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vickybuka's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Genocide
maddie_rae_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Book 2 in the An Ember in the Ashes series! I love the multiple POVs set in a world of reviving magic and militant brutality. This time we follow Bloodshrike Helene, Fugitive Elias, and Rebel Laia as they race to figure out what is truly going on, while desperately trying to protect the ones they love.
We pick up the storylines right where we ended in Book 1, and it’s a mad dash from there. So many choices to be made and tragedies to endure, questions answered and more questions needing answers. Each are put in seemingly impossible situations that have them evaluating what truly matters. Life and Death are always in the balance, and we see a lot of loss sprinkled with hope in this second installment of the series. I love that some twists were predictable (excellent clues all throughout) and that some were so startling as to keep me on my toes as a reader. Very excited to see what happens in book 3!
Honestly, a fabulous second book! I didn’t feel like it dragged and found myself at the edge of my seat and gasping all throughout. This series is quickly becoming a top favorite series along with Harry Potter and Throne of Glass.
THINGS CONSIDERED SCORE 98/100
We pick up the storylines right where we ended in Book 1, and it’s a mad dash from there. So many choices to be made and tragedies to endure, questions answered and more questions needing answers. Each are put in seemingly impossible situations that have them evaluating what truly matters. Life and Death are always in the balance, and we see a lot of loss sprinkled with hope in this second installment of the series. I love that some twists were predictable (excellent clues all throughout) and that some were so startling as to keep me on my toes as a reader. Very excited to see what happens in book 3!
Honestly, a fabulous second book! I didn’t feel like it dragged and found myself at the edge of my seat and gasping all throughout. This series is quickly becoming a top favorite series along with Harry Potter and Throne of Glass.
THINGS CONSIDERED SCORE 98/100
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death
mj1588's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, War, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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? Yes
A Torch Against the Night is a good fantasy sequel. It definitely has its moments of slowness, but thankfully, there's a bit of mystery/waiting for the other foot to drop that makes you want to keep reading. You also get a bit more into the fantasy elements.
The reveal in this one!!!! I screamed!!! I definitely wasn't expecting it. The addition of Helene's POV really added to the story. She's such an interesting character to follow. I enjoyed getting to see Laia's fighting/training develop a bit more. She's not the same girl from that first chapter; Elias isn't the same boy from that chapter either. He's challenged just as much as Laia in this one.
I've got more questions than answers at this point and I'm really looking forward to getting those answers. I'm a little late to the game, but don't let that stop you from picking up this series. It's so good!
The reveal in this one!!!! I screamed!!! I definitely wasn't expecting it. The addition of Helene's POV really added to the story. She's such an interesting character to follow. I enjoyed getting to see Laia's fighting/training develop a bit more. She's not the same girl from that first chapter; Elias isn't the same boy from that chapter either. He's challenged just as much as Laia in this one.
I've got more questions than answers at this point and I'm really looking forward to getting those answers. I'm a little late to the game, but don't let that stop you from picking up this series. It's so good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Grief
Minor: Rape and Sexual content
chrisb913's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
This book was incredible. The plot hooked me from page 1 and did not let up throughout the entire story. The plot twists had me shook and the character development throughout was superb. Between Ember in the Ashes and now A Torch Against the Night, Sabaa Tahir will forever be an insta buy author for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Slavery, Grief, and Child abuse
Minor: Rape and Sexual content
erwikka's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.25
This series just gets better with every installment. No second book syndrome here. I loved having a new POV and it really made the character lodge themselves deeper into my heart. Sabaa’s writing is spectacular and will have you so engrossed you will be lost for hours or until you finish. I don’t wanna dive too deep into the plot because of spoilers, but this book really up’d the anti. I’m foaming at the mouth for book three so I will have to start it soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Torture
Moderate: Murder, Death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Minor: Slavery, War, and Fire/Fire injury
amelia_rose_20's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
9/10 | "A Torch Against the Night" is a thrilling continuation that captivates with its fast pace and action-packed narrative. I particularly loved Helene's character development and am eager to see even more of her in future installments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
_rowantree_'s review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: War
kellybarth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Child death
Moderate: Slavery
isxelle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
3.77
elias just deserves so much love. this poor guy. he has gone through so much. literally walked through hell and still was able to be a good person.
i really would have liked certain characters to have been together more because the tension had me screaming and kicking my feet and then someone decided to just be like peace out i gotta do this on my own. bruh. i understand why but still. you left her with that freak of nature keenan
helene's chapters were ok. ik they're necessary but it just felt like she was in this cycle of constant confusion which then resulted in her being fucked over. she was being tugged everywhere and told basically fucking jack shit. so many of her chapters she is just trying to figure out what to do.
elias just deserves so much love. this poor guy.
i really would have liked certain characters to have been together more because the tension had me screaming and kicking my feet
helene's chapters were ok. ik they're necessary but it just felt like she was in this cycle of constant confusion which then resulted in her being fucked over. she was being tugged everywhere and told basically fucking jack shit. so many of her chapters she is just trying to figure out what to do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death