Briana @ Pages Unbound
Written on Aug 18, 2015
BOOK ONE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES
One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time
Instant New York Times bestseller
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir
Amazon's Best Young Adult Book of 2015
People's Choice Award winner - Favorite Fantasy
Bustle's Best Young Adult Book of 2015
“This novel is a harrowing, haunting reminder of what it means to be human — and how hope might be kindled in the midst of oppression and fear.” — The Washington Post
“An Ember in the Ashes could launch Sabaa Tahir into JK Rowling territory…It has the addictive quality of The Hunger Games combined with the fantasy of Harry Potter and the brutality of Game of Thrones.”—Public Radio International
"An Ember in the Ashes glows, burns, and smolders—as beautiful and radiant as it is searing."—Huffington Post
“A worthy novel – and one as brave as its characters.” —The New York Times Book Review
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
- ISBN10 1595148035
- ISBN13 9781595148032
- Publish Date 28 April 2015
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Razorbill
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 464
- Language English
- URL https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781595148032
Reviews
tweetybugshouse
Written on Jul 19, 2015
Mackenzie
Written on Jul 8, 2015
When I saw it, it seemed right up my alley. A Roman-esque world that promised violence, rebellion, politics, and wonderful characters trying to find their own. But all the hype became daunting. I started eagerly and I loved it. However, I wasn't getting the OMGAHHHHHHLOVEIT feeling everyone else seem to be getting.
Until the end. Then I got the hype. From the first page to the second trial (the first half to 3/4 of the book), I enjoyed it but I wasn't transfixed. Then the third trial began and BAM! I couldn't put it down.
So, I've decided to write this review in 2 parts. The first part being my "I'm enjoying it, but not necessarily blown away". The second part being the "OMG I GET THE HYPPEEEEEE"! Sorry (not really) this is going to be a LONG review.
Part 1: Enjoying it, but not blown away
I really liked it. It starts off with a bang and it's perfectly enjoyable. The promise of a revolution, the Romanesque inspired world, the trials, and the school of deadly assassins all promised awesomeness. Seriously, though, when Blackcliff was introduced, I knew I'd love it. Seriously, that place is truly insane which is obviously why I loved it. The brutality, the violence, the cruelty made for such an intriguing concept. It was brilliant and utterly terrifying.
The problem is, I'm also very character driven. From the very beginning I loved Helen and Elias. Both are the typical soldier type I adore, but it was their loyalty to each other and the compassion (though sometimes hard to find) that drew me to them.
My problem lay with Laia. She's incredibly determined and loyal to her family which are two qualities I absolutely love. But the fact that she constantly (and I mean constantly) compared herself to her "brave" mother and how the voice in her head was always in her brother Darrin's voice really grated on my nerves. Also, she had a lot of luck on her side which irks me.
Oh, but there is a MAP! I love maps.
However, there is also a weird love....square-like object? I don't know. You have Keenen and Laia (also, all I can think of is Princess Leia from Star Wars and it bugs the crap out of me), Helene and Elias, and Elias and Laia. I was not feeling Keenen and Laia. He was like super stoic and I thought it'd be like an awesome hate turned love but it just fell flat. He did a total 180 in like no time flat. Elias and Helen on the other hand would've been totally adorable (if you can call two fierce warriors adorable). There is such depth and friendship there and I TOTALLY SHIP THAT SHIP. Too bad Laia had to go and sink that ship though Elias didn't help things any. Helene + Elias = SHIPPPPPP!
But looking back, my biggest issue is the lack of depth. I felt like this book could have been really a beautiful and cruelly fantastic world with a rich culture and political strife and emotionally/morally torn characters. But this really affected me during the first two trials. They could've been emotionally gut-wrenching and action packed, but everything just felt....glossed over, I guess? Like it was so close but just not there. For one, for all of Elias' supposed military prowess, he really didn't show it. And I don't feel like there was really a conclusion to the first trial and the second trial was so lacking in detail that I was so confused as to what was happening.
But then comes the third trial.....
Part 2: Now I understand the hype
It's basically like 3/4 of the way through the book the author all of a sudden hit her stride and just. didn't. stop. To me, it felt almost like a separate book.
