Book Review: Blood Heir (Blood Heir Trilogy #1) by Amélie Wen Zhao
I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
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.
Book Details
Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao
Blood Heir Trilogy #1
Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Retelling
Published November 19th 2019 by Delacorte Press
Hardcover, 464 pages
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Review
Blood Heir is the first book in Amélie Wen Zhao’s debut fantasy series with a Russian-inspired setting and is a loose retelling of Anastasia. It is a world of elemental magical, assassins, and cutthroats. It is the story of a princess who was told she was a monster but chose instead to be a hero.
In this world there are people called Affinites with rare abilities. People with a magical affinity to certain elements, making them both feared and prized by those with power. Exploited for their gifts, they are trafficked within the Cyrilian Empire.
Crown Princess Anastacya Mikhailov is secretly a blood Affinite able to influence others physically. Sheltered from the outside world, she lives life sequestered, rejected by her father and taught to fear her powers.
“You are not a monster, Sistrika. Your Affinity does not define you. What defines you is how you choose to wield it.”
When her father, the Emperor, is murdered it shatters her from her protected world and sets Ana on a quest that will change her life and perspective beyond the palace walls that once held her hostage.
Framed for his death, Ana fleas court in search of the one man cunning enough to help restore her name—crime lord of the Cyrilian underworld, Ramson Quicktongue has his own dark agenda for aiding her.
Only Ana is not a typical Princess and while together Ransom and Ana battle their way through plots and ambushes, the world around them is rising up in revolt. What starts out as revenge becomes much more—the very fate of her kingdom and its people.
“The Ana of a year ago would have valued honor and faced her enemies head-on. But then, she supposed, in a world of con men, crime lords, and cutthroats, there were no rules to the game. You only played to win.”
My favorite part of the book is probably the first half where we really get a good look at the terrible price Ana has endured and the ramifications of her powers when she chooses to use them—even when she believes it is for the greater good.
What I took away most from Blood Heir was that the author wanted to tell a story about the horrors of subjugation and the power of self-acceptance. Zhao simply chooses a fantasy world setting to deliver it.
Zhao chose a heroine for her story— a sheltered, teen-aged girl who lives in constant fear, demonized because of her powers. A girl who learns to accept herself despite being told that her very nature makes her a monster.
There’s a message of hope and of self-acceptance that can only be realized by reading her whole story-arc.
In the End
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I thought the pace sometimes uneven and perhaps the drama of Ana constantly being thrust into danger could have been better, but the story gave me feels and a message to ponder.
Ana’s interactions with Ramson, the growth and changes in their perspectives, are well-done and the murder mystery kept me intrigued. I’m interested in seeing how the series progresses and glad Zhao choose to publish Blood Heir.
