The Warrior Heir, by: Cinda Williams Chima

       An epic battle between good and evil...
       Before he knew about the Roses, 16-year-old Jack lived an unremarkable life in the small Ohio town of Trinity. Only the medicine he has to take daily and the thick scar above his heart set him apart from the other high schoolers. Then one day Jack skips his medicine. Suddenly, he is stronger, fiercer, and more confident than ever before. And it feels great - until he loses control of his own strength and nearly kills another player during soccer team tryouts.
       Soon, Jack learns the startling truth about himself: he is Weirlind, part of an underground society of magical people who live among us. At their helm sits the feuding houses of the Red Rose and the White 

Rose, whose power is determined by playing The Game - a magical tournament in which each house sponsors a warrior to fight to the death. The winning house rules the Weir.
​       As if his bizarre heritage isn't enough, Jack finds out that he's not just another member of Weirlind - he's one of the last of the warriors - at a time when both houses are scouting for a player.​

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My Rating: ★★★★☆

       Alright, let's get straight to it. This book has been on my TBR shelf for about three years. I know what you're thinking. "Oh my gosh, Ashton, what is your problem? Why would you neglect a book for so long?" Well, dear reader of mine, I have a very unsatisfactory answer for you. This book is freaking dense. Now, if you are a book collector like I am, you will understand the terror of dense books. The problem with these books is that they look like quick, 300-page reads. Then when you pick them up, they weigh 20 pounds and scare the crap out of you. When will publishers understand that if I buy a 500-page book, I want it to look like a 500-page book?

       After I failed to read this book for 3 years, I decided in the past month or so to read all the books that I had sitting on my shelf for over a year. But, as my stack of neglected books dwindled, I picked up this book not expecting much. As I got into it, though, I slowly fell in love with the world and its characters. Cinda Williams Chima created the book that I feel like I Am Number Four should've been. It was fast-paced, magical, and still very grounded. I liked how the book seamlessly combined the everyday world with its magical counterpart. 

       I also have to mention the fact that I adore Jack. He is so sweet and funny and also a badass and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I also related to him a lot in the middle of the story, when he starts training. He has to balance school, sports, and magic and does a decent job of it, given all the time it takes out of his life. I am really involved in my school, and I thought it was awesome to see a character who has many of my same struggles on a daily basis. (Balancing school and magic is hard, people. I'm speaking from experience when I say this. Don't try it at home, kids.)

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       Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and hope you decide to check it out. I highly recommend it as a summer fantasy read, or if you are looking for a higher quality version of I Am Number Four.
       What did you think of The Warrior Heir? Let me know in the comments!

As she finishes a blog makeover,
Ashton

P.S. Did you notice the new blog look? (I hope you did. It is very different.) I will be making lots of changes in the next coming weeks, so if you have any suggestions or ideas, let me know in either the comments or shoot me a message in the "About Me" tab. :)

Just remember who you are... The world will try to change you into someone else. Don't let them. That's the best advice anyone can give you.

― Cinda Williams Chima, The Warrior Heir