This one unfortunately wasn't for me. The premise was fun and I loved this idea of Blaze's birth causing this apocalyptic storm that sweeps across the continent. The relationship our FMC has with her family is complex and interesting and I liked the early scenes between her and her siblings in the lead up to the ball. But..

The writing style wasn't enjoyable. It was too quippy and melodramatic. Blaze's character began to lean a bit too hard into the not-like-other-girls trope and I didn't like to see a mean-girl antagonist emerging in this context. Especially with the male love interest at the centre of the hostilities.

There was also some uncomfy uses of fantastical and non-fantastical slurs. If a character is going to tell us a word is a slur in a certain setting and then continue using it, I am going to struggle to endorse that choice.

More importantly, I don't think we should be calling tribal communities 'savage' in 2025. I understand if it's the bias of the character that is saying it or thinking it (depiction =/= endorsement), but that should be signposted. We should be able to tell it is the bias of the character and not the result of topics around non-western civilisations not being handled with care.

I hope a sensitivity reader can be brought on board for the rest of the series. Conceptually I think this could be a good fit for people who enjoyed books like Red Queen, but I sense this author is not be for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

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✦ Mood: romantic, coming-of-age, angsty

I loved Heir of Storms.
I have been wanting to read this one since I heard about it months ago as I knew I was going to love it. I did not expect it to be so addictive a read though. I devoured this book!
It did not want me to put it down, it demanded to be read.
Coming from a powerful fire wielding family, Blaze is the odd one out. Blaze and her twin, Flint, are both competing for elemental thrones. Flint is competing for the Ignitia (fire) throne, whilst Blaze is competing for the Aquatori (water) throne. I found Blaze to be a likeable FMC and enjoyed her journey with learning how her powers as a rain singer work. I did feel sorry for her circumstances growing up.
This book has side characters that you root for, with the found family trope. I want and need more of the world Lauryn Hamilton Murray has created.
The interactions between Blaze and some other characters (no spoilers) are just delicious. - Yes, I said and meant delicious!
100% craving the next instalment and praying I don't have to wait too long.

This book is a solid YA fantasy romance. The magic and premise of how royalty works is really different and interesting. The first paragraphs gripped me, the writing, the story, but then I just thought the book was ok.

However, I found the FMC wasn’t particularly unique and at times irritating. She really leaned into the “I’m not like other girls” line. The fear of her was almost farcical in its writing.

I did enjoy the relationship between the FMC and her grandmother.

Overall, it may be a book that others enjoy but I didn’t love it.

4.5 Stars: Heir of Storms delivers a fast-paced YA fantasy that had me hooked from the first chapter!

As the time has come for a new emperor to take his throne and assemble a new court, contending heirs of each of the four elements are poised to battle their way to power in the form of three trials. After her birth brought about a storm that caused devastation across the kingdom, prejudice alone makes Blaze’s journey an uphill battle. Will she learn to embrace her power in time to make a bid to become a future ruler?

Packed full of court politics, elemental magic, enchanting balls and high-stakes trials, this book was destined to grab my attention. When paired with a writing style reminiscent of early Throne of Glass books, it’s easy to see why I was delighted with this read.

The world building was incredibly easy to grasp, allowing you to jump straight into the action. I quickly became invested in the characters and wasn’t ready to set them aside come the final page. The plot held just enough classic YA fantasy elements to lend an overall nostalgic YA feel and just enough plot twists to keeps the stakes high and the pages turning.

I cannot wait to see where this series goes, what a great debut!

My first thoughts was it made me think of ‘Frozen’ because of the female main characters powers, but in a really good way, with a twist of ‘The Hunger Games’. It’s starts with a shocking incident that sucks you in and you have to keep reading until the end. Magic, conflict, romance, twists. A strong FMC lead who you can’t help but love as she learns to develop snd control her powers and there’s kittens 😍.

Following Blaze, our FMC who has been hidden away for 17 years for fears to hers and others safety due to her unruly powers, we follow her as she journeys from her sheltered life into the cutthroat world of politics.

