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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
kilic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, and Slavery
katsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
“So long as you fight the darkness, you stand in the light.”
“Failure doesn't define you. It's what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.”
“Don't look so worried. Most successful missions are just a series of barely averted disasters.”
“You are a torch against the night - if you dare to let yourself burn.”
Whoa. This novel was a wild ride, much like it's predecessor which I also enjoyed a lot. The adventure and intrigue were a ton of fun and kept me turning pages, especially during the last half. The plot twists were on point and they just kept on coming. Between presumed deaths, actual deaths, a love triangle and a massive betrayal, the drama almost gave me whiplash, but in the best possible way. Elias is the sweetest while also being a total badass. I love how much Laia's character has grown. And while I started off not really liking Helene's POV, I really appreciated her by the end of the book. I also ended up liking Harper much more than I thought I would. I really liked the more overtly fantastical elements incorporated into this novel (as opposed to the first novel, An Ember in the Ashes) and I'm really excited to see how those elements get fleshed out in the last two novels. There are some significant trigger warnings for graphic violence, torture, child abuse and genocide so please be aware.
REREAD:
This was just as fantastic the second time around. The twists and turns were just as good. I was a little frustrated that I forgot so much about the plot over the last year but that just meant I really got to relive it. And honestly I have so many questions for book 3. The character's are so well written and I'm convinced Tahir is going to rip my heart out in the last two books. So here goes nothing.
“Failure doesn't define you. It's what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.”
“Don't look so worried. Most successful missions are just a series of barely averted disasters.”
“You are a torch against the night - if you dare to let yourself burn.”
Whoa. This novel was a wild ride, much like it's predecessor which I also enjoyed a lot. The adventure and intrigue were a ton of fun and kept me turning pages, especially during the last half. The plot twists were on point and they just kept on coming. Between presumed deaths, actual deaths, a love triangle and a massive betrayal, the drama almost gave me whiplash, but in the best possible way. Elias is the sweetest while also being a total badass. I love how much Laia's character has grown. And while I started off not really liking Helene's POV, I really appreciated her by the end of the book. I also ended up liking Harper much more than I thought I would. I really liked the more overtly fantastical elements incorporated into this novel (as opposed to the first novel, An Ember in the Ashes) and I'm really excited to see how those elements get fleshed out in the last two novels. There are some significant trigger warnings for graphic violence, torture, child abuse and genocide so please be aware.
REREAD:
This was just as fantastic the second time around. The twists and turns were just as good. I was a little frustrated that I forgot so much about the plot over the last year but that just meant I really got to relive it. And honestly I have so many questions for book 3. The character's are so well written and I'm convinced Tahir is going to rip my heart out in the last two books. So here goes nothing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Grief, Murder, Torture, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual content
calilaha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Genocide, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Slavery, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
abeaninapod's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
What am I going to do when this series is over?
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery and Physical abuse
shahdhazem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
I haven't read anything this good in a long time. I loved it so much it had everything you could want in a book. The pace was so fast and the events so intense I literally felt like there was a lump in my throat going through the last part. The plot twist are mind-blowing I still can't put my hand on everything and that ending it was just *chef's kiss* when darin told Laia little sister ahh I felt so emotional. And I'm so confused by all the nightbringer plot and Elias being a soul catcher can't wait to read reaper😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Slavery, and Child abuse
ramiel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Colonisation, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
Imperialism is one hell of a drug. "Mild" are: the emperor is a rapist and makes a lot of threats. Some of the sexual content - such as that between the two main characters - is innocent and not excessively detailed but its there.resham's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
I usually don’t like the sequels as much as I do the first book but that is not the case with this book!!
Torch against the night picks up after Laia and Elias left Blackcliff and are heading to Kauf to break Darin out. Things of course happen along the way that I will not spoil.
I loved so many things about this book, I’m not even sure where to start! We finally have Helene’s point of view and now I love her even more! This book broke my heart for more reasons than I can list but I still loved this book and will take it with me wherever I go.
And I’m not sure if I’m happy or mad that my instincts were right about Keenan. I was annoyed at who Laia became around him because of his manipulation but the way she came back to herself nearing the end and changed her own perception of herself, I absolutely loved it!
I also love the fact that this series doesn’t necessarily have a “chosen one”. It’s more about whatever decisions all characters make individually and the consequences of them rather than this one person saving the world.
Torch against the night picks up after Laia and Elias left Blackcliff and are heading to Kauf to break Darin out. Things of course happen along the way that I will not spoil.
I loved so many things about this book, I’m not even sure where to start! We finally have Helene’s point of view and now I love her even more! This book broke my heart for more reasons than I can list but I still loved this book and will take it with me wherever I go.
And I’m not sure if I’m happy or mad that my instincts were right about Keenan. I was annoyed at who Laia became around him because of his manipulation but the way she came back to herself nearing the end and changed her own perception of herself, I absolutely loved it!
I also love the fact that this series doesn’t necessarily have a “chosen one”. It’s more about whatever decisions all characters make individually and the consequences of them rather than this one person saving the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse and Death of parent
ohkmurr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
If I thought the stakes in An Ember in the Ashes were high, A Torch Against the Night skyrocketed them. From the very start, we have a classic countdown disease—a trope I love, which can also be difficult to pull off in a way that doesn't feel like a gimmick.
The story is absolutely incredible, and I did not see quite a few of the plot twists coming. I will forever be amazed at Tahir's world-building and storytelling ability.
I'm also a bit embarrassed by how long it took me to realize that this story is basically World War II: a woman hell-bent on eradicating an entire race of people, a warden who performs experiments on people at a prison that all but guarantees a slow and painful death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Violence
Again, the violence/body horror is "Game of Thrones Lite," and similar to the violence described in Grady Hendrix's works/Stephen King's works.
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