3.5
Blood Heir
ByPublisher Description
The first book in an epic new series about a princess hiding a dark secret and the con man she must trust to clear her name for her father's murder.
In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are unnatural—dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, has a terrifying secret. Her deadly Affinity to blood is her curse and the reason she has lived her life hidden behind palace walls.
When Ana's father, the emperor, is murdered, her world is shattered. Framed as his killer, Ana must flee the palace to save her life. And to clear her name, she must find her father's murderer on her own. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is far different from the one she thought she knew. Corruption rules the land, and a greater conspiracy is at work—one that threatens the very balance of her world. And there is only one person corrupt enough to help Ana get to its core: Ramson Quicktongue.
A cunning crime lord of the Cyrilian underworld, Ramson has sinister plans—though he might have met his match in Ana. Because in this story, the princess might be the most dangerous player of all.
“Cinematic storytelling at its best.”—Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep and The Girl the Sea Gave Back
“Zhao shines in the fast-paced and vivid combat scenes, which lend a cinematic quality that pulls readers in.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Zhao is a master writer who weaves a powerful tale of loyalty, honor, and courage through a strong female protagonist. . . . Readers will love the fast-paced energy and plot twists in this adventure-packed story.”—SLJ
In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are unnatural—dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, has a terrifying secret. Her deadly Affinity to blood is her curse and the reason she has lived her life hidden behind palace walls.
When Ana's father, the emperor, is murdered, her world is shattered. Framed as his killer, Ana must flee the palace to save her life. And to clear her name, she must find her father's murderer on her own. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is far different from the one she thought she knew. Corruption rules the land, and a greater conspiracy is at work—one that threatens the very balance of her world. And there is only one person corrupt enough to help Ana get to its core: Ramson Quicktongue.
A cunning crime lord of the Cyrilian underworld, Ramson has sinister plans—though he might have met his match in Ana. Because in this story, the princess might be the most dangerous player of all.
“Cinematic storytelling at its best.”—Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep and The Girl the Sea Gave Back
“Zhao shines in the fast-paced and vivid combat scenes, which lend a cinematic quality that pulls readers in.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Zhao is a master writer who weaves a powerful tale of loyalty, honor, and courage through a strong female protagonist. . . . Readers will love the fast-paced energy and plot twists in this adventure-packed story.”—SLJ
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesBlood Heir Reviews
3.5
“i enjoyed!! the story was entertaining and i love the language”
“I did enjoy this book, but Ana was quite frustrating to me. I understand that she is young and hasn't really learned to hone her blood affinite, but my goodness, USE YOUR POWERS TO HELP YOURSELF! She could've been a bit stronger and saved May and Luka, but nope. The author wrote her to be a bit too weak for someone with blood affinite. May and Luka both died and now Ana has to pretend she is dead again.
I like Ramson. He was likely unlikeable if you understand. I think initially, he would've traded Ana, but he's become smarter and understands that he has to choose Ana and help her bring out a better world. I thought it was sweet that he named the bird after Fisher. I know he ducked from the arrow that killed Jonah, but it's not his fault. Jonah was too good for that world.
I wish Ramson had run sooner to give the evidence, but oh well. Then there wouldn't be 2 more books to read. I'm gonna assume that book 2 will be about recruiting and honing her powers and then book 3 will be Ana finally taking her title back.
Plot Spoilers:
Ana breaks Ramson out of prison so they can find the alchemist that killed Ana's father, the emperor. Ana has a girl May with her that helped her when Ana was framed for the murder. May gets kidnapped. Ana has to go with Ramson to save her. A rebellion ends up taking over the Playpen, but the Whitecloaks find them and May gets killed. They go to Novo Mynsk. Ramson tries to ill his former boss, but it goes sideways. Ana confronts the alchemist and finds out her aunt planned the killings all out so Affinites could eventually take over. Ana must go to Salskoff to make sure Luka doesn't hand the throne to the aunt. Ramson had purchased a contract to free the Windwriath, Linn. Linn saves Ana from Sodov, Ana's past affinite "tutor". They both go to try and stop Ana's aunt's plan. Ana is discovered and jumps in the water. The alchemist had helped Ramson escape and so he jumps in to save Ana. They go and Ana is able to accuse her aunt and get Luka out of the spell. Luka gives her the title but then Sodov kills Luka. Ramson comes in too late with the evidence. The alchemist gives Ana a paralysis injection to pretend to kill her. Now Ramson and Ana have to flee and come back with the rebellion army.”
About Amélie Wen Zhao
Amélie Wen Zhao is the New York Times, Sunday Times, and internationally bestselling author of The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, The Dragon and the Sun Lotus, the Song of the Last Kingdom duology, and the Blood Heir trilogy. She was born in Paris and grew up in Beijing, where she spent her days reenacting tales of legendary heroes, ancient kingdoms, and lost magic at her grandmother’s courtyard house. She attended college in the United States and now resides in New York City, working as a finance professional by day and fantasy author by night. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her family in China, where she’s determined to walk the rivers and lakes of old just like the practitioners in her novels do.
Other books by Amélie Wen Zhao
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