A review by thereadingnomad13
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

I've found a book that has killed me. A Torch Against the Night made me smile, made me cry, made me laugh, and kept me intrigued to the very end. The second installment of the series picks up right where the first left off. Although it takes a moment to find its feet again, once it does, it builds upon the foundation the original set.

Tropes: As The Prophecy Foretold, Love Dodecahedron,
Anyone Can Betray Anyone

Spice Level:  🔥🔥 (Behind Closed Doors)
Did I Cry? Sobbing in a Corner

Laia is an atypical female protagonist. She isn't strong because she's physically strong. We explore her talents more here than in the original, but for two entire novels, her only true goal has been to find and rescue her brother.
With that mission accomplished,
the question is: who does she become from here?

Where there's life, there's hope. - Laia of Serra

Elias grew on me as a character (and miiiiiight be one of my favorite male protagonists).
Now free of the empire after the events in An Ember in the Ashes,
the true expanse of his mercy, guilt, and desire to do good are highlighted. I loved his struggle with obtaining forgiveness from
Tristas and helping him pass on.
Although it was emotional to see him battle
his fate,
the course set in motion excites me to see where his journey takes him next. The Soul Catcher,
her acceptance of his request
, her background, and the world she brings with her opens up more world lore questions, and I am eager to explore them
and see that through his eyes.


So long as you fight the darkness, you stand in the light. -- Mamie Rila

Helene was my favorite character in An Ember in the Ashes. While her seemingly blind obedience was concerning, it's clear that mindset is beginning to fray. Her loyalty will always be both a worthy trait and her downfall, but now is when she determines how she will wield it. She endures a lot in this installment: torture, shifting sands, and
the loss of her family.
If this was the story of her unmaking, I can't wait to see how she rebuilds.

You are a torch against the night, if you dare to let yourself burn. - Augur Cain

The only downside of this story for me is the ebbing and flowing of the love triangle square hexagon square. Seriously. Every point of view character has two love interests. Knowing that going into a reread, however, makes it less aggravating than the first time around.

Your emotions make you human. Even the unpleasant ones have a purpose. Don't lock them away. - Elias Veturius

The Commandant stole the show for the villains in An Ember in the Ashes. Although she still plays a role from behind the curtains, the show-stealer here is Nightbringer. While I wasn't able to guess the entirety of his arc, the pieces were coming together even early on, and it was well-foreshadowed.
And yes, it killed me, because I didn't want it to be true. Although less shocking, this was a bigger betrayal for me than in Red Queen. One like this is only forgivable because it was so well done and actually makes me want to learn more about the biggest of the bads.


Let him think he's won. Soon, he'll realize his mistake: He vowed to play fair. But I didn't. - Laia of Serra

The world dives a little deeper into the factions across the land. We get a glimpse of the Tribes. We get an even closer look at the supernatural and mythical elements. All of our point-of-view characters have now had an important interaction by some supernatural creature and
awakened a power within.
I'm eager to see how this is utilized even more as the stakes continue to climb.

Willpower alone cannot change one's fate. - The Soul Catcher



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