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The Heir #1
The Heir
Every touch from him makes me feel alive—he awoke something inside of me, and it sings.
When Emma’s parents die right before her eyes in a horrific car accident, the pain and emptiness she experiences is suffocating. Emma doesn’t remember having any feelings or emotions before the accident. The constant misery of living with the emptiness seems too much for her to bear. When a boy moves in across the street during the summer before her junior year of high school, things seem different with him. When she is around him, or when he simply touches her, Emma's pain is lifted. Her sorrow and misery are gone, and her soul seems to literally sing. Suddenly, living doesn't seem as difficult anymore—and, for the first time in as long as she can remember, she feels alive.
As Emma learns the truth behind her parents’ deaths, she realizes that everything she has ever known about herself, the world, and even the universe has all been a lie. As secrets from her parents’ past come to hunt her down, and now that she actually wants to live, will Emma have the strength to do so?
When you have lost your heart, sometimes, you find your soul.
When Emma’s parents die right before her eyes in a horrific car accident, the pain and emptiness she experiences is suffocating. Emma doesn’t remember having any feelings or emotions before the accident. The constant misery of living with the emptiness seems too much for her to bear. When a boy moves in across the street during the summer before her junior year of high school, things seem different with him. When she is around him, or when he simply touches her, Emma's pain is lifted. Her sorrow and misery are gone, and her soul seems to literally sing. Suddenly, living doesn't seem as difficult anymore—and, for the first time in as long as she can remember, she feels alive.
As Emma learns the truth behind her parents’ deaths, she realizes that everything she has ever known about herself, the world, and even the universe has all been a lie. As secrets from her parents’ past come to hunt her down, and now that she actually wants to live, will Emma have the strength to do so?
When you have lost your heart, sometimes, you find your soul.
392 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2019
42 people are currently reading
492 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 22, 2025
3.25⭐️ This book, if I can sum it up in a couple of words, they would be a sweet and cozy fantasy. Meant mostly for a much younger audience than myself.
It felt a bit juvenile for my taste. For obvious reasons. These kids are juniors in high school. 16-17 years old. Very much high school writing. And not just because these kids are in high school. But because it felt like someone from high school wrote it. Very surface level. With that said, kids in high school and even middle school would probably eat this story up.
I think I needed a dual POV. Maybe even multiple with Ryker’s POV as well. Being inside Emma’s head was not my favorite. There wasn’t a lot of conversation or dialogue on page for the first half of the book. Like I said, you are mostly reading Emma’s internal monologue. And seriously, most of this book was Emma internally thinking about how hot Shad was.
Emma questioning nothing for over 200 pages was so annoying. She even heard people talking to her in her head and made no comments about it. And her friends and family keeping things a secret for that long too was so frustrating. Communicate! Issues could have been solved much earlier.
I am also not on board with instalove when people are adults, but these characters are teenagers, so they get a free pass. With that, I did like a few things about this book. I liked the idea of hearing melodies within your soul. Definitely a unique aspect in a fantasy. Emma obviously had many reasons to be so deep in grief, but I liked how she was slowly growing out of that grief. She had good character growth. Shad’s love confession was also very sweet. That ending had my heart breaking for them.
Now that I’ve said all of those things, it really isn’t a bad book. I think the characters were good, the plot had promise, there are good things. I think I kind of checked out by the time the plot started to develop. And it definitely was written for a much younger audience than myself. I am interested to see how the rest of this series goes though.
*Thank you to Rachel Parker, of Closed Door Romance, and Kayla Eshbaugh for the complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read if you enjoy:
- Insta-connection
- Single POV (FMC)
- Friends to lovers
- Unique fantasy world
- Soft and cozy Twilight
- Soft love triangle
- Soul mates
- Portal fantasy
Content 💋:
- Kisses only
- No language
It felt a bit juvenile for my taste. For obvious reasons. These kids are juniors in high school. 16-17 years old. Very much high school writing. And not just because these kids are in high school. But because it felt like someone from high school wrote it. Very surface level. With that said, kids in high school and even middle school would probably eat this story up.
I think I needed a dual POV. Maybe even multiple with Ryker’s POV as well. Being inside Emma’s head was not my favorite. There wasn’t a lot of conversation or dialogue on page for the first half of the book. Like I said, you are mostly reading Emma’s internal monologue. And seriously, most of this book was Emma internally thinking about how hot Shad was.
Emma questioning nothing for over 200 pages was so annoying. She even heard people talking to her in her head and made no comments about it. And her friends and family keeping things a secret for that long too was so frustrating. Communicate! Issues could have been solved much earlier.
I am also not on board with instalove when people are adults, but these characters are teenagers, so they get a free pass. With that, I did like a few things about this book. I liked the idea of hearing melodies within your soul. Definitely a unique aspect in a fantasy. Emma obviously had many reasons to be so deep in grief, but I liked how she was slowly growing out of that grief. She had good character growth. Shad’s love confession was also very sweet. That ending had my heart breaking for them.
Now that I’ve said all of those things, it really isn’t a bad book. I think the characters were good, the plot had promise, there are good things. I think I kind of checked out by the time the plot started to develop. And it definitely was written for a much younger audience than myself. I am interested to see how the rest of this series goes though.
*Thank you to Rachel Parker, of Closed Door Romance, and Kayla Eshbaugh for the complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read if you enjoy:
- Insta-connection
- Single POV (FMC)
- Friends to lovers
- Unique fantasy world
- Soft and cozy Twilight
- Soft love triangle
- Soul mates
- Portal fantasy
Content 💋:
- Kisses only
- No language
November 9, 2019
Souls Melody by Eshbaugh Kayla
This book was entertaining and it took turns I did not see coming. Disclosing the genre could give things away. So all I'll say is that this book is about a girl named Emma who is dealing with grief. As she is trying to heal, some things about her history start to unravel. The story was very creative and a page turner. Looking forward to reading more by this author and this series!
