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Heir of Prophecy
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Expected 25 Aug 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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10 copies available
U.S. only
She's a woman bound by fate, torn between two prophecies.
He's the Prince of the underworld, fated to either claim her or end her life.
Defying destiny is one thing…the heart, another.
Magic has always been at the periphery of Audra’s life. As a human, she knows that magic exists, but it's as distant as the legends she grew up with. Until one day, magic returns, bringing with it the all too real Fae and upending Audra’s life entirely.
Abducted by a cult of fae Priestesses, Audra finds herself conscripted into a magical war academy. The only hope of surviving this new world filled with guilds, magic, and danger is to band together with a group of her fellow prisoners. Though unlike the others, Audra's burgeoning magic is erratic and violent—just as the prophecy foretold. She must discover what it means to be the Heir, but time is running out. The Priestesses know the Heir moves among them, and they're determined to root them out, no matter what it takes.
As she struggles to mask her power, Audra’s plagued by visions of a dark, seductive being with a conflicting truth. He doesn’t want to save the world; he plans to reclaim it.
Now, Audra must choose: become the savior the cult demands or the catalyst the vision promises.
He's the Prince of the underworld, fated to either claim her or end her life.
Defying destiny is one thing…the heart, another.
Magic has always been at the periphery of Audra’s life. As a human, she knows that magic exists, but it's as distant as the legends she grew up with. Until one day, magic returns, bringing with it the all too real Fae and upending Audra’s life entirely.
Abducted by a cult of fae Priestesses, Audra finds herself conscripted into a magical war academy. The only hope of surviving this new world filled with guilds, magic, and danger is to band together with a group of her fellow prisoners. Though unlike the others, Audra's burgeoning magic is erratic and violent—just as the prophecy foretold. She must discover what it means to be the Heir, but time is running out. The Priestesses know the Heir moves among them, and they're determined to root them out, no matter what it takes.
As she struggles to mask her power, Audra’s plagued by visions of a dark, seductive being with a conflicting truth. He doesn’t want to save the world; he plans to reclaim it.
Now, Audra must choose: become the savior the cult demands or the catalyst the vision promises.
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
March 2, 2026
I feel so unbelievably lucky to have been given the opportunity to tell Audra and Zhaire’s story. Thank you for joining me on their journey.
Want to Read
November 13, 2025Chosen one trope? Say less.
April 25, 2026
thank you harper voyager for the arc!
heir of prophecy asks one of my favorite fantasy questions: what does it mean to be the chosen one, and who does being chosen actually benefit?
twenty-three years ago, the heir promised, the world’s salvation, was born to restart the season cycle. that premise gives the story its mythic weight, but the book does not treat the prophecy as a clean gift. it treats it as a burden, an inheritance, a cage, and maybe, eventually, a choice.
this story is filled with gorgeous world building, character descriptions, and the kind of fantasy detail that makes a world feel lived in rather than simply explained. i was struck by the descriptions of brown skin. i feel like i left this book with thousands of new words for beauty, warmth, and complexion. lines like, “his skin was a warm umber, and silken brown waves brushed manicured brows, framed arrogant eyes,” made me pause. how beautiful. how intentional. how rare it still feels to read descriptions like that and feel the care behind them.
and the side characters? i loved them. deeply. immediately. the kind of side cast where you start building a fan cast in your head before you have even finished the book.
wilder, the soldier king.
callum, the honorable friend.
lottie, the gentle heart.
cersha, something rooted and thorned and impossible not to love.
noel. yes, noel. second chance something. i am looking respectfully and also slightly not respectfully.
but at the heart of the story is audra.
audra is a girl who has already learned responsibility through survival, family, work, and the inn. so before she is ever asked to carry the fate of the world, she has already been shaped by the smaller, relentless duties of everyday life.
she has the energy of a parentified child who has spent too long managing responsibilities that made her self-reliant, but also made it harder for her to accept wisdom, love, help, gifts, or even evidence that contradicts what she has been taught.
and honestly, there were moments where i wanted to shake her a little. lovingly. but still.
audra’s stubbornness is protective. it is fear dressed as certainty. it is survival dressed as duty. at one point, she even notices that she is “forbidden to speculate,” which, frankly, might be the highest crime against humanity. speculation is where freedom begins. wondering is where the cage starts to crack.
and then, eventually, something clicks for her.
what i appreciated so much is that the story does not stop at the moment of realization. in a lot of fantasy, once the character finally sees the truth, the narrative rushes forward and we are just meant to accept the pivot. but here, there is reflection. there is accountability. there is a moment where audra has to reckon with the fact that she is stubborn as hell and that some things might have unfolded differently if she had been able to question sooner. i loved that. i loved that her growth was not just about seeing the truth, but about understanding the cost of not seeing it.
that is where “fight just to spite your fear” feels like such a perfect heartbeat for this book. because fear is everywhere in this story. fear of prophecy. fear of being wrong. fear of betrayal. fear of wanting something that was never promised to you. fear of becoming what other people named you before you had the chance to name yourself.
audra’s fight is not only against external enemies. it is against the fear that has been mistaken for truth. it is against the version of herself that believes obedience is safer than uncertainty. fighting just to spite your fear is sometimes just allowing yourself to ask the question. sometimes it is accepting help. sometimes it is admitting that the world is more complicated than the story you were given.
and then there is zhaire.
the second-born demon prince.
to be honest, he kind of stole the show for me. in the books to come, i hope we get more povs, because the glimpses we got of him gave vulnerability, tension, growth, restraint, and danger in the exact combination i want from a male main character. he has presence. he has bite. he has softness where it counts.
i will leave you with a closing line:
“i will teach you how to raise entire legions.”
glorious. absolutely glorious.
bring on the army of the dead. bring on the consequences. bring on the complicated choices, the forbidden speculation, the demon prince, and the side characters i am already attached to.
i am so excited for book two. this is the type of fantasy that understands prophecy is only interesting when someone is brave enough to question who wrote it.
heir of prophecy asks one of my favorite fantasy questions: what does it mean to be the chosen one, and who does being chosen actually benefit?
twenty-three years ago, the heir promised, the world’s salvation, was born to restart the season cycle. that premise gives the story its mythic weight, but the book does not treat the prophecy as a clean gift. it treats it as a burden, an inheritance, a cage, and maybe, eventually, a choice.
this story is filled with gorgeous world building, character descriptions, and the kind of fantasy detail that makes a world feel lived in rather than simply explained. i was struck by the descriptions of brown skin. i feel like i left this book with thousands of new words for beauty, warmth, and complexion. lines like, “his skin was a warm umber, and silken brown waves brushed manicured brows, framed arrogant eyes,” made me pause. how beautiful. how intentional. how rare it still feels to read descriptions like that and feel the care behind them.
and the side characters? i loved them. deeply. immediately. the kind of side cast where you start building a fan cast in your head before you have even finished the book.
wilder, the soldier king.
callum, the honorable friend.
lottie, the gentle heart.
cersha, something rooted and thorned and impossible not to love.
noel. yes, noel. second chance something. i am looking respectfully and also slightly not respectfully.
but at the heart of the story is audra.
audra is a girl who has already learned responsibility through survival, family, work, and the inn. so before she is ever asked to carry the fate of the world, she has already been shaped by the smaller, relentless duties of everyday life.
she has the energy of a parentified child who has spent too long managing responsibilities that made her self-reliant, but also made it harder for her to accept wisdom, love, help, gifts, or even evidence that contradicts what she has been taught.
and honestly, there were moments where i wanted to shake her a little. lovingly. but still.
audra’s stubbornness is protective. it is fear dressed as certainty. it is survival dressed as duty. at one point, she even notices that she is “forbidden to speculate,” which, frankly, might be the highest crime against humanity. speculation is where freedom begins. wondering is where the cage starts to crack.
and then, eventually, something clicks for her.
what i appreciated so much is that the story does not stop at the moment of realization. in a lot of fantasy, once the character finally sees the truth, the narrative rushes forward and we are just meant to accept the pivot. but here, there is reflection. there is accountability. there is a moment where audra has to reckon with the fact that she is stubborn as hell and that some things might have unfolded differently if she had been able to question sooner. i loved that. i loved that her growth was not just about seeing the truth, but about understanding the cost of not seeing it.
that is where “fight just to spite your fear” feels like such a perfect heartbeat for this book. because fear is everywhere in this story. fear of prophecy. fear of being wrong. fear of betrayal. fear of wanting something that was never promised to you. fear of becoming what other people named you before you had the chance to name yourself.
audra’s fight is not only against external enemies. it is against the fear that has been mistaken for truth. it is against the version of herself that believes obedience is safer than uncertainty. fighting just to spite your fear is sometimes just allowing yourself to ask the question. sometimes it is accepting help. sometimes it is admitting that the world is more complicated than the story you were given.
and then there is zhaire.
the second-born demon prince.
to be honest, he kind of stole the show for me. in the books to come, i hope we get more povs, because the glimpses we got of him gave vulnerability, tension, growth, restraint, and danger in the exact combination i want from a male main character. he has presence. he has bite. he has softness where it counts.
i will leave you with a closing line:
“i will teach you how to raise entire legions.”
glorious. absolutely glorious.
bring on the army of the dead. bring on the consequences. bring on the complicated choices, the forbidden speculation, the demon prince, and the side characters i am already attached to.
i am so excited for book two. this is the type of fantasy that understands prophecy is only interesting when someone is brave enough to question who wrote it.
Read
April 30, 2026How a book can be cozy yet dark and mysterious, I do not know, but Analeigh always brings the best world-building and vibes!
Here's my official blurb:
Heir of Prophecy is a stunning new romantasy set in a magical fae school where students must excel--or be sent to the front lines in a war against demons. The unfolding mysteries of the school built a dark and atmospheric world, while the found family amongst the students brought a cozy aspect. But the tension between the main character and the demon haunting her dreams...well. I can't wait to see more of these two!
