned upside down.

This is such a good book! Brilliant world building and an interesting magic system, with characters that leap off the page. I desperately need to know more, especially about the history of the land. My only gripe is that the ending felt a bit rushed, but I hope that will be forgotten as soon as I have the next book in my hands!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

‘I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world. And I’m coming for my crown.’

This book was just everything you want in a fantasy and so much more..
Blaze is a girl born of catastrophe, one born with the gift of storms, when everyone expected fire.. but upon her birth.. thousands were struck down by a storm that broke the realm.. from this she was dubbed the ‘storm weaver’ and shut herself away for 17 years.. until she could hide no more..

The magic system in this book is genius. The factions, royal politics and character building absolutely make this book an incredible read, a YA fantasy that leaves you wanting more.

And the ending? WOW.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I adore this book and all its magic and characters it really felt like gd old fashioned YA romantasy?

I loveeeee Blaze so much, she really grew in this book and I loved how niave she was.

Now....Mr Hal...prince Hal...deffo a hottie and we all love a prince thats gifts flowers BUT

Enter Mr Green Eyes my one and only love. FOX I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU.

That is all. Really really recommend this book for author has got it all down perfectly!!!

I was fully immersed in this book. I loved the FMC Blaze, going from an underdog to powerful storm wielder. For the first half of the book I thought I knew where the story was going but the twists in the second half of the book blew me away! I really really hope there’s a sequel to this book as I’m desperate to read more, I read half of this book in one day because I couldn’t put it down. I will definitely be recommending this to people brilliant YA fatasy!