.
This book is getting a new cover and title, if you want a first edition get it soon!
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Book content : some kissing and some fighting
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Book synopsis
"When Emma’s parents die right before her eyes in a horrific car accident, the pain and emptiness she experiences is suffocating. Emma doesn’t remember having any feelings or emotions before the accident. The constant misery of living with the emptiness seems too much for her to bear. When a boy moves in across the street during the summer before her junior year of high school, things seem different with him. When she is around him, or when he simply touches her, Emma's pain is lifted. Her sorrow and misery are gone, and her soul seems to literally sing. Suddenly, living doesn't seem as difficult anymore—and, for the first time in as long as she can remember, she feels alive."
This book was entertaining and it took turns I did not see coming. Disclosing the genre could give things away. So all I'll say is that this book is about a girl named Emma who is dealing with grief. As she is trying to heal, some things about her history start to unravel. The story was very creative and a page turner. Looking forward to reading more by this author and this series!
.
This book is getting a new cover and title, if you want a first edition get it soon!
.
Book content : some kissing and some fighting
.
Book synopsis
"When Emma’s parents die right before her eyes in a horrific car accident, the pain and emptiness she experiences is suffocating. Emma doesn’t remember having any feelings or emotions before the accident. The constant misery of living with the emptiness seems too much for her to bear. When a boy moves in across the street during the summer before her junior year of high school, things seem different with him. When she is around him, or when he simply touches her, Emma's pain is lifted. Her sorrow and misery are gone, and her soul seems to literally sing. Suddenly, living doesn't seem as difficult anymore—and, for the first time in as long as she can remember, she feels alive."
January 20, 2021
My full review can be read here: bit.ly/3qBGH0F
𝘏𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴.
Wow. Just WOW. This book was jam-packed with SO many emotions, and I felt everything that the characters felt! Fantasy books aren't my usual genre, I've just never been able to enjoy them like others do—BUT, that wasn't the case with this story. It was a really good combo of fantasy andcontemporary, as well as romance...OF COURSE.
Speaking of romance, the book had LOTS of swoony, heartfelt moments. Andddd my biggest struggle while reading about all the romance...was my feelings for Ryker, lol. BECAUSE HE'S AMAZING. I do like Shad and Emma as a possible couple, but my heartttttt wants Ryker and Emma. Either way though, I'm trying to prepare myself. 😬 🤞
Now, I'm not really a fan of series that follow one person and their journey (am I weird? probably)...however, I am VERY excited to read the other books. Why? Well, because I'm dying to know what happens next—DUH! Being that it is part of a series, the books DOES end with a cliffhanger...but no worries! The second books is already out 😉 and the third one is currently being written! PLUS, there's a bonus novella available (which is told from Ryker's POV *squealsssss*) and another bonus novella is coming out soon! (I'm not saying whose POV it's from though, because SPOILERS.)
As far as content goes: No language! The attraction between Emma and Shad was veryyyyy strong and they definitely had some passionate moments, but there was nothing that I would deem as inappropriate. Grief, anxiety, depression, and anger are some of the major feelings that are experienced and talked about. I personally wasn't triggered by any of this, but other readers might be...so please take that into consideration. There was a darker side to the souls/melodies concept, but nothing too dark.
Sooooo, this was a very sweet coming-of-age story with some definite intense parts; totally perfect for YA fantasy fans who want all the romance, excitement, and magical elements without having to worry about it being overbearing or inappropriate. 😊
𝘏𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴.
Wow. Just WOW. This book was jam-packed with SO many emotions, and I felt everything that the characters felt! Fantasy books aren't my usual genre, I've just never been able to enjoy them like others do—BUT, that wasn't the case with this story. It was a really good combo of fantasy andcontemporary, as well as romance...OF COURSE.
Speaking of romance, the book had LOTS of swoony, heartfelt moments. Andddd my biggest struggle while reading about all the romance...was my feelings for Ryker, lol. BECAUSE HE'S AMAZING. I do like Shad and Emma as a possible couple, but my heartttttt wants Ryker and Emma. Either way though, I'm trying to prepare myself. 😬 🤞
Now, I'm not really a fan of series that follow one person and their journey (am I weird? probably)...however, I am VERY excited to read the other books. Why? Well, because I'm dying to know what happens next—DUH! Being that it is part of a series, the books DOES end with a cliffhanger...but no worries! The second books is already out 😉 and the third one is currently being written! PLUS, there's a bonus novella available (which is told from Ryker's POV *squealsssss*) and another bonus novella is coming out soon! (I'm not saying whose POV it's from though, because SPOILERS.)
As far as content goes: No language! The attraction between Emma and Shad was veryyyyy strong and they definitely had some passionate moments, but there was nothing that I would deem as inappropriate. Grief, anxiety, depression, and anger are some of the major feelings that are experienced and talked about. I personally wasn't triggered by any of this, but other readers might be...so please take that into consideration. There was a darker side to the souls/melodies concept, but nothing too dark.
Sooooo, this was a very sweet coming-of-age story with some definite intense parts; totally perfect for YA fantasy fans who want all the romance, excitement, and magical elements without having to worry about it being overbearing or inappropriate. 😊
April 25, 2025
WOW!!
This brought me back to some good memories from when I was a teenager, but also so grateful to have moved on. I can’t wait until I get to read the next book!! The second half of the book was above what I expected!! I almost want to read the first edition of this book to see the differences. This edition is sooooo good!!
I Need the second book in my life!
This brought me back to some good memories from when I was a teenager, but also so grateful to have moved on. I can’t wait until I get to read the next book!! The second half of the book was above what I expected!! I almost want to read the first edition of this book to see the differences. This edition is sooooo good!!
I Need the second book in my life!
April 18, 2025
Good! 3.5 ⭐⭐⭐✨
I liked it! Great storyline, I loved the "love at first sight" but, you don't usually see that in books anymore as it's too cliché.
