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
