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The Final Heir
The world is free. The world is mine.
Some call him the Usurper, the Destroyer of Worlds. Mahzun calls himself the Savior of Man. A decade of war has brought him to the precipice of victory.
Zahara, a prodigious mage, is destined to wield the Power of Creation and put an end to the Usurper. But when that power mistakenly falls to Ekarath, her best friend and elite soldier incapable of casting the simplest of spells, destiny must be questioned.
Will the Usurper complete his victory? Or will Ekarath find the strength to be the hero he wasn’t destined to be?
Some call him the Usurper, the Destroyer of Worlds. Mahzun calls himself the Savior of Man. A decade of war has brought him to the precipice of victory.
Zahara, a prodigious mage, is destined to wield the Power of Creation and put an end to the Usurper. But when that power mistakenly falls to Ekarath, her best friend and elite soldier incapable of casting the simplest of spells, destiny must be questioned.
Will the Usurper complete his victory? Or will Ekarath find the strength to be the hero he wasn’t destined to be?
- GenresFantasy
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2022
44 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Jon Monson
10 books25 followersJon Monson started writing after finishing grad school – the first time in his adult life that he found himself with any amount of free time. When he’s not crafting stories, he enjoys exploring his adopted home in Idaho, where he lives with his wife and daughters. Until he fulfills his dream of writing full-time somewhere in Portugal, he spends his days working as an accountant. To see more from Jon, check out JonMonson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
February 16, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Final Heir was an interesting book. I really enjoyed the world that we were introduced to. As well as the magical aspects. Unfortunately, I wasn't completely invested in the actual characters, but I did end up liking them.
In it, you will meet Zahara and Ekarath. She is training to become a mage and he's training to become a guard. Until they aren't. They are quickly force into an adventure filled with action and a little bit of betrayal. It all comes down to who the Usurper really is and who backs them up. Of course, we get little clues here and there, but I honestly didn't expect the ending.
Other than that, the little drama towards the end seemed too easy for me. I wanted something a bit more than what we got, but I am happy with how everything turned out. Not sure if there's going to be another book but with a little ending like that - I feel like there should be.
The Final Heir was an interesting book. I really enjoyed the world that we were introduced to. As well as the magical aspects. Unfortunately, I wasn't completely invested in the actual characters, but I did end up liking them.
In it, you will meet Zahara and Ekarath. She is training to become a mage and he's training to become a guard. Until they aren't. They are quickly force into an adventure filled with action and a little bit of betrayal. It all comes down to who the Usurper really is and who backs them up. Of course, we get little clues here and there, but I honestly didn't expect the ending.
Other than that, the little drama towards the end seemed too easy for me. I wanted something a bit more than what we got, but I am happy with how everything turned out. Not sure if there's going to be another book but with a little ending like that - I feel like there should be.
December 13, 2021
Thanks, Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
This was a fantastic and magical ride. Ekarath and Zahara's friendship was so touching to observe, especially when I'm glad that this book chose to put the emphasis on their connection as friends instead of focusing on romance. Friendship connection between main characters can just as deep and touching, so I'm glad for the author's decision. I loved experiencing their adventure and Ekarath's struggle to accept a destiny that wasn't supposed to be his in the first place and a responsibility that turned out to be even greater than what he was preparing to shoulder as a mage instead of a soldier. Definitely recommend the book.
This was a fantastic and magical ride. Ekarath and Zahara's friendship was so touching to observe, especially when I'm glad that this book chose to put the emphasis on their connection as friends instead of focusing on romance. Friendship connection between main characters can just as deep and touching, so I'm glad for the author's decision. I loved experiencing their adventure and Ekarath's struggle to accept a destiny that wasn't supposed to be his in the first place and a responsibility that turned out to be even greater than what he was preparing to shoulder as a mage instead of a soldier. Definitely recommend the book.
November 3, 2022
The Final Heir is an imaginative and compelling YA Fantasy read. While it started off slow, it finished strong. I loved ALL the characters, even the evil one and could actually see where the Usurper was coming from. You almost have to wonder ... is he really all that evil 😂
I loved the relationship and dynamic between Zahara and Ekarath. It's complex at times, but their friendship is strong and it's what I loved most about this one.
Overall, a solid YA Fantasy and one I recommend. I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
I loved the relationship and dynamic between Zahara and Ekarath. It's complex at times, but their friendship is strong and it's what I loved most about this one.
Overall, a solid YA Fantasy and one I recommend. I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
August 15, 2024
I am so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this, the characters are great and then the world and the magic and how it works with the droad and all that is fascinating and refreshing, and I love a complex villain that has me in turmoil where I’m low key rooting for him sometimes because of his complete and honest belief that he is Einar’s savior and his motive for his actions seems almost pure but then you see where his morals are lacking in his very destructive and brutal means of achieving equality for his people and I just thought it was scrumptious. And then I imagined him as Javier Bardem and that didn’t help the turmoil at all but the increase in turmoil made it even more scrumptious. So yeah, I’m heading straight to the next book
December 15, 2021
Review of eBook
In a world caught up in a decade of war, Mahzun, the Savior of Man, fights to free the people from the rein of the Heirs and their millennia of oppression. To those who oppose him, Mahzun is the Usurper, the Destroyer of Worlds.
A young girl with the skills of a powerful mage stands destined to stop Mahzun. But Zahara’s friend, an elite soldier named Ekarath, somehow receives the power of the Heirs when Mahzun’s slaughter of Lord Dimitri triggers the passing of the Power of Creation.
Ekarath has no magic skills, no ability to cast even the simplest of spells. He has, no ability to weave the strands of the draod that affected every living thing.
As Mahzun stands on the verge of total victory, can Zahara and Ekarath find a way to stop the Usurper? Or is Mahzun truly the Savior of Man, destined to emerge victorious?
=========
Teens and young adults are the targeted audience for this science fiction fantasy filled with non-stop action and populated with young heroes and heroines.
The strong friendship between Zahara and Ekarath is one of the strengths in the telling of this tale. Ekarath’s struggle to accept the inevitability that seems thrust upon him by accident is certain to resonate with teens struggling to define their own places in their world.
Although the reasons for his behavior remain unclear, the ruthlessness displayed by Mahzun identifies him as particularly evil and ensures that readers will vote for his final victory to remain unclaimed.
Readers should be aware that, although the story brings a satisfactory close to the question of the Heir of Segova, Mahzun has escaped and the possibility of the story continuing in another book certainly exists.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from The Book Whisperer and NetGalley
#TheFinalHeir #NetGalley
In a world caught up in a decade of war, Mahzun, the Savior of Man, fights to free the people from the rein of the Heirs and their millennia of oppression. To those who oppose him, Mahzun is the Usurper, the Destroyer of Worlds.
A young girl with the skills of a powerful mage stands destined to stop Mahzun. But Zahara’s friend, an elite soldier named Ekarath, somehow receives the power of the Heirs when Mahzun’s slaughter of Lord Dimitri triggers the passing of the Power of Creation.
Ekarath has no magic skills, no ability to cast even the simplest of spells. He has, no ability to weave the strands of the draod that affected every living thing.
As Mahzun stands on the verge of total victory, can Zahara and Ekarath find a way to stop the Usurper? Or is Mahzun truly the Savior of Man, destined to emerge victorious?
=========
Teens and young adults are the targeted audience for this science fiction fantasy filled with non-stop action and populated with young heroes and heroines.