Remember how my biggest issues were characters and lack of depth? The last quarter blew those out of the water. All of a sudden BAM! Crap starts going down and it gets all emotional and LWKEFJOWIEFJWOEF! Those feelings I was missing out on totally hit me in the face. I couldn't put it down.
During the last quarter of the book there was just so much depth . From the characters, from their actions, from their thoughts and beliefs. They were tested beyond comprehension and it was beautiful and heart-breaking. The courage, honor, self-sacrificing, and all-around integrity to be found in these characters made my heart surge. Such strength and good character. All of the characters go through such heart-breaking and determining events. Brilliant and gut-wrenching, their passions and dedication and honor are laid bare.
Though Laia constantly doubted herself at the beginning, I loved her dedication and determination. But by the end, she comes fully into herself showing us all that she can be and it is powerful. She's got such a caring heart, but she becomes just so much more.
And Elias. Oh, Elias. I love him. I really do, from the very beginning. But he becomes so much more by the end. He is so loyal and compassionate. He has to go through some unbearable trials (#3 tore my heart out and put it through a meat grinder). He has to make the hard decisions and do what needs to be done and determine what it truly means to be free. That compassion does not equate to weakness and that finding something worth fighting for is an honorable thing.
And Helene. Even though she is has unwavering faith in this brutal empire, I loved her loyalty to her country (even if it was undeserved). Though she and Elias go through hard times, they are each other's rocks in this brutal world and I adored them for it. She could be cold and harsh, but did what needed to be done. Let's face it, she was really the only reason Elias lasted as long as he did. And by the end, you get to see her true character and how much she really cares for Elias.
Even the secondary characters were worth getting behind. All of the Masks could be brutal and violent, it's how they were raised. But the loyalty and brotherhood between them was always there (I'm a sucker for that brotherhood stuff). And Izzi and Cook, bless their hearts, were just wonderful. Cook could be brusque and unflinching, but truly caring. And Izzi was just such a sweetheart with a quiet sort of courage. Keenen was the only character that I feel was never truly fleshed out or was lacking in some way for as much page time as he had.
And the Commandant. She wasn't just cruel, she's sadistic. I absolutely loathed her and every moment of page time made me cringe. The world they lived in was brutally militaristic, but she was the absolute worst. And we finally get glimpses as to why and it's both heartbreaking and sickening (she's got some serious problems, okay?).
And GAH just everything happens in the last quarter of this book! So many trials and tribulations. So much heart is shown. Loyalty and friendships are tested. And just the depth of character that is shown in the end. The ultimate decisions and actions of these characters make this book what is truly is. Much of the depth I loved so much can be found in the character motivation and ultimately, their actions. These characters are tested, often in the most brutal of ways. But such trying times reveals true character.
So...how do I really feel?
Okay, that was long. Super long sorry. Basically it comes down to this: the first 1/2 to 3/4 was good. It was enjoyable and interesting and the militaristic school kept me intrigued and loved Helene and Elias. I was totally and still am shipping Helene and Elias (SHIPPPPP). However, I wasn't head over heels for it. Laia got on my nerves, I wasn't shipping any of her romances, and everything felt sort of glossed over. Then the last 1/4 came and blew that crap out of the water. Finally the emotionally gut-wrenching stuff happened and the brutality really showed the characters strengths and THIS IS WHAT I WAS PROMISED! Also, the luck I complained about with Laia made sense. Sure, the plot still could've been far more complex and in-depth than it was, but I'm also a character girl and by the end, I loved all of them.
This book is definitely worth reading. But I'd lower your expectation if they are super high. Even though this book really came into it's own at the end (character-wise), it definitely could've been more in-depth from the beginning. Despite this, this is a book that'll stay with you long after you finish. Definitely a fantastic start to a fantastic series.
cornerfolds
Written on May 29, 2015
Every once in a blue moon I'll take a chance on a book without really knowing much about it. Sure, I saw An Ember in the Ashes around A LOT before it actually came out. In fact, I may have posted it for a WoW one week. But I have mad skills when it comes to not actually paying attention to what I'm looking at. When I saw An Ember in the Ashes on the shelf in early May, I grabbed it up before I could really see what I was getting myself into. Because, really, that cover is TO DIE FOR. Once I started reading, though, I knew I had made a really good decision.