Not the best written book ever and some things did not make any sense, but it was a unique and interesting story. Cute romance.
Cute cover art as well.
I liked it! Great storyline, I loved the "love at first sight" but, you don't usually see that in books anymore as it's too cliché.
Not the best written book ever and some things did not make any sense, but it was a unique and interesting story. Cute romance.
Cute cover art as well.
April 26, 2025
Told from a single POV through Emma, The Heir takes us into her emotional journey of grief after losing her parents at a young age. You feel every ounce of her pain as she questions everything about her life. The raw, palpable emotions were so real, and I could practically feel the weight of her loss. As strange things start happening, Emma feels like something is off, but no one’s telling her anything, leaving her confused and in the dark.
Shad is the perfect balance for Emma. Patient, kind, and understanding, he’s there for her through the emotional rollercoaster of grief, love, and self-discovery. Their connection is undeniable—like two souls woven together by a beautiful melody that only they can hear. This bond helps Emma slowly begin to heal the hole left by her parents' absence, and their relationship is truly heartwarming.
The story blends portal fantasy, fairytale vibes, and subtle magic. It starts in our world and slowly unfolds into something much bigger, full of secrets Emma never expected. While she doesn’t want to be a princess or save a magical land, fate has other plans. She just wants to heal, live a normal life, and maybe have her first real kiss.
This was a solid 4.5-star read for me, and I can’t wait to see where Emma and Shad’s journey goes next. If you love fantasy, first love, and emotional growth, The Heir is definitely a must-read.
This is the first book in a three-part series, and I’m already dying to dive into book two, The Shattered Heir.
Shad is the perfect balance for Emma. Patient, kind, and understanding, he’s there for her through the emotional rollercoaster of grief, love, and self-discovery. Their connection is undeniable—like two souls woven together by a beautiful melody that only they can hear. This bond helps Emma slowly begin to heal the hole left by her parents' absence, and their relationship is truly heartwarming.
The story blends portal fantasy, fairytale vibes, and subtle magic. It starts in our world and slowly unfolds into something much bigger, full of secrets Emma never expected. While she doesn’t want to be a princess or save a magical land, fate has other plans. She just wants to heal, live a normal life, and maybe have her first real kiss.
This was a solid 4.5-star read for me, and I can’t wait to see where Emma and Shad’s journey goes next. If you love fantasy, first love, and emotional growth, The Heir is definitely a must-read.
This is the first book in a three-part series, and I’m already dying to dive into book two, The Shattered Heir.
April 16, 2025
Language 🤐: None ( I did think it used hell in reference to the actual place)
Spice ❤️🔥: Longer kiss not descriptive
⚠️ Car Crash, not overly descriptive, semi stalking vibe)⚠️
Micro Tropes/Tropes
- First love
- Single POV
- Soul Mates
- Soft love Triangle
- Portal Fantasy
- Highschool
Emma is your everyday modern high school student but not really at all. After her parents passed away in a tragic what she thought was a normal life starts coming into questions with an attractive new neighbor moving in across the street who seems to spark her heart back to life after she has felt unable to live after the loss of her parents. Her best friend is acting strange along with her aunt so what is going on? Follow along as Emma discovers more about who she truly is along with who this new neighbor is who makes her feel alive again.
I found the characters delightful and the cliffhanger has made me feel the need to continue this story!
My rating was 3.75 rounded up to 4 for Goodreads. I think high school romances just aren't for me Emma is 16 if I remember correctly and you could definitely tell that. I felt like Shad's handsomeness was described a lot but I do think that's probably how I thought as a 16 year old haha I did find it a bit slow to start but the ending really picked up and. the next books blurb seems very intriguing so I plan on finishing the series.
Thanks so much to the Author for giving me the ARC. All opinions are my own!
Spice ❤️🔥: Longer kiss not descriptive
⚠️ Car Crash, not overly descriptive, semi stalking vibe)⚠️
Micro Tropes/Tropes
- First love
- Single POV
- Soul Mates
- Soft love Triangle
- Portal Fantasy
- Highschool
Emma is your everyday modern high school student but not really at all. After her parents passed away in a tragic what she thought was a normal life starts coming into questions with an attractive new neighbor moving in across the street who seems to spark her heart back to life after she has felt unable to live after the loss of her parents. Her best friend is acting strange along with her aunt so what is going on? Follow along as Emma discovers more about who she truly is along with who this new neighbor is who makes her feel alive again.
I found the characters delightful and the cliffhanger has made me feel the need to continue this story!
My rating was 3.75 rounded up to 4 for Goodreads. I think high school romances just aren't for me Emma is 16 if I remember correctly and you could definitely tell that. I felt like Shad's handsomeness was described a lot but I do think that's probably how I thought as a 16 year old haha I did find it a bit slow to start but the ending really picked up and. the next books blurb seems very intriguing so I plan on finishing the series.
Thanks so much to the Author for giving me the ARC. All opinions are my own!
April 30, 2025
This Instant connection, slow burn story really got me invested in the characters and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
When Shad moves in across the street from Emma, she feels lighter for the first time since her parents passing. Shad seems different from other boys. With her best friend acting weird she doesn’t have someone to talk to about her feelings and memories. With those around her holding secrets, who can Emma trust?
Highlights:
The roses… 🌹
The movie date
Homecoming
Ryker!!!!
I love Emma for being honest and sweet. I love how resilient she is. I love her imagination (vampires!).
I love Shad for how soothing and gentle he is. I love how he is honorable and doesn’t let attention go to his head.
“I want to know the depths of your heart and recognize the rhythm of its beating—I want it to become my own. I want to know the beauty of your soul, the deep, dark parts, and the hard parts-the good and the bad, Emma-I want to know them all. I want to be the one who gets to kiss you every single day just because I can, because I want to, and because you want me to. I want to be yours.”