The strong friendship between Zahara and Ekarath is one of the strengths in the telling of this tale. Ekarath’s struggle to accept the inevitability that seems thrust upon him by accident is certain to resonate with teens struggling to define their own places in their world.
Although the reasons for his behavior remain unclear, the ruthlessness displayed by Mahzun identifies him as particularly evil and ensures that readers will vote for his final victory to remain unclaimed.
Readers should be aware that, although the story brings a satisfactory close to the question of the Heir of Segova, Mahzun has escaped and the possibility of the story continuing in another book certainly exists.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from The Book Whisperer and NetGalley
#TheFinalHeir #NetGalley
January 23, 2022
Smartly written fantasy with relatable character that's not afraid to create a complex villain.
Let's start with the antagonist: He's a true believer in his cause, and is just noble enough to make the reader question if he really is the villain or not. Yet, Mahzun is very much a villain in the same vein as Thanos (from Avengers: Infinity War). A strong willed warlord, who's so sure he's right, he'll go to any extremes to ensure his vision for the future is realized. He makes a compelling enough argument that some might actually agree with him, while also displaying so much hubris, that a more balanced reader can't quite get on board with his plans.
He's an iconoclast in every meaning of the word, bringing all the political baggage that comes along with such a hard-lined stance.
The other protagonists are just as interesting in their own right. They're relatable characters, that really help make the story work on a foundational level. Zahara and Ekarath are such fun characters that the story simply wouldn't work without them.
The pacing of the story is excellent, the magic system is original and well thought-out, the ending ties up enough loose ends that you feel satisfied, while leaving enough questions that you'll want to come back for more.
All in all, I highly recommend "The Final Heir". Give it a read! I doubt you'll be disappointed.
Let's start with the antagonist: He's a true believer in his cause, and is just noble enough to make the reader question if he really is the villain or not. Yet, Mahzun is very much a villain in the same vein as Thanos (from Avengers: Infinity War). A strong willed warlord, who's so sure he's right, he'll go to any extremes to ensure his vision for the future is realized. He makes a compelling enough argument that some might actually agree with him, while also displaying so much hubris, that a more balanced reader can't quite get on board with his plans.
He's an iconoclast in every meaning of the word, bringing all the political baggage that comes along with such a hard-lined stance.
The other protagonists are just as interesting in their own right. They're relatable characters, that really help make the story work on a foundational level. Zahara and Ekarath are such fun characters that the story simply wouldn't work without them.
The pacing of the story is excellent, the magic system is original and well thought-out, the ending ties up enough loose ends that you feel satisfied, while leaving enough questions that you'll want to come back for more.
All in all, I highly recommend "The Final Heir". Give it a read! I doubt you'll be disappointed.
January 19, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Final Heir, by author Jon Monson, is the first installment in a yet to be named series. The series follows three main characters from Zahara, Ekarath and Mahzun, aka the villain of the story. 17-year-old Zahara is formally training to become a mage. Ekarath is a young man who is training to become a specialize soldier known as Hundiin who is supposed to protect Lord Dimitri, the last remaining Heir. Mahzun, aka the Usurper, has been fighting for the past 10 years to rid the world of the remaining Heirs.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Final Heir, by author Jon Monson, is the first installment in a yet to be named series. The series follows three main characters from Zahara, Ekarath and Mahzun, aka the villain of the story. 17-year-old Zahara is formally training to become a mage. Ekarath is a young man who is training to become a specialize soldier known as Hundiin who is supposed to protect Lord Dimitri, the last remaining Heir. Mahzun, aka the Usurper, has been fighting for the past 10 years to rid the world of the remaining Heirs.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
January 14, 2022
This book was solidly in the middle ground for me. I definitely enjoyed reading it, but I was also glad to be finished.
The world itself was interesting, and I enjoyed the "magic" system that was used. I would have loved to see more depth into the development of this system and find out more about it and its history.
I do like a book that is told from multiple povs and this one did do that well. We get the story from three perspectives - the two heroes and the villain. I really enjoyed Mahzun's chapters (the villain) so much that I struggled to get into the povs of the two main characters.
What dropped it to 3 stars for me was the fact that the last 20% of this book was my favourite. The pacing got better, and I was starting to really get into the characters and the world. I would have loved to have less at the beginning and more development in the ending of this book. But hey, it did end on a cliffhanger so maybe Book 2 will be even better!
The world itself was interesting, and I enjoyed the "magic" system that was used. I would have loved to see more depth into the development of this system and find out more about it and its history.
I do like a book that is told from multiple povs and this one did do that well. We get the story from three perspectives - the two heroes and the villain. I really enjoyed Mahzun's chapters (the villain) so much that I struggled to get into the povs of the two main characters.
What dropped it to 3 stars for me was the fact that the last 20% of this book was my favourite. The pacing got better, and I was starting to really get into the characters and the world. I would have loved to have less at the beginning and more development in the ending of this book. But hey, it did end on a cliffhanger so maybe Book 2 will be even better!
March 22, 2023
A very unusual premise. I'm not sure if there were books before this one, but I did feel like I was missing part of the picture at the beginning and had to exert a bit of effort to read. Well-executed characters and several interesting twists.
January 10, 2022
Despite a slow start, this is an exciting and fulfilling read.
The world of Einar has been in conflict for a decade. Mahzun, the Usurper, and his all-conquering army has been relentlessly destroying the old rulers, the Heirs and wreaking havoc on the land and its people. The remaining Heir is holed up in the last remaining stronghold and this is where it begins.
Zahara is an exceptionally talented mage, and her friend Ekarath is an equally talented soldier, and they are tasked to find ways to continue the fight against Mahzun once he triumphs. Unfortunately, the transfer of the power of the Heirs to Zahara goes wrong and it passes to Ekarath who has no ability for casting spells.
The question is whether Zahara can accept the loss of intended power and use her own considerable abilities and whether Ekarath can rise to wield the power he has been bequeathed. This makes for a thrilling, fast-paced and magical read.
This book is targeted at the young adult market with Zahara and Ekarath being teenagers and the fantasy is filled with a quest, magic, danger, action, dilemmas, dead-ends, and twists to keep you guessing right up until the end.
The main characters of Zahara and Ekarath are well-rounded. They are best friends and while there is romantic attraction it is relegated to the background which is a nice approach. The other characters are interesting, but none have enough backstory to develop them. I felt that those who oppose Mahzun need their reasons fleshed out.
The settings are well realized, going from cities to forests and palaces to shacks. Einar is well described but the lack of why Mahzun seeks to overturn the Heirs is rather fuzzy – a generalized feeling of injustice doesn’t somehow work and sometimes I felt this book had a prequel I hadn’t read. The story is still good, though.
Mahzun himself is a problem in that he is weirdly likeable sometimes. Yes, he violent, intemperate, vicious, and power mad. However, he has a sister he loves, and a magnificent spirit animal to who he is bonded. He is aware of what he is and yet he continues. He has an intriguing character and is charismatic. It is interesting to read such a fleshed-out and rounded villain, but it is a change to the norm of the thoroughly evil and despicable baddie.
The ending is wonderful and perhaps hints there may be a sequel (please).
Despite the nit-picking, I recommend this book heartily.
I received an ARC of this book from The Book Whisperer and NetGalley #TheFinalHeir #NetGalley
The world of Einar has been in conflict for a decade. Mahzun, the Usurper, and his all-conquering army has been relentlessly destroying the old rulers, the Heirs and wreaking havoc on the land and its people. The remaining Heir is holed up in the last remaining stronghold and this is where it begins.
