Reviews tagging 'War'

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

87 reviews

emmakhend's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring 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

5.0

An Ember in the Ashes is one of my favorite YA fantasy books of all time. I’ve reread this book quite a few times and I never get bored with it. The world-building and characters are fantastic and loveable. The conflict throughout the series is gripping and engaging. Sabaa Tahir has an amazing writing style and portrays emotions and plot effortlessly.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

luuley's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent and War

Minor: Rape and Suicide

jennabenna's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.75

This was a good first book in the series. The world, main characters, and conflict are set up well. I found the slow pace if Laia's personal growth to be frustrating, and Elias to be a little too "perfect". I didnt love the dumb choices the characters (especially Laia) kept making. But  I am optimistic for continued growth from the characters, so I cant wait to read the next two books now that the plot has really gotten going! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Genocide and Slavery

Minor: Rape, Murder, and War

charlizardbookboi17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Abandonment, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

esconce's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have read this whole series but just wanted to write my final reviews, the characters in this book definitely get better as the story and series as a whole progresses. I personally really disliked Helene in the beginning but over time she became my favorite character by the end of the series. It definitely has a couple “Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire” sort of moments, but it deals with a surprising amount of classism racism and more that honestly just fits really well. The world building is just top tier and Keenan stays as one of my favorite characters from the beginning to the end. :D 9/10 would read again

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Slavery, Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual harassment

takarakei's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.25

If you like books where no one is who they say they are and you don't know who you can trust... this is it! It's very dark, honestly I am surprised this is labeled as YA. Besides it following young adults and them all being horny teenagers, the subject matter that this deals with is very adult (see TW). I really enjoyed the dual POVs, world building, and the mysterious qualities. It is very attention grabbing and interesting right from the get-go, and it was a very unique concept. I can feel a much more intriguing plot line to come in the rest of the series...

You have a soul. It's damaged, but it's there. Don't let them take it from you...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Genocide, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Grief, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

This is an extremely dark book hence the long list of TW Rape/SA - there is none graphic on page, but rape is referred to a lot (seems to be common occurrence in this world) and

a main character nearly is raped on page

ajpotz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

good, satisfying book. easy to read with a good magic and political system that got me out of my reading slump. will be reading the best book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War

kriti's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment

aishallnot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.0

I've had this book on my tbr for the longest time and finally got around to it this year and I think this a pretty decent debut book/series (I was going to give this 3.5 stars but I think this is a solid 4 maybe 4.5).

As someone who is slowly getting back into fantasy I think this could be a great start as this is more action packed rather than fantasy if that makes sense. I was more interested in the former but I'm hoping in the second book we see more of the fantasy elements.

The characters (for the most part) I liked. I think Elias' character was well developed and with Laia I do see that she has potential to grow in the next book or two. Helene I don't really hate tbh bc ik she *might* have some sort of redemption arc, but usually characters like her I wouldn't care for. 

I usually struggle to move forward with continuously reading series but I think this left a strong impression on me to start Torch (reserved a copy on hold at my library)!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence

Minor: Blood and War

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