When Shad moves in across the street from Emma, she feels lighter for the first time since her parents passing. Shad seems different from other boys. With her best friend acting weird she doesn’t have someone to talk to about her feelings and memories. With those around her holding secrets, who can Emma trust?
Highlights:
The roses… 🌹
The movie date
Homecoming
Ryker!!!!
I love Emma for being honest and sweet. I love how resilient she is. I love her imagination (vampires!).
I love Shad for how soothing and gentle he is. I love how he is honorable and doesn’t let attention go to his head.
“I want to know the depths of your heart and recognize the rhythm of its beating—I want it to become my own. I want to know the beauty of your soul, the deep, dark parts, and the hard parts-the good and the bad, Emma-I want to know them all. I want to be the one who gets to kiss you every single day just because I can, because I want to, and because you want me to. I want to be yours.”
October 13, 2021
I don't read that many young adult books but this one has to be one of my favourites , it takes you on a journey, it is the perfect escape.
It is a great contemporary romance read ,it puts you on a rollercoaster of emotions and even though the main character is 16 there is a lot that I could relate too with her. For someone so young Emma goes through a lot of pain , more than anyone should have to go through . But when she meets the new boy she finds that he takes some of the pain away even with just a simple touch.
The characters are brilliantly created and described so that you can very easily picture them as you are reading it, the setting is also described so that it feels like you are there with them. The only thing I could always get my head around was the way the characters were talking sometimes , some of the things they said isn't necessarily what I'd of expected but this could just be because kids grow up quickly now ! The storyline is clear and easy to follow , overall a really good young adult book!
It is a great contemporary romance read ,it puts you on a rollercoaster of emotions and even though the main character is 16 there is a lot that I could relate too with her. For someone so young Emma goes through a lot of pain , more than anyone should have to go through . But when she meets the new boy she finds that he takes some of the pain away even with just a simple touch.
The characters are brilliantly created and described so that you can very easily picture them as you are reading it, the setting is also described so that it feels like you are there with them. The only thing I could always get my head around was the way the characters were talking sometimes , some of the things they said isn't necessarily what I'd of expected but this could just be because kids grow up quickly now ! The storyline is clear and easy to follow , overall a really good young adult book!
May 4, 2025
I loved the uniqueness of this book! I don't usually read too many YA geared books but this one is a must read!
The depth of the characters who learned to explore their faults and grow in what is just the first of a series!
I loved Emma and Shad's characters and the timing of comedic relief was perfect.
This is a clean, no language, zero spice, romance novel that combines fantasy and contemporary.
This book is totally a five star read for me!
Highly recommend if you want something unique, beautiful, and fast paced! I would also say this is definitely appropriate for teens to read as well!
The depth of the characters who learned to explore their faults and grow in what is just the first of a series!
I loved Emma and Shad's characters and the timing of comedic relief was perfect.
This is a clean, no language, zero spice, romance novel that combines fantasy and contemporary.
This book is totally a five star read for me!
Highly recommend if you want something unique, beautiful, and fast paced! I would also say this is definitely appropriate for teens to read as well!
October 27, 2023
This story takes place in the modern present time from the point of view of a teenage girl who finds herself devastated by her parent’s death and a revelation that she belongs to a world where people can sense a soul sing. Emma is unsure of herself, scared and extremely sad but matures along the series to become a strong fighter. Magic, lovable characters, first romance and adventure make this story a wonderful one.
March 27, 2025
I need to admit I was a bit sceptical about this book since I usually don't like when fantasy get mixed with "modern real world" and portals between worlds. But I really like Kaylas writing and I adore the world of Terra, so I gave it a try, and I am happy I did. It was well written and she made the concept work. I found the characters interesting and this book made me warm up to this kind of concept in fantasy/fairytale books
April 27, 2024
lavender rose
My favorite color is any Shade of purple. And I’ve always loved the lavender rose, but I will never see a lavender rose the same way again. A slow start, but the end…. I felt everything. I cried and screamed with the heroine. I loved and felt the loss right along with her. But I hope as she hates. I hope God brings their souls together once again.
My favorite color is any Shade of purple. And I’ve always loved the lavender rose, but I will never see a lavender rose the same way again. A slow start, but the end…. I felt everything. I cried and screamed with the heroine. I loved and felt the loss right along with her. But I hope as she hates. I hope God brings their souls together once again.
April 13, 2025
A beautiful story
I loved this story!!!!! Words can not describe how much I loved this story!!!! Shad is such an amazing character, and now one of my favorite characters of all time!!!!! Kayla Eshbaugh has done it again, ripped my heart apart, put it back together, and ripped it back apart again. Definitely worth the read!!!!
I loved this story!!!!! Words can not describe how much I loved this story!!!! Shad is such an amazing character, and now one of my favorite characters of all time!!!!! Kayla Eshbaugh has done it again, ripped my heart apart, put it back together, and ripped it back apart again. Definitely worth the read!!!!
April 24, 2025
I love this book SO much!!!
The fact that is only the first book in the series and the rest are not out yet 😩😩 I am on the edge of my seat waiting to read more🫶🏼 I sat down to start reading and about 3.5 hours later I realized I had read the entire book in one sitting🤯
🌹 Soul Mates
🌹Portal Fantasy
🌹First Love
🌹Young Adult
🌹So Much Tension
🌹He Falls First
The fact that is only the first book in the series and the rest are not out yet 😩😩 I am on the edge of my seat waiting to read more🫶🏼 I sat down to start reading and about 3.5 hours later I realized I had read the entire book in one sitting🤯
🌹 Soul Mates
🌹Portal Fantasy
🌹First Love
🌹Young Adult
🌹So Much Tension
🌹He Falls First
February 23, 2025
Another clean fantasy romance that left me wanting more of this author. Her books have become a must put on my list to get. If you want a clean romance that is also a fantasy then i say yes check this book out and her other books as well because i am grabbing more and more of her books.
October 24, 2024
Such a fun book! No spice. The characters have some depth and the story is intriguing!