Zahara is an exceptionally talented mage, and her friend Ekarath is an equally talented soldier, and they are tasked to find ways to continue the fight against Mahzun once he triumphs. Unfortunately, the transfer of the power of the Heirs to Zahara goes wrong and it passes to Ekarath who has no ability for casting spells.
The question is whether Zahara can accept the loss of intended power and use her own considerable abilities and whether Ekarath can rise to wield the power he has been bequeathed. This makes for a thrilling, fast-paced and magical read.
This book is targeted at the young adult market with Zahara and Ekarath being teenagers and the fantasy is filled with a quest, magic, danger, action, dilemmas, dead-ends, and twists to keep you guessing right up until the end.
The main characters of Zahara and Ekarath are well-rounded. They are best friends and while there is romantic attraction it is relegated to the background which is a nice approach. The other characters are interesting, but none have enough backstory to develop them. I felt that those who oppose Mahzun need their reasons fleshed out.
The settings are well realized, going from cities to forests and palaces to shacks. Einar is well described but the lack of why Mahzun seeks to overturn the Heirs is rather fuzzy – a generalized feeling of injustice doesn’t somehow work and sometimes I felt this book had a prequel I hadn’t read. The story is still good, though.
Mahzun himself is a problem in that he is weirdly likeable sometimes. Yes, he violent, intemperate, vicious, and power mad. However, he has a sister he loves, and a magnificent spirit animal to who he is bonded. He is aware of what he is and yet he continues. He has an intriguing character and is charismatic. It is interesting to read such a fleshed-out and rounded villain, but it is a change to the norm of the thoroughly evil and despicable baddie.
The ending is wonderful and perhaps hints there may be a sequel (please).
Despite the nit-picking, I recommend this book heartily.
I received an ARC of this book from The Book Whisperer and NetGalley #TheFinalHeir #NetGalley
December 25, 2021
Personally, I don't like books that start in medias res. I can never figure out why I'm supposed to be cheering for the person fighting as I've formed no bond with that character yet.
Unfortunately, I found that lack of a bond carried with me throughout the book. Early on, we are introduced to Mahzun, the Usurper. The villain according to everyone. So when we spend time in Mahzun's POV, because I hadn't really connected to Zahara and Ekarath, I didn't know if I was supposed to connect with Mahzun. Feel sorry for him? Side with him? And that didn't get better. We learn that Mahzun wants to free people from oppression. Isn't that supposed to be a good thing? There is more along this line that made me wonder if the author thinks religion is system of oppression, and worse, thinks it is correct to be so. Because the gospel I believe in came to break oppression.
I really felt that the world needed more fleshing out, more explanation to as to why I should think that Ekarath and Zahara were actually the good guys and in the right. I'm more on the side of those who work towards equality and freedom. Towards those who keep the "wealthy aristocrats" from running the city instead of the other way around. More world history might have helped. And understanding of what Mahzun had done to people. How he was actually oppressing people and only believed in his own mind he was freeing them. I just didn't get that, though.
This is obviously going to be part of a series. Maybe the next book will clear up that confusion. Or maybe I'll find out I was actually supposed to side with Mahzun and got it right. Because I'd hate to think I'd just sided with the villian for an entire book for no good reason.
Unfortunately, I found that lack of a bond carried with me throughout the book. Early on, we are introduced to Mahzun, the Usurper. The villain according to everyone. So when we spend time in Mahzun's POV, because I hadn't really connected to Zahara and Ekarath, I didn't know if I was supposed to connect with Mahzun. Feel sorry for him? Side with him? And that didn't get better. We learn that Mahzun wants to free people from oppression. Isn't that supposed to be a good thing? There is more along this line that made me wonder if the author thinks religion is system of oppression, and worse, thinks it is correct to be so. Because the gospel I believe in came to break oppression.
I really felt that the world needed more fleshing out, more explanation to as to why I should think that Ekarath and Zahara were actually the good guys and in the right. I'm more on the side of those who work towards equality and freedom. Towards those who keep the "wealthy aristocrats" from running the city instead of the other way around. More world history might have helped. And understanding of what Mahzun had done to people. How he was actually oppressing people and only believed in his own mind he was freeing them. I just didn't get that, though.
This is obviously going to be part of a series. Maybe the next book will clear up that confusion. Or maybe I'll find out I was actually supposed to side with Mahzun and got it right. Because I'd hate to think I'd just sided with the villian for an entire book for no good reason.
January 24, 2022
It takes a lot for a 5th star from me. This was a great book though. I had a hard time starting and getting into the book, but I am glad I kept reading! The characters were strong and complex. Some character stupidity - but I see how that adds to the conflict. Very suspenseful climax. Warning - it ends on a cliff hanger and a strong desire to keep reading the story. Not sure when book 2 is coming out.
February 2, 2022
A rather good story, and an intriguing enough start to a series, though I would have been satisfied even if it was a standalone.
Zahara is a young mage whose home has been destroyed by the Usurper, a man with a terrifying blade that has set out to kill all the Heirs, the lords and ladies of the land. On the run and with an important mission after the Usurper invaded her last refuge, she struggles to come to terms with the fact that, though Lord Dimitri intended for her to become his successor, the man's powers were instead transferred to her best friend, Ekarath - a soldier. Now they must race against time and attack the villain while they still have the advantage of surprise, before he does the unthinkable and destroys the sacred tree in the capital of his Empire - an act that could send the world into chaos.
Honestly, this was not a bad read. The world was well-built and developed, and it made following the story's pace easy. I would have liked a bit more of the map to be revealed or more details on the various creatures that the two heroes met in their frantic journey, but since they didn't engage with them for long, I don't think it was that unsettling.
The characters were all complex and with several layers. Nothing was ever set in stone or in shades of black and white. Mahzun was supposed to be evil, yet the man really did think he was freeing the poor and downtrodden from tyrants, and he didn't care much for luxuries. If he wasn't the main villain of the book, I would have easily liked him and sympathized with him the way one does for an antihero. (although, given the ending, I suspect he could very well be a puppet)
Dimitri had a great plan in mind and I loved the twist and the flashbacks. The old man sure was wise! Even Saren had depth of character, despite her aristocratic bimbo appearance at first. I quite liked her after she actually started talking and gave away how smart she really was and what her own opinions towards certain matters were.
The main two heroes were a bit of a mess, but I guess that was to be expected with the kind of adventure they had. Zahara was level-headed most of the time, and despite being disappointed, she was ready to give all of her support and help to Ekarath. One could say she acted like an idiot near the end of the book, but I'm with her on this - everyone kept trying to hide her and pin duties and responsibilities on her, none of which was right since she wasn't the Heir.
Speaking of the Heir, Ekarath started out real nice and likeable, and then made me want to choke him after a certain point in the story. Typical whiny teenager chosen one, crying about how he doesn't want the gift, and instead of accepting his responsibility and manning up, he wasted all the time he had to try and find a way to "throw" the Heir status to Zahara. One wrong step in the final chapters of the book, and the girl would have been dead, simply because he refused to accept and practice!
By the way, people, the final chapters of the book are well worth the read! The pace instantly shoots up in speed, and the paranoia and madness and anxiety are a damn good shot of adrenaline to any reader. And the ending may leave you hanging, but even if there was no next book, I would still find it satisfying.
I recommend it to all young adults who like action and magic in a strange new way, along with political intrigue and companionship above romance (although I'm not sure how long the last one will actually hold on...).