Here's my official blurb:
Heir of Prophecy is a stunning new romantasy set in a magical fae school where students must excel--or be sent to the front lines in a war against demons. The unfolding mysteries of the school built a dark and atmospheric world, while the found family amongst the students brought a cozy aspect. But the tension between the main character and the demon haunting her dreams...well. I can't wait to see more of these two!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨🔮 Heir of Prophecy 🔮✨
Eek I loved this so much and I need book two asap
The beginning is a bit slower paced, but I was immediately pulled in by the worldbuilding. The character work was strong right from the start. I loved her love and loyalty to her family and her connection to the women in the brothel. Then watching those quick but meaningful friendships form at the academy.
The ending is not a cliffhanger, but it lands in such a good spot that I still need the next book immediately.
Also I am going to need the audiobook because I just know it is going to be fire 🔥🎧
💫 What to Expect
• Chosen one FMC
• Underworld prince
• War academy
• Found Family
• Erratic magic
• Fae Fantasy
• Prophecies
• Cult of Priestesses
_ _ _ _ _
⭐ Final Rating: 5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Eek I loved this so much and I need book two asap
The beginning is a bit slower paced, but I was immediately pulled in by the worldbuilding. The character work was strong right from the start. I loved her love and loyalty to her family and her connection to the women in the brothel. Then watching those quick but meaningful friendships form at the academy.
The ending is not a cliffhanger, but it lands in such a good spot that I still need the next book immediately.
Also I am going to need the audiobook because I just know it is going to be fire 🔥🎧
💫 What to Expect
• Chosen one FMC
• Underworld prince
• War academy
• Found Family
• Erratic magic
• Fae Fantasy
• Prophecies
• Cult of Priestesses
_ _ _ _ _
⭐ Final Rating: 5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Want to Read
November 14, 2025seated like never before
Read
March 23, 2026I went into this one mostly blind, which is my favorite way to experience a debut, and I was immediately rewarded. Analeigh Sbrana is a genuinely immersive world builder who pulls you in before you even realize what's happening. While Heir of Prophecy shares DNA with a lot of contemporary fantasy, I never felt it was derivative. The weaving of multiple mythical beings into a cohesive, original narrative impressed me, and I think the academy plus prophecy framework is executed with real creativity and care.
Audra is a standout protagonist. She isn't physically powerful or immediately combat ready, but she is intelligent, deeply empathetic, and quietly heroic in the way that actually resonates with me. I felt her internal conflict was written with remarkable depth. The weight of a secret she carries, suppressing it not just out of self preservation but out of love for the people around her, was genuinely moving. That tension between knowledge and silence carried the story beautifully for me.
I found the underlying commentary woven into the world building especially compelling. I believe the way the fae used propaganda, overwhelming class schedules, and strategic deception to reframe captivity as opportunity is a sharp and deliberate mirror of real world systems of control. The fact that Audra kept actively reminding herself not to be lulled into forgetting why she was there gave the story a layer of intelligence that I felt elevated it well above genre standard.
The cast overall was a highlight for me. The diversity of characters felt organic and human. They were written as people, full stop. In a genre where I often find characters of color are over explained or treated as novelties, I think Sbrana writes them as simply part of the world, which is exactly how it should be done.
Romance feedback: Honestly, the story was strong enough that I didn't even find myself craving it, which says a lot. I felt the slow burn potential was absolutely there, but in my opinion the progression moved a bit fast in places and skipped tension that would have made the payoff so much more satisfying. I believe Sbrana has the character building skills to pull off a slow, aching build, and Audra and Zhaire's dynamic is convincing, but I personally felt it needed more time to breathe.
Speaking of Zhaire, his arc is genuinely moving. The grief, the unwanted prophecy, and the moral ambiguity of his early intentions all made for a compelling character. I just personally wanted to live inside that conflict more. I felt a particular early scene between them was a pivotal turning point that we only half witnessed. I would have loved more of his interior journey, as I think it would have added tremendous depth and made the romance feel far more earned.
I think this is a promising, compelling arc with real heart and a distinct authorial voice. The world building, the social commentary, and Audra's characterization alone make it worth reading in my opinion. I believe that with a slower romantic build and deeper access to Zhaire's interiority, this series has the bones to be truly exceptional. I will absolutely be continuing.
Audra is a standout protagonist. She isn't physically powerful or immediately combat ready, but she is intelligent, deeply empathetic, and quietly heroic in the way that actually resonates with me. I felt her internal conflict was written with remarkable depth. The weight of a secret she carries, suppressing it not just out of self preservation but out of love for the people around her, was genuinely moving. That tension between knowledge and silence carried the story beautifully for me.
I found the underlying commentary woven into the world building especially compelling. I believe the way the fae used propaganda, overwhelming class schedules, and strategic deception to reframe captivity as opportunity is a sharp and deliberate mirror of real world systems of control. The fact that Audra kept actively reminding herself not to be lulled into forgetting why she was there gave the story a layer of intelligence that I felt elevated it well above genre standard.
The cast overall was a highlight for me. The diversity of characters felt organic and human. They were written as people, full stop. In a genre where I often find characters of color are over explained or treated as novelties, I think Sbrana writes them as simply part of the world, which is exactly how it should be done.
Romance feedback: Honestly, the story was strong enough that I didn't even find myself craving it, which says a lot. I felt the slow burn potential was absolutely there, but in my opinion the progression moved a bit fast in places and skipped tension that would have made the payoff so much more satisfying. I believe Sbrana has the character building skills to pull off a slow, aching build, and Audra and Zhaire's dynamic is convincing, but I personally felt it needed more time to breathe.
Speaking of Zhaire, his arc is genuinely moving. The grief, the unwanted prophecy, and the moral ambiguity of his early intentions all made for a compelling character. I just personally wanted to live inside that conflict more. I felt a particular early scene between them was a pivotal turning point that we only half witnessed. I would have loved more of his interior journey, as I think it would have added tremendous depth and made the romance feel far more earned.
I think this is a promising, compelling arc with real heart and a distinct authorial voice. The world building, the social commentary, and Audra's characterization alone make it worth reading in my opinion. I believe that with a slower romantic build and deeper access to Zhaire's interiority, this series has the bones to be truly exceptional. I will absolutely be continuing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2026
The Heir of Prophecy ended so much stronger than it started for me. The first half felt very slow, and if I’m being honest, it was a bit of a struggle to get through at times. However, the second half completely turned things around, it was SO good! I flew through those final chapters.
Audra is such a compelling female lead, and I’m really excited to see where her story goes next. This first book is incredibly detailed, with a heavy focus on world building and character development. While that depth is impressive, it does make the beginning feel a little slower paced.
Overall, I’m giving this 4 stars because the second half was just that good, it truly redeemed the pacing for me. I’m definitely ready for book two!
Thank you to Avon for the ARC Book! 📖 ❤️
Audra is such a compelling female lead, and I’m really excited to see where her story goes next. This first book is incredibly detailed, with a heavy focus on world building and character development. While that depth is impressive, it does make the beginning feel a little slower paced.
Overall, I’m giving this 4 stars because the second half was just that good, it truly redeemed the pacing for me. I’m definitely ready for book two!
Thank you to Avon for the ARC Book! 📖 ❤️
tbr-netgalley
May 6, 2026I am thoroughly obsessed with this OH MY GOD! Everything was written to perfection - the world, the characters, the lore/plot. I felt fully immersed in this world and did not want to leave at all; it truly had my attention from beginning to end. I cannot wait for the conclusion of this luring duology. Analeigh Sbrana - you're on my auto-author buy list now.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Avon/Harper Voyager team for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Avon/Harper Voyager team for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
**
A truly unique dark academia story with strong plot, layered characters and a host of tropes that fit together like a puzzle. Forbidden attraction, chosen one, lies and deceit, found family… these all woven together create such a wonderful story that was an absolute pleasure to read.
The story follows Audra, a human girl running her parents inn in a small coastal town. She is perfectly ordinary, though stuck on her routines. But those routes and her entire life gets turned upside down when the fae come into town and abduct her (and a whole host of others). She and her fellow captives are taken to Holydere Academy where they are instructed to learn about the fae realm because one of them is the elusive Heir of Prophecy; someone who will save the faekind and restart the spring.
But nothing is as easy as it seems and as Audra and her friends try to learn to cast spells, forge weapons and excel in combat training, the Heir business starts to look a little less like a gift and more like a curse. And the looming demons with their tricks will not make it any easier. And who is the mysterious Zhaire who keeps appearing to Audra alone?
I really liked the pacing of the story and the way that it was split into four parts felt good and natural. Each section gives us more information and more worldbuilding and I love how it guided Audra forward. We learn so much about the fae, their history and goals alongside our hero and it was done wonderfully. Sometimes dark academia can be a bit dry with the lessons and everything but the author manages to write everyday schooling in a way that swept me away. I kind of wanted to attend the Academy too (though only the fun bits please).
The found family Audra gathers around her is excellent. They each bring something to the table and I love the friendship that has forged between all of them. So the twists that they face make me nervous because I just want all of them to be together and happy. I also like that they were placed in different guilds and I hope we learn more about them in the second book.
Speaking of, when can I get my hands on that second book? We left the plot in such a delicious place and I need to know more. The stakes are high, the reveals grand and the slow burn romance is blossoming and I want to know more. So so so good! I am completely hooked on this story and world!
**
A truly unique dark academia story with strong plot, layered characters and a host of tropes that fit together like a puzzle. Forbidden attraction, chosen one, lies and deceit, found family… these all woven together create such a wonderful story that was an absolute pleasure to read.
The story follows Audra, a human girl running her parents inn in a small coastal town. She is perfectly ordinary, though stuck on her routines. But those routes and her entire life gets turned upside down when the fae come into town and abduct her (and a whole host of others). She and her fellow captives are taken to Holydere Academy where they are instructed to learn about the fae realm because one of them is the elusive Heir of Prophecy; someone who will save the faekind and restart the spring.
But nothing is as easy as it seems and as Audra and her friends try to learn to cast spells, forge weapons and excel in combat training, the Heir business starts to look a little less like a gift and more like a curse. And the looming demons with their tricks will not make it any easier. And who is the mysterious Zhaire who keeps appearing to Audra alone?
