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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Twas amazing. I totally recommend this to anyone who likes Harry Potter or Throne of Glass. It is totally worth the read.
Here's my booktalk:
http://youtu.be/FJDcGBKMDmU
Here's my booktalk:
http://youtu.be/FJDcGBKMDmU
adventurous
medium-paced
I was pretty disappointed with An Ember in the Ashes. I had heard so many good things about this debut novel, I even almost bought it once or twice, but it fell flat for me. Here's what I liked and disliked. (I recently started watching BooksandLala, and I love how she reviews books, so I'm going to use her format - one good thing for each star given and one bad thing for each star taken away).
The idea of this world Sabaa Tahir has made is really interesting. She based the world on the Roman Empire, and I adore mythology, so I was thrilled when I finally found out that it was, because a lot of quick reviews I watched failed to say as such. On top of that, there were jinns, wraiths, tribes of storytellers, and a ton of other cool things. I was so excited.
The use of figurative language was great. Tahir's prose was certainly notable. She uses metaphors like nobody's business. Honestly, the first couple chapters (the best, in my opinion) were chock full of beautiful descriptions.
The characters were so... flat. One dimensional. Boring. At first I noticed it in Keenan. For no reason at all Laia seemed to be falling for him, and he for her. They had roughly five interactions in the whole book! Then I noticed it in pretty much everybody but a few characters (those being Laia, Elias and Helene). Marcus has no reason to be such a douche canoe. And Zac, his twin brother, is just his toady who doesn't even want to follow him. Spiro's over here dealing out wisdom to Laia even though we see him two or three times that she goes and quotes like ugh just no. All of Elias and Helene's friends at the school are just placeholders. Cook and Izzi were just there to be the wise, strong old lady and the helpless friend of the MC. The Emperor or his influence on his empire is never actually seen and that just doesn't make any sense. Then I realized that the three main characters and the villain, the Commandant, were all just boring with only one motive driving them, which was frustrating and a half. As soon as I put the book down, I stopped caring about the characters. Sometimes while reading I still didn't care.
Who even are the Resistance? The Augurs? The other nations? These people are mentioned incessantly but they aren't explained thouroughly. We're supposed to care about some of the Resistance characters, but we know little to nothing about them. They mention how complicated the group is, but we get no insight into their politics. I think Laia should have stayed with them for a while. The Augurs... they're like immortal? And weird? And actually in control of everyone? WTH is with them? No explanation? Okay. Also, it's mentioned how wonderful this tribal nation is, and there's like another one that is mentioned about twice that is never expanded upon.
I feel like Tahir made an awesome world in her head, but then decided not to share it with the reader. As mentioned above, there were hardly any explanations for why things were how they were. There are jinns and wraiths and things I can't spell and there's somehow a magic element that the characters are surprised by, but the mythology of this world is hardly touched upon.
I wish I liked this book. Well, I've got a reading goal to catch up on and a Readathon to TBR. Bye!
The idea of this world Sabaa Tahir has made is really interesting. She based the world on the Roman Empire, and I adore mythology, so I was thrilled when I finally found out that it was, because a lot of quick reviews I watched failed to say as such. On top of that, there were jinns, wraiths, tribes of storytellers, and a ton of other cool things. I was so excited.
The use of figurative language was great. Tahir's prose was certainly notable. She uses metaphors like nobody's business. Honestly, the first couple chapters (the best, in my opinion) were chock full of beautiful descriptions.
The characters were so... flat. One dimensional. Boring. At first I noticed it in Keenan. For no reason at all Laia seemed to be falling for him, and he for her. They had roughly five interactions in the whole book! Then I noticed it in pretty much everybody but a few characters (those being Laia, Elias and Helene). Marcus has no reason to be such a douche canoe. And Zac, his twin brother, is just his toady who doesn't even want to follow him. Spiro's over here dealing out wisdom to Laia even though we see him two or three times that she goes and quotes like ugh just no. All of Elias and Helene's friends at the school are just placeholders.