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com
Zahara is a young mage whose home has been destroyed by the Usurper, a man with a terrifying blade that has set out to kill all the Heirs, the lords and ladies of the land. On the run and with an important mission after the Usurper invaded her last refuge, she struggles to come to terms with the fact that, though Lord Dimitri intended for her to become his successor, the man's powers were instead transferred to her best friend, Ekarath - a soldier. Now they must race against time and attack the villain while they still have the advantage of surprise, before he does the unthinkable and destroys the sacred tree in the capital of his Empire - an act that could send the world into chaos.
Honestly, this was not a bad read. The world was well-built and developed, and it made following the story's pace easy. I would have liked a bit more of the map to be revealed or more details on the various creatures that the two heroes met in their frantic journey, but since they didn't engage with them for long, I don't think it was that unsettling.
The characters were all complex and with several layers. Nothing was ever set in stone or in shades of black and white. Mahzun was supposed to be evil, yet the man really did think he was freeing the poor and downtrodden from tyrants, and he didn't care much for luxuries. If he wasn't the main villain of the book, I would have easily liked him and sympathized with him the way one does for an antihero. (although, given the ending, I suspect he could very well be a puppet)
Dimitri had a great plan in mind and I loved the twist and the flashbacks. The old man sure was wise! Even Saren had depth of character, despite her aristocratic bimbo appearance at first. I quite liked her after she actually started talking and gave away how smart she really was and what her own opinions towards certain matters were.
The main two heroes were a bit of a mess, but I guess that was to be expected with the kind of adventure they had. Zahara was level-headed most of the time, and despite being disappointed, she was ready to give all of her support and help to Ekarath. One could say she acted like an idiot near the end of the book, but I'm with her on this - everyone kept trying to hide her and pin duties and responsibilities on her, none of which was right since she wasn't the Heir.
Speaking of the Heir, Ekarath started out real nice and likeable, and then made me want to choke him after a certain point in the story. Typical whiny teenager chosen one, crying about how he doesn't want the gift, and instead of accepting his responsibility and manning up, he wasted all the time he had to try and find a way to "throw" the Heir status to Zahara. One wrong step in the final chapters of the book, and the girl would have been dead, simply because he refused to accept and practice!
By the way, people, the final chapters of the book are well worth the read! The pace instantly shoots up in speed, and the paranoia and madness and anxiety are a damn good shot of adrenaline to any reader. And the ending may leave you hanging, but even if there was no next book, I would still find it satisfying.
I recommend it to all young adults who like action and magic in a strange new way, along with political intrigue and companionship above romance (although I'm not sure how long the last one will actually hold on...).
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com
December 27, 2021
Strong worlds clash over a last grip for power as magic, friendship, and the fight to survive keep this a fast-paced read.
Zahara is a mage, and although she's only been training a short time, proves to be talented beyond her years. Her best friend, Mahzun, isn't any different when it comes to his swordsmanship. When the Usurper brings his army to their kingdom's doorstep and destroys the leader, taking over everything, all seems lost. But Mahzun accidentally receives the magic and power Zahara was supposed to get from their ruler (not that she knew she was supposed to get it, by the way), and this throws everything on its head.
This is a rich, fantasy novel with tension, battle scenes, danger, quests, magic and so much more. There are unexpected twists, moments where everything seems lost, and victories to make the reader cheer. For fantasy fans, this is a read to pick up and get immersed in. And it is an exciting read...it'd be wrong if I didn't say that.
I really enjoyed the first chapters as we get to see Zahara and Mahzun before the battles begin, training, playing, and causing a bit of mischief. The descriptions bring the city and the forest to life, letting the imagination take root and the world build. It's not over-burdened with descriptions or info dumps, and that makes it pretty smooth reading. While the fear and emotions are well based, and the danger comes while packing fear, as the tale goes on, the missing history and background starts to leave holes. These aren't huge and don't really disrupt the action enough to ruin the read, but the world doesn't become as rich as it could have. Still, it is a fun read.
The characters are well placed and have a lot on their plates. Zahara is talented but not arrogant, and the same goes for Mahzun. Mahzun, obviously, is out of his element, and it's easy to understand him as he does the best he can with something he has no idea really how to handle. The author keeps these two at a friendship level, which was refreshing and fits them very well.
The Usurper is the one, though, that caught my attention. The author spends time fleshing him out by giving him chapters from his perspective, which gives great insight and makes him so much more than the 'evil' guy. The problem was that I liked him (to a certain degree) and wasn't sure why he was seen as evil, outside of the fact that he was trying to destroy the existing ruler. The Usurper and the rest of the world claims they are being suppressed. Since the world background is missing, there really isn't much reason to know if they are wrong or right. But since millions of civilians turned into soldiers, giving up everything for this cause, even their lives, it's hard not to assume they have a good reason to act this way. As for Zahara and Mahzun's ruler, he comes across very nice (and I assumed he is 'good'), but there's no way to know what he did or why his rule is the better of the two. So, this let the book begin with a strange balance, which left me undecided the entire way through. Although I did root for Zahara and Mahzun.
There is a lot going on in this read, and even with the uncertainty of the things I mentioned, it is a exciting tale with surprises and tons to enjoy. I'm going to assume that this is the first in a series and am excited to see how the author handles it from here. I received an ARC through Netgalley and enjoyed the dive into this fantasy world.
Zahara is a mage, and although she's only been training a short time, proves to be talented beyond her years. Her best friend, Mahzun, isn't any different when it comes to his swordsmanship. When the Usurper brings his army to their kingdom's doorstep and destroys the leader, taking over everything, all seems lost. But Mahzun accidentally receives the magic and power Zahara was supposed to get from their ruler (not that she knew she was supposed to get it, by the way), and this throws everything on its head.
This is a rich, fantasy novel with tension, battle scenes, danger, quests, magic and so much more. There are unexpected twists, moments where everything seems lost, and victories to make the reader cheer. For fantasy fans, this is a read to pick up and get immersed in. And it is an exciting read...it'd be wrong if I didn't say that.
I really enjoyed the first chapters as we get to see Zahara and Mahzun before the battles begin, training, playing, and causing a bit of mischief. The descriptions bring the city and the forest to life, letting the imagination take root and the world build. It's not over-burdened with descriptions or info dumps, and that makes it pretty smooth reading. While the fear and emotions are well based, and the danger comes while packing fear, as the tale goes on, the missing history and background starts to leave holes. These aren't huge and don't really disrupt the action enough to ruin the read, but the world doesn't become as rich as it could have. Still, it is a fun read.
The characters are well placed and have a lot on their plates. Zahara is talented but not arrogant, and the same goes for Mahzun. Mahzun, obviously, is out of his element, and it's easy to understand him as he does the best he can with something he has no idea really how to handle. The author keeps these two at a friendship level, which was refreshing and fits them very well.
The Usurper is the one, though, that caught my attention. The author spends time fleshing him out by giving him chapters from his perspective, which gives great insight and makes him so much more than the 'evil' guy. The problem was that I liked him (to a certain degree) and wasn't sure why he was seen as evil, outside of the fact that he was trying to destroy the existing ruler. The Usurper and the rest of the world claims they are being suppressed. Since the world background is missing, there really isn't much reason to know if they are wrong or right. But since millions of civilians turned into soldiers, giving up everything for this cause, even their lives, it's hard not to assume they have a good reason to act this way. As for Zahara and Mahzun's ruler, he comes across very nice (and I assumed he is 'good'), but there's no way to know what he did or why his rule is the better of the two. So, this let the book begin with a strange balance, which left me undecided the entire way through. Although I did root for Zahara and Mahzun.