Read
September 9, 2025DNF
October 22, 2025
I love this book SO much!!!
The fact that is only the first book in the series and the rest are not out yet
The fact that is only the first book in the series and the rest are not out yet
Read
January 2, 2026DNF at chapter 10, couldn’t get into it
May 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. I’m not usually a fantasy reader, I always gravitate towards romance. This dropped into my lap for a book tour and I was ready for the challenge. I really loved it. I loved the YA feel of the story. Young love, so innocent so sweet. Finding out who you are while being infatuated with someone else. I loved Emma’s character. She was real, raw, and remained herself throughout the book. Shad… ahhh Shad. So sweet, so protective (highly attractive) and so into his feelings for Emma. Once he finally reveals all the things to her… it just gets even better!
This is a must read if you love fantasy romance, YA romance, closed door & sweet kisses. It ended on a cliff hanger so now I’m ready to start book 2! 😍😍
This is a must read if you love fantasy romance, YA romance, closed door & sweet kisses. It ended on a cliff hanger so now I’m ready to start book 2! 😍😍
October 25, 2024
Reader’s Notes:
– this is the first of a series & should be read in order
-this series is connected to The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles series & occurs hundreds of years after it; though you don’t have to read any of the books to enjoy this series, it may be a good idea to read them to see connections as you read (plus books like Sea’s Secret specifically will give more insight into soul melodies as well as other things related to the land of Terra)
– this is told from Emma’s point of view
-it is mentioned that Emma’s parents passed in a car crash 7 months prior
-Emma has nightmares about the crash
-there are mentions of dripping blood (crash nightmare/memory) & blood and cuts (as a result of torture – torture not seen on page, just the effects from it having happened)
Review:
Though this was more of a 4.5 star read for me (a little bit too much teenaged angst for me), I loved seeing the connections between The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles & different things mentioned in this story! I loved seeing mentions of Kayla Eshbaugh’s fairytales and seeing the prologue with some well known character’s that we’ve seen through that series. I’m curious to see what else will connect the two beyond these later on in the series. 👀 I loved that Shad gave Emma flowers and that it was explained which flower meant what in terms of their relationship. I loved seeing Emma navigate the new to her school dynamic she had to work with with the addition of new students. I loved seeing Ryker clearly care for Emma and want to protect her with everything that already came and the rest of what was coming her way.
I’m very curious as to what has happened in Terra between what I know from The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles & when people started leaving Terra to come to Earth that caused people to feel the need to leave. And I can’t wait to find out what Emma’s going to do to try and fix what happened at the end of this book!
Summary:
Emma is ready to move forward in her life in an effort to get others & herself to believe that she is fine after the accident that took her parents from her. She just wants to be a normal girl doing things that teenagers normally do for once. Though it seems silly to her at first due to only having her best & only friend Ryker at the start of junior year, but new things in town end up surprising her. And it all starts with a cute new neighbor that Emma can’t get out of her head…
As things are looking up and better than ever, Emma stumbles upon a secret that was kept from her her whole life. She isn’t a normal girl & never will be, because she isn’t even from earth. In another realm called Terra, Emma is a fated heir to a kingdom and with her parents’ passing she has been thrust deep into danger. The fate foretold for her was one as a savior for all of Terra, but not everyone wants to be saved…
– this is the first of a series & should be read in order
-this series is connected to The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles series & occurs hundreds of years after it; though you don’t have to read any of the books to enjoy this series, it may be a good idea to read them to see connections as you read (plus books like Sea’s Secret specifically will give more insight into soul melodies as well as other things related to the land of Terra)
– this is told from Emma’s point of view
-it is mentioned that Emma’s parents passed in a car crash 7 months prior
-Emma has nightmares about the crash
-there are mentions of dripping blood (crash nightmare/memory) & blood and cuts (as a result of torture – torture not seen on page, just the effects from it having happened)
Review:
Though this was more of a 4.5 star read for me (a little bit too much teenaged angst for me), I loved seeing the connections between The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles & different things mentioned in this story! I loved seeing mentions of Kayla Eshbaugh’s fairytales and seeing the prologue with some well known character’s that we’ve seen through that series. I’m curious to see what else will connect the two beyond these later on in the series. 👀 I loved that Shad gave Emma flowers and that it was explained which flower meant what in terms of their relationship. I loved seeing Emma navigate the new to her school dynamic she had to work with with the addition of new students. I loved seeing Ryker clearly care for Emma and want to protect her with everything that already came and the rest of what was coming her way.
I’m very curious as to what has happened in Terra between what I know from The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles & when people started leaving Terra to come to Earth that caused people to feel the need to leave. And I can’t wait to find out what Emma’s going to do to try and fix what happened at the end of this book!
Summary:
Emma is ready to move forward in her life in an effort to get others & herself to believe that she is fine after the accident that took her parents from her. She just wants to be a normal girl doing things that teenagers normally do for once. Though it seems silly to her at first due to only having her best & only friend Ryker at the start of junior year, but new things in town end up surprising her. And it all starts with a cute new neighbor that Emma can’t get out of her head…
As things are looking up and better than ever, Emma stumbles upon a secret that was kept from her her whole life. She isn’t a normal girl & never will be, because she isn’t even from earth. In another realm called Terra, Emma is a fated heir to a kingdom and with her parents’ passing she has been thrust deep into danger. The fate foretold for her was one as a savior for all of Terra, but not everyone wants to be saved…
May 5, 2025
This was such a fun read. It gave me a few doses of nostalgia. It was a sweet cozy modern fantasy with a little mystery.
The characters were endearing from the start. Emma is so sweet and naive. My heart went out to her with all she had to deal with. I love how protective Ryker is over her. Shad is mysterious, adorable, and old fashioned. I love it! The whole dynamic of the friends is intriguing and keeps you reading for more.
