jaelyn7 's review for:

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

3.25

emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I have been struggling to get past the first 50 pages of a fantasy series, so I decided to try An Ember in the Ashes after really enjoying All My Rage. I found the characters and plot easy to follow, and I would be itching to pick the book back up whenever I had to pause my reading. However, I didn't fully understand the elements of the world building and didn't have my questions answered within this book. I don't know whether to attribute that to being a fantasy newbie or needing to read the rest of the series. I am willing to try the next book to see if it provides further clarity! I'm hoping the Commandment's backstory will be eventually revealed, as she was a fascinating character. Overall