An Ember in the Ashes (Ember Quartet, #1)

by Sabaa Tahir

You can't have traversed the book blogosphere recently without having seen An Ember in the Ashes. This book was met with such love that there was even a campaign for the name of the fandom. A campaign for a fandom name. That's dedication though I'm not sure how I feel about the name.

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.