I really liked the pacing of the story and the way that it was split into four parts felt good and natural. Each section gives us more information and more worldbuilding and I love how it guided Audra forward. We learn so much about the fae, their history and goals alongside our hero and it was done wonderfully. Sometimes dark academia can be a bit dry with the lessons and everything but the author manages to write everyday schooling in a way that swept me away. I kind of wanted to attend the Academy too (though only the fun bits please).
The found family Audra gathers around her is excellent. They each bring something to the table and I love the friendship that has forged between all of them. So the twists that they face make me nervous because I just want all of them to be together and happy. I also like that they were placed in different guilds and I hope we learn more about them in the second book.
Speaking of, when can I get my hands on that second book? We left the plot in such a delicious place and I need to know more. The stakes are high, the reveals grand and the slow burn romance is blossoming and I want to know more. So so so good! I am completely hooked on this story and world!
April 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an eARC of Heir of Prophecy. Physical reads take me awhile these days because of my busy working mom lifestyle, so I’m extra grateful to have been able to have been given this opportunity.
This is my second series by Analeigh Sbrana, and at this point I’ll pretty much auto‑read anything she writes as I love her writing style. Heir of Prophecy has a great core concept… magic, lore, and steady worldbuilding. That said, this one was 3.5 stars for for me. The beginning was really slow and confusing… I found myself distracted more than I would have liked. About halfway I was intrigued.. and the overall concept deserves some praise. Overall, it was a thoughtful and intriguing start with a concept strong enough to keep me interested in seeing where the series goes.
This is my second series by Analeigh Sbrana, and at this point I’ll pretty much auto‑read anything she writes as I love her writing style. Heir of Prophecy has a great core concept… magic, lore, and steady worldbuilding. That said, this one was 3.5 stars for for me. The beginning was really slow and confusing… I found myself distracted more than I would have liked. About halfway I was intrigued.. and the overall concept deserves some praise. Overall, it was a thoughtful and intriguing start with a concept strong enough to keep me interested in seeing where the series goes.
March 31, 2026
* thank you NetGalley for an ARC version of this book*
Meh. The plot and setting were interesting but the pacing by was off for me with the first third absolutely dragging. The writing cadence gave me “more tell than show” vibes, which is hard for me to stick with. Redeeming part was the FMC rocks.
Meh. The plot and setting were interesting but the pacing by was off for me with the first third absolutely dragging. The writing cadence gave me “more tell than show” vibes, which is hard for me to stick with. Redeeming part was the FMC rocks.
April 28, 2026
ARC Review
Such an Amazing book loved Audra’s story. The world building was insane, so descriptive that i was envisioning it in my head. Can’t wait to read the next book.
Such an Amazing book loved Audra’s story. The world building was insane, so descriptive that i was envisioning it in my head. Can’t wait to read the next book.
Want to Read
November 17, 2025i need this NOW
April 27, 2026
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!
This story is an interesting concept - a group of humans are taken from their realm to that of the fae, placed into an academy to help locate an Heir who will end the eternal winter. Yet there is a darker prophecy at play with a prince looking to find the Heir first.
I really struggled with the pacing and writing style. The first 30% felt like it spent too much time on things that took focus away from the more interesting part of the story - the academy setting and learning about the prophecies.
The magic and lore is rich and deep. The depth of the characters is something that I wish had been more explored, especially with Prince Zhaire. The connection between Audra and Zhaire felt like it just… happened.
Unfortunately this may be a case of right book, wrong time. I may opt to revisit this again in the future to give it a fair chance.
This story is an interesting concept - a group of humans are taken from their realm to that of the fae, placed into an academy to help locate an Heir who will end the eternal winter. Yet there is a darker prophecy at play with a prince looking to find the Heir first.
I really struggled with the pacing and writing style. The first 30% felt like it spent too much time on things that took focus away from the more interesting part of the story - the academy setting and learning about the prophecies.
The magic and lore is rich and deep. The depth of the characters is something that I wish had been more explored, especially with Prince Zhaire. The connection between Audra and Zhaire felt like it just… happened.
Unfortunately this may be a case of right book, wrong time. I may opt to revisit this again in the future to give it a fair chance.
March 21, 2026
2.5 stars
Audra, a young woman stuck in the small, backwater town of Salt Hollow, finds herself trapped in a life that she never wanted for herself. Six months after the death of her mother, she is forced to put aside her grief (and her dreams of a future far, far away) to help her ailing father run the family's struggling inn. Their lives go from bad to worse when the Mist - a mysterious, magical wall of ocean fog - suddenly moves inland, bringing with it a group of vicious Fae warriors hunting for a mysterious Heir promised to save their lands from an eternal winter.
Audra unexpectedly finds herself among a group of human prisoners transported to the Fae realm. Upon arrival, the humans are forced to relinquish their pasts; they are now students at an academy for magical training, where they will strengthen their latent abilities and divulge the Heir among them. Audra and her fellow classmates quickly realize that the Priestesses running the school will find this Heir by any means necessary, no matter how bloody or deadly. As the danger increases and Audra starts seeing visions of spirits and demons, she starts to think that maybe *she* is the one to satisfy the Prophecy - which is a problem, because she's pretty sure that the Fae's winter-ending ritual never ends well for the Heir. When a demon appears with a tempting bargain, Audra, quickly running out of time, is forced to make a decision that could end the world as they know it.
Heir of Prophecy was a unique take on "dark academia" romantasy. My thoughts on specific aspects of the story are below.
*World-building/Plot: The world-building was the standout for me in this book, with a completely fresh take on Fae/demons in a very saturated market. I loved the idea of magic being something controlled in a cyclical manner, with its ebb and flow causing the change of the seasons. The main conflict between the Fae/demon/human realms being driven by prophecy/an heir-that-was-promised was also really cool.
*Character Development: Audra was a strong protagonist, especially at the beginning of the story. The author did a great job of capturing how compassionate, strong, and intelligent she is, and her grief and guilt over wanting to experience life while also take care of her family was so well-done. The prisoners she ends up befriending are similarly compelling, though I wish they were more present in the story - I found that the strongest emotional beats were in the first part of the book, and died down once they became students. Audra spends most of her time self-isolating from her friends to keep them safe, which is very justified, but it ended up leaving a lot of the book feeling very flat. I felt similarly about her love interest, Zhaire. His introduction to the story was promising, and I was looking forward to when he would meet Audra and they would join forces. However, their (brief) interactions had zero chemistry, and there were no witty flirtations or deeper emotional conversations to justify any supposed attraction to each other - which felt pretty jarring with where they ended up at the end of the book.
*Pacing/Writing Style: Heir of Prophecy was divided into four main sections. The first part was my favorite - though the pacing was slow, I really enjoyed as the details of the world and the magic system were leisurely revealed, and I looked forward to Audra and her friends coming into their powers at the academy. However, the time spent at the academy in the following sections was perhaps a bit *too* measured. Though it was interesting to learn about Fae magic, nothing of interest happened - it was obvious how Audra's storyline was going to end, and there were no twists or turns to keep a fairly large chunk of the book from being tedious. The writing style also made it hard to get through - many of the students and professors had back-and-forth conversations in paragraph-long run-on sentences, which didn't feel realistic and distracted from the actual story. Though the action picked up a bit at the (predictable) end of the book, once again the dialogue/interactions between the characters just felt off.
Though Heir of Prophecy didn't quite work for me, it did feel like there were some pieces of a great story - if this book sounds interesting and nothing listed above is a deal-breaker, then I would definitely recommend checking it out as I am sure there will be a lot more action and intrigue in the next book of the duology.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Audra, a young woman stuck in the small, backwater town of Salt Hollow, finds herself trapped in a life that she never wanted for herself. Six months after the death of her mother, she is forced to put aside her grief (and her dreams of a future far, far away) to help her ailing father run the family's struggling inn. Their lives go from bad to worse when the Mist - a mysterious, magical wall of ocean fog - suddenly moves inland, bringing with it a group of vicious Fae warriors hunting for a mysterious Heir promised to save their lands from an eternal winter.
Audra unexpectedly finds herself among a group of human prisoners transported to the Fae realm. Upon arrival, the humans are forced to relinquish their pasts; they are now students at an academy for magical training, where they will strengthen their latent abilities and divulge the Heir among them. Audra and her fellow classmates quickly realize that the Priestesses running the school will find this Heir by any means necessary, no matter how bloody or deadly. As the danger increases and Audra starts seeing visions of spirits and demons, she starts to think that maybe *she* is the one to satisfy the Prophecy - which is a problem, because she's pretty sure that the Fae's winter-ending ritual never ends well for the Heir. When a demon appears with a tempting bargain, Audra, quickly running out of time, is forced to make a decision that could end the world as they know it.
Heir of Prophecy was a unique take on "dark academia" romantasy. My thoughts on specific aspects of the story are below.
*World-building/Plot: The world-building was the standout for me in this book, with a completely fresh take on Fae/demons in a very saturated market. I loved the idea of magic being something controlled in a cyclical manner, with its ebb and flow causing the change of the seasons. The main conflict between the Fae/demon/human realms being driven by prophecy/an heir-that-was-promised was also really cool.
*Character Development: Audra was a strong protagonist, especially at the beginning of the story. The author did a great job of capturing how compassionate, strong, and intelligent she is, and her grief and guilt over wanting to experience life while also take care of her family was so well-done. The prisoners she ends up befriending are similarly compelling, though I wish they were more present in the story - I found that the strongest emotional beats were in the first part of the book, and died down once they became students. Audra spends most of her time self-isolating from her friends to keep them safe, which is very justified, but it ended up leaving a lot of the book feeling very flat. I felt similarly about her love interest, Zhaire. His introduction to the story was promising, and I was looking forward to when he would meet Audra and they would join forces. However, their (brief) interactions had zero chemistry, and there were no witty flirtations or deeper emotional conversations to justify any supposed attraction to each other - which felt pretty jarring with where they ended up at the end of the book.