The plot is well paced. Plenty of mystery to unravel, people to figure out, and feelings to explain. I LOVED the soul melodies. That is such a neat idea. 1000% here for it! The cliffhanger ending had me 😱😭
Overall, enjoyable read that left me ready for me. It’s geared more for teens, but still enjoyable as an adult. Giving Twilight (but make it 100xs better) vibes.
Read if you enjoy:
💫 portal fantasy
💫 modern fantasy
💫 teen coming of age
💫 soulmates
💫 hidden identity
💫 mysterious stranger
💫 healing from loss of parents
Strong language: none
Spice: none just a sweet kiss
Violence: talk of a car accident, loss of parents in accident
The characters were endearing from the start. Emma is so sweet and naive. My heart went out to her with all she had to deal with. I love how protective Ryker is over her. Shad is mysterious, adorable, and old fashioned. I love it! The whole dynamic of the friends is intriguing and keeps you reading for more.
The plot is well paced. Plenty of mystery to unravel, people to figure out, and feelings to explain. I LOVED the soul melodies. That is such a neat idea. 1000% here for it! The cliffhanger ending had me 😱😭
Overall, enjoyable read that left me ready for me. It’s geared more for teens, but still enjoyable as an adult. Giving Twilight (but make it 100xs better) vibes.
Read if you enjoy:
💫 portal fantasy
💫 modern fantasy
💫 teen coming of age
💫 soulmates
💫 hidden identity
💫 mysterious stranger
💫 healing from loss of parents
Strong language: none
Spice: none just a sweet kiss
Violence: talk of a car accident, loss of parents in accident
October 26, 2024
💜The Heir by Kayla Eshbaugh is a re-release of her first book she ever wrote; a YA Urban Portal Fantasy! This book takes place in our modern world but is connected to the world of Terra, the realm where Kayla's other books The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles takes place.
💜You don't need to have read all of her other books to enjoy this one but it would definitely help you understand the characters since we're reading about offspring from some of her fairytale characters, and there's some in world magic you'll want to understand better such as Soul Melodies which plays a significant role in this story!
💜After having read all of her other fairytales it's been very interesting seeing how they are connected to these characters, and how their world is so closely connected to ours! If you love a good portal fantasy storyline, then you'll definitely want to check out this series!
💜This book reads like a very young YA novel, Emma is a sweet and relatable fmc but is also a bit naive, though I find it to be an endearing trait that adds to her charm! This book would be best enjoyed by readers in the 16-18yr old range. I think a lot of teens would relate to her, being that she's a little socially awkward, shy, and longing for deeper friendships but struggling to navigate high school relationships. She is also dealing with some hard issues like grief & loneliness after losing both of her parents in a car crash..I'm sure there are some young readers who will relate to her struggles & feel seen.
💜I really commend Kayla for republishing her first novel because it showcases just how much she's grown as an author since this first book..Her writing style has flourished beautifully over the years & she has developed a much stronger storytelling voice since The Heir! This was a VERY enjoyable read even though it's written a little differently from her other series!
If you love tropes such as
💜YA Urban Portal Fanatasy Adventure
💜Clean, Swoony, Kisses Only Romance
💜Tasteful Twilight-Esque Love Triangle
Then you need to add this Book & Series to your TBR!
💜Thank you so much Kayla for the opportunity to arc read your book, it was lovely & I can't wait to read more!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
💜You don't need to have read all of her other books to enjoy this one but it would definitely help you understand the characters since we're reading about offspring from some of her fairytale characters, and there's some in world magic you'll want to understand better such as Soul Melodies which plays a significant role in this story!
💜After having read all of her other fairytales it's been very interesting seeing how they are connected to these characters, and how their world is so closely connected to ours! If you love a good portal fantasy storyline, then you'll definitely want to check out this series!
💜This book reads like a very young YA novel, Emma is a sweet and relatable fmc but is also a bit naive, though I find it to be an endearing trait that adds to her charm! This book would be best enjoyed by readers in the 16-18yr old range. I think a lot of teens would relate to her, being that she's a little socially awkward, shy, and longing for deeper friendships but struggling to navigate high school relationships. She is also dealing with some hard issues like grief & loneliness after losing both of her parents in a car crash..I'm sure there are some young readers who will relate to her struggles & feel seen.
💜I really commend Kayla for republishing her first novel because it showcases just how much she's grown as an author since this first book..Her writing style has flourished beautifully over the years & she has developed a much stronger storytelling voice since The Heir! This was a VERY enjoyable read even though it's written a little differently from her other series!
If you love tropes such as
💜YA Urban Portal Fanatasy Adventure
💜Clean, Swoony, Kisses Only Romance
💜Tasteful Twilight-Esque Love Triangle
Then you need to add this Book & Series to your TBR!
💜Thank you so much Kayla for the opportunity to arc read your book, it was lovely & I can't wait to read more!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
October 28, 2024
“‘Who are you?’ I wondered.
As soon as I did, my entire body was filled with one phrase—so quiet, so soft—but clearly, it was there:
‘I am yours.’” 💜
This is the first of Kayla Eshbaugh’s books that I’ve read, but I liked it a lot!! This novel was originally published five years ago, but is being rereleased with new covers and more content. Take a moment to admire this gorgeous cover art by @beanireen18 😍😍
Following her parents’ untimely deaths, all Emma can feel is misery and painful sorrow. That is, until Shad, as mysterious as he is handsome, moves in across the street. Emma is immediately drawn to him, and she hears a sweet melody in her soul whenever he is near.
With Shad and others by her side, Emma confronts questions of her origins and identity. She learns that she is an heir to a kingdom in the land of Terra, and she may be the only one who can save her people’s home.
I’ve read a lot of fantasy novels that get to the thick of it REAL quick, and it was refreshing to read this novel’s slower pacing. There was a LOT of buildup, giving Emma and the readers more and more questions until most of them were finally answered closer to the end.