This book is honestly a little out of my reading comfort zone. I don't read very much high fantasty or historical fiction and, while this is classified as Dystopia and High Fantasy, it's based quite heavily on Ancient Rome and had a historical fiction feel to it. The setting kind of reminded me of The Winner's Curse in that I couldn't really place it exactly. Sabaa Tahir really did a great job of mashing up different cultures with fantasy and making something totally unique. I feel like there's just so much to say about this book, but I'll try to keep it manageable...
---Characters---
The characters in An Ember in the Ashes were really something special. There are no Mary Sues here. At least I didn't think so. Laia is a Scholar - one of a community of people who is constantly suppressed by the Empire because of a long-ago war. Immediately, her world is torn apart by one of the Masks, a heavily trained soldier who has been bred for violence and hate. From chapter one Laia is forced to make difficult decisions that show her true character, and it isn't one that is necessarily immediately likable. Laia is very hard on herself throughout the book and lacks self-confidence, though this is understandable as her backstory is uncovered. She turned out to be a character I really ended up feeling strongly about as the book progressed.
Elias is the other main character in the book. He is a Mask in training, getting ready to graduate when the book begins. Unlike the other Masks (and his mother, who is the Commandant of the school), he fights against the nature that they are raised to embrace. He does not want to be a killer and plans to leave the school even though his life is at risk. This plan is quickly thwarted, however, and Elias spends the majority of the book trying not to become like the people he despises. Following Elias through this book was absolutely heart-wrenching. The decisions he had to make were absolutely unreal. I loved him from page one and he was really the one character that kept me up late into the night. The secondary characters in his story were so freaking good, and I ended up so attached to so many of them that it really didn't work out great for me...
While romance does have a place in the story, it is very secondary to the main plot. There was actually kind of a love square, with both Laia and Elias already having other possible interests before meeting. This did not detract from the story in any way though and was a very minor point.
---Setting---
I've already touched briefly on the world that's presented in An Ember in the Ashes, and... just WOW! This world is so amazing and real and I felt like I could see every place the characters were. I have come to absolutely adore books with maps because they help me to get into the setting - and this book had two! One of the entire world (country?) and one of the school itself. Sabaa Tahir is an amazing world builder, that's for sure!
---Plot---
Finally, let me say a few words about the plot of this book. It.Was.Heartbreaking. From the opening chapter, I just could not understand the absolute despair every character in this book was faced with. As the book went on I actually started to dread each new trial they faced, not wanting to see what terrible thing could come out of it. I think I can honestly say this is the first book that actually left me with an actual PAINED HEART on multiple occasions. Um... ow. But that's what made it so good! I felt for every single one of these characters. There were times when I didn't think I could even go on and I was just reading it! And then the ending just killed me! How am I supposed to wait a whole year for book two?
---In Closing---
I would seriously recommend An Ember in the Ashes to basically everyone. I feel like it's a book that has something for lovers of multiple genres. And it will make you FEEL! Seriously, everyone go out and buy a copy so we can cry about the year-long wait together.
kimbacaffeinate
Written on May 27, 2015
The first in An Ember in the Ashes series, Tahir brings us a roman like world filled with gladiator type military schools, slaves and an oppressed society ruled by violence and fear. The author did an excellent job of bringing the world to life from the impressive academy to the slums.
Dual perspectives give us both sides of the story. Elias is a solider at the academy who dreams of freedom and an escape from the violence that rules his life. He unwittingly finds himself competing to be the next Martial emperor. Laia is a Scholar, living under the control of the emperor, but when her brother is arrested and her grandparents murdered, she soon finds herself working undecover in hopes of freeing her brother. The chapters alternate between the two and I immediately became wrapped up in their stories. Laia is an unlikely hero, in fact if given a choice she would be in hiding, but it is her love for her brother that drives her and her transformation alone was worth the ride.
Tahir delivers a dark tale that touches on the darker side of war, and the sacrifices on both sides. The emperor faction is dark and blood thirsty, with political maneuvering and quests for power. Scholars and slaves are treated like commodities in this quest. In the middle of it, all we have a rebel group. The Revolutionist, and learn that Laia has ties to them; she uses that connection to aid her brother.
What strengthened this novel and gave it its heart were the protagonists. Both are struggling and see tremendous growth and enlightenment throughout the story. The tale is surprisingly romance free although seeds have been planted. I loved these little teasers they gave a little hope to all the darkness. I thought a triangle was in the making, but with one line, Tahir squelched that and I was delighted. An Ember in the Ashes is dark and falls on the higher end of young adult genre making it a great crossover novel.