*Pacing/Writing Style: Heir of Prophecy was divided into four main sections. The first part was my favorite - though the pacing was slow, I really enjoyed as the details of the world and the magic system were leisurely revealed, and I looked forward to Audra and her friends coming into their powers at the academy. However, the time spent at the academy in the following sections was perhaps a bit *too* measured. Though it was interesting to learn about Fae magic, nothing of interest happened - it was obvious how Audra's storyline was going to end, and there were no twists or turns to keep a fairly large chunk of the book from being tedious. The writing style also made it hard to get through - many of the students and professors had back-and-forth conversations in paragraph-long run-on sentences, which didn't feel realistic and distracted from the actual story. Though the action picked up a bit at the (predictable) end of the book, once again the dialogue/interactions between the characters just felt off.
Though Heir of Prophecy didn't quite work for me, it did feel like there were some pieces of a great story - if this book sounds interesting and nothing listed above is a deal-breaker, then I would definitely recommend checking it out as I am sure there will be a lot more action and intrigue in the next book of the duology.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story is about Audra who lives in a small town, running her parents inn when Fae come to town and kidnap her and others. They are transported to Holydere Academy where they are forced to learn about the Fae realm because one of them is supposedly the Heir of Prophecy. This human heir is needed to perform a ritual and end the desolate Winter. Audra befriends the people around her as they learn combat, casting spells and forging weapons. However, the demon prince is also trying to find the heir for a different, dark prophecy.
Worldbuilding
This is where the book really shines. In a genre that can sometimes feel oversaturated with familiar takes on fae and demonic lore, this story manages to feel fresh with a new take. I love the academic setting in a university, these are fast becoming my favourite types of fantasy settings. I enjoyed the central conflict that is rooted in prophecy and the idea of a foretold heir.
We learn so much about the fae, their history, and their motivations alongside Audra, and it’s woven in naturally rather than feeling like info-dumping. The structure of the book is split into four parts which worked really well for me, with each section building on the last and guiding Audra forward.
Characters
This book has some great tropes:
Chosen One
Found Family
Forbidden Attraction
Dark Academia
The found family dynamic was easily one of my favourite aspects. The group Audra gathers feels well-balanced, and I loved seeing their friendships develop. Each character brings something different, and it made me more invested in their journeys, especially as the stakes started to rise. I also liked that they were placed in different guilds, which adds another layer I’m hoping gets explored more in the sequel.
Audra herself is a strong protagonist, particularly at the beginning. Her internal conflict between responsibility, guilt, and wanting more from life felt authentic and gave her a solid emotional core. However, the overall character development felt a bit inconsistent. Some side characters are introduced with a lot of promise but we don’t get the depth they seem set up for, fading into the background as the story progresses. I would have liked to see more from these characters.
The romance also didn’t fully land for me. While the forbidden attraction between Audra and Zhaire is part of the story, we don’t get enough time with him to really feel the connection. Because of that, the tension between them never quite reaches its potential, and their relationship feels underdeveloped and lacks the chemistry I look for in fantasy/romantasy books. When reading these scenes, I want my adrenaline pumping and I want to be internally screaming and stamping my feet when tension is involved between two characters and I just didn't get that here.
Writing Style & Pacing
The writing itself is easy to follow, and I liked how the story was structured. This gave the narrative a clear sense of progression and helped build the world gradually. Each section reveals more about the magic system and the larger conflict, which kept me engaged overall.
However, the pacing was uneven at times. The beginning feels longer than necessary in the small town, especially since the majority of the story takes place at the academy, and there are sections later on where it feels like we’re spending a lot of time without much actually happening. This made parts of the story feel like they dragged, even though the overall structure worked well.
Overall
This feels like a strong foundation for a larger story. While the pacing and character depth don’t always hit the mark, the originality of the world, the engaging academy setting, and the strength of the found family dynamic make this a worthwhile read. I’m definitely curious to see how everything develops in the sequel.
Thank you Net Galley & Avon Harper Voyager for this ARC.
Worldbuilding
This is where the book really shines. In a genre that can sometimes feel oversaturated with familiar takes on fae and demonic lore, this story manages to feel fresh with a new take. I love the academic setting in a university, these are fast becoming my favourite types of fantasy settings. I enjoyed the central conflict that is rooted in prophecy and the idea of a foretold heir.
We learn so much about the fae, their history, and their motivations alongside Audra, and it’s woven in naturally rather than feeling like info-dumping. The structure of the book is split into four parts which worked really well for me, with each section building on the last and guiding Audra forward.
Characters
This book has some great tropes:
Chosen One
Found Family
Forbidden Attraction
Dark Academia
The found family dynamic was easily one of my favourite aspects. The group Audra gathers feels well-balanced, and I loved seeing their friendships develop. Each character brings something different, and it made me more invested in their journeys, especially as the stakes started to rise. I also liked that they were placed in different guilds, which adds another layer I’m hoping gets explored more in the sequel.
Audra herself is a strong protagonist, particularly at the beginning. Her internal conflict between responsibility, guilt, and wanting more from life felt authentic and gave her a solid emotional core. However, the overall character development felt a bit inconsistent. Some side characters are introduced with a lot of promise but we don’t get the depth they seem set up for, fading into the background as the story progresses. I would have liked to see more from these characters.
The romance also didn’t fully land for me. While the forbidden attraction between Audra and Zhaire is part of the story, we don’t get enough time with him to really feel the connection. Because of that, the tension between them never quite reaches its potential, and their relationship feels underdeveloped and lacks the chemistry I look for in fantasy/romantasy books. When reading these scenes, I want my adrenaline pumping and I want to be internally screaming and stamping my feet when tension is involved between two characters and I just didn't get that here.
Writing Style & Pacing
The writing itself is easy to follow, and I liked how the story was structured. This gave the narrative a clear sense of progression and helped build the world gradually. Each section reveals more about the magic system and the larger conflict, which kept me engaged overall.
However, the pacing was uneven at times. The beginning feels longer than necessary in the small town, especially since the majority of the story takes place at the academy, and there are sections later on where it feels like we’re spending a lot of time without much actually happening. This made parts of the story feel like they dragged, even though the overall structure worked well.
Overall
This feels like a strong foundation for a larger story. While the pacing and character depth don’t always hit the mark, the originality of the world, the engaging academy setting, and the strength of the found family dynamic make this a worthwhile read. I’m definitely curious to see how everything develops in the sequel.
Thank you Net Galley & Avon Harper Voyager for this ARC.
March 25, 2026
Heir of Prophecy is Analeigh Sbrana’s fantasy entry into the Chosen One trope. Our main character, Audra, is the daughter of innkeepers in a small town, when a group of Fae kidnap her and others to enter the Holyvere Academy. A Heir has been magically chosen from amongst the humans, and the Fae need this heir to perform a ritual to end the Desolate Winter and usher in Spring. Audra and her friends must study and learn magic so that they can earn a place in Fae society; however, Audra becomes increasingly aware that she might be the foretold Heir. She has to choose between the Fae who have ripped her from her life and the demon prince who is trying to convince her to save his people instead.
This story has a lot going on, and it’s hard for me to judge the book without knowing how many of the loose ends are going to be tied up in the sequel to this duology. We begin our story with protests against the murders of prostitutes in Audra’s small fishing village, a mystery which the local police are unwilling to solve. We have the two different perspectives about the truth of magic and the heir’s ritual, which are presented as conspiracy or fact depending on the speaker. Audra has a group of found family who are all trying to survive the Holyvere academy together, and have various levels of buy-in to the Fae’s propaganda. There’s a royal human opponent who acts as Audra’s foil in the story.
The Chosen One is a common fantasy trope, and this book tries to subvert that by presenting the title as a bad thing rather than a good one. Audra is skeptical by nature, and begins the story by refusing propaganda in general; however, characters are told from the beginning that being chosen would be a positive thing, and her early skepticism feels unfounded. The reveal that Audra was the Heir is meant to feel significant, but the moment lacks substance, as the audience is aware of Audra’s status from almost the beginning. I think one of the early Zhaire chapters reveals her identity too quickly, and it would have been better to leave that reveal for a little longer. Also, her refusal to get her friends’ help felt disingenuous and unnecessary; her unwillingness to let people in made her feel petulant rather than empowered.
I also think that the early chapters in her hometown are a little too long, and I doubt that the second book will really address the situation in her hometown enough to justify that length of time. The scenes in the inn itself were enough to establish Audra’s identity without the whole plotline with the protests and the friend’s mother. The pacing of this section really felt like it kept me from engaging in the story for longer than it should have, as it introduced too much without any real payoff for our character.
The dark academia elements of the story were well done, and Audra’s characterization feels consistent with her experience. The magic system in this book is generally well thought out, though it does feel a little simplistic at times. The competition at the beginning of the final third of the book really shows the thinness of the magic system, especially our antagonist’s use of magic.
Altogether, this was an engaging fantasy novel with some pacing issues. I don’t know that the author sold me on our main character’s skepticism or her isolationist tendencies. I’m curious to see what the next book will look like, because the author’s ability to weave together the many loose ends in this story will make or break the experience.
This story had one explicit scene containing foreplay but no intercourse. The scene lasts a few pages, but the explicit content is only a few paragraphs.
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story has a lot going on, and it’s hard for me to judge the book without knowing how many of the loose ends are going to be tied up in the sequel to this duology. We begin our story with protests against the murders of prostitutes in Audra’s small fishing village, a mystery which the local police are unwilling to solve. We have the two different perspectives about the truth of magic and the heir’s ritual, which are presented as conspiracy or fact depending on the speaker. Audra has a group of found family who are all trying to survive the Holyvere academy together, and have various levels of buy-in to the Fae’s propaganda. There’s a royal human opponent who acts as Audra’s foil in the story.
The Chosen One is a common fantasy trope, and this book tries to subvert that by presenting the title as a bad thing rather than a good one. Audra is skeptical by nature, and begins the story by refusing propaganda in general; however, characters are told from the beginning that being chosen would be a positive thing, and her early skepticism feels unfounded. The reveal that Audra was the Heir is meant to feel significant, but the moment lacks substance, as the audience is aware of Audra’s status from almost the beginning. I think one of the early Zhaire chapters reveals her identity too quickly, and it would have been better to leave that reveal for a little longer. Also, her refusal to get her friends’ help felt disingenuous and unnecessary; her unwillingness to let people in made her feel petulant rather than empowered.