Spoiler
I noticed this right before they all got slaughtered by each other. JUST BECAUSE THEY DIE LATER DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T IMPORTANT TO CHARACTERIZE THEM.Who even are the Resistance? The Augurs? The other nations? These people are mentioned incessantly but they aren't explained thouroughly. We're supposed to care about some of the Resistance characters, but we know little to nothing about them. They mention how complicated the group is, but we get no insight into their politics. I think Laia should have stayed with them for a while. The Augurs... they're like immortal? And weird? And actually in control of everyone? WTH is with them? No explanation? Okay. Also, it's mentioned how wonderful this tribal nation is, and there's like another one that is mentioned about twice that is never expanded upon.
I feel like Tahir made an awesome world in her head, but then decided not to share it with the reader. As mentioned above, there were hardly any explanations for why things were how they were. There are jinns and wraiths and things I can't spell and there's somehow a magic element that the characters are surprised by, but the mythology of this world is hardly touched upon.
I wish I liked this book. Well, I've got a reading goal to catch up on and a Readathon to TBR. Bye!
Calling it now- best YA fantasy I’ve ever read. Cannot wait to read the other books!!
Few things to note:
I would die for Laia
So it’s not really a love triangle it’s more like a love square?
I don’t know who to love more Elias or Keenan?
Okay thats not at all how I pictured the ending to be
Is Mazen the Nightbringer? Hmmmm.
Few things to note:
I would die for Laia
So it’s not really a love triangle it’s more like a love square?
I don’t know who to love more Elias or Keenan?
Okay thats not at all how I pictured the ending to be
Is Mazen the Nightbringer? Hmmmm.
This book is amazing!!!
I've had it for years, and I don't know why I only now got to it, but I love it so much. The story was very interesting. At first, I didn't enjoy the dual POV situation, but after I got used to it, I started loving it. I love both our main characters and the situation and challenges they are put through. I love the romance storyline because it was so slow and twisted, and the main focus didn't go away after the love interests were clear. It's not often to see an FMC who still keeps on her goal (saving her brother) through the whole book and to the very end of it, but I love that part and I can't wait to get to the next book and see how the story will proceed.
I've had it for years, and I don't know why I only now got to it, but I love it so much. The story was very interesting. At first, I didn't enjoy the dual POV situation, but after I got used to it, I started loving it. I love both our main characters and the situation and challenges they are put through. I love the romance storyline because it was so slow and twisted, and the main focus didn't go away after the love interests were clear. It's not often to see an FMC who still keeps on her goal (saving her brother) through the whole book and to the very end of it, but I love that part and I can't wait to get to the next book and see how the story will proceed.
*Won through Goodreads Giveaways!!!*
4 Stars
Amazingly, I ended up liking this book. At first, Laia, irritated me to no end. Little girl playing victim; then she got a rude awakening. When the slap from left field came, the tone of this book changed. It went from silly-ass YA, to damn YA?? Is that you?? Yes, there are moments of the typical YA tropes and traps, but the story is written well. There is quite a bit of violence and an underlying brutality that is felt and interwoven throughout this story. In the end, I realized that Laia just wants to be brave like those she loves and those around her, but bravery is not always a physical display. Sometimes, it is that spoken word at just the right time or simply surviving against what seems to be insurmountable odds.
Hell, I liked it. Onward!
4 Stars
Amazingly, I ended up liking this book. At first, Laia, irritated me to no end. Little girl playing victim; then she got a rude awakening. When the slap from left field came, the tone of this book changed. It went from silly-ass YA, to damn YA?? Is that you?? Yes, there are moments of the typical YA tropes and traps, but the story is written well. There is quite a bit of violence and an underlying brutality that is felt and interwoven throughout this story. In the end, I realized that Laia just wants to be brave like those she loves and those around her, but bravery is not always a physical display. Sometimes, it is that spoken word at just the right time or simply surviving against what seems to be insurmountable odds.
Hell, I liked it. Onward!