And Shad 🥰 I loved his and Emma’s relationship so much; a first love that is just pure and true. 💜 I am anxious to see how it develops in the following books 👀 I was also cracked up at Emma’s constant rambling and asking herself if Shad was a vampire or fae…because she reads too much and that’s the ONLY reasonable explanation for how perfect he is 🤣
Thank you so much @kaylaeshbaughwrites for the ARC!! Now don’t mind me while I go read everything else you’ve written before Book #2 is rereleased 😂😘
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
As soon as I did, my entire body was filled with one phrase—so quiet, so soft—but clearly, it was there:
‘I am yours.’” 💜
This is the first of Kayla Eshbaugh’s books that I’ve read, but I liked it a lot!! This novel was originally published five years ago, but is being rereleased with new covers and more content. Take a moment to admire this gorgeous cover art by @beanireen18 😍😍
Following her parents’ untimely deaths, all Emma can feel is misery and painful sorrow. That is, until Shad, as mysterious as he is handsome, moves in across the street. Emma is immediately drawn to him, and she hears a sweet melody in her soul whenever he is near.
With Shad and others by her side, Emma confronts questions of her origins and identity. She learns that she is an heir to a kingdom in the land of Terra, and she may be the only one who can save her people’s home.
I’ve read a lot of fantasy novels that get to the thick of it REAL quick, and it was refreshing to read this novel’s slower pacing. There was a LOT of buildup, giving Emma and the readers more and more questions until most of them were finally answered closer to the end.
And Shad 🥰 I loved his and Emma’s relationship so much; a first love that is just pure and true. 💜 I am anxious to see how it develops in the following books 👀 I was also cracked up at Emma’s constant rambling and asking herself if Shad was a vampire or fae…because she reads too much and that’s the ONLY reasonable explanation for how perfect he is 🤣
Thank you so much @kaylaeshbaughwrites for the ARC!! Now don’t mind me while I go read everything else you’ve written before Book #2 is rereleased 😂😘
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
October 30, 2024
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is book 1 in The Heir Series and can't be read as a standalone. This book is also connected to the author's The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles Series so readers who've read that series will enjoy that, though you won't feel lost if you haven't read those books. The Heir is told through Emma's pov and is a sweet portal fantasy that YA romance readers will love.
CW: loss and grief, nightmares about an accident, and brief mentions of torture (not detailed)
Spice: kisses that are descriptive but don't get too heated
From the start, one of the things I appreciated about this book is the fact that Emma felt like an actual teenager. She could be awkward and her feelings and thoughts, especially when thinking about her parents, were raw so it was easy for my heart to go out to her. Because of what she had experienced, her heart and hopes had been battered and I liked seeing slowly come into her own as she met Shad. While he had a mysterious air about him, his attentive and thoughtful actions showed that he cared for Emma. They were so sweet together and I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other. Apart from the romance, the secondary characters, like Ryker, were interesting and the conflict kept me guessing. That cliffhanger certainly has me eager for the next book. Overall, this book gave me the same feelings that the fantasy books I read as a teenager did and I know others will feel the same way.
CW: loss and grief, nightmares about an accident, and brief mentions of torture (not detailed)
Spice: kisses that are descriptive but don't get too heated
From the start, one of the things I appreciated about this book is the fact that Emma felt like an actual teenager. She could be awkward and her feelings and thoughts, especially when thinking about her parents, were raw so it was easy for my heart to go out to her. Because of what she had experienced, her heart and hopes had been battered and I liked seeing slowly come into her own as she met Shad. While he had a mysterious air about him, his attentive and thoughtful actions showed that he cared for Emma. They were so sweet together and I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other. Apart from the romance, the secondary characters, like Ryker, were interesting and the conflict kept me guessing. That cliffhanger certainly has me eager for the next book. Overall, this book gave me the same feelings that the fantasy books I read as a teenager did and I know others will feel the same way.
November 2, 2024
💜BOOK REVIEW💜
The Heir is a portal fantasy by @kaylaeshbaughwrites and is connected (but not part of) The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles). This is like the heirs of the characters from the Cursed Kingdom Chronicles, but way in the future (in modern day world on earth like us).
I hadn’t read portal fantasy before so I wasn’t sure what to expect but this reminded me a lot of the TV show Once Upon a Time in concept, but with its unique own storyline and characters!🥰
While I do still like her other series better, this one isn’t bad by any means. As in, I’d give this one 4.5 stars and the other one is 5 stars! I feel though the difference in score isn’t quality, but rather preference. I could see some liking this BETTER, it would just depend on your taste.✨
For me, I saw some parallels to the Christian faith in this fantasy. I don’t know if it was intentional or wasn’t, but as a Christian, I thought it was a creative way to portray it (and possibly even expand its genre/ making this a Christian fantasy book, too).💜
Overall, I rate this:
🌟🌟🌟🌟.💫 (4.5) Stars
The Heir is a portal fantasy by @kaylaeshbaughwrites and is connected (but not part of) The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles). This is like the heirs of the characters from the Cursed Kingdom Chronicles, but way in the future (in modern day world on earth like us).
I hadn’t read portal fantasy before so I wasn’t sure what to expect but this reminded me a lot of the TV show Once Upon a Time in concept, but with its unique own storyline and characters!🥰
While I do still like her other series better, this one isn’t bad by any means. As in, I’d give this one 4.5 stars and the other one is 5 stars! I feel though the difference in score isn’t quality, but rather preference. I could see some liking this BETTER, it would just depend on your taste.✨
For me, I saw some parallels to the Christian faith in this fantasy. I don’t know if it was intentional or wasn’t, but as a Christian, I thought it was a creative way to portray it (and possibly even expand its genre/ making this a Christian fantasy book, too).💜
Overall, I rate this:
🌟🌟🌟🌟.💫 (4.5) Stars
November 10, 2024
I loved this book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this wonderful book down! I will be reading the next book in this wonderful series!
October 15, 2024
"You are the fire that will destroy the corrupt- the evil. You are the fire that will clean the land and make it new."