Blaze is kind of the definition of a social outcast, and struggles to find her place in a world that despises her existence. She approaches life with an unavoidable naïveté, which leads her blindly into a lot of problematic situations. Her twin brother, Flint, is likeable but entirely too unserious given the gravity of what is at stake. Unfortunately, though this is a wonderful start to a new Romantasy series, I just did not feel the chemistry between any love interests and felt like I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. In all, the cast of characters are well developed, and I absolutely adored Mouse. The background lore was very interesting and it was so engaging to watch it all play out as Blaze unravelled more and more secrets.

I found the book to be a slower pace, but I feel that matches the targeted YA audience well and did not distract from the story. The magic system was easy to follow and intriguing to watch develop throughout, but it somehow felt like the power that these characters obviously possessed did not really come across as much as I would’ve liked to see - these are the strongest magic wielders around, so I was hoping to be a bit more on edge. We did not get to see much of the world, but I can absolutely see the direction of expansion that any future sequels would explore and am all for it. I absolutely got vibes to match early Throne Of Glass and Powerless from this book and think this series has a lot of potential, and I wish this could’ve been around when I was a teen!

Thank you to Lauryn Hamilton Murray and the publishing/NetGalley team for allowing me the opportunity to give an advance review of this book. To summarise, Heir of Storms is at it’s heart an emotional story of self discovery, earning a stormy 4/5 star rating ✨

This book? It’s like being struck by lightning and loving the burn. From the first line, it had me by the throat and I was like, YES, choke me with your words!

Okay, so let me set the scene: this book? It’s giving all the epic fantasy vibes I’ve been craving. It’s like Twin Crowns meets Throne of Glass with a touch of Hunger Games competition brutality, all while being entirely its own, deliciously immersive world. From the first page, I was hooked – and I’m already borderline feral waiting for book two.
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We’re following 🔥Blaze, – she’s not just a main character, she’s a force of nature. She’s the empire’s biggest cautionary tale, the girl they whispered about, the girl they wanted to control – and she’s done playing nice. She’s like, “I am the storm, and you will learn to fear me.” And honestly? I do. I fear her. I worship her. I want to be her when I grow up.

When she was just a baby, Blaze accidentally drowned the empire in a storm so powerful it reshaped the world – a mistake she’s been paying for ever since. She’s an outcast, defined by the one thing she can’t control: her magic.

But Blaze is done being the empire’s scapegoat. Alongside her twin brother Flint, she’s about to enter the Choosing Rite – a cutthroat competition to decide who will rule the empire’s elemental magic. It’s a chance to finally prove herself, but also a chance to lose everything. Because if she fails, the empire will swallow her whole.

The sibling dynamic between Blaze, Flint, and Renly absolutely stole my heart. Flint is the perfect protective older brother – their banter was everything. They’re each other’s safe haven in a world that wants to break them. And Blaze is for Renly what Flint is for her.
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👑Hal– sweet, soft, golden prince energy. Hal is the boy who holds Blaze like she’s precious, even when she’s all fury and chaos. He’s the kind of boy who’d kiss your bruises and still stand beside you when you’re tearing the world down – and I was eating it up...until we met Fox. What can I say? Ya girl just loves a bad boy...
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🖤Fox – Listen. If I had £1 for every time I had to fan myself reading his scenes, I’d be a billionaire. He’s dark, he’s dangerous, he’s...everything. The morally grey temptation, the one who sees Blaze’s darkness and says, I’ll match it.” I was ready to sell my soul for a glimpse of him – he’s that level of feral. Fox had me in a chokehold from page one. Their chemistry was unreal – the banter? The tension? The walls-and-knives moments?! Fox sees her in a way nobody else does. Also – that kitten scene with the grey one the colour of her eyes? I’m sorry, I am unwell. 🥹🫠
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The magic system? Chef’s kiss. The whole elemental Choosing Rite? It’s giving you’re about to see what happens when you push a girl too far” – and I was here for every savage second. Blaze is literally out here becoming the weapon they feared she’d be, and I was obsessed. The elemental magic in this world is so vivid and dynamic – I was living for the scenes of Blaze unleashing her stormy powers. The trials themselves were absolutely intense, like a magical gladiator arena meets elemental boot camp. Every challenge tests not just her strength, but her heart – and honestly, the stakes feel real.
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The writing? Poetic. Lyrical. So pretty I wanted to highlight every damn sentence and tattoo it on my forehead. There are so many quotes that go straight to your soul, like, just bury me in this book’s prose, please...
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The plot twists? Kept me on my toes the entire time! I couldn’t predict it all, which is rare for me as a bookworm. The ending? That ending? It left me absolutely feral. I’m out of my depth, like Blaze, but loving it. 🤯
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But it’s not just a pretty face and steamy moments. What really hit me was the social commentary lurking beneath all the elemental magic and court intrigues. Blaze calls it like it is and she nails the double standards so many women and marginalised voices face—not just in fantasy, but IRL.

