Review of Heirdom

[Talia Goldmann]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Heirdom" by Tayma Tameem.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The three kingdoms of Al Kunooz, Intellectus and Valoria and Tranquilium, have been in peace for years but the war has left its shadow on their people. The royals have placed their hopes on the future marriages of their children as a union can gather strength and hold the peace together. The princess of Intellectus, Amber, is betrothed to the crown prince of Valoria, Zain, while her brother and future king of Intellectus, Adam, is to be married to Zain's sister, Zeina.

Zeina has had years to prepare herself for the inevitable and yet when the date of her marriage is pushed forward, she finds herself questioning her engagement and what truly happened before the peace treaty was suggested and put into place. Adam thinks the same and can't bear the thought of their marriage being anything more than a political move. Neither of them can come forward to accept or even respect the other. Zeina is determined to find out the truth, even if her mother is against the idea. As secrets are unravelled and threats are made, the princesses and princes find themselves in the middle of something much bigger than all of them.

Valoria: Heirdom is the first book in its series. The story takes off slow but hastens its pace as it progresses. The world painted by Tayma Tameem's words revolves around tensions between old enemies, a threat looming over their lives and marriages that would decide the fate of thousands. With each line and page, I fell deeper in love. Characters with their own unique individuality that plan and portray all kinds of personalities, giving life to their story.

From princess Zeina who desperately craved freedom and yet never ran from her responsibility as a royal, to Adam who shields his heart from the world to protect what little love he has left. The princess and prince struggled quite a lot, their interactions often beginning with a battle of wits or swords in practice and ending with one as a victor. Queen Zainah of Valoria was seen as kind and compassionate and fiercely loyal to her people while queen Najma of Intellectus proved to be more cruel, strongly protective of her family with a heart of steel.

The other characters played smaller parts but with an equal amount of importance. I enjoyed the book and can't wait for the sequel. There wasn't anything I disliked. Tayma Tameem has created a perfectly pictured fantasy world with all its perks and flaws. The book was exceptionally well-edited. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it to fantasy lovers, especially those with an interest in duty-bound royals and their troubles.

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Heirdom
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