This book!! Okay, first off it is a little slow especially at first, but I absolutely loved how the story unfolded. It was really well done, pretty fast paced romance and yet somehow slow burn. You learn more and more of the backstory and about the characters right along with the MC, Emma, and it's great.
I love Emma she's quirky, awkward, confused and scared. She is so relatable, and in a way more like a normal 16 year old girls than you would normally see in fantasy books. No crazy powerful magic or extraordinary talents, at least for now. I don't know how the story will progress in later books, but she is still different than other girls her age, as you will find out. Oh and I love the fact that she loves to read, has book boyfriends, and is constantly comparing Shad to fae princes and vampires 😂 which as an avid fantasy reader with plenty of book boyfriends myself I appreciate this.
"Vampires-fae-pixies? No. Stop that. Your life is not a fantasy novel."
Shad is so chivalrous, sweet, gives her meaningful gifts, and constantly holds her hand🥰 He brings light back in to Emma's life and leads her to the truth about herself and her family.
"It was as if that boy jump-started my dead, frozen hollow body as well as my heart. I was struck alive for the first time since the horrific night my parents took their last breaths."
Their relationship was so sweet and cute, full of handholding, hugs and cheek kisses*swoon* and it's completely clean. You have to be very patient for the first kiss scene but it's worth it!!
The whole story is told from Emma's pov and it's so fun, her inner monologue is a tad crazy and wild, like thoughts running a mile a minute. The world building is well done too, even though they aren't actually in the land of Terra, it builds a pretty good picture of it in your mind. Plus the attention to detail!!!
And then the ending, pretty much everything happens at the end, building up to the next book beautifully and leaving me wanting more, it's pretty emotional and sad but swoony at the same time. You'll have to read it to find out why though😉!!
One last quote to end it:
"You see misery, grief, pain, and despair, together are a snake, a cold-blooded, slimy, black snake. But hatred- hatred you see is something else entirely- it is a monster."
This book!! Okay, first off it is a little slow especially at first, but I absolutely loved how the story unfolded. It was really well done, pretty fast paced romance and yet somehow slow burn. You learn more and more of the backstory and about the characters right along with the MC, Emma, and it's great.
I love Emma she's quirky, awkward, confused and scared. She is so relatable, and in a way more like a normal 16 year old girls than you would normally see in fantasy books. No crazy powerful magic or extraordinary talents, at least for now. I don't know how the story will progress in later books, but she is still different than other girls her age, as you will find out. Oh and I love the fact that she loves to read, has book boyfriends, and is constantly comparing Shad to fae princes and vampires 😂 which as an avid fantasy reader with plenty of book boyfriends myself I appreciate this.
"Vampires-fae-pixies? No. Stop that. Your life is not a fantasy novel."
Shad is so chivalrous, sweet, gives her meaningful gifts, and constantly holds her hand🥰 He brings light back in to Emma's life and leads her to the truth about herself and her family.
"It was as if that boy jump-started my dead, frozen hollow body as well as my heart. I was struck alive for the first time since the horrific night my parents took their last breaths."
Their relationship was so sweet and cute, full of handholding, hugs and cheek kisses*swoon* and it's completely clean. You have to be very patient for the first kiss scene but it's worth it!!
The whole story is told from Emma's pov and it's so fun, her inner monologue is a tad crazy and wild, like thoughts running a mile a minute. The world building is well done too, even though they aren't actually in the land of Terra, it builds a pretty good picture of it in your mind. Plus the attention to detail!!!
And then the ending, pretty much everything happens at the end, building up to the next book beautifully and leaving me wanting more, it's pretty emotional and sad but swoony at the same time. You'll have to read it to find out why though😉!!
One last quote to end it:
"You see misery, grief, pain, and despair, together are a snake, a cold-blooded, slimy, black snake. But hatred- hatred you see is something else entirely- it is a monster."
October 31, 2024
I was really excited to read because I loved The Sea’s Secret so much.
I think it would be a really great book for teens..it has Twilight vibes but it is well written (because Twilight definitely Wasn't). It has the same vibes for the romance, but with fantasy people instead of vampires.
I struggled a little with the beginning because it talked A LOT about the death of her parents. This is a topic I can handle in small amounts or in passing, but it was heavily discussed (it was well handled and talked about the character’s grief). While it was handled well, you might want to go in prepared if that topic bothers you.
Around the 40% mark this book started to really pick up with some more twists. I really liked some of the plot twists in this book. It also started to give some OUAT vibes which I loved.
Also, I really liked the characters. This author writes really wonderful characters. I like how her characters are complex and all have individual personalities.
Overall,this was a really good book. I personally could have done with a little less inner monologue from Emma, but I still enjoyed it.
This is a good book for Teens, especially those who like the romance vibes of twilight but like Fairytales over vampires.
A sweet YA romantasy :)
Also, I'm really looking forward to book two because I can't wait to find out what happens next in the series.
I think it would be a really great book for teens..it has Twilight vibes but it is well written (because Twilight definitely Wasn't). It has the same vibes for the romance, but with fantasy people instead of vampires.
I struggled a little with the beginning because it talked A LOT about the death of her parents. This is a topic I can handle in small amounts or in passing, but it was heavily discussed (it was well handled and talked about the character’s grief). While it was handled well, you might want to go in prepared if that topic bothers you.
Around the 40% mark this book started to really pick up with some more twists. I really liked some of the plot twists in this book. It also started to give some OUAT vibes which I loved.
Also, I really liked the characters. This author writes really wonderful characters. I like how her characters are complex and all have individual personalities.
Overall,this was a really good book. I personally could have done with a little less inner monologue from Emma, but I still enjoyed it.
This is a good book for Teens, especially those who like the romance vibes of twilight but like Fairytales over vampires.
A sweet YA romantasy :)
Also, I'm really looking forward to book two because I can't wait to find out what happens next in the series.
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