Men break worlds and become legends; women break worlds and become villains. Men’s dark fantasies are “genius”; women’s stories get shoved off as “fairy porn.” Blaze’s struggle is a rallying cry for all the overlooked, sidelined, and underestimated, daring us to rewrite the rules and take up space. It’s a smart, sharp critique wrapped up in a fantasy that never feels preachy. The book does not let you forget who gets to be powerful and why—and that alone makes it stand out. 💪
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✨ TL;DR: Why you need to read this book immediately
⚡️ Blaze is the definition of “don’t start what you can’t finish”– and she’s finishing it.
⚡️ Fox is giving “I’ll ruin you in the best way” energy.
⚡️ Sibling bonds, cutthroat politics, and elemental magic that will have you sweating.
⚡️ Prose so beautiful you’ll want to eat it for breakfast.

Truly, Heir of Storms is the kind of book that lingers in your bones long after you finish. It’s about finding your place in a world determined to break you – and daring to be more than the stories told about you.🖤

I’m going to be counting down the days until book two – because Blaze’s storm is just getting started. 😏

A fun reading experience from start to finish. Intriguing story, characters that will appeal to all reads and action packed twists and turns.

everyone need to be reading this book
my top ya this year
the tension
the romance
the world building

ive finished this in one day

This review is for Heir Of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray which releases in the UK on the 5th June! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Penguin for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this book with little expectations or knowledge of what it was going to be about, and I absolutely loved it. I just saw a lot of hype around it in Booktok, and knew if I had the opportunity to read it I should!

The story focuses on Blaze, who is the first Rain Singer in years, born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire. She is a pariah because as she was born, her powers caused a devastating storm that drowned the empire. I loved Blaze as a main character, as someone that resented their powers for the destruction they had brought, while still wishing she was as strong as she was back then.

You also see a great cast of characters, from the funny Twin brother Flint and the two love interests, Fox and Hal. It does end up as a little bit of a love triangle, but with plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing the whole time who she’s going to end up with.

The story was thrilling and kept me on my toes the entire time, even if it was a little predictable at times. It was an easy and fast paced read and I honestly cannot wait to read the next in the series. I won’t say this is a world breaking story, but would highly recommend it to any YA fantasy readers outs there, you would enjoy it!!

The world building was interesting and the magic system was intriguing. Blaze was a great FMC who has been sheltered her whole life and thrust into trials, I liked her. But Fox definitely stole the show, I loved every scene he was in and I hope book 2 has more of Fox in it!

5 stars - YA fantasy

Blaze caused a storm that killed thousands when born as she was gifted with the rare talents of a storm weaver. Now grown and feared but powerless, Blaze is chosen along with her brother Flint, a fire wielder, to compete in three trials that decide the next four heirs of the kingdom. The kingdoms are based on the elements water, fire, earth and wind. At the trials Blaze discovers more to her gift and heritage as well as meeting the other competitors and reigning royals.

