Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

11 reviews

saikisoph's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

This was bloody intense I tell you, but the storytelling was amazing. Would love to see this as a series one day. First time reading a book by a Pakistani author, I’m keen to read the rest of the series! 🔥

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts

chrisb913's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-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

5.0

Please check trigger warnings.

This book was outstanding. Sabaa Tahir has provided such a captivating and brutal world to explore. This story is a dual pov between Laia (a member of the Scholars) and Elias (a member of the Martials) as they navigate their incredibly different lives. Centuries ago, the Martials conquered the lands and established a dynasty. Today the Scholars are an oppressed people looking to just survive. Though, not all of them are willing to live under the oppression of the Martials. Due to circumstances, Laia joins up with the Resistence to try and overthrow the ruling class. Meanwhile, Elias has spent his entire life training to become one of the elite guards of the Martials all the while despising them and scheming to run away. The story follows these two incredible characters as they navigate the intricacies of this harsh political system, just trying to survive. I found this an incredible start to this saga and cannot recommend it enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Racial slurs, Death, Xenophobia, Violence, Murder, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Suicide

risten's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Torture, Slavery, Classism, Child abuse, Blood, Murder, Death, War, and Child death

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Gore, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Trafficking, and Suicide

Minor: Stalking, Sexual content, Vomit, Self harm, Abortion, Alcohol, and Animal death

mordshunger's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Ooof. 

First: cw slavery apologetics incoming I guess.

It's clear there is a full redemption ark coming up for Helen. She may change, but she cannot be excused. I will do my due diligence and continue with this series. If I am wrong, I will come back and delete this. But if I am right, she will continue to be an actual romantic interest, which is frankly disgusting at this point. If he ends up with Helen or even entertains the idea, this is a 1. She is an unforgivable heartless and evil bitch. She really only does good for him, and not because it is right. She would have had a hundred slaves die and sleep like a baby. And buhuhuhu she is so sad that anyone would think she is evil. Her dramatic explanation doesn't actually explain "everything" - her actions and words about slaves and slavery were not necessary for her deal. They were the truth.

Otherwise, loosely in order as I thought while reading:

Pretty standard ya fare, it's okay. It made me laugh in places because everyone is obviously hot, everyone has a distinct mysterious smell, moves with grace, has an indescribable eye colour that shifts with their emotions and so on and so on. Strong debut energy on this one, but as a teenager I wouldn't have minded. Main character has "golden" eyes. It's really laid on thick. MC continuosly gets down on herself about being weak or looking bad and I am quite tired of the projected glow up to a confident and desired warrior hero... Oh lord now it's labour vs management in the resistance.


There is a lot of clumsy exposition and more telling than showing. Familiar set-up and predictable backstory and first act. 

It is very important the reader is reminded every few pages how wonderfully slim and attractive the women are. Apart from different wild eye and hair colour combinations, I'd say all women all slender goddesses with sensual curves. Unless they are old and scarred. Good grief.

His chapters are more enjoyable. But - Take a shot every time he calls Helen a "girl" in a derogatory way.

It's a good thing Laia is otherworldly hot, otherwise this book would be hard pressed to make some major plot happen. It appears to be the sole reason for any man interacting with her or helping her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Death, Torture, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Colonisation, Blood, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

aimicampbell's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Sexual assault, Violence, Slavery, Rape, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail

griffinthief's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Blood, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit and Trafficking

booksanna's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0

Emotional. This book activated so many feelings in me, I am still baffled by the effect. This book has the perfect formula of good plot + interesting characters + a little humor + a sprinkle of romance+ of tragedy= Masterpiece. The plot had very good plot twists and wasn’t impossible to follow(although sometimes very hard). I loved the system and world-building this book provided, the diversity of each characters background. The characters weren’t just a slave girl, or a ruthless mask, a heartless mother. They were so much more and more. I truly loved the 2 point of view system(personally it’s my favorite). Even the language and small details like drums. I liked the mystery the plot delivered and sometimes flow of events was really frustrating and surprising. The characters were so well-developed and thought out like every time I though i was going to stop liking Helen, she would grow on me in another way. Although this book was V-E-R-Y grotesque and disgusting sometimes(so much I had to forcefully suppress my gags), it made the experience so much more realistic and meaningful. Overall a pretty good book that pumped me of adrenaline, worry, and a little sarcasm.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Colonisation, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, War, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Gore, Gaslighting, Death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, and Sexual content

scandinavian_queen's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, War, Xenophobia, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Genocide, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Minor: Abortion

rebeca_readss'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? Yes

4.75

⚠️ Check the trigger warning! This book might be offensive for some readers!!
Stunning! I have read this book in 4 days because I couldn’t take my hands of off it! The writing is beautiful and the plot is incredible! Lila. I love her. She’s a bad*ss. Elias is my new book boyfriend :). I love them and I love Sabaa ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Violence

Moderate: Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death, Police brutality, and Sexism

smiley_ari's review against another edition

adventurous tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Death