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risten's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death, Racism, Violence, Child death, Gore, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Torture, Classism, War, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Vomit, Excrement, and Misogyny
anarmandameg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Genocide, Medical content, Racism, Slavery, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, War, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Xenophobia
bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
This book builds greatly on the foundation laid in its predecessor by adding Helene’s point of view. Its addition allows readers to see vastly different slices of the world and 2-3 plot lines that bump together occasionally but lead to crucial information that I’m sure will be necessary in the next book.
There’s an interesting theme of isolation between our three leads- Laia with Keenan, Elias with the Soul Catcher, and Helene’s loss- and how they face this isolation and forge ahead shows how special they are. This is also a spot I find frustrating as a reader because I’m certain these characters will all have to trust each other eventually to defeat the final evil but they don’t right now so they lack the full picture that they’d have if they worked together.
Sabaa Tahir excels in creating complex characters that thrive in murky gray morality and I absolutely love it. I was concerned about Helene’s story being consumed by lovesick feelings but I’m thrilled she’s coming in to her own. Elias’s journey is fascinating- he does everything in his power even as he’s dying to fulfill his vow to Laia (obligatory: Ladies, don’t settle. If he wanted to, he would.) and it leads to a big twist I know will be crucial and probably necessary as the series builds. And I already didn’t care for Keenan (he has big Gale energy) but there’s no way I could have predicted his deeply layered secrets.
I appreciate the well balanced push-pull between the different forces at play. It can be frustrating when you read something where the villains never slip up and are always one step ahead. Even as the Commandant builds her secret plans, Helene manages to foil some, which is a huge accomplishment when you consider the Commandant’s unearthly ally. Laia and Elias also discover a weakness in the Nightbringer despite the power imbalance between them. These successes make the world grim but not entirely bleak.
Content warnings: this world is brutal and survives on groups enacting violence upon each other. I’d recommend you stay away from the series if you can’t stand true cruelty.
There’s an interesting theme of isolation between our three leads- Laia with Keenan, Elias with the Soul Catcher, and Helene’s loss- and how they face this isolation and forge ahead shows how special they are. This is also a spot I find frustrating as a reader because I’m certain these characters will all have to trust each other eventually to defeat the final evil but they don’t right now so they lack the full picture that they’d have if they worked together.
Sabaa Tahir excels in creating complex characters that thrive in murky gray morality and I absolutely love it. I was concerned about Helene’s story being consumed by lovesick feelings but I’m thrilled she’s coming in to her own. Elias’s journey is fascinating- he does everything in his power even as he’s dying to fulfill his vow to Laia (obligatory: Ladies, don’t settle. If he wanted to, he would.) and it leads to a big twist I know will be crucial and probably necessary as the series builds. And I already didn’t care for Keenan (he has big Gale energy) but there’s no way I could have predicted his deeply layered secrets.
I appreciate the well balanced push-pull between the different forces at play. It can be frustrating when you read something where the villains never slip up and are always one step ahead. Even as the Commandant builds her secret plans, Helene manages to foil some, which is a huge accomplishment when you consider the Commandant’s unearthly ally. Laia and Elias also discover a weakness in the Nightbringer despite the power imbalance between them. These successes make the world grim but not entirely bleak.
Content warnings: this world is brutal and survives on groups enacting violence upon each other. I’d recommend you stay away from the series if you can’t stand true cruelty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Torture, Violence, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Slavery, and Genocide
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
madisonbell_'s review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
rinku's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Now, after reading the whole An Ember in the Ashes series, I can say that A Torch Against the Night is my favorite book of the series. There’s so much plot and not one moment to catch a breath since the atmosphere is constantly tense and threatening.
After the events of the first book, this book instantly starts with a great action sequence: Laia and Elias are on the run from the empire, trying to flee the city and finding a way to free Laia’s brother from prison to continue the fight against the empire. Besides them, we get a third POV, namely Helene’s perspective. This was great for two reasons: One, it was good to have a POV inside the empire, and two, this gave her character so much depth and made me like her so much. She gets the mission to hunt down and kill Elias, or otherwise her family will die. Hence, for all of them, the stakes are so high. Additionally, I liked all of the three POVs and it was so hard to see how much they were struggling with themselves and their missions.
What made this book especially great was the plot and the story. The whole story is just so dark, brutal, and often leaves you with a hopeless feeling. The pacing was amazing as well; I was first scared that Elias’ and Laia’s travel would be boring but oh boy, it wasn’t. There is always something often unpredictable happening that makes you want to continue reading.
Particularly towards the ending, so many shocking things happen, leading to more suffering for our characters: It’s revealed that Keenan is the Nightbringer who thus betrayed Laia. Helene also fails her mission, leading to Marcus killing her whole family which was just so sad. Elias dies in the end as well, trying to save Darin on his own. He then becomes the soul catcher and gets revived through this . With all of those conflicts, you just want to know how the story will continue and how the characters will deal with them in the future.