I loved this story and think it will be the summers hottest new YA fantasy. The character of Blaze is very likeable and the reader learns along with her the mysteries of her world. I loved learning about the different types of power Blaze could enact - she is a storm weaver and has control over water but each power (rain, mist, ice) is tapped into a different emotion, which she struggles deal with.

There is a slight love triangle with the heir to the King, Hal and the kings son with his mistress, Fox. Hal is the golden chid and seems to relate to Blaze very early on whereas bad boy Fox is named the earth cleaver as he split the world in two when he was younger with his earth power.

There are some twists and reveals as the competition goes on and the last 50-100 pages are jaw dropping that makes me need the second book straightaway.

Highly recommend!

4⭐️

'To feel is to be alive, Blaze. And I swear to you that no matter what, it is better to feel everything than to feel nothing.'

Wow, what an ending. I love it when books make you gasp out loud in shock.

My absolute favourite part of this book is the magic system. Elemental magic certainly isn't new, but I feel like it always comes with the connotation that you must learn to channel it without emotion. This book flips that and says no use it. Emotion is power, channel the right one with the right control, and you'll do amazing things.

This fits very well with the books plotlines around the main characters grief and the resentment she feels from others for actions she could not control. The quote at the start of this review hit me quite powerfully, and I think it will resonate with a lot of people. But we also look at family and friends and how they can impact her powers. Her relationship with her family is another favourite part for me, especially little renly. I love renly he's a sweetie.

In terms of the plot, I really enjoyed the trials and that they make even the reader consider how exactly you should tackle them. I did wonder for a while what the major arc for the entire trilogy was going to be, but that becomes pretty clear, and I'm very much looking forward to it. The twists were twisting very well.

But let's talk romance. I thought I knew where this was going and then something happened and I was like "wait that is better. I really like that." We have a golden light prince who is charming. We have an earth wielder with a big bad boy energy (he is a big vibe, I'm here for him). I'm intrigued to see where that whole situation goes.

I've gone with 4 stars because there were points that felt a little slow, and some of the romantic side of things got repetitive. A girl only needs so many golden flowers before it gets annoying. I would like to see a little bit more on how the other elemental powers work, too, since we dont get much of that close up.

I am definitely planning to continue with the series. I suspect big things for book two given how this one ends. I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This book completely swept me away. From the explosive opening to the emotionally charged finale, Heir of Storms had everything I love in a YA fantasy: elemental magic, deadly trials, political intrigue, and a heroine with quiet but undeniable strength.

Blaze is a brilliant lead. Her journey is rooted in grief, identity, and power—or the lack of it. I really appreciated how her relationship with her magic wasn’t rushed. Instead of being handed instant strength, she earns every moment of growth. Her connection to her powers is meaningful and emotional, and the way she navigates expectation, fear, and legacy makes her arc feel grounded and real.

The elemental magic system and throne-by-trial concept felt fresh and immersive. I loved how the court setting was alive with tension, secrets, and competition. The worldbuilding is rich without ever becoming overwhelming, and there are clearly more layers to uncover in future books.

I also really enjoyed the cast around Blaze. Her twin brother Flint brought much-needed levity and heart, and the romantic tension added just enough spice without distracting from the larger story. It was great to see romance handled with nuance while keeping the focus on personal growth and survival.

Some of the middle chapters did slow down slightly, but the final third more than made up for it. The emotion, the twists, and the sense of something bigger on the horizon left me desperate for book two.

For anyone who grew up loving 2010s YA fantasy, this feels like a comforting return to form but with deeper emotional stakes and a heroine who refuses to be defined by others. It hits familiar notes while still delivering something original.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital review copy. I am so excited to see where this series goes next.

Thank you netgalley for an early copy of this book! I finished it in 2 days I couldn't stop. Loved this book can't wait for the sequel

I devoured this book. I already can't wait for book 2!! I love everything about it from the characters, the story and the world building. So many questions were answered but there are so many left to be answered in book 2!

I loved Fox and wanted more of him. He reminded me of Jack's from OUABH. Hopefully, we will see more of him and his development in the next book.

