Heir of Fire Review: Some Readers' Favorite Book in the Series

Is Heir of Fire the best book in the Throne of Glass series? Here's a breakdown of the reception to Sarah J. Maas's third installment — the depth, the new characters, and why some readers rank it above Crown of Midnight.

8/19/20263 min read

Heir of Fire Review: Some Readers' Favorite Book in the Series

Following Crown of Midnight, this third installment takes the series somewhere reviewers describe as deeper and more emotionally demanding. Here's a breakdown of what readers consistently say about it.

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Quick Answer

Reception is extremely positive, with more than one reviewer naming this their favorite book in the series so far — even above the widely beloved Crown of Midnight. Reviewers consistently praise the depth of character development here, while noting the pacing runs notably slower, especially in the first third.

What It's About

Sent away from Adarlan for her own safety, Celaena finds herself pulled into the world of the Fae, sent to master a heritage and magic she's spent a decade suppressing. Meanwhile, back in Adarlan, Chaol and Dorian each face their own escalating crises — Chaol questioning everything he's been trained to believe, and Dorian hiding dangerous secrets from his father the king. A new POV introduces Manon Blackbeak, a witch whose story unexpectedly becomes one of the book's standout threads.

What Reviewers Consistently Praise

Unparalleled character depth, especially for Celaena. Reviewers describe this installment as a genuine reconstruction of who Celaena is, digging into her lowest emotional points with what more than one reviewer called startlingly accurate depictions of depression and grief. Flashbacks to her childhood recontextualize traits some readers initially found off-putting in book one, several reviewers noting they take back earlier criticisms once this backstory is revealed.

Manon Blackbeak's storyline as an unexpected favorite. Multiple reviewers were surprised by how much they ended up caring about a character introduced as a witch antagonist — her arc of slowly developing honor and compassion, especially through her bond with her wyvern Abraxos, is repeatedly singled out as one of the book's best surprises.

A meaningful, emotional redemption arc. Reviewers describe genuinely tearing up at key emotional beats, particularly around revelations of Celaena's past and her journey toward reclaiming her sense of self.

A justified de-emphasis on romance. Several reviewers directly address criticism from other readers about reduced romantic content, arguing that the choice fits exactly where Celaena is emotionally at this point in the story — her bond with new character Rowan is described as healing and challenging rather than romantic, and reviewers appreciate that the book doesn't force a relationship that wouldn't fit her current arc.

Maas's improving craft. More than one reviewer notes the writing itself feels more meticulous with each installment, expanding in confidence and skill compared to the earlier books.

Strong multi-POV structure setting up future books. Reviewers describe this installment as a bridge of sorts — using triple POV and multiple settings to plant subplots that will clearly pay off later in the series, functioning almost as a staging book for what's coming.

Compelling new and returning characters. Aedion's introduction is highlighted as intriguing, particularly his loyalty and the tension of playing a double role within the king's court.

What Reviewers Note as Divisive

Slower pacing, especially early on. Multiple reviewers acknowledge the first third of the book moves noticeably slower than earlier installments, though most describe this as enriching the emotional weight of the story rather than dragging.

Chaol's character becoming less engaging for some. At least one reviewer who previously rooted for Chaol found themselves genuinely bored with him in this installment, even while appreciating the added moral complexity to his arc.

Real disagreement over which book is the series' best so far. Reviewers are split — some rank Crown of Midnight as their favorite for its thriller-like momentum, while others (including at least one reviewer who rated this five stars specifically as their top pick) argue Heir of Fire's depth surpasses it.

What to Know Before You Start

Read Crown of Midnight first — this continues directly from its events.

The romance takes a backseat in this installment. If you loved the earlier books' romantic tension specifically, know this book focuses elsewhere — reviewers argue this is intentional and fitting, not a lesser book for it.

Pacing is slower, particularly in the first third. Go in prepared for a more emotionally weighted, character-focused read rather than constant fast-paced action throughout.

Who This Seems Right For

  • Readers who want real depth and emotional weight over constant plot momentum

  • Anyone who wants their heroine's growth to include genuine, difficult lows before redemption

  • Fans of morally complex new characters — Manon's arc in particular wins over even skeptical readers

Amazon link: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Final Thoughts

Based on strong reviewer consensus, Heir of Fire earns a devoted following of readers who consider it the series' best entry so far, thanks to its unflinching character depth and surprising new arcs like Manon's. Its slower pace and reduced romance won't work for every reader, but for those willing to sit with Celaena's hardest chapter yet, reviewers suggest the payoff is significant.