I also think that the early chapters in her hometown are a little too long, and I doubt that the second book will really address the situation in her hometown enough to justify that length of time. The scenes in the inn itself were enough to establish Audra’s identity without the whole plotline with the protests and the friend’s mother. The pacing of this section really felt like it kept me from engaging in the story for longer than it should have, as it introduced too much without any real payoff for our character.
The dark academia elements of the story were well done, and Audra’s characterization feels consistent with her experience. The magic system in this book is generally well thought out, though it does feel a little simplistic at times. The competition at the beginning of the final third of the book really shows the thinness of the magic system, especially our antagonist’s use of magic.
Altogether, this was an engaging fantasy novel with some pacing issues. I don’t know that the author sold me on our main character’s skepticism or her isolationist tendencies. I’m curious to see what the next book will look like, because the author’s ability to weave together the many loose ends in this story will make or break the experience.
This story had one explicit scene containing foreplay but no intercourse. The scene lasts a few pages, but the explicit content is only a few paragraphs.
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would have loved this story but I needed more.
The setup is VERY promising: dark academia fantasy, fae war academy, prophecies, cult-like priestesses, dangerous magic, a Prince of the Underworld, gruesome reveals… all of that sounds exactly like my thing. And to be fair, parts of this book did work for me — especially in the final quarter when things finally become darker, stranger, and far more interesting.
But getting there was rough.
The first half of the book is painfully slow. The opening especially spends so much time on description that somehow still doesn’t fully build the world visually or emotionally. The first genuinely plot-driven scene doesn’t really happen until around page 50, and even then the pacing keeps dragging for a long while after that. There’s not much to keep you interested or invested.
I also think the prologue actively hurts the mystery. It gives away too much too early and removes tension the story could’ve built naturally. I guess it was added for some semblance of a world setting. But I would have preferred we learnt this as part of the plot.
The weirdest part for me is that this almost feels like two completely different books stitched together. Most of the early sections have this oddly middle-grade tone with some swearing added in to remind you it’s adult fantasy, while the ending suddenly becomes gruesome, dark, demonic, and genuinely compelling. Part 4 especially felt like the version of the story I wanted the entire book to be.
Audra as an FMC also frustrated me a lot because she feels strangely passive for someone thrown into such a dangerous situation. At 70% she still barely understands what it means to be the Heir, and I genuinely could not understand why she asked so few questions about literally anything happening around her. The concept of the incras was actually really interesting too, but the book never explores it deeply enough early on to keep the intrigue alive. The found family never felt like an actual friend group, perhaps because the converstation felt stiff and a bit formal.
The romance also didn’t work for me. The MMC enters the story halfway through and only becomes truly important near the end. Their relationship develops incredibly fast emotionally and sexually despite them barely speaking, and most of his attempts at convincing or bonding with Audra involve being cryptic and vaguely intense. Which… okay 😭
That said, I did enjoy the dark academia atmosphere, the premise itself, the MMC’s backstory, and especially the worldbuilding revelations toward the end. Once the story finally leans fully into the darker horror-adjacent fantasy elements, it becomes significantly stronger.
Honestly, this mostly felt undercooked to me. Like a book that desperately needed developmental edits because there’s something genuinely delicious hiding underneath all the pacing and structure problems. Cut down Part 1, remove the prologue, introduce the worldbuilding earlier, make the trials more dynamic, introduce MMC earlier and this could’ve been incredibly addictive.
Instead, it feels like a story that takes far too long to become the dark, demonic fantasy it clearly wants to be.
The setup is VERY promising: dark academia fantasy, fae war academy, prophecies, cult-like priestesses, dangerous magic, a Prince of the Underworld, gruesome reveals… all of that sounds exactly like my thing. And to be fair, parts of this book did work for me — especially in the final quarter when things finally become darker, stranger, and far more interesting.
But getting there was rough.
The first half of the book is painfully slow. The opening especially spends so much time on description that somehow still doesn’t fully build the world visually or emotionally. The first genuinely plot-driven scene doesn’t really happen until around page 50, and even then the pacing keeps dragging for a long while after that. There’s not much to keep you interested or invested.
I also think the prologue actively hurts the mystery. It gives away too much too early and removes tension the story could’ve built naturally. I guess it was added for some semblance of a world setting. But I would have preferred we learnt this as part of the plot.
The weirdest part for me is that this almost feels like two completely different books stitched together. Most of the early sections have this oddly middle-grade tone with some swearing added in to remind you it’s adult fantasy, while the ending suddenly becomes gruesome, dark, demonic, and genuinely compelling. Part 4 especially felt like the version of the story I wanted the entire book to be.
Audra as an FMC also frustrated me a lot because she feels strangely passive for someone thrown into such a dangerous situation. At 70% she still barely understands what it means to be the Heir, and I genuinely could not understand why she asked so few questions about literally anything happening around her. The concept of the incras was actually really interesting too, but the book never explores it deeply enough early on to keep the intrigue alive. The found family never felt like an actual friend group, perhaps because the converstation felt stiff and a bit formal.
The romance also didn’t work for me. The MMC enters the story halfway through and only becomes truly important near the end. Their relationship develops incredibly fast emotionally and sexually despite them barely speaking, and most of his attempts at convincing or bonding with Audra involve being cryptic and vaguely intense. Which… okay 😭
That said, I did enjoy the dark academia atmosphere, the premise itself, the MMC’s backstory, and especially the worldbuilding revelations toward the end. Once the story finally leans fully into the darker horror-adjacent fantasy elements, it becomes significantly stronger.
Honestly, this mostly felt undercooked to me. Like a book that desperately needed developmental edits because there’s something genuinely delicious hiding underneath all the pacing and structure problems. Cut down Part 1, remove the prologue, introduce the worldbuilding earlier, make the trials more dynamic, introduce MMC earlier and this could’ve been incredibly addictive.
Instead, it feels like a story that takes far too long to become the dark, demonic fantasy it clearly wants to be.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a solid four stars for me! I love a good academy storyline and then paired with the "chosen one" trope? The perfect pairing. The Heir of Prophecy follows our main character Audra Evers, a human with no magic, who is taken from her home by the fae that she thought were no more than a myth. Audra, along with a few hundred others, are taken from their homes to the fae realm where they are forced to train and compete in an academy to discover the fae's Heir. The one that will end eternal winter and bring back spring. The catch? Maybe the fae are hiding something and there is a demon prince trying to convince Audra that she's in danger.
Sbrana does a great job of setting Heir of Prophecy apart from other fantasy stories. Despite familiar aspects (chosen one, fae vs humans, an academy with trials), she twists them to make the reader think. What does it mean to be "The Chosen One"? Who is "right," the fae or the demons? Or are they both wrong? Examining faith and sacrifice and the extent to which a person is willing to go for one or the other. And then there is the world building. I struggled a bit to place Heir of Prophecy as a modern fantasy world or a more medieval one, when the answer is that Sbrana has come up with something all her own that blends both and are interesting to see.
The characters! Audra might be one of my favorite FMCs ever. She was so relatable and not annoying at all. Her motivations and actions made sense to me and I liked being in her head. Now Zhaire... I need more of him, immediately. I actually wish he had been a larger part of the story and that we were given more chapters from his POV. I can't wait to see more of this demon prince in the next book. The other side characters, Audra's friends at the academy, were a highlight as well but unfortunately they did feel a little one dimensional, and I hope that that changes in the next book.
My one complaint about Heir of Prophecy has to be the pacing, particularly in the first 50% or so. I was interested in the story but it wasn't quite holding my attention the way similar books do. This had a lot to do with us spending the first half of the book almost entirely in Audra's head when she is alone. Even her interactions with other characters during this part were short-lived and didn't necessarily add to the story in a meaningful way. Very much telling vs showing and I wish this part would have been shortened or had some added stakes for the story. However the second half of the book, particularly once Audra and Zhaire are interacting more, had me glued to the page. I was nervously flipping pages, needing to know what decision Audra would make or if she would be found out.
Overall, I enjoyed Heir of Prophecy a lot and will definitely be picking up the second book when it comes out.
This was a solid four stars for me! I love a good academy storyline and then paired with the "chosen one" trope? The perfect pairing. The Heir of Prophecy follows our main character Audra Evers, a human with no magic, who is taken from her home by the fae that she thought were no more than a myth. Audra, along with a few hundred others, are taken from their homes to the fae realm where they are forced to train and compete in an academy to discover the fae's Heir. The one that will end eternal winter and bring back spring. The catch? Maybe the fae are hiding something and there is a demon prince trying to convince Audra that she's in danger.
Sbrana does a great job of setting Heir of Prophecy apart from other fantasy stories. Despite familiar aspects (chosen one, fae vs humans, an academy with trials), she twists them to make the reader think. What does it mean to be "The Chosen One"? Who is "right," the fae or the demons? Or are they both wrong? Examining faith and sacrifice and the extent to which a person is willing to go for one or the other. And then there is the world building. I struggled a bit to place Heir of Prophecy as a modern fantasy world or a more medieval one, when the answer is that Sbrana has come up with something all her own that blends both and are interesting to see.
The characters! Audra might be one of my favorite FMCs ever. She was so relatable and not annoying at all. Her motivations and actions made sense to me and I liked being in her head. Now Zhaire... I need more of him, immediately. I actually wish he had been a larger part of the story and that we were given more chapters from his POV. I can't wait to see more of this demon prince in the next book. The other side characters, Audra's friends at the academy, were a highlight as well but unfortunately they did feel a little one dimensional, and I hope that that changes in the next book.
My one complaint about Heir of Prophecy has to be the pacing, particularly in the first 50% or so. I was interested in the story but it wasn't quite holding my attention the way similar books do. This had a lot to do with us spending the first half of the book almost entirely in Audra's head when she is alone. Even her interactions with other characters during this part were short-lived and didn't necessarily add to the story in a meaningful way. Very much telling vs showing and I wish this part would have been shortened or had some added stakes for the story. However the second half of the book, particularly once Audra and Zhaire are interacting more, had me glued to the page. I was nervously flipping pages, needing to know what decision Audra would make or if she would be found out.
