Third in the Throne of Glass series, Heir of Fire holds its own and continues to deepen what’s already become a darkly addictive saga. This installment introduces the mountainous land of Wendlyn and Manaan, cracking open the heart of Aelin’s backstory in a way that makes the weight of her grief and rage feel almost physical. There’s a lot of growth here—not just for Aelin, but for characters we’ve only scratched the surface of before, like Kayle and Rowan. Watching them develop layers and complexity adds needed texture to the ensemble.

Sarah J. Maas still leans heavily on her signature style: emotional weight paired with sweeping world-building and devastating character arcs. It’s nothing revolutionary at this point, but it’s consistent—and sometimes that consistency is exactly what you want.

The emotional turmoil remains a core part of the ride. It doesn’t hold back from heartbreak or rawness, and I appreciated that. Even as the plot expands into wider lore and politics, it never loses sight of the characters at its core.

It’s not a perfect book, and it’s not my favorite of the series (yet), but it’s solid. Reliable. And that’s why it’s a 4/5 for me. It hits its marks, and I’m excited to see what burns next.