Back to The Warrior Heir

Honors and Awards

• 2008 American Library Association Popular Paperbacks List
• 2007-2008 Lonestar Reading List (Texas Library Association) and numerous other state award lists
• Starred Review, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
• A Booksense Summer Pick, 2006
• VOYA 2006 Editor's Choice Book
• A VOYA Perfect Ten, 2006
• VOYA’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror List, 2005-2006

Warrior Heir Reviews

THE WARRIOR HEIR is a delightful fantasy. You’ll definitely want to read the others in the series, THE WIZARD HEIR, THE DRAGON HEIR, THE ENCHANTER HEIR, and coming soon, THE SORCERER HEIR.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Starred review. Plot twists and surprises make perfect sense in retrospect in this densely imagined and fully realized world; instead of staying up all night racing to the end, readers will want to put this one down before following through with Chima's well-wrought climax. A moral subtext that considers the ethics of medical manipulations, hierarchical societies, and spectatorial bloodlust deepens but never overwhelms the action. Fans of action/adventure fantasy, and even videogames will find this an absorbing read.

TEENREADS.COM
THE WARRIOR HEIR is a thrilling fantasy set in the 21st century that seems to be different from some of the other wizard stories out there….a great mix of relationships, historical references, action (at times gory) and suspense. I would suggest having an extra copy on hand because you might find it disappearing temporarily from your bookshelf once your family and friends see it.

And good news for fans of the book: There is rumored to be a sequel to THE WARRIOR HEIR tentatively titled THE WIZARD HEIR.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle (SdarksideG@aol.com)

VOYA, April, 2006
Twists and turns abound in this remarkable, nearly flawless debut novel that mixes a young man's coming-of-age with fantasy and adventure. Fast paced and brilliantly plotted, Jack's journey is physical, mental, and emotional as he discovers his own identity and makes tough choices that impact others. Readers of all ages will find in Jack a hero, who seeks above all to make the right choices regardless of the cost to himself. 5P, 5Q (highest ratings for quality and popularity)

Children's Literature, 2006
Young adult fiction meets the fantasy world in this thought provoking new novel.… brings to life the clash of magic and the ordinary in an intricate web of literary genius that most authors would need an entire series to create.

Akron Beacon Journal, April 23, 2006
"Jackson Swift was born a wizard, but without the crucial Weirstone he needed to follow his destiny. His Aunt Linda, an enchantress, asked a wizard/surgeon to replace the stone, but instead a warrior stone was implanted, one that made Jack the target of two warring factions, each eager to use him as an unwilling player in a to-the-death tournament.

That's the premise of The Warrior Heir, an enjoyable fantasy for young adult readers by Strongsville writer Cinda Williams Chima.

Fans of a certain other boy-wizard series will recognize that Chima sets up a solid background for her world of Weirlind (magical people) and Anaweir (the rest of us). Best is Jack's relationship with his stalwart friends, especially the wonderful Fitch."

The Plain Dealer, April 9, 2006
“Unlike Luke or Harry, Ron and Hermione, Jack and his…friends are Midwestern high school teens. Bullies taunt weaker classmates, cases of beer are on ice in the back of pickup trucks, and Ellen, a sexy new classmate wearing a white tank top and jeans, offers to let the young warrior copy her homework.

“Marked by an elaborate plot with many twists and turns, The Warrior Heir is enlivened with the right amount of violent hand-to-hand combat. The pace slows only occasionally, and the finish is captivating. Avid readers of fantasy and discriminating readers of adventure are in for a thrill.”