Overall, I enjoyed Heir of Prophecy a lot and will definitely be picking up the second book when it comes out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an e-ARC of this book through NetGalley from Avon and Harper Voyager. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this in advance. All thoughts are my own.
I’ve loved Analeigh Sbrana’s writing ever since Lore of the Tides, and Heir of Prophecy completely reaffirmed that for me. This is exactly the kind of fantasy I lose myself in. The writing is vivid and atmospheric without ever feeling inaccessible, and the world pulled me in so fast that I basically disappeared into this book for a weekend.
This absolutely scratched my dark academia and found family itch in the best possible way. Dangerous prophecies, tense political systems, layered characters, morally messy choices, complicated attraction, people trying to survive institutions that want to shape them into weapons... this book was basically custom-built for my reading tastes.
What really made the book stand out to me, though, is that underneath all the fantasy elements, it feels incredibly aware of the world it’s reflecting. There’s a strong undercurrent about activism, resistance, community, and the emotional cost of standing up against systems built on fear and control. I appreciated that the book doesn’t romanticize that struggle entirely. It acknowledges both how necessary collective action is and how exhausting it can become for the people involved in it.
I also really loved how the romance was woven into the story itself rather than feeling like a separate layer pasted on top of the plot. The emotional tension, political tension, prophecy elements, and relationship dynamics all fed into each other naturally, which made the stakes feel stronger across the board.
And there are several moments and lines throughout the book that carry a surprising amount of emotional and thematic weight. This one especially stayed with me:
“If Audra possesses enough courage to follow her dreams, she would have been a murderer by now.”
That line captures so much of what I liked about Audra as a protagonist. She’s angry, frightened, ambitious, vulnerable, and constantly being pushed into roles she isn’t sure she wants. The characters in general felt layered in a way I really appreciated, especially in a story that could so easily have fallen into flatter fantasy archetypes.
I’m also just very obviously the target audience for this kind of book. Give me dangerous academies, prophecy, political manipulation, emotionally intense found family dynamics, and characters trying not to become the monsters other people expect them to be, and I am having a fantastic time.
This was a very easy 5-star read for me, and by the end I was already desperate for the next installment.
I think this will work especially well for readers who enjoy dark academia fantasy, prophecy-driven stories, layered political tension, emotionally messy characters, found family, and romance that grows naturally out of the larger emotional and thematic conflicts of the story.
I’ve loved Analeigh Sbrana’s writing ever since Lore of the Tides, and Heir of Prophecy completely reaffirmed that for me. This is exactly the kind of fantasy I lose myself in. The writing is vivid and atmospheric without ever feeling inaccessible, and the world pulled me in so fast that I basically disappeared into this book for a weekend.
This absolutely scratched my dark academia and found family itch in the best possible way. Dangerous prophecies, tense political systems, layered characters, morally messy choices, complicated attraction, people trying to survive institutions that want to shape them into weapons... this book was basically custom-built for my reading tastes.
What really made the book stand out to me, though, is that underneath all the fantasy elements, it feels incredibly aware of the world it’s reflecting. There’s a strong undercurrent about activism, resistance, community, and the emotional cost of standing up against systems built on fear and control. I appreciated that the book doesn’t romanticize that struggle entirely. It acknowledges both how necessary collective action is and how exhausting it can become for the people involved in it.
I also really loved how the romance was woven into the story itself rather than feeling like a separate layer pasted on top of the plot. The emotional tension, political tension, prophecy elements, and relationship dynamics all fed into each other naturally, which made the stakes feel stronger across the board.
And there are several moments and lines throughout the book that carry a surprising amount of emotional and thematic weight. This one especially stayed with me:
“If Audra possesses enough courage to follow her dreams, she would have been a murderer by now.”
That line captures so much of what I liked about Audra as a protagonist. She’s angry, frightened, ambitious, vulnerable, and constantly being pushed into roles she isn’t sure she wants. The characters in general felt layered in a way I really appreciated, especially in a story that could so easily have fallen into flatter fantasy archetypes.
I’m also just very obviously the target audience for this kind of book. Give me dangerous academies, prophecy, political manipulation, emotionally intense found family dynamics, and characters trying not to become the monsters other people expect them to be, and I am having a fantastic time.
This was a very easy 5-star read for me, and by the end I was already desperate for the next installment.
I think this will work especially well for readers who enjoy dark academia fantasy, prophecy-driven stories, layered political tension, emotionally messy characters, found family, and romance that grows naturally out of the larger emotional and thematic conflicts of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I’m incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to read it early. Thank you to Analeigh Sbrana, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!
I initially had a hard time getting into the story and staying immersed, but once I got into it? I had a great time. Analeigh, the woman that you AREEE! The 3 tiered world, high stakes dark academia setting, lore, and the magic system are written SO well. Analeigh did what needed to be done 😭. The politics and the cultish indoctrination aspects of the priestesses and fae beliefs is intense, heavy, and truly unhinged in the best way. When I tell you my skin was CRAWLINGGGG? One of my favorite things was seeing how both the students and acolytes adapted differently, whether it was good or bad.
I adore just how human Audra is, and how complex and multifaceted her emotions and motivations are. She’s gritty, headstrong, determined as hell, but still battling self doubt and navigating being comfortable doing things for herself whilst worrying for her family and tryna figure out what is what. Like she really do be staying running and gunning; I felt that reaaall heavy. AND my girl stays with some fresh braids? Love her downnnnnn!
This is another one where I feel like talking too much about the MMC from what we HAVE seen will give away too much, so I may come back and edit this later once the book is officially out. I will say I love and need Zhaire REAL BAD I fear. We love a charismatic demon that’s all about consent and will surely talk you out ya drawls 🫣🤪
His character is complex, heavy, and chaotic in its own ways and I love every second of it.
The side characters were integrated in a way that made me feel as if we should’ve gotten just a liiiil bit more background on and time with them, so I hope to see more of that in the next installment. I’m incredibly obsessed with Wilder and I NEED her, do you hear me?! I’m also thinking that we did not get enough time in Zhaire’s perspective. We learned a lot about Audra but not enough about Zhaire, so the way their relationship has progressed to the spot we’re at now falls a little short for me. Having said that though I do enjoy the way they’ve been interacting. The banter, the slow burn, and the tension is DOIIIINGGG ITTTTT and I’m certain ima get exactly what I’m seeking in the next book.
Now THE ENDING? I was screaming for the entirety of the last 5 chapters. The way Audra did what she did gave me so much catharsis, you don’t understand. Then it ended just when we got to what I am itching to see?! Ferally screeching into the ether. I’m invested and I need the next installment STAT chile! Heir of Prophecy is a true dark academia with a proper world so if that’s your thing please gon’ head and put it in your want to read list NEOWWWW.
I initially had a hard time getting into the story and staying immersed, but once I got into it? I had a great time. Analeigh, the woman that you AREEE! The 3 tiered world, high stakes dark academia setting, lore, and the magic system are written SO well. Analeigh did what needed to be done 😭. The politics and the cultish indoctrination aspects of the priestesses and fae beliefs is intense, heavy, and truly unhinged in the best way. When I tell you my skin was CRAWLINGGGG? One of my favorite things was seeing how both the students and acolytes adapted differently, whether it was good or bad.
I adore just how human Audra is, and how complex and multifaceted her emotions and motivations are. She’s gritty, headstrong, determined as hell, but still battling self doubt and navigating being comfortable doing things for herself whilst worrying for her family and tryna figure out what is what. Like she really do be staying running and gunning; I felt that reaaall heavy. AND my girl stays with some fresh braids? Love her downnnnnn!
This is another one where I feel like talking too much about the MMC from what we HAVE seen will give away too much, so I may come back and edit this later once the book is officially out. I will say I love and need Zhaire REAL BAD I fear. We love a charismatic demon that’s all about consent and will surely talk you out ya drawls 🫣🤪
His character is complex, heavy, and chaotic in its own ways and I love every second of it.
The side characters were integrated in a way that made me feel as if we should’ve gotten just a liiiil bit more background on and time with them, so I hope to see more of that in the next installment. I’m incredibly obsessed with Wilder and I NEED her, do you hear me?! I’m also thinking that we did not get enough time in Zhaire’s perspective. We learned a lot about Audra but not enough about Zhaire, so the way their relationship has progressed to the spot we’re at now falls a little short for me. Having said that though I do enjoy the way they’ve been interacting. The banter, the slow burn, and the tension is DOIIIINGGG ITTTTT and I’m certain ima get exactly what I’m seeking in the next book.
Now THE ENDING? I was screaming for the entirety of the last 5 chapters. The way Audra did what she did gave me so much catharsis, you don’t understand. Then it ended just when we got to what I am itching to see?! Ferally screeching into the ether. I’m invested and I need the next installment STAT chile! Heir of Prophecy is a true dark academia with a proper world so if that’s your thing please gon’ head and put it in your want to read list NEOWWWW.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The next big romantasy novel is here! Heir of Prophecy by Analeigh Sbrana is a blend of dark academia, trials, and romance that will have you gasping for the sequel. The story revolves around Audra, a human who has been abducted and made to attend classes in a magical war academy. Not only is she discovering new magical powers, she discovers that she may be the Heir of an ancient prophecy. Also, she's suddenly seeing a mysterious, handsome demon everywhere. What does he want from her? Can she trust him? Or will he lead her to destruction?
Here is a captivating excerpt from the opening chapter:
"Audra Evers stood with the crowd of wrathful women, her voice raised in protest, as the song, carried on the salted wind, rang throughout the square. Their bodies coalesced, a monster with many heads-fitting, for this rage felt monstrous.
Another Nightly brutally slain, like so many others-her name added to a long list of victims left to rot in their graves without justice. The women's protest banners, painted in haste with the defiant words and slogans that had been on their tongues since they could talk, snapped and fluttered in the wind. Audra gripped hers tightly, thankful for the gloves saving her fingers from freezing."
Overall, Heir of Prophecy is an amazing new romantasy for fans of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Fourth Wing! One highlight of this book is the fact that it is written by the author of Lore of the Wilds. I was a huge fan of that cozy fantasy, so when I heard that a new book by the author was coming out, I knew that I had to read it right away! Another highlight of this book is the dark academia aspect. I love fantasy books set in schools, and I knew that I would be a fan of this book for that reason alone.
