Title: A Torch Against the Night
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Series/Standalone: An Ember in the Ashes (Book #2)
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 452
Publisher: Razorbill
Year Published: 2016
First Line: "How did they find us so fast?"
"Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.
Laia is determined to break into Kauf- the Empire's most secure and dangerous prison- to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholar's survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.
But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene- Elias's former friend and the Empire's newest Blood Shrike.
Bound to Marcus's will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own- one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escpae... and kill them both."
My Rating: 4/5
So for anyone who may be unsure. This is the second book in the Ember's in the Ashes's series. That means this book review will likely contain spoilers for the first book. Sorry...
Now that that's out of the way. I really enjoyed this book. I considered not picking up the seoncd book in the series because I wasn't completely blown away by the first novel. I enjoyed it, I thought it was interesting enough, but not something that knocked my socks off.
But this second book wasn't getting the best reviews either. Other's were saying that it was a disappointment compaired to the first book, so I thought since my opinions seem to be completely differentmaybe they would be. And I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the characters grew so much and became so much more flushed out. We learn so much more about the politics in this world.And the plot twists here and there were perfect. I would say that this didn't get a 5/5 because it didnt' pull me in right right away which might be because I wasn't sure about it going in. But that's just my little old opinion. Let me know your down below.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So if you've been here a while you may have seen my review of An Ember In the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. So I wasn't as pumped about it as so many others seemed to be. I didn't hate it I thought that it was fine. I didn't love it either though. I wasn't as drawn in as so many others were with the first book. I bought this book not sure if I would love it or even like it for that much. So when I started to really get into this book I was trash before I knew it. I loved the change of pace, being on the run from people who can track anyone who are trained to kill. A rescue mission and magic none the less. That being said it took my a little while to get truly into the story. I can't wait to see where the rest of this series goes and if more perspectives will come along or not. I'm enjoying the three we have so far but I'll mention more below.
Characters:
Elias: I love Elias, I know it's kind of messed up because he's now a Grim reaper type guy but he is so good. Too good to be a mask. To kill with no reason. To not care. He's got a troubled past sure thing but I'm expecting that Harper is going to come and stir up some shit that he doesn't even know about. I can't wait.
Laia: I think that her character really changed as well. She started to see that people were taking her movements seriously. I thought that while some of her actions were rash, they were what she believed was necessary to save her brother. I'm curious about her powers and what she will do now that Darin has been saved.
Helene: My heart breaks for her but she has truly been unmade. She will get through this because she is the strongest of them all. She's put up with being rejected, being lead by a psychopath and then watching her family be killed. I can't wait to see her next move.
Darin: Is he going to be whole after what he went through?
The Commandant: She's crazy if she thinks she can just overthrough everyone, but it makes sense that she would go for it. She's ruthless if nothing else.
The Warden: I kept picturing him as a Crow from Game of Thrones but spookier. To experiment of prisoners is horrifying but he had true power in that prison. With the fear that those who walked it's halls must have felt.
Keenan: Our should I say not Keenan ( I had a better lead up but I forgot it). The Nightbringer is coming and he doesn't give a single F*ck about anyone. He wants to free his own true, but he also wants to kill many for what they did to him.
Marcus: The way he played with the Commandant makes me happy, but he has a lot more battles to fight to win the support of those around him, and hopefully those around him give him a hell of a fight right back. Especially Helene.
Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "'Look at you.'"
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: An Ember In The Ashes
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Series/Standalone: An Ember In The Ashes (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction
Pages: 446
Publisher: Razorbill
Year Published: 2015
First Line: "My brother reaches home in the dark hours before dawn, when even ghosts take their rest."
"Laia is a slave.
Elias is a soldier.
Neither is free.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Laia and her family do not challege the Empire. They've seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia's brother is arrested for treason, she 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. he and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are interwined- and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself."
My Rating: 4.5/5
So I've read this book in the course of a few days because I had a beautiful stomach flu. Yay for working with children. But anyways I thought that this book was an excellent fantasy read. It was action packed and filled with characters that are unique. I will say that there are a few things in this book that I found to be bothersome. One of them is just a pet peeve I have about many books which I'll explain further in the spoiler. This being said, it didn't get a full 5/5 just based on these feelings (I know the emotion). I found that the action and twists really kept me interested in the story of both our main characters. I also found that there were many characters that made me wonder more about the world and the its past. I also wonder about many characters past that we won't have the opportunity to see, unless it digs deeper in the next book (which I plan to pick up very soon). I can't wait to continue the story and see what happens with the characters we know, and am hopeful in exploring a change of setting.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
I found that over the time that I've been sick, I've been reading slowly. But I'm really glad that I picked up this story this weekend before the stomach flu hit. I think that I really found this story amazing to read and it helped me remember my love of ya fantasy. I found that the setting was really interesting and it really helped me to imagine what was going on as it was well described.
I also found that there were so many characters I was curious about as well as the two main characters. I also found it interesting that they weren't always interacting with each other that it showed so much more of both of those lives. As I discussed in the review I have a pet peeve about when characters say they can sense death in a family, or when they say they would know if someone was dead. Drives we crazy.
Characters:
Elias: I really enjoyed his character. I thought that him trying to break free of who he was was entertaining. I also found that he was a loving and compassionate character. He was able to see what was right through all the wrong around him. I hope that he'll be able to stay just friends with Laia. Tbh I was cheering for Helene.
Laia: I found that her character was interesting and I could relate to how she wanted to be strong but constantly found herself weak. I envy her for putting her family first. I found that she was stronger than I thought she could be by breaking out Elias and saving Izzi.
Helene: I think that Helene is a really interesting character. She was kickass and not worried about anything. I really loved her. I was chanting for her and Elias but when it didn't work out, I'm super worried about what she's going to become with Marcus.
Cook: I want to know her backstory.
Izzi: I want to know all about her past and everything and what happened to her family. She's a strong girl after seeing so much.
Spiro: Who is he? What does he want?
Marcus: What a sick bastard. A sexist, rude creep. I hate him. And I hope he pays for killing his brother.
Zak: When he spoke of his brother it broke his heart.
Commodante: She's heartless and evil. She's a snake and needs to be watched no matter what.
Moments to Remember:
Pg. 77
"'Let go of my hair, ' she says. 'Or I'll relieve you of your manhood.'"
Final Line: "Into freedom."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
