You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
I read this book for the first time back in 2023, this was my initial review:
"Didn’t hate it. But didn’t love it either. I can’t even explain why it was lackluster for me, just felt like a slow story with nothing to compel me to continue the series.
Characters were cool, nothing cringe going on. It was all just meh."
I decided to re-read this and give it another shot.
I am bumping this up to 4 stars because it was enjoyable, I did end up feeling more attached to it on this second read. Setting the series aside, still not compelled to jump into book 2 right away. If I can't stop thinking about Elias and Laia then I will later.
Helene deserved better though. Helene stole the show for me this time.
"Didn’t hate it. But didn’t love it either. I can’t even explain why it was lackluster for me, just felt like a slow story with nothing to compel me to continue the series.
Characters were cool, nothing cringe going on. It was all just meh."
I decided to re-read this and give it another shot.
I am bumping this up to 4 stars because it was enjoyable, I did end up feeling more attached to it on this second read. Setting the series aside, still not compelled to jump into book 2 right away. If I can't stop thinking about Elias and Laia then I will later.
Helene deserved better though. Helene stole the show for me this time.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was recommended this book as part of a book bingo and this book DID NOT DISAPPOINT! I blasted through the book it clicked so well with my brain, finished it in 3 days which had been nice after a particularly bad reading slump.
I loved the intrigue and mystery this book presents however I did not vibe with the following.
The brutality and mentions of rape within the book were a bit much for me. You can torture characters without beating them brutally and constantly having the threat of rape over their heads. Glad the rape didn’t come to fruition but i personally didn’t enjoy that being mentioned.
Overall this book slapped and I will absolutely follow on with the series!
I loved the intrigue and mystery this book presents however I did not vibe with the following.
Overall this book slapped and I will absolutely follow on with the series!
Really picked up after the first 100 pages or so. I couldn’t really get into the stakes because the author led you to believe multiple people were dead when they weren’t!
Not currently in the mood for this type of book.
Literally just as good as the first time I read it. This is how you craft a compelling story full of complex characters. It’s crazy how well the book still works when it’s all essentially exposition…
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
An Ember in the Ashes is really violent and brutal. Tahir does not shy away from showing how normalized it is in this world that the enslaved characters are raped, brutalized and tortured.
When straight people see queer characters in media in general, they often complain that it is “woke” and “unnecessary.” But something people don’t talk about enough is all the unnecessary or unrealistic straight romances… like this one and Children of Blood and Bone. I wasn’t really sold on the couples. If I was rooting for anything it wasKeenan and Laia. I mean I guess you could say teenagers are horny and fall for anyone super quickly. Idk I’m asexual. It’s just annoying to see Elias and Laia lust after each other and that’s most of what there is to their attraction. No romance, just sexual attraction. I just don’t like the whole Helene and Elias romance situation.
It’s kind of annoying how much of the plot was just like “oh this is fated to happen” or whatever. And the Commandant felt one dimensional. I felt kinda bored in the middle but the story picked up in the last 100 pages.
When straight people see queer characters in media in general, they often complain that it is “woke” and “unnecessary.” But something people don’t talk about enough is all the unnecessary or unrealistic straight romances… like this one and Children of Blood and Bone. I wasn’t really sold on the couples. If I was rooting for anything it was
It’s kind of annoying how much of the plot was just like “oh this is fated to happen” or whatever. And the Commandant felt one dimensional. I felt kinda bored in the middle but the story picked up in the last 100 pages.