One final highlight of this book is the romance between Audra and Khaire. The battlefield scene in particular in swoonworthy, and I loved.reading about how the pair gradually fall in love with each other. If i had to complain about 1 thing, I would have to say that I was very invested in the romance aspect of this book, and it seemed to take a long time for the plot to get there. Once it got there though, I was happy with the rest of the book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of romantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in August!
The next big romantasy novel is here! Heir of Prophecy by Analeigh Sbrana is a blend of dark academia, trials, and romance that will have you gasping for the sequel. The story revolves around Audra, a human who has been abducted and made to attend classes in a magical war academy. Not only is she discovering new magical powers, she discovers that she may be the Heir of an ancient prophecy. Also, she's suddenly seeing a mysterious, handsome demon everywhere. What does he want from her? Can she trust him? Or will he lead her to destruction?
Here is a captivating excerpt from the opening chapter:
"Audra Evers stood with the crowd of wrathful women, her voice raised in protest, as the song, carried on the salted wind, rang throughout the square. Their bodies coalesced, a monster with many heads-fitting, for this rage felt monstrous.
Another Nightly brutally slain, like so many others-her name added to a long list of victims left to rot in their graves without justice. The women's protest banners, painted in haste with the defiant words and slogans that had been on their tongues since they could talk, snapped and fluttered in the wind. Audra gripped hers tightly, thankful for the gloves saving her fingers from freezing."
Overall, Heir of Prophecy is an amazing new romantasy for fans of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Fourth Wing! One highlight of this book is the fact that it is written by the author of Lore of the Wilds. I was a huge fan of that cozy fantasy, so when I heard that a new book by the author was coming out, I knew that I had to read it right away! Another highlight of this book is the dark academia aspect. I love fantasy books set in schools, and I knew that I would be a fan of this book for that reason alone.
One final highlight of this book is the romance between Audra and Khaire. The battlefield scene in particular in swoonworthy, and I loved.reading about how the pair gradually fall in love with each other. If i had to complain about 1 thing, I would have to say that I was very invested in the romance aspect of this book, and it seemed to take a long time for the plot to get there. Once it got there though, I was happy with the rest of the book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of romantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in August!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 4.25⭐️
This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, so I was absolutely THRILLED when I got the ARC.
I’m not gonna lie, the first half was kind of a struggle. It took me a while to really get into it because the pacing felt slow and a bit draggy. But then, the second half was the real game changer!
The world-building is genuinely rich. We get three different realms: Fae, Human, Demon. They’re all intricately connected in ways that slowly unfold as the story progresses, and the lore was deeply detailed. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, but in a way that makes the world feel alive. And I liked how the academy was so corrupt and manipulative. I also loved that we actually get to see the learning sessions, it made everything feel more immersive instead of just being told “yeah they study magic or whatever.”
Now, Audra. A human main character in a world full of Fae and Demons could’ve easily fallen flat, but instead she’s determined, clever, competitive, and just a little bit cutthroat in a way that perfectly matches the dark academia atmosphere.
And then there’s Zhaire. Let’s not unpack that too deeply. Our flirty, charming, chaotic demon prince. You already know how I feel about demons. However, I will say that I wish we got more from his POV. I wanted to dig deeper into his character, to understand him beyond his surface-level charisma.
About the romance… I’m conflicted. The build-up was a bit rushed. Emotionally, I needed more time and gradual development. But I have to point out that the banter was so elite. Their dynamic thrives on it, like it’s basically their love language. So yes, I see the chemistry, I just wanted the emotional pacing to match it.
The found family aspect felt a little too convenient and forced. I wanted deeper bonding, more moments that made it feel earned instead of just assembled.
And then the ending. It was actually kind of rude how it ends right when things get REALLY intriguing. Criminal offensive side eye. But yes, I am so seated for the sequel.
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Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC!
This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, so I was absolutely THRILLED when I got the ARC.
I’m not gonna lie, the first half was kind of a struggle. It took me a while to really get into it because the pacing felt slow and a bit draggy. But then, the second half was the real game changer!
The world-building is genuinely rich. We get three different realms: Fae, Human, Demon. They’re all intricately connected in ways that slowly unfold as the story progresses, and the lore was deeply detailed. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, but in a way that makes the world feel alive. And I liked how the academy was so corrupt and manipulative. I also loved that we actually get to see the learning sessions, it made everything feel more immersive instead of just being told “yeah they study magic or whatever.”
Now, Audra. A human main character in a world full of Fae and Demons could’ve easily fallen flat, but instead she’s determined, clever, competitive, and just a little bit cutthroat in a way that perfectly matches the dark academia atmosphere.
And then there’s Zhaire. Let’s not unpack that too deeply. Our flirty, charming, chaotic demon prince. You already know how I feel about demons. However, I will say that I wish we got more from his POV. I wanted to dig deeper into his character, to understand him beyond his surface-level charisma.
About the romance… I’m conflicted. The build-up was a bit rushed. Emotionally, I needed more time and gradual development. But I have to point out that the banter was so elite. Their dynamic thrives on it, like it’s basically their love language. So yes, I see the chemistry, I just wanted the emotional pacing to match it.
The found family aspect felt a little too convenient and forced. I wanted deeper bonding, more moments that made it feel earned instead of just assembled.
And then the ending. It was actually kind of rude how it ends right when things get REALLY intriguing. Criminal offensive side eye. But yes, I am so seated for the sequel.
════════════════════════
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Heir of Prophecy is an ambitious start to a new romantasy duology, with fae, prophecy, and an academy setting all packed into one story.
The biggest standout for me was definitely the worldbuilding. There’s a lot going on in terms of different realms, magic systems, and the structure of the academy, and I had a really fun time exploring that. The training aspects in particular were enjoyable to read about. That said, I did feel like the heavy focus on the world sometimes came at the expense of the characters. Audra’s friendships, especially with the main side characters, didn’t have much room to grow, which made those relationships feel a bit surface level. Something happens to a certain side character during one of the trials, and I sadly didn't feel much for the character because of this.
The pacing was also a bit uneven. The opening section in Audra’s hometown kinda felt longer than it needed to be, especially since the majority of the story takes place at the academy. Then in Part 2, the pacing shifts in a different way, where it slows down and leans more into telling rather than showing, which made some sections drag.
The romance didn’t fully land for me either. The main FMC and MMc don’t 'fully' meet until around the halfway mark, so there isn’t much time for the relationship to develop. They're meant to be enemies, but their relationship leaned more into instalust than slow burn, which made the connection feel abit meh. Because of this, the more intimate scenes (especially the spicy scene) felt a little out of place, like the relationship hadn't quite built up to that point yet.
I can definitely see the potential here. The worldbuilding is strong and the premise is interesting, but I think the story would have benefited from more balance between plot and character development.
The biggest standout for me was definitely the worldbuilding. There’s a lot going on in terms of different realms, magic systems, and the structure of the academy, and I had a really fun time exploring that. The training aspects in particular were enjoyable to read about. That said, I did feel like the heavy focus on the world sometimes came at the expense of the characters. Audra’s friendships, especially with the main side characters, didn’t have much room to grow, which made those relationships feel a bit surface level. Something happens to a certain side character during one of the trials, and I sadly didn't feel much for the character because of this.
The pacing was also a bit uneven. The opening section in Audra’s hometown kinda felt longer than it needed to be, especially since the majority of the story takes place at the academy. Then in Part 2, the pacing shifts in a different way, where it slows down and leans more into telling rather than showing, which made some sections drag.
The romance didn’t fully land for me either. The main FMC and MMc don’t 'fully' meet until around the halfway mark, so there isn’t much time for the relationship to develop. They're meant to be enemies, but their relationship leaned more into instalust than slow burn, which made the connection feel abit meh. Because of this, the more intimate scenes (especially the spicy scene) felt a little out of place, like the relationship hadn't quite built up to that point yet.
I can definitely see the potential here. The worldbuilding is strong and the premise is interesting, but I think the story would have benefited from more balance between plot and character development.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5⭐ I can struggle sometimes with dark academia, I don't always have the patience to read about their day-to-day and class materials, no matter how interested I am in them, but Heir of Prophecy was able to pull me right back from the edge and grip me to the end of the book. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the eARC for an honest review. I also received the manuscript from the publisher, as this book was read in consideration for the Satisfiction Book Box.
I love Audra as a main character! I've been reading a lot of books recently where the FMC is very easily manipulated, and it was starting to grate on my nerves, so this was like a breath of fresh air. Audra is incredibly strong-willed, a very critical thinker, and determined to succeed, but she is also a victim of her own insecurities and self-doubt, which makes it easy to connect with her.
I loved the world-building, the plot, and the atmosphere created. My only real qualm is that the connection between Audra and Zhaire at the end of the book felt a bit unearned. We didn't get as many scenes of them interacting throughout the book as I had expected, and their meetings in the second half of the book were quick and often with true relationship-building moments. The connection and chemistry didn't feel forced, and it's not like it's not believable, but the depth of it felt a but ubrupt.
I can't wait to see her learning to master her powers in the next book and find out what became of her friends after the fiasco at the end of this one, and I'm looking forward to seeing the relationship between Audra and Zhaire develop.
I love Audra as a main character! I've been reading a lot of books recently where the FMC is very easily manipulated, and it was starting to grate on my nerves, so this was like a breath of fresh air. Audra is incredibly strong-willed, a very critical thinker, and determined to succeed, but she is also a victim of her own insecurities and self-doubt, which makes it easy to connect with her.
"If Audra possessed enough courage to follow her dreams, she would have been a murderer by now.
I loved the world-building, the plot, and the atmosphere created. My only real qualm is that the connection between Audra and Zhaire at the end of the book felt a bit unearned. We didn't get as many scenes of them interacting throughout the book as I had expected, and their meetings in the second half of the book were quick and often with true relationship-building moments. The connection and chemistry didn't feel forced, and it's not like it's not believable, but the depth of it felt a but ubrupt.
I can't wait to see her learning to master her powers in the next book and find out what became of her friends after the fiasco at the end of this one, and I'm looking forward to seeing the relationship between Audra and Zhaire develop.