What I also really like is the writing itself. With all the violence happening, <i>Tahir</i> creates a constant tense atmosphere where you have to worry for your favorite characters. Furthermore, everything feels so real and the settings are just so great.
I mostly said what I think about the characters above, but I find it so amazing how Laia never gives up. When Izzi and Keenan came , I was a bit scared that we would get a love triangle, but we didn’t. I also start to like Helene quite a lot and I just wanted to hug her at some moments. Besides this, I can’t stress enough how pure evil and brutal the villains of the story are, creating a true threat for our characters.
In summary, A Torch Against the Night was my first five star read in months, and for a good reason – the plot is engaging, the characters are amazing, and the writing and settings create a great atmosphere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Child death, Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Sexual harassment
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT begins where AN EMBER IN THE ASHES left off, with Elias and Laia having just escaped so that Laia can attempt a rescue of her brother from the prison, Kauf.
The worldbuilding focuses on the Tribes more this time around, maintaining things established in the first book but not doing as much worldbuilding for the other groups and locations. One thing that's new is the Waiting Place where Shaeva helps the dead pass on. A lot of new backstory and worldbuilding is conveyed to Elias there, gradually through a series of conversations.
One of my favorite things about the structure of this series is that Laia and Elias each have another person they're interested in. Rather than a standard love triangle, this creates something more tangled where it's uncertain whether they're both interested in a relationship with each other. Any potential romance takes a backseat for much of the book because of the circumstances of their journey, but there's just enough there to keep things interesting. I like how Keenan's storyline plays out, I genuinely didn't guess what was going on with him and I'm pretty pleased with the reveal. Helene isn't around the others as much, but I like that because her chapters get a chance to be on their own rather than echoing Elias's, since in the first book we only saw Helene through Elias (and very occasionally Laia).
Each of the characters have specific and very understandable reasons for acting at cross-purposes. Some of those justifications are definitely on the evil side, but so far none of the characters are evil for the sake of it. Their justifications may be power, security, making sure no one can do to them what they're doing to everyone else, but there's always a reason. In a series that seems determined to add perspectives with each sequel, that's not an easy feat. I don't have to like all of the point-of-view characters in order to enjoy the book. Even when I vehemently disagree with them it's not a frustrating reading experience, instead it's highly engaging.
This is the second book in a quartet, and it wraps up a pretty important thing left hanging from the first book, since this is where the planned attempt to rescue Laia's brother is made. The journey itself functions mostly as a new storyline, though technically it began at the very end of the first book. Several smaller things are resolved, but the first book ends on a cliffhanger and then this one picks up immediately where it left off, which makes it harder for me to remember which things where mentioned at the end of the first vs the beginning of the second. Some things related to Helene are specifically left for later in a way that makes me think they may drive the third book. Helene is a new narrator, her perspectives joining the rotation with Laia and Elias. Laia and Elias are consistent with themselves in the first book, though they do change gradually in this one (especially Elias). There's an audiobook narrator for each perspective, Laia, Elias, and Helene. I like the performances, they did a good job.
This begins exactly where the first book left off, with Laia and Elias running through the tunnels. Reminders of what happened in the first book are doled out slowly, when the characters have a moment to think while running for their lives. It wouldn't make sense to start here, since the main plot is the second half of the story begun in the first book. Since it's a quartet it does set up plenty to keep the story going, but Laia became a slave in the first book in hopes of getting her brother rescued and this book is about the journey for that rescue attempt. Beginning here without having that setup would make a lot of the story less satisfying.
Laia and Elias are traveling to Kauf to rescue Laia's brother. They're joined by some characters from the first book, and the party splits and reconfigures several times as they get help along the way. Helene is the Blood Shrike, trying to deal with the hateful Commandant's machinations from the inside, all while under the thumb of the new emperor. In an attempt to get back at Laia and the resistance, the Commandant is using her influence to try and wipe out the Scholars and anyone she thinks of as helping them. These plot threads intersect more towards the end, establishing a new status quo going into the third book.
I enjoyed this and will keep reading the series!
The worldbuilding focuses on the Tribes more this time around, maintaining things established in the first book but not doing as much worldbuilding for the other groups and locations. One thing that's new is the Waiting Place where Shaeva helps the dead pass on. A lot of new backstory and worldbuilding is conveyed to Elias there, gradually through a series of conversations.
One of my favorite things about the structure of this series is that Laia and Elias each have another person they're interested in. Rather than a standard love triangle, this creates something more tangled where it's uncertain whether they're both interested in a relationship with each other. Any potential romance takes a backseat for much of the book because of the circumstances of their journey, but there's just enough there to keep things interesting. I like how Keenan's storyline plays out, I genuinely didn't guess what was going on with him and I'm pretty pleased with the reveal. Helene isn't around the others as much, but I like that because her chapters get a chance to be on their own rather than echoing Elias's, since in the first book we only saw Helene through Elias (and very occasionally Laia).