There is a lot going on in this read, and even with the uncertainty of the things I mentioned, it is a exciting tale with surprises and tons to enjoy. I'm going to assume that this is the first in a series and am excited to see how the author handles it from here. I received an ARC through Netgalley and enjoyed the dive into this fantasy world.
January 13, 2022
This starts out pretty standard and then proceeds to twist and turn the traditional way such stories progress on its head. We meet Zahara and her best friend Ekarath as she's training to become a mage despite being better at it than most of the mages around her and he trains to become a member of the elite unit of fighters that defend the last living Heir during a war against a man deadset on destroying the Heirs and everything that their reign represents.
The action escalates quickly and Ekarath somehow ends up inheriting the power of the Heir instead of Zahara. So we have the prerequisite doubtful savior in the form of a warrior that knows nothing about magic, and the headstrong female so set on proving that she's capable despite not being chosen as the Heir that she's willing to risk too much. It makes for an interesting narrative as the best friends try to navigate their new reality as they're also trying to come to terms with how they really feel about each other.
As a backdrop to all this, we have the Mahzun The Usurper risking everything he is to bring an end to what he perceives as the tyranny of the Heirs by bringing the world to its knees and conquering all the kingdoms as he kills all the Heirs one by one. Monson does some of his best writing when it comes to the parts that deal with Mahzun, creating a character that is so straightforward in expressing the good he wants to bring about with his actions that you can't help but feel an affinity for what he wants to achieve. It's this part of the story that sets The Final Heir apart from the many other similarly plotted YA fantasy stories out there for me, further proving that a hero is nothing without a good villain.
My one gripe is that the reader is dropped in the middle of a very complex world and expected to understand how everything works and who everyone is without the benefit of at least a bit of explanation. Complicated, world-specific elements are mentioned in an offhand manner as if they were the most normal thing, which they're not, and the reader is fully expected to know what they are or mean. It's not a thing that breaks the book, but a pet peeve that I'm sorry to find in what is otherwise a wholly engaging read.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for the exciting read!
The action escalates quickly and Ekarath somehow ends up inheriting the power of the Heir instead of Zahara. So we have the prerequisite doubtful savior in the form of a warrior that knows nothing about magic, and the headstrong female so set on proving that she's capable despite not being chosen as the Heir that she's willing to risk too much. It makes for an interesting narrative as the best friends try to navigate their new reality as they're also trying to come to terms with how they really feel about each other.
As a backdrop to all this, we have the Mahzun The Usurper risking everything he is to bring an end to what he perceives as the tyranny of the Heirs by bringing the world to its knees and conquering all the kingdoms as he kills all the Heirs one by one. Monson does some of his best writing when it comes to the parts that deal with Mahzun, creating a character that is so straightforward in expressing the good he wants to bring about with his actions that you can't help but feel an affinity for what he wants to achieve. It's this part of the story that sets The Final Heir apart from the many other similarly plotted YA fantasy stories out there for me, further proving that a hero is nothing without a good villain.
My one gripe is that the reader is dropped in the middle of a very complex world and expected to understand how everything works and who everyone is without the benefit of at least a bit of explanation. Complicated, world-specific elements are mentioned in an offhand manner as if they were the most normal thing, which they're not, and the reader is fully expected to know what they are or mean. It's not a thing that breaks the book, but a pet peeve that I'm sorry to find in what is otherwise a wholly engaging read.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for the exciting read!
January 11, 2022
I'm honestly just so confused about this book. The world was lacking too much for me to get an idea of the setting, most of the characters spoke so aggressively to each other, barking, yelling, shouting, etc. I have no idea, roughly, how old the main characters are. I think Zahara and Ekarath are similar in age, I have no idea about Saren (who's fucking annoying, by the way), and Mahzun is... older, I guess? I don't know how much older, though, so who knows for certain.
I'm also confused as to why Mahzun is the villain when his motives for doing anything weren't even villainous. He was fighting to free his people, he was fighting against oppression, whereas Zahara and Ekarath were seemingly fighting to uphold it? How does that make sense? Are Zahara and Ekarath the true villains? Like I said, I'm so confused by this book.
And let's not get me started on the writing. Something about it was weirdly throwing me off, but I can't put my finger on why. Maybe it was the dialogue, I don't know, because a lot of the things people were saying sounded so... weird. Not in character almost. The dialogue, to me, in my personal opinion, was pretty cringe to read, not going to lie.
Also, Zahara... she's not my favorite character at all. She was unbelievably reckless, and for what? Every time she'd understand about not putting herself into unnecessary danger, but then someone (ahem, Saren) would encourage her to do the thing that she should not do and then it'd end up backfiring on her.
The story at least was interesting enough to keep me reading to see how it played out, but the ending was a bit of an anticlimax even though the big fight sequence was pretty damn cool to read. I just wish there had been more spells that Ekarath weaved instead of the lightning because it got pretty repetitive after a couple pages. I'm still not sure why he thinks he'll make a better ruler than Mahzun, but it is what it is at this point.
I'm also confused as to why Mahzun is the villain when his motives for doing anything weren't even villainous. He was fighting to free his people, he was fighting against oppression, whereas Zahara and Ekarath were seemingly fighting to uphold it? How does that make sense? Are Zahara and Ekarath the true villains? Like I said, I'm so confused by this book.
And let's not get me started on the writing. Something about it was weirdly throwing me off, but I can't put my finger on why. Maybe it was the dialogue, I don't know, because a lot of the things people were saying sounded so... weird. Not in character almost. The dialogue, to me, in my personal opinion, was pretty cringe to read, not going to lie.
Also, Zahara... she's not my favorite character at all. She was unbelievably reckless, and for what? Every time she'd understand about not putting herself into unnecessary danger, but then someone (ahem, Saren) would encourage her to do the thing that she should not do and then it'd end up backfiring on her.
The story at least was interesting enough to keep me reading to see how it played out, but the ending was a bit of an anticlimax even though the big fight sequence was pretty damn cool to read. I just wish there had been more spells that Ekarath weaved instead of the lightning because it got pretty repetitive after a couple pages. I'm still not sure why he thinks he'll make a better ruler than Mahzun, but it is what it is at this point.
January 3, 2022
A Very Solid 3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book, and because of that I rounded the rating up to 4 since half stars are not an option. I will go into more detail below, but I very much enjoyed the character developement and world building . I found the story line to be fast paced and the battle scenes were not overdone.
Characters:
The character development was well done, again for the first 2/3, and even some of the characters in the last portion of the book were well developed. I do not want to give too much away, so I am being intentionally vague. There were a few characters within the city who seemed to be just there. They did play a role in the storyline, but there was not much background information on them and I wanted to know who they were and what they stood for. This plays into my overall lack of enjoyment of the end of this book.
Story Flow:
"The Final Heir" was a perfect mix of a little bit of world building, with a little bit of character development. At no time was there too much of one thing at any given time. The information was spread out and broken up with a little bit of each. This is my favorite type of story. Some books will go on and on about the color of the leaves on the trees, Jon Monson did not do that at all. He got my attention and he held it. I loved the world, I loved the magic, and I absolutely loved the two protagonists. The storyline flowed very niely until that ending. The ending was good, don't get me wrong, but it felt rushed and some of it seemed unexplained. This remined me a bit of an editor saying, "oh let's cut this out and this and maybe a little of this". Given how Monson wrote the first 2/3 of the story I cannot reasonably believe that he would cut the ending into pieces.
