An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

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

by Sabaa Tahir

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. 

Reviewed by shannonmiz on

4 of 5 stars

Share
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
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!

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 May, 2015: Finished reading
  • 7 May, 2015: Reviewed