This is the 3rd book in the Throne of Glass series, and it picks up right where it left off and takes things to a whole new level. This book is amazingly jam-packed with excitement and adventure, twists and turns. Heir of Fire mainly follows Celaena, but it also follows other characters, mainly Chaol, Dorian, and a new character named Manon. The stories twine around each other, vying for attention, but it's mostly Celaena's story that drives the book (as it should. She is the main character, after all).
At the end of Crown of Midnight, Celaena is sent to Wendlyn, the country across the sea, so that she can kill the King and Crown Prince, thereby allowing the King of Adarlan to take over. It is also revealed that she is the lost queen of Terrasen, Aelin Galathynius, a fact that she's kept buried deep within herself for 10 years. Celaena can't kill the King of Wendlyn, a distant cousin of hers, because she doesn't have the will. Especially after seeing how much the people of Wendlyn love, truly love, him. Her goal becomes to get in touch with Maeve, the Fae Queen located on Wendlyn, and find out more information about the Wyrdkeys and how to destroy them and the King of Adarlan. Except Maeve wants something in return. She wants 'Aelin' to show Maeve what she can do. Celaena can't. She hasn't trained in over 10 years, and when she did train, she had no control. Plus, she's terrified of it. Maeve refuses to share information until Aelin proves herself, and she leaves one of her own, Rowan, to train Celaena.
Rowan and Celaena are both broken and empty, living day to day and expecting the worst for themselves. They both feel as if they deserve every evil and terrible thing that happens to them. But as they train, they learn to trust each other, rebuilding the other into a stronger, stable person. They form a special bond. Celaena also learns to control her power, a great and powerful power of fire. She learns to embrace her powers instead of fearing them, and she becomes a force that no one can stand against. Celaena faces her terrible past, a past filled with the loss of her parents and other loved one, and she comes out stronger in the end. She comes out of it knowing she hide as Celaena anymore. She is Aelin Galanthynius, and she must return to save her people. She frees Rowan from his blood oath to Maeve, and he immediately swears a blood oath to her. She talks with Maeve about the Wyrdstones but doesn't learn too much more. She leaves Wendlyn for Rifthold, figuring out where one of the Wyrdstones is hidden. She leaves Rowan behind but is sad to be leaving him, and he her. But right now, that's how it needs to be.
Chaol is still trying to figure out what to do after learning who Celaena is and that Dorian has magic. He's lost and confused and doesn't know what side to stand on. He connects, unexpectedly, with Aedion Ashryver, one of the King's generals and Aelin's cousin. Aedion is one of the King's greatest generals, but he secretly with working with the rebels to find a way to overthrow the King. Chaol is sucked into this, revealing his secrets about Aelin/Celaena to Aedion. They work together to discover the source of the King's power as well as how the King stopped magic 10 years ago. In the end, Aedion is captured and revealed as a traitor, and Chaol is forced to flee, leaving behind all he's worked so hard for.
Dorian is struggling with his magic. He's terrified that someone will notice or see and he will be killed for it. Then he meets Sorscha, a young, beautiful healer in the castle. She finds out his secret bu promises to keep it, even helping him. They fall in love, sharing stolen moments together. Dorian is estranged from Chaol after he sent Celaena away to Wendlyn, but he learns to understand when Dorian fears for Sorscha's life. Sorscha refuses to leave Dorian. In the end, Sorscha is also revealed as a traitor and meets a terrible end. Dorian, in his grief, releases his magic to the pleasure of the King. The King, hoping his son had magic, locks Dorian up to use when he wants.
Manon is a new, fantastic character that adds a great dimension to the story. She is an Iron witch of the Blackbeak clan. All the Iron witches are called to the Ferian Gap where there is a present from the King of Adarlan. He has wyverns, and he wants the witches to ride them, train them, and prepare for battle to fight for him. There is a great deal of fighting between the clans, but they are all dark and born without souls or hearts. Except Manon learns that maybe that's not the case. She forms a deep bond with her wyvern, Abraxos, and together they win the War Games, securing her spot at Wing Leader for the King's wyvern army. With the rest of her clan, they are to head to another place and prepare for war.
What I liked: All the different points of view and storylines blended so well together. They drew you in, making you yearn to know more. They also revealed things that tied them nicely together. The action is faster paced, and the book is a must read! Out of the first three, this one is probably my favorite because so much happens. There's also backstory, and I love a good backstory!
Heir of Fire is a great book for middle school boys and girls and young adults. Once you start, you just can't put it down!
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