Overall:
The entire story was built so smooth and then end seemed choppy. Now the ending, like I previously mentioned, was a good ending. I very much liked how the battle scene played out and the concept of how it came to fruition. I loved the weaving of the threads and how they were able to be untied. I loved the visuals and how Monson described them. I even have compassion for the villain, and that rarely happens unless the author can write a good villain. I would absolutely recommend this to quite a few people, and if this becomes a series I will continue on with the series.
I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book, and because of that I rounded the rating up to 4 since half stars are not an option. I will go into more detail below, but I very much enjoyed the character developement and world building . I found the story line to be fast paced and the battle scenes were not overdone.
Characters:
The character development was well done, again for the first 2/3, and even some of the characters in the last portion of the book were well developed. I do not want to give too much away, so I am being intentionally vague. There were a few characters within the city who seemed to be just there. They did play a role in the storyline, but there was not much background information on them and I wanted to know who they were and what they stood for. This plays into my overall lack of enjoyment of the end of this book.
Story Flow:
"The Final Heir" was a perfect mix of a little bit of world building, with a little bit of character development. At no time was there too much of one thing at any given time. The information was spread out and broken up with a little bit of each. This is my favorite type of story. Some books will go on and on about the color of the leaves on the trees, Jon Monson did not do that at all. He got my attention and he held it. I loved the world, I loved the magic, and I absolutely loved the two protagonists. The storyline flowed very niely until that ending. The ending was good, don't get me wrong, but it felt rushed and some of it seemed unexplained. This remined me a bit of an editor saying, "oh let's cut this out and this and maybe a little of this". Given how Monson wrote the first 2/3 of the story I cannot reasonably believe that he would cut the ending into pieces.
Overall:
The entire story was built so smooth and then end seemed choppy. Now the ending, like I previously mentioned, was a good ending. I very much liked how the battle scene played out and the concept of how it came to fruition. I loved the weaving of the threads and how they were able to be untied. I loved the visuals and how Monson described them. I even have compassion for the villain, and that rarely happens unless the author can write a good villain. I would absolutely recommend this to quite a few people, and if this becomes a series I will continue on with the series.
January 4, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this advance reader copy.
Description from NetGalley:
The world is free. The world is mine.
Some call him the Usurper, the Destroyer of Worlds. Mahzun calls himself the Savior of Man. A decade of war has brought him to the precipice of victory.
Zahara, a prodigious mage, is destined to wield the Power of Creation and put an end to the Usurper. But when that power mistakenly falls to Ekarath, her best friend and elite soldier incapable of casting the simplest of spells, destiny must be questioned.
Will the Usurper complete his victory? Or will Ekarath find the strength to be the hero he wasn’t destined to be?
This book just starts right off. The world building is focused around what the characters know/explain to each other, including the magic system based off of weaving together different kinds of magic into patterns and knots. I found the magic system pretty interesting, especially how it is used later in the book.
I enjoyed the characters. You get the POVs of Zahara, Ekarath, and Mahzun. At first the jump between the different POVs was a little jarring; however, I enjoyed hearing from Zahara and Ekarath as the story progressed. Their friendship with a bit of attraction but not a full romance was refreshing in a YA fantasy. Mahzun’s POV was a little confusing. He’s the big bad who sees himself as the good guy. I think this was not done as well. And I think that’s because the book is very fast paced and on the shorter side. I think that some readers might be happier if it was clearer.
Overall it was a fun, fast paced adventure, and I enjoyed it. 3.5/5
Description from NetGalley:
The world is free. The world is mine.
Some call him the Usurper, the Destroyer of Worlds. Mahzun calls himself the Savior of Man. A decade of war has brought him to the precipice of victory.
Zahara, a prodigious mage, is destined to wield the Power of Creation and put an end to the Usurper. But when that power mistakenly falls to Ekarath, her best friend and elite soldier incapable of casting the simplest of spells, destiny must be questioned.
Will the Usurper complete his victory? Or will Ekarath find the strength to be the hero he wasn’t destined to be?
This book just starts right off. The world building is focused around what the characters know/explain to each other, including the magic system based off of weaving together different kinds of magic into patterns and knots. I found the magic system pretty interesting, especially how it is used later in the book.
I enjoyed the characters. You get the POVs of Zahara, Ekarath, and Mahzun. At first the jump between the different POVs was a little jarring; however, I enjoyed hearing from Zahara and Ekarath as the story progressed. Their friendship with a bit of attraction but not a full romance was refreshing in a YA fantasy. Mahzun’s POV was a little confusing. He’s the big bad who sees himself as the good guy. I think this was not done as well. And I think that’s because the book is very fast paced and on the shorter side. I think that some readers might be happier if it was clearer.
Overall it was a fun, fast paced adventure, and I enjoyed it. 3.5/5
January 14, 2022
Alright, hear me out. This book is actually really good. The plot is really good. The magical system is unique and interesting. The characters are likable, in their own unique ways. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives, especially Mahzun's. While he got a little annoying referring to himself as the "Savior of Man" (elevated ego much?), I really enjoyed getting the villain's twisted POV.
I wish there was more background into three MCs. At about halfway through the book, you start to learn small thing about each character. Like how Ekarath previously went to the cities to sell his wares. All we knew before that was he grew up in the northern area of this world and that he used to be a hunter/trapper. No familial background, nothing. Zahara we only know she’s an orphan. And her mom taught her to weave. But how long was she an orphan? How did she make her way to the academy? How did her family die? Her family must’ve had some money if they could afford her golf earring in order to weave. But she described herself from “low nobility”. Mahzun: all we know is he has some sort of special bond or power with the magical system. What is the origin of the dark blade? How’d he come upon it? What prompted him to decide he needed to become the “Savior of Man”?
I really think a chapter or two at the beginning of the book would've helped loop together everything and not left the reader confused about the characters and the world more than halfway through the book. At the end of it all, however, I did enjoy this book and would definitely read the next one!
I wish there was more background into three MCs. At about halfway through the book, you start to learn small thing about each character. Like how Ekarath previously went to the cities to sell his wares. All we knew before that was he grew up in the northern area of this world and that he used to be a hunter/trapper. No familial background, nothing. Zahara we only know she’s an orphan. And her mom taught her to weave. But how long was she an orphan? How did she make her way to the academy? How did her family die? Her family must’ve had some money if they could afford her golf earring in order to weave. But she described herself from “low nobility”. Mahzun: all we know is he has some sort of special bond or power with the magical system. What is the origin of the dark blade? How’d he come upon it? What prompted him to decide he needed to become the “Savior of Man”?
I really think a chapter or two at the beginning of the book would've helped loop together everything and not left the reader confused about the characters and the world more than halfway through the book. At the end of it all, however, I did enjoy this book and would definitely read the next one!
January 23, 2022
If you like strong male leads with supportive females in a fantasy setting, this book is for you. The author's style and story reminds me of Christopher Paolini's Eragon and the magical concepts vaguely of Jonathan Stroud's The Amulet of Samarkand. While I generally enjoyed the storyline, I think more background on the characters was needed for readers to truly connect with them, as well as more robust world building to understand what each of the main characters were fighting for. I thought Mahzun was the most developed character and even had compassion for him in the middle of the book but by the end my feelings had turned fully to distaste with how Zahara was treated. Zahara left me with mixed emotions. Monson goes back and forth between showing Zahara as a strong female lead who doesn't need a man to protect her and then having Ekarath protecting her or trying to control what she does. As for Ekarath… I was a little disappointed that he gets this magic and then can do complex weaves without practicing at all where Monson spends a great deal of stating Zahara had to train from birth to get as good as she is. The ending of the book was disjointed and felt rushed, which is unfortunate since it implies that this is the first in a series.
