Review: The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

Title: The Warrior Heir

Author: Cinda Williams Chima

Series: The Heir Chronicles #1

Genre: Middle-Grade/YA/Fantasy

Publisher: Disney Book Group

Publication Date: September 23rd, 2009

Edition: ebook, 272 pages

Source: Purchased, Kobo

Purchase/Pre-Order: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Book Depository | Powell's

Summary:

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.

   I was excited to read this book, it sounds exactly like the kind of book I love. Magic, mystery, adventure, slightly a coming of age tale. But sadly for me, I just didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to or perhaps should have.

   It could have to do with me having company during the time that I read this book I wasn't able to immerse myself like I normally do when I read. Either way, a lot of this book felt like a huge build-up to just a few pages of interesting action.

   There was an entertaining story here, some of the characters just didn't make sense, or I just didn't see their purpose. The MC's best friends seemed pointless to be in the big part of the story, or really being there at all. I kept waiting for it to be revealed that one of them was an Heir... so far that hasn't happened and I don't see it happening anytime soon either.

   It was a fun read, I just felt like the build-up to the final battle took too long. The majority of the "filler" part of this book could have been condensed into three or four chapters, instead of half the book. I might read the other books, not sure yet.

   This is a five-book series. and after reading the synopsizes for the other books, I am wondering if they are actual sequels or companion sequels. I would prefer actual sequels if I were to commit myself to read the rest of the series.