Fiona Hardingham and Steve West did a splendid job with the narration allowing us to feel Laia’s and Elias’s internal struggles, fear and growth. The choice to use two narrators was a good one and I hope these two continue the series.
Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Kelly
Written on May 22, 2015
My review for An Ember in The Ashes is one of the most difficult I've felt expressing. When you absolutely adore a book so deeply, that you're left lost for words. From the world building, to the characters, even the romance and just when you think you've read it all.
Told in dual points of view, Laia is a Scholar, a girl who lives to make ends meet for her grandparents, since the death of her parents some years ago. Her brother leaves for hours at a time, taking his sketch book in the middle of the night and bringing the Empire raid in his wake. The Legionaries spare no mercy, capturing Darin in the raid and forcing Laia to flee. With a deadly Mask hunting her, she has no choice but to heed the warning of her late parents and seek the aid of the underground Resistance. But their assistance comes at a price.
Elias is an elite soldier in training, expected to fulfill his role as a brutal Mask upon the completion of graduation. But Elias has other plans. He wants to escape, to free himself of his mother's cold and calculating reign over Blackcliff, his internal struggle against needless killing not going unnoticed by his peers. Before Elias can escape, he's chosen as an Aspirant for the trials to determine who will be the next leader. Three tests that decide the victor. But Elias isn't the bloodthirsty monster his mother is, or his grandfather expects him to be.
Two world collide when Laia is brought to Blackcliff, a lowly house slave with fire in her eyes and a determination that Elias sees in himself. It was glorious! The romance takes a backseat to the oppression and darkness of their world as the two form a tentative friendship. It mixes a dystopian society with fantasy and a touch of the brutality of the Roman and Greek empires with the battle of intelligence against arms. The world building was immaculate, from the wary streets of the Scholars, to the darkness that surrounds the Academy, it was so incredibly vivid and set the scene for an enslaved and oppressed society. The intensity was delicious, the characters well developed and although set in a world so far removed from modern day society, they were crafted to be likable and relatable. The secondary characters were distinct and Sabaa Tahir was able to weave in their individuality, where so many young adult books seem to skim over.
It was utterly stunning! It instilled in me a sense of righteousness, I wasn't only immersed, but felt as though I was placed in the action. I loved it. Every. Single. Moment.
Read. It.
An Ember in The Ashes isn't a book you borrow, it's a book you need to own and read it again and again. This isn't yet another fantasy slash dystopian, it's immaculate. It'll have you completely immersed and torn between wanting to savoir the storyline and flying through the pages demanding to know where Sabaa Tahir will take the reader next. I loved it. I adored it. And now I'm hungry for more.
Amber
Written on May 17, 2015
My favourite thing about the book was the world building. I’m a giant sucker for anything related to ancient history, and Ancient Rome is one of my favourite things ever. An Ember in the Ashes didn’t disappoint in terms of the fantasy world in which it is set. There are Martials, an Emperor, terrible laws, a segregated society… everything I wanted. The only thing I could have wished for is more. More of everything, please.
The pacing was also fantastic. An Ember in the Ashes is one of those books that you don’t realise you’re flying through until you reach the end. You could pick this one up anywhere and get hooked into the story straight away. It was such a thrilling read and I couldn’t put it down for long.
The characters weren’t, in my opinion, particularly stand-out, although they were good enough. An Ember in the Ashes is told from two points of view: Laia’s and Elias’. Laia is a girl whose brother has been taken by Martials, and in order to get him back she has to become a slave and spy on the Commandant. This is where she meets Elias, a young man who’s training to become a Mask – one of the elite. What Laia has to go through during this book is sad and, at times, horrific. I felt so sorry for her, but I loved that she kept a strong mind and stuck to what she needed to do.
As for Elias, I connected with him a lot less than I did with Laia. He’s not exactly a spoilt brat, but he’s a favourite at the Academy and this makes his life slightly easier. That said, he does have a complicated childhood and I feel a bit sorry for the guy. But overall he was just an okay character that I didn’t mind reading about, but I didn’t love either.