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
This book was interesting, but confusing at times. I enjoyed the main characters Zahara and Ekarath, and I really liked how the author stuck to friendship rather than pushing them into a relationship; it suited the book much more than a relationship would have, so I really liked that aspect of the book! Zahara was a really good character. She was strong and sure of herself, and I enjoyed reading her points of view. The magic system was really cool as well! It could have been explained a bit more than it was, but overall it was pretty interesting and unique.
I liked the writing style of the book! It was easy to read and flowed well, but at times it got somewhat confusing with the overuse of saying “the boy” or “the girl” rather than just saying character names. It would have been easier to follow if it stated the character names, but it was fine! The setting was interesting, but it should have been expanded on a bit more, as a bit more context for the events would have been helpful.
Overall, this book was okay. It was difficult to follow at times, but it was full of action, which made it more interesting and sped up the story :)
This book was interesting, but confusing at times. I enjoyed the main characters Zahara and Ekarath, and I really liked how the author stuck to friendship rather than pushing them into a relationship; it suited the book much more than a relationship would have, so I really liked that aspect of the book! Zahara was a really good character. She was strong and sure of herself, and I enjoyed reading her points of view. The magic system was really cool as well! It could have been explained a bit more than it was, but overall it was pretty interesting and unique.
I liked the writing style of the book! It was easy to read and flowed well, but at times it got somewhat confusing with the overuse of saying “the boy” or “the girl” rather than just saying character names. It would have been easier to follow if it stated the character names, but it was fine! The setting was interesting, but it should have been expanded on a bit more, as a bit more context for the events would have been helpful.
Overall, this book was okay. It was difficult to follow at times, but it was full of action, which made it more interesting and sped up the story :)
January 12, 2022
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book had somewhat of a rough beginning.
I spent a lot of time looking up whether or not this book was a sequel in the beginning. Readers are just plopped right into the thick of things without much explanation of what is going on and expected to pick things up as they go. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I was a bit confused on whether it was purposefully used to try and make readers want to learn more or if I had accidentally stumbled upon a book I wasn’t meant to read yet. And while Jon Monson has written books before, none of his earlier works seemed to be part of a series that included this book, so I hesitantly continued on.
One of the main reasons I wanted to read this book comes from the description. The “accidental hero” plot found from Ekarath mistakenly getting access to magic powerful enough to defeat the big bad seemed so interesting and pulled me into picking this up. However, I wasn’t quite a fan of just how far into the story I needed to get to even learn of what the description had already told me. Ekarath’s discovery that he has been chosen as the new heir doesn’t come until close to 50% of the way through the book. What I had assumed to be the main reason the plot exists and therefore something that would occur in the first 25% didn’t actually happen until much later, making the beginning section feel a bit like it dragged.
I did really enjoy the villain of this story, however. The author does a very good job of making the villain someone readers can understand and kind of root for. A few of the chapters are spent in the villain’s point of view, showing off not only what he is doing, but also why he is doing what he thinks is right. I ended up hoping there was a peaceful resolution or compromise to this story, and I still can’t really say which side is truly in the right.
The ending leaves readers with a lot of questions, yet doesn’t really feel like a dreaded cliffhanger. I’m definitely in need of a sequel after reading this, however, and will be awaiting whatever Jon Monson writes next in this world.
This book had somewhat of a rough beginning.
I spent a lot of time looking up whether or not this book was a sequel in the beginning. Readers are just plopped right into the thick of things without much explanation of what is going on and expected to pick things up as they go. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I was a bit confused on whether it was purposefully used to try and make readers want to learn more or if I had accidentally stumbled upon a book I wasn’t meant to read yet. And while Jon Monson has written books before, none of his earlier works seemed to be part of a series that included this book, so I hesitantly continued on.
One of the main reasons I wanted to read this book comes from the description. The “accidental hero” plot found from Ekarath mistakenly getting access to magic powerful enough to defeat the big bad seemed so interesting and pulled me into picking this up. However, I wasn’t quite a fan of just how far into the story I needed to get to even learn of what the description had already told me. Ekarath’s discovery that he has been chosen as the new heir doesn’t come until close to 50% of the way through the book. What I had assumed to be the main reason the plot exists and therefore something that would occur in the first 25% didn’t actually happen until much later, making the beginning section feel a bit like it dragged.
I did really enjoy the villain of this story, however. The author does a very good job of making the villain someone readers can understand and kind of root for. A few of the chapters are spent in the villain’s point of view, showing off not only what he is doing, but also why he is doing what he thinks is right. I ended up hoping there was a peaceful resolution or compromise to this story, and I still can’t really say which side is truly in the right.
The ending leaves readers with a lot of questions, yet doesn’t really feel like a dreaded cliffhanger. I’m definitely in need of a sequel after reading this, however, and will be awaiting whatever Jon Monson writes next in this world.
January 22, 2022
5/5 Stars
This is a story filled with war, ruin, and hope. I loved the dichotomy of each side of the war. We delved into the Usurper's past that caused him to start the war, while also seeing how his destruction is influencing the rebellion.
What drew me in from the first few pages was the magic system. I loved how mages need the use of a tool- their qilada- and those tools come in many shapes and sizes. They use them to weave the threads of magic- or the draod- to create their spells. I thought this was very imaginative and in depth with the different kind of threads.
I love that readers are introduced to this world after this war has been going on for years. Jon Monson did a great job at the world building and character creation. Each character was unique and left me feeling as if I knew them. Plus the antagonist is someone I kinda want to see redeemed, but I know that's just me wanting to see the best in characters!
I am mad that this novel ended at a bit of a cliffhanger. I really need more and soon!
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy from Netgalley.
This is a story filled with war, ruin, and hope. I loved the dichotomy of each side of the war. We delved into the Usurper's past that caused him to start the war, while also seeing how his destruction is influencing the rebellion.
What drew me in from the first few pages was the magic system. I loved how mages need the use of a tool- their qilada- and those tools come in many shapes and sizes. They use them to weave the threads of magic- or the draod- to create their spells. I thought this was very imaginative and in depth with the different kind of threads.
I love that readers are introduced to this world after this war has been going on for years. Jon Monson did a great job at the world building and character creation. Each character was unique and left me feeling as if I knew them. Plus the antagonist is someone I kinda want to see redeemed, but I know that's just me wanting to see the best in characters!
I am mad that this novel ended at a bit of a cliffhanger. I really need more and soon!
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy from Netgalley.
December 16, 2021
I received a digital ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has a compelling premise and thorough world-building. I liked the distinction between Ekarath and Zahara as characters, and reading from Mahzun's perspective as well was an intriguing contrast. However, all the other characters fell a little flat and did not seem fully fleshed out. The plot for the first 2/3 was engrossing, but the last third felt meandering and dragged a little. At times, I found myself becoming frustrated with Ekarath and had a hard time identifying with the reluctant hero trope. The writing style was also inconsistent--sometimes it flowed well and other times it seemed that the author was trying to force a romance into a perfectly strong platonic relationship. The ending of the first book does leave some big questions for the next one to answer, and I am interested in finding out how everything resolves.