The same with Flint. It might because there were so many characters, that the side characters didn't get enough development or page space. Cole was the same. All of a sudden he was her main enemy, even though Amber and others were there first!

I loved her grandmother and River. I just can't wait for the next book!!

Heir of Storms is the kind of book that pulls you in and refuses to let go. The contrast between the main male characters is absolutely addictive— ruthless and threatening, kind and protective. Their opposing natures create a tension that crackles on the page, making every interaction feel electric.

Our FMC is written with such raw intensity that you don’t just read her emotions—you feel them. Her struggles, her triumphs, her heartbreaks—they all resonate in a way that makes her journey unforgettable.

The plot is packed with action, gripping character dynamics, and trials that kept me completely immersed. The elemental magic and mysteries are woven in beautifully, adding layers of wonder and danger. And the way family ties shape the story gives it an emotional weight that makes every twist even more powerful.

This is a YA fantasy that demands to be devoured. If you love The Wind Weaver, The Hunger Games, or Shatter Me, prepare to be obsessed.

I feel lucky this year; so far every book - especially ARCs - of which I had only medium expectations has thus far been a true surprise - Heir of Storms might just even the biggest yet! At first glance, it's quite trope ladden, and while I confess that there were a few elements I did not enjoy, the final product as a truly enganging new start to a YA fantasy series of which I can't wait to see where it goes next.

Blaze is born to a world where everyone of her kind has powers - earth, fire, wind and water. Only when she was born, her powers brought on a storm that drowned thousands of lives and cities in the kingdom. After the storm passed, her family kept her away from the public eye and she grew up in fear of her own power which has been dormant since that first fateful storm. As she comes of age, she becomes involved in the competitions to earn a crown as one of the ruling council, drawing her out of her secluded life and right into the heart of the kingdom.

Before I get to good - because there is a lot to say - let me quickly address the less good. I found the naming of characters quite uninspired. You'd have the the characters with water affinity named Marina, River, Hydra whilst the ones with fire are called Flint, Ember etc - you get the point. Additionally, there's a bit of name-calling such as Fish Bitch which felt both juvenile and also inappropriate in the greater picture of the plot. As previously mentioned, there were quite a few familiar tropes and that made some aspects predictable. For example, there are four different crowns and four contenders for each of them - once we'd been introduced to all 16 contestants I knew exactly who would win and which order [and all my predictions came true]. There are also plenty of characters where you just know from the start if they are good or traitor to be, who is a love interest or just a distraction from the true one etc.

However.

Despite some of its predictablity and common tropes, Heir of Storms surprised me multiple times, especially for the final 25%. The tropes are both familiar and well done and then just completely turn around on you. There are so many directions this could now take for the sequels - I feel as though the author has taken common tropes, shook them up a bit and built such a solid foundation for what may be a truly great fantasy trilogy.

Being advertised of having a hint of The Hunger Games, there's definitely something to it; while this is a wholly different setting, more akin to high fantasy, there's a similar pattern. The 16 contestants are chosen through an event who then get brought to the central Kingdom. Once there, they are assigned a trainer and cheperone who essentially works on all the glamouring up, because of course there are plenty of balls and socialising for these potential rulers to be. The trials are broken into parts but there's still a certain sense of similarity. That's just about where the similarities end, though.

As for the kingdom and the worldbuilding itself, the ruling system is truly original and interesting. There are four ruling kings or queens who serve the Emperor. However, these seats of power are changed in a somewhat regular patern, largely based on not wanting an aging ruler on the throne. All four kings and queens are changed at the same time once the trials take place. This includes the emperor, albeit he is the only one who passes his throne to a direct heir. Why am I harping on about this? I think it's a very unique system and one of which the origin in more than fishy. There are other lands and peoples. There's slavery, stolen heirlooms, scheming schemers and plenty of people with their hidden agenda. Whilst this first volume largely focuses on the trials, it is clear that there is a much larger picture of how this world works and I desperately want to see where this all leads in the following instalments.