May 3, 2026
Speechless, the rollercoaster of emotions I felt while reading Heir of Prophecy now has me champing at the bit to read the next book in the duology. Thank you Analeigh Sbrana, Harper Voyager, & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Heir of Prophecy. This is the small problem with reading early copies, I now have to wait even longer for book two than if I read Heir of Prophecy on release.
If you're a sucker for dark academia and found family (two sets!) while processing grief, definitely pick up Heir of Prophecy. This was my first book of Analeigh Sbrana's that I've read despite having Lore of the Wilds on my TBR for quite some time and I immediately bumped LOTW up after finishing. The world building, the magic system, and the overall structure of the three realms, was wonderfully done and uniquely its own. Entering a magical war academy after being abducted by a cult all while being introduced to magic for the first time, I'm glad I'm reading about it and not Audra. The slow-burn potential romance with the BANTER, oof I need more Audra and Zhaire.
One of my favorite things about fantasy novels is the way they twist swear words or phrases to their own worlds. "Mist take them" may be my new favorite. The political intrigue and social commentary within Heir of Prophecy added to my overall enjoyment of the book especially when dealing in a cult situation. I wish there weren't as many parallels to be found to our current world, but alas that's reality. I'm pretty sure I almost highlighted ALL of chapter 53.
Overall rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars, 10/10, immediately ran to preorder a copy, & I'm adding it to our list of potential books for my local book club.
If you're a sucker for dark academia and found family (two sets!) while processing grief, definitely pick up Heir of Prophecy. This was my first book of Analeigh Sbrana's that I've read despite having Lore of the Wilds on my TBR for quite some time and I immediately bumped LOTW up after finishing. The world building, the magic system, and the overall structure of the three realms, was wonderfully done and uniquely its own. Entering a magical war academy after being abducted by a cult all while being introduced to magic for the first time, I'm glad I'm reading about it and not Audra. The slow-burn potential romance with the BANTER, oof I need more Audra and Zhaire.
One of my favorite things about fantasy novels is the way they twist swear words or phrases to their own worlds. "Mist take them" may be my new favorite. The political intrigue and social commentary within Heir of Prophecy added to my overall enjoyment of the book especially when dealing in a cult situation. I wish there weren't as many parallels to be found to our current world, but alas that's reality. I'm pretty sure I almost highlighted ALL of chapter 53.
Overall rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars, 10/10, immediately ran to preorder a copy, & I'm adding it to our list of potential books for my local book club.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨This is my first book by Analeigh Sbrana ✨
I’d give Heir of Prophecy a solid 3.5 (rounded up) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let me start off saying I really struggled writing this review.
On one hand I really enjoyed this book, at the same time I don't know if this is the right book for me. 👉👈The reason I say that is because I really struggled with the writing style & couldn't fully vibe with it. But.. At the same time I love how beautiful some of the writing is... I just had trouble staying focused & immersed in the world, especially during the first 48% or so. I don't know if it was my mood, the pacing being off or because everything was a bit too descriptive & wordy for my taste... Which I know I tend to connect better with more descriptive stories like this in audiobook form. I do plan on circling back & giving this another shot when the audiobook becomes available.. I'll update my review if my thoughts change after listening instead of reading.
👀 Sadly.... I will admit I did put this book down several times trying to decide to continue reading or if I wanted to DNF. I found myself being drawn back each time & wanting to know what happens. It definitely took me a while to get through but I am glad I decided soldier on through to the end.
I enjoyed the overall concept & tropes - humans, demons, fae, chosen one, trials, etc.. I think Sbrana was able to make this story unique & stand apart from other fantasy/romantasy stories with the same types of tropes... 100% loved our girl Audra & I must say I really loved the prologue. I feel like it has stuck with me the most.
👏Yes.. I'll be reading the next book & intend on reading some of her other books. <3
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC & provide an honest review. <3
I’d give Heir of Prophecy a solid 3.5 (rounded up) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let me start off saying I really struggled writing this review.
On one hand I really enjoyed this book, at the same time I don't know if this is the right book for me. 👉👈The reason I say that is because I really struggled with the writing style & couldn't fully vibe with it. But.. At the same time I love how beautiful some of the writing is... I just had trouble staying focused & immersed in the world, especially during the first 48% or so. I don't know if it was my mood, the pacing being off or because everything was a bit too descriptive & wordy for my taste... Which I know I tend to connect better with more descriptive stories like this in audiobook form. I do plan on circling back & giving this another shot when the audiobook becomes available.. I'll update my review if my thoughts change after listening instead of reading.
👀 Sadly.... I will admit I did put this book down several times trying to decide to continue reading or if I wanted to DNF. I found myself being drawn back each time & wanting to know what happens. It definitely took me a while to get through but I am glad I decided soldier on through to the end.
I enjoyed the overall concept & tropes - humans, demons, fae, chosen one, trials, etc.. I think Sbrana was able to make this story unique & stand apart from other fantasy/romantasy stories with the same types of tropes... 100% loved our girl Audra & I must say I really loved the prologue. I feel like it has stuck with me the most.
👏Yes.. I'll be reading the next book & intend on reading some of her other books. <3
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC & provide an honest review. <3
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Heir of Prophecy is a rich and flavorful story. I've had to sit with my review for a few days as finishing this book was a full on meal that I consumed with enthusiasm. I am a big fan of Analeigh's Lore of the Wilds series, so I started this with high expectations and I was NOT disappointed.
This was a very fresh take on a "war college" trope, and I enjoyed the way Audra's experience unfurled in this spooky abandoned university. I was riveted as she gained more information and experience within this new-to-her world, especially in contrast to her friends and fellow captives. I appreciate that Audra tried to play it smart and do her research when approached with two different takes on common events instead of being impulsive as we sometimes see young heroines respond. That said, at times it was hard to see Audra struggle without the support of her friends, but I suspect that her elected isolation is setting up her next character transformation and I'm willing to be patient.
I adore a dual POV, and it really helped me understand Zhaire, our often misunderstood leading man. It also helped to empathize with his growing frustration. Much of Zhaire's backstory is revealed in the context of the heiress and related prophecy, and I look forward to continuing to peel back the layers of this seemingly complex MMC further in the series (hopefully).
Do yourself a favor and add this to your tbr. Actually, scratch that. You look hungry, friend. Go grab a copy and get started right now.
Heir of Prophecy is a rich and flavorful story. I've had to sit with my review for a few days as finishing this book was a full on meal that I consumed with enthusiasm. I am a big fan of Analeigh's Lore of the Wilds series, so I started this with high expectations and I was NOT disappointed.
This was a very fresh take on a "war college" trope, and I enjoyed the way Audra's experience unfurled in this spooky abandoned university. I was riveted as she gained more information and experience within this new-to-her world, especially in contrast to her friends and fellow captives. I appreciate that Audra tried to play it smart and do her research when approached with two different takes on common events instead of being impulsive as we sometimes see young heroines respond. That said, at times it was hard to see Audra struggle without the support of her friends, but I suspect that her elected isolation is setting up her next character transformation and I'm willing to be patient.
I adore a dual POV, and it really helped me understand Zhaire, our often misunderstood leading man. It also helped to empathize with his growing frustration. Much of Zhaire's backstory is revealed in the context of the heiress and related prophecy, and I look forward to continuing to peel back the layers of this seemingly complex MMC further in the series (hopefully).
Do yourself a favor and add this to your tbr. Actually, scratch that. You look hungry, friend. Go grab a copy and get started right now.
April 3, 2026
*Thank you Avon/Harper Collins publishing and NetGalley for an eARC*
I’ve found my new favourite badass FMC! Audra comes from a very small port village, where she has to deal with some dreadful people but she doesn’t let that take away from the dreams she has. The fight Audra has in her is commendable, she stuck to her gut not knowing what her outcome could be. I loved that when she needed that extra motivation to fight she always thought back to her mother saying “Fight just to spite your fear”! I can’t wait to see more of Audra’s power unlocked in the next book, I know Analeigh will make her a GOD!
Can we have a moment for the men! Like Callum, a huge over 6ft tall red head who has a heart of gold. Or Zhaire, a demon prince who tries to be nonchalant but deep down really cares about his people. I absolutely loved Zhaire’s flirty side when he allowed himself to show it, I definitely would love to see more of that in the second book.
Analeigh really goes all out for diving into the magic system, there were lots of words and phrases I had to look up to understand and I love that because it’s almost like you are there with the characters at the Academy learning about the Fae’s magic system and history. If it wasn’t for the way the Fae get the power I’d definitely want to study there😅
I’ve always adored Analeigh’s written work, her writing flows together well and this book deals so much with emotion that her descriptions really pull those through to the reader. I can’t wait to follow up on Audra’s journey in the next book. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read Heir of Prophecy, this was my most anticipated read of the year and it did not disappoint!
I’ve found my new favourite badass FMC! Audra comes from a very small port village, where she has to deal with some dreadful people but she doesn’t let that take away from the dreams she has. The fight Audra has in her is commendable, she stuck to her gut not knowing what her outcome could be. I loved that when she needed that extra motivation to fight she always thought back to her mother saying “Fight just to spite your fear”! I can’t wait to see more of Audra’s power unlocked in the next book, I know Analeigh will make her a GOD!
Can we have a moment for the men! Like Callum, a huge over 6ft tall red head who has a heart of gold. Or Zhaire, a demon prince who tries to be nonchalant but deep down really cares about his people. I absolutely loved Zhaire’s flirty side when he allowed himself to show it, I definitely would love to see more of that in the second book.
Analeigh really goes all out for diving into the magic system, there were lots of words and phrases I had to look up to understand and I love that because it’s almost like you are there with the characters at the Academy learning about the Fae’s magic system and history. If it wasn’t for the way the Fae get the power I’d definitely want to study there😅
I’ve always adored Analeigh’s written work, her writing flows together well and this book deals so much with emotion that her descriptions really pull those through to the reader. I can’t wait to follow up on Audra’s journey in the next book. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read Heir of Prophecy, this was my most anticipated read of the year and it did not disappoint!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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