This book has a compelling premise and thorough world-building. I liked the distinction between Ekarath and Zahara as characters, and reading from Mahzun's perspective as well was an intriguing contrast. However, all the other characters fell a little flat and did not seem fully fleshed out. The plot for the first 2/3 was engrossing, but the last third felt meandering and dragged a little. At times, I found myself becoming frustrated with Ekarath and had a hard time identifying with the reluctant hero trope. The writing style was also inconsistent--sometimes it flowed well and other times it seemed that the author was trying to force a romance into a perfectly strong platonic relationship. The ending of the first book does leave some big questions for the next one to answer, and I am interested in finding out how everything resolves.
December 22, 2021
This book was much better than I expected.
I would say this borders middle grade and ya for content.
The first half went by quickly and was very well spread out rather than info dumping. However for about 60pages the book got real slow and I had to trudge through. I'm glad I did cause the ending was satisfying.
The magic in here was interesting however, I would've preferred to learn more about how it worked. Instead we were shown quite a bit but never fully explained.
I enjoyed the fact there was romance. Though there was some attraction mentioned, romance did not happen. It's rare to find a fantasy without any romantic elements.
The plot was intriguing as well. This is where I wasn't sure how I'd feel. The synopsis seemed way to simple to be a fully thought out plot. However, this was not the case. I would love to see more books done in this world and will definitely be keeping an eye on this author.
I would say this borders middle grade and ya for content.
The first half went by quickly and was very well spread out rather than info dumping. However for about 60pages the book got real slow and I had to trudge through. I'm glad I did cause the ending was satisfying.
The magic in here was interesting however, I would've preferred to learn more about how it worked. Instead we were shown quite a bit but never fully explained.
I enjoyed the fact there was romance. Though there was some attraction mentioned, romance did not happen. It's rare to find a fantasy without any romantic elements.
The plot was intriguing as well. This is where I wasn't sure how I'd feel. The synopsis seemed way to simple to be a fully thought out plot. However, this was not the case. I would love to see more books done in this world and will definitely be keeping an eye on this author.
December 31, 2021
I found "The Final Heir" a bit disjointed. The story had promise, but was somewhat redundant for me in that the two main characters, Ekarath and Zahara find themselves assigned the task of leaving the town where they were entrenched to go find a hermit, and deliver the key to defeating the self titled, "Savior of the World". The thing is that those who are being "saved" are fighting and defending the very man, one of the Heirs, who has supposedly put the world under oppression.
The story has a powerful blade, used by the Usurper, that drains his life and leaves him scarred every time he uses it, griffin that is bonded to the Usurper, a girl who is a weaver of threads that supposedly made up the world, magic and even some hints of romance. But much was left unexplained and there are so many loose ends by the end of the book that it left me wondering where the author was trying to go with it.
The story has a powerful blade, used by the Usurper, that drains his life and leaves him scarred every time he uses it, griffin that is bonded to the Usurper, a girl who is a weaver of threads that supposedly made up the world, magic and even some hints of romance. But much was left unexplained and there are so many loose ends by the end of the book that it left me wondering where the author was trying to go with it.
January 5, 2022
The synopsis of The Final Heir sounds really good, I like the idea of an unlikely hero. However, the book fell a little flat for me. Jon Monson created a unique magic system. The world-building lacked a little though. The descriptions were good without being excessive, but the necessary history was missing. Why did people feel oppressed? What were they being saved from?
I never felt connected to the characters and I really didn't know who to side with. The Usurper is portrayed as the "bad guy", but there are chapters in his POV that make him not feel evil. Zahara and Ekarath were portrayed as the "good guys", but I didn't find them very likeable.
The Final Heir seemed to be a standalone novel, but the ending set it up to be the beginning of a series. I feel there should be a prequel too to fill in the gaps and provide backstory.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I never felt connected to the characters and I really didn't know who to side with. The Usurper is portrayed as the "bad guy", but there are chapters in his POV that make him not feel evil. Zahara and Ekarath were portrayed as the "good guys", but I didn't find them very likeable.
The Final Heir seemed to be a standalone novel, but the ending set it up to be the beginning of a series. I feel there should be a prequel too to fill in the gaps and provide backstory.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 29, 2022
Net Galley eARC. Einar has been ravaged for a decade in the battle between The Seven Heirs and the Usurper, a man determined to destroy the old and rebuild a new society. After her parents are killed, Zahara finds refuge in a walled city where she trains as a mage. After the final battle in which the last of the original Heirs is killed, she and her best friend warrior Ekarath escape. Adventure and travail ensues as they endeavor to find the Final Heir and fulfill a prophecy to secure the future. This was a fast paced story which provoked thought about which form of society is best for all? The characters were well developed including the villian a mad man with noble intentions. I liked that the focus was on friendship not romance. I did find the ending unsatisfactory and rather open ended as to the villian's fate. I suppose another story is in the winds. Over all an engaging YA fantasy novel.
January 31, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
An exciting, twisting, tale of good vs evil, astounding magic, misdirection and acceptance. We encounter a man who believes himself to be the savior of man as he destroys those he perceived to be enemies.
We meet a young woman studying to be a mage, and a young man studying to be a soldier. Both of whom believe they will be fighting for their way of life, fighting to destroy evil and protect their city.
And so the stage is set. The characters are believable, the world is well built, the descriptions are clear, the concept is well-developed. This is a world you can picture and lose yourself in. The action takes you along with it. If you love fantasy with lots of well-developed facets, this is a book you will enjoy. And there’s more to come. Follow Mahzun, Zahara, Ekarath and many more fascinating inhabitants as they learn about themselves and their world.
An exciting, twisting, tale of good vs evil, astounding magic, misdirection and acceptance. We encounter a man who believes himself to be the savior of man as he destroys those he perceived to be enemies.
We meet a young woman studying to be a mage, and a young man studying to be a soldier. Both of whom believe they will be fighting for their way of life, fighting to destroy evil and protect their city.
And so the stage is set. The characters are believable, the world is well built, the descriptions are clear, the concept is well-developed. This is a world you can picture and lose yourself in. The action takes you along with it. If you love fantasy with lots of well-developed facets, this is a book you will enjoy. And there’s more to come. Follow Mahzun, Zahara, Ekarath and many more fascinating inhabitants as they learn about themselves and their world.
February 12, 2022
Thanks to Net Galley and author Jon Monson, I obtained an Advanced Reader Copy of The Final Heir.
This was a fantastic book for me! I could never figure out where the narrative was headed since there were so many twists and turns. All the key characters were well-developed and likeable in my opinion.
Mahzun is a complex character with strong motivations who is both charming and formidable, an expertly created villain, and a lot of fun to read.
The characters are all in the right places.
This is a complex fantasy storey filled with suspense, fight scenes, peril, quests, magic, and much more. There are surprising turns, moments when all appears to be lost, and wins that will make the reader happy. As magic, friendship, and the battle to survive maintain this a fast-paced read, powerful characters clash over a last hold on power.
This is a book that fantasy aficionados should pick up and immerse themselves in. It’s definitely a thrilling read…
This was a fantastic book for me! I could never figure out where the narrative was headed since there were so many twists and turns. All the key characters were well-developed and likeable in my opinion.
Mahzun is a complex character with strong motivations who is both charming and formidable, an expertly created villain, and a lot of fun to read.
The characters are all in the right places.
This is a complex fantasy storey filled with suspense, fight scenes, peril, quests, magic, and much more. There are surprising turns, moments when all appears to be lost, and wins that will make the reader happy. As magic, friendship, and the battle to survive maintain this a fast-paced read, powerful characters clash over a last hold on power.
This is a book that fantasy aficionados should pick up and immerse themselves in. It’s definitely a thrilling read…
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