Intriguing worldbuilding aside, I enjoyed the writing and it was quite a quick read for it's reasonably high page count. However, another highlight were the characters (despite my dislike for their names). Blaze was such a great character to follow. Characters kept from the social eye who are suddenly thrust into the world are by no means uncommon, but Blaze is one of the few where I felt like it is truly well portrayed in her personality. As an introvert, I found her super related - she showed genuine fear of suddenly finding herself in large crowds, I'd absolutely join her in hiding underneath a table. Despite her obvious fear, hiding behind friends and family and running from social situations as much as she can, she is by no means a weak character. She is vulnerable but she faces her fears. She doesn't enter the plot all powerful but works and trains for all she has, and it was very satisfying to follow her journey of finding herself and her pride.

From major to minor, I also enjoyed most of the remaining cast. Blaze has such a lovely relationship with both her twin brother Flint [the extrovert to her introvert] as well as their little brother Renly - I'm sure there's more to tell of their story too. I was also surprised by the loving relationship they have with their grandmother who I was expecting to be a bit more of a dragon. There is also a slave girl, Elva, who we don't see all that much of but who I've grown fond of. Slowly but gradually, Blaze also forms friendships during the trials - some are genuine, some I don't quite trust and others I suspect are yet to be.

While things are still very much up in the air, I also truly enjoyed the romance. Crown Prince Hal was almost too kind to be true - he is the character that makes you wonder, is he just dull or does he have an agenda? I thought I had him figured out but he was far from what I expected him to be. On the flip side, his half brother Fox was very much what I expected him to be, and yet there is also still so much room for his story. I ended up truly enjoying both Hal and especially Fox - I have high hopes for both of them in the sequel and also wish to just simply see more of their brother dynamics.

With the exception of a few small things that rubbed me the wrong way [naming and name-calling], this was such a surprising great read that goes well beyond what the initial premise promises. I am very much looking forward to seeing where this takes us next. Small brownie point: there's a cat!

Firstly, I’d like to say thank you to netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

this had everything I love in a YA fantasy and sometimes I just think YA fantasies hit different and this book is the perfect example of why.

this drew me in immediately. the writing is so easy to get into and also to lose yourself in. I found that I was reading this book and not realising how much time had gone by and how much I’d read because i was that immersed in the writing and plot.

the tropes in this plot, like the beloved trials trope, are sometimes popular tropes but I think they’re done uniquely with fun changes and twists. this book definitely felt fresh to me while still reminding me of things I’ve loved previously. I especially found the magic system immensely interesting as well as the whole “heir” scenario and how royalty is passed on. I really enjoyed Blaze’s journey with her power and also how she dealt with emotions from events prior to the main timeline of this book.

I loved the parts of history we got too and would have enjoyed even more depth with that, but I feel like that might be developed in later books so I’m looking forward to finding out even more about this world and its past.

there were so many vivid characters in this which I absolutely love. so many characters to love and also some to despise which is always fun and adds different dynamics to the story. the RAGE I felt at some of these characters oh my gosh…
but it’s confirmed that I’d like to be besties with Blaze and Flint and I absolutely love Blaze’s relationship with her younger brother Renly, he’s the cutest aw.

I won’t go into too much detail with the romance aspects of this book for various reasons BUT I will say it had me swooning, giggling, gasping…the whole works. I think there’s a great potential for a romance here.

so many times the plot went somewhere I wasn’t expecting with certain characters or mysteries and I ate it up every time. I wouldn’t say much was predictable at all to me so it kept me on my toes and kept me very engaged and excited throughout, wondering what was going to happen.

the way this ends is cause for a sequel IMMEDIATELY. my jaw was honestly on the floor. I shall be waiting desperately as I really really enjoyed this one and can see this being a series I fall in love with even more as we continue!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC copy. I completely devoured this book, I could not put it down. I loved all the characters and that the plot wasn't too predictable, but I particularly liked the romance. This book ticked a lot of boxes for me as a fan of The Hunger Games and I found the plot to be fast moving and exciting. 5/5 stars - I can't wait for the next book!