Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

216 reviews

hdodge9's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence

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

linde_ahobbit's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

A great book that keeps you interested and on your toes. It's well written, in a way that makes it easy to get lost in the book. Only the romance(s) felt a bit lackluster to me. I would've loved it more if it had begun with a friendship instead of instant attraction. But that might be just me. I will read the rest of the series for sure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Sexual assault

rexpostfacto's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault, Slavery, Murder, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, and Suicide

amre23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.5

This book was dark and violent but believe the start to a great story. This starts about a girl thrown into conflict larger than simply finding and saving her brother and a boy who is trying to escape the expectations and confines of his life. She is adamant to find her brother but constantly is navigating who her true allies are and how to complete the requests from everyone around her. He is constantly navigating between the "mask" he wears for everyone and who he wants/wishes to be.

The Dual POVs made the story progress faster. Was nice to see when the 2 main characters weren't interacting how their actions and inactions impacted each other.

At times could truly feel her worry and anxiety through the pages. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Slavery, Physical abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexism, Genocide, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Blood, and Classism

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Grief, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, and War

Minor: Medical content, Self harm, Abortion, Alcohol, and Pregnancy

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

mckenziemreads'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Sexual violence

mwritesdragons's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual assault

_ashleyslibraryy's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

i am so mad at myself for not starting this sooner. this was amazing!!! 

a little bit about this book.. we start out with laia’s brother being arrested and now she needs to find a way to save him. in exchange for the resistances help she must become a slave for the commandant of blackcliff academy and spy for them. this is where she meets elias, a soilder who yearns for freedom. 

thats where our story begins and let me just tell you, it’s SO good. i lovedddd laia and elias, literally cannot stop thinking about them. this book was definitely more focused on the fantasy plot side of things and doesn’t have much romance but it didn’t bother me at all because i was so captivated with the story. 

sabaa tahir’s writing is so enthralling, i could not put down this book. while it was a slower start because its a set up for the rest of the books in the series, i felt like it was still very interesting.

friendships are formed and some are betrayed, there’s a bit of drama, and some trials which i was not expecting! i cannot wait to jump into a torch against the night <3 

*i would recommend checking trigger warning!*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Physical abuse, and Death

Moderate: Torture, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Rape

lzbthojd's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Rape