Lidan Tolak is the fiercest of her father’s daughters; more than capable of one day leading her clan. But caught between her warring parents, Lidan’s world begins to unravel when another of her father’s wives falls pregnant. Before she has time to consider the threat of a brother, a bloody swathe is cut through the heart of the clan and Lidan must fight, not only to prove her worth, but simply to survive.

Ranoth Olseta wants nothing more than to be a worthy successor to his father’s throne. When his home is threatened by the aggressive Woaden Empire, Ran becomes his city’s saviour, but powers within him are revealed by the enemy and he is condemned to death. Confused and betrayed, Ran is forced to flee his homeland, vowing to reclaim what he has lost, even if it kills him.

Facing an unknown future, and battling forces both familiar and foreign, can Lidan and Ran overcome the odds threatening to drag them into inescapable darkness? With the ongoing SPFBO competition barreling towards its conclusion (there could be a champion by the end of this week, I think), I was really excited to get to Alicia Wanstall-Burke’s novel, Blood of Heirs! This is actually the fourth book I’ve read (in addition to The Sword of Kaigen, Fortune’s Fool, and Never Die) that’s in the finals this year, and there’s a few more on that list I’m hoping to tackle soon as well!

Blood of Heirs is the first book in a series, The Coraidic Sagas. And before I really get into my review, there’s something I want to mention about this book. I debated leaving this out of the review, but I’ve noticed a few other reviewers have mentioned it. And ultimately it doesn’t technically count as a spoiler, and I think it could actually enhance someone’s enjoyment of this book. So…there’s two POVs/storylines in the book, and while they share some similar themes/elements, they never actually converge. I assume at some point they will, but this first book is almost like reading two separate stories, contained in one volume.

Ok, all that said…this book is fucking outstanding, and one of the most sharply-written self-published fantasy novels I’ve read. Blood of Heirs is a book that had me hooked almost instantly, and I just devoured it & was left craving more.

Lidan Tolak is twelve years old (going on thirteen), and her father’s heir. For now. She’s his first daughter, from his first wife. He has several wives, many daughters, and much to his chagrin, no sons. If one of his wives were to bear him a son, Lidan would no longer be his heir.

Lidan is also trying to forge her own unique path, and become not just her clan’s leader, but a ranger & a fighter as well. She longs to ride horses, train, learn to defend her land. And although her father is a bit more open to Lidan’s wishes, they fly in the face of what her abusive & overbearing mother wants for Lidan.

The other POV belongs to Ranoth Olseta, a fifteen-year-old boy, and also his father’s heir. Ran has been entrusted to lead a military campaign, perhaps a bit prematurely. Things go tragically wrong, and in an attempt to make amends with his father & his people, a power Ran didn’t know he possessed reveals itself and results in his banishment.

Oof…I honestly can not recommend Blood of Heirs enough. I was probably around 35-50 pages into it when I smashed the order button for the second book, Legacy of Ghosts.

Blood of Heirs is one of those fantasy novels that just made me so fucking happy to be a fantasy reader. It’s impeccably well written, with characters that come alive on the page and immediately work their way into your heart. I loved the balance between the two POVs here…you get a few Lidan chapters, and then a few Ran chapters. Burke uses this in a way that can feel almost painful, because sometimes a chapter will end and you’re like HOLY FUCK WHAT IS HAPPENING I NEED TO KNOW…but you have to wait a few chapters for a resolution, if it comes.

Lidan was my favorite of the two main characters, which is probably the least surprising thing if you know me or read my reviews. She’s such a great character, written with a lot of heart. There’s this intensity & ferocity to her that I just adored…tell her she can’t do a thing, and she works twice as hard at it. There’s so much more to this great character beyond being a badass…but never fear, she is also a total stabby-stabby badass, and I’m just dying to catch up with her in the next book.

There are some truly dark & disturbing elements at work in this book, and some shocking revelations. Above all else, this is a story that asks you to really care about its two main characters, and then drags them through all kinds of hell. Alicia Wanstall-Burke is kind of a monster that way!!!

Blood of Heirs is just fucking fantastic, cover to cover. One of my favorite reads of the year so far, easy!