Each of the characters have specific and very understandable reasons for acting at cross-purposes. Some of those justifications are definitely on the evil side, but so far none of the characters are evil for the sake of it. Their justifications may be power, security, making sure no one can do to them what they're doing to everyone else, but there's always a reason. In a series that seems determined to add perspectives with each sequel, that's not an easy feat. I don't have to like all of the point-of-view characters in order to enjoy the book. Even when I vehemently disagree with them it's not a frustrating reading experience, instead it's highly engaging.
This is the second book in a quartet, and it wraps up a pretty important thing left hanging from the first book, since this is where the planned attempt to rescue Laia's brother is made. The journey itself functions mostly as a new storyline, though technically it began at the very end of the first book. Several smaller things are resolved, but the first book ends on a cliffhanger and then this one picks up immediately where it left off, which makes it harder for me to remember which things where mentioned at the end of the first vs the beginning of the second. Some things related to Helene are specifically left for later in a way that makes me think they may drive the third book. Helene is a new narrator, her perspectives joining the rotation with Laia and Elias. Laia and Elias are consistent with themselves in the first book, though they do change gradually in this one (especially Elias). There's an audiobook narrator for each perspective, Laia, Elias, and Helene. I like the performances, they did a good job.
This begins exactly where the first book left off, with Laia and Elias running through the tunnels. Reminders of what happened in the first book are doled out slowly, when the characters have a moment to think while running for their lives. It wouldn't make sense to start here, since the main plot is the second half of the story begun in the first book. Since it's a quartet it does set up plenty to keep the story going, but Laia became a slave in the first book in hopes of getting her brother rescued and this book is about the journey for that rescue attempt. Beginning here without having that setup would make a lot of the story less satisfying.
Laia and Elias are traveling to Kauf to rescue Laia's brother. They're joined by some characters from the first book, and the party splits and reconfigures several times as they get help along the way. Helene is the Blood Shrike, trying to deal with the hateful Commandant's machinations from the inside, all while under the thumb of the new emperor. In an attempt to get back at Laia and the resistance, the Commandant is using her influence to try and wipe out the Scholars and anyone she thinks of as helping them. These plot threads intersect more towards the end, establishing a new status quo going into the third book.
I enjoyed this and will keep reading the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Child abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Genocide, and Slavery
veeronald's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Slavery, Abandonment, Classism, Confinement, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Genocide, Murder, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Grief, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Vomit, Sexual content, Stalking, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
cgn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first third of the book was kind of boring to me, but then I read the rest of the book in a day and had a great time. Not fully sure how I feel about this book but I’ll certainly be reading the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Classism, Grief, and Slavery
Minor: Sexual content
lainiereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
SO GOOD!!! very painful though-ow. I really love the continued character devlopment that is going on in this series. Laia has become so much stronger already, but she still has an internal struggle that I look forward to seeing her overcome as the series continues.
I know people love Helene and like,, I get that she isn't a truly bad person and I don't HATE her, but I'm still waiting for something to make me actually like her. I'm sure she will probably be more lovable in the next one, and I am all for a flawed character, but I just don't really get it yet.
Elias has only gotten better, oh my god I LOVE HIM!!! He is just such a good person that even when he does annoying things, he is still great. You always know that he is going to feel remorse for the bad things he has done, and he will try to make it right however he can.
I had absolutely no idea what plot twists were ahead of me as I read this book, and I was constantly being shocked by everything! Sabaa Tahir has that perfect way of storybuilding that makes you want to immediately reread everything to see all of the hints that you missed.
I also really love Tahir's writing because she is able to constantly keep the reader hooked. At times, I caught myself seriously reflecting on what I had read hours before, and I just wanted to pick up the book again and again. This is especially impressive given how depressing this series can be. I don't usually look forward to reading things that I know will be painful, so the fact that this book is able to make me excited to read more is crazy.
I am scared for the pain to come, but obviously I have to keep reading, I just love these characters so much :')
I know people love Helene and like,, I get that she isn't a truly bad person and I don't HATE her, but I'm still waiting for something to make me actually like her. I'm sure she will probably be more lovable in the next one, and I am all for a flawed character, but I just don't really get it yet.
Elias has only gotten better, oh my god I LOVE HIM!!! He is just such a good person that even when he does annoying things, he is still great. You always know that he is going to feel remorse for the bad things he has done, and he will try to make it right however he can.
I had absolutely no idea what plot twists were ahead of me as I read this book, and I was constantly being shocked by everything! Sabaa Tahir has that perfect way of storybuilding that makes you want to immediately reread everything to see all of the hints that you missed.
I also really love Tahir's writing because she is able to constantly keep the reader hooked. At times, I caught myself seriously reflecting on what I had read hours before, and I just wanted to pick up the book again and again. This is especially impressive given how depressing this series can be. I don't usually look forward to reading things that I know will be painful, so the fact that this book is able to make me excited to read more is crazy.
I am scared for the pain to come, but obviously I have to keep reading, I just love these characters so much :')
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Terminal illness, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, Death, Child abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, and Physical abuse
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
nefari_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Animal death