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A review by ash122
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
5.0
'You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy, you cannot change it. You cannot stop it.' (67)
Skies.
Burning skies.
I vow to my blood and bone, never have I read something so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
I have read about the most loved characters getting killed in the cruellest possible ways, or the staunchest allies turning outta be malevolent traitors, but what happens here? Insane.
Back to start, the plot brims up with suspense, and indeed, 'keeps one reading long after the lights should have been out', (Robin Hobb). It revolves around Laia and Elias, who despite leading lives that are poles apart, share this same raging, blazing desire, freedom.
While Elias is a battle-hardened Martial, born to fight, to honour his blood, to continue the Veturius' legacy; Laia is the grief-stricken Scholar girl, lost everything and stuck in a dilemma, ultimately taking the most dangerous of all risks, just for the sake of her most loved one.
In this masterpiece, a universe is drawn where everything goes by strict law and proportion. Like a machine, it does what it is programmed to, events recur, never crossing the line, never being too far away.
Amid this grey phenomenon, where dwells the unprecedented fey as well; jinn, ghuls, efrits, wraiths, wights; creatures who are not even supposed to exist, hope for upheaval blooms as the embers flare beneath the long burnt ashes. Boon for the Scholars, doom for the Martials, change for all.
'You are full, Laia. Full of life and dark and strength and spirit. You are in our dreams. You will burn. You are an ember in the ashes.' (403)
Skies.
Burning skies.
I vow to my blood and bone, never have I read something so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
I have read about the most loved characters getting killed in the cruellest possible ways, or the staunchest allies turning outta be malevolent traitors, but what happens here? Insane.
Back to start, the plot brims up with suspense, and indeed, 'keeps one reading long after the lights should have been out', (Robin Hobb). It revolves around Laia and Elias, who despite leading lives that are poles apart, share this same raging, blazing desire, freedom.
While Elias is a battle-hardened Martial, born to fight, to honour his blood, to continue the Veturius' legacy; Laia is the grief-stricken Scholar girl, lost everything and stuck in a dilemma, ultimately taking the most dangerous of all risks, just for the sake of her most loved one.
In this masterpiece, a universe is drawn where everything goes by strict law and proportion. Like a machine, it does what it is programmed to, events recur, never crossing the line, never being too far away.
Amid this grey phenomenon, where dwells the unprecedented fey as well; jinn, ghuls, efrits, wraiths, wights; creatures who are not even supposed to exist, hope for upheaval blooms as the embers flare beneath the long burnt ashes. Boon for the Scholars, doom for the Martials, change for all.
'You are full, Laia. Full of life and dark and strength and spirit. You are in our dreams. You will burn. You are an ember in the ashes.' (403)