I’m really looking forward to the recently announced sequel (you took your sweet time, Penguin) because I want to see more of this world and the powers that the characters are just discovering. Everything has changed after that ending, so I’m interested to see where this series goes next. While An Ember in the Ashes wasn’t quite the story of revolution that I was expecting, I’m hoping the series gets more intense and in-depth as it goes on.
shannonmiz
Written on May 7, 2015
This is a hard book to review. Mostly because I am scared of spoilers, which is why I am not fully reviewing it, but I shall just tell you some things you might want to know:
This world is hell. Seriously, you don't want to live here. You don't want to vacation here. Hell, I'd be suspicious of a postcard from here, for fear it'd shank me itself. It's brutal, and no one is safe.
That said, it becomes very important in such a world to know someone's true essence, and I enjoyed seeing that from all the characters in this book- main and side characters alike.
It started off just a bit slow for me, but then when things get going... they do not stop.
The romantic aspect is sparse but messy. And I think I ship the "wrong" couple, which will kind of destroy me down the line, I am sure. I just don't feel the chemistry with the other couple. Maybe that'll change!
The writing was stunning. I think it helps when you have a very rough setting to have beautiful writing to offset it, and this was no exception.
Overall? I really liked it, and despite a few flaws, I found myself deeply invested. Bring on book 2!
violetpeanut
Written on Apr 12, 2015
I was hooked from page one. Right from the beginning, these characters jump right off the page. We don't have a kick-ass heroine. Rather, we have Laia, a heroine who is scared and cowardly and only wants to slink by under the notice of the powers-that-be. She is not a revolutionary. She is a regular girl who only wants to live. But in order for her brother to live, she is thrust into a situation that she is ill prepared for and leaves her in a constant state of fear. Opposite her, we have Elias. He is a part of the Martial Empire that has oppressed Laia's people and subjected them to horrible brutality. Elias recognizes this tyranny and only wants a way out - to be free - but instead finds himself put in an impossible situation. Does he stay and fight for a better future for his country, or does he flee and find personal freedom?
The situations these characters find themselves in are exciting and frightening and heartbreaking. This is a bleak and distressing world filled with brutality. The society is severe and unforgiving. The Scholars are oppressed by the Empire and are punished for the smallest infractions. The Martials are unforgiving with even their own people and punish rule-breaking in savage ways. The Commandant is a psychopath and some of the other soldiers are sadistic lunatics as well. The author really did a fantastic job of evoking that sense of hopelessness and danger that these characters were in and I feared for them every second.
Elias's storyline deals more with his personal struggles. He disagrees with the Empire but his best friend is a loyal soldier. He desperately wants to find a way to be free of the Empire while still being loyal to his friend.
As for romance, there are a couple of love triangles. Normally, I don't really care for love triangles, but these are handled well and add to the development of these characters rather than seeming an overused trope. They serve to highlight the changes in the characters between what they were and what they are becoming through their experiences.
The plot is exciting and fast-moving and this book was nearly impossible to put down. There were lots of action scenes interspersed with quieter scenes full of subterfuge. There was political maneuvering, deception, prophecy and a hint of the supernatural. There is suspense and fear and heartbreak. There are very strong characters, both main and supporting, who make real decisions and deal with real consequences. This book is fantastic. It's labeled as Young Adult, but there is huge crossover appeal here. While there is nothing overly graphic, the brutality is very real and adults will appreciate the setting and plot just as much as teens will. I am hoping and praying that there will be a sequel. Hear that Penguin? We want a sequel!
This book is highly recommended!
Beth C.
Written on Apr 10, 2015
Ember is told from the alternating viewpoints of both Laia and Elias, and it's done very well. Both characters are well-written and realistic. Laia doesn't just suddenly become a ninja and destroy what she hates, and Elias continues to battle his own demons - but along the way, they learn who they are and grow as characters, just as a real person would. Even those in the book who are less-than-pleasant are not written as one-dimensional "bad" characters, but have their own human impulses and reasonings for what they do.
Tahir has written an excellent novel, and I'm guessing (hoping?) that it is the first in a series. I couldn't find anything to verify that, but it's perfectly plausible. This is the first novel in quite some time that I read within a couple of days, staying up far too late both nights in order to do so. I look forward to reading more from this new author, and particularly if it carries me further into the land and the people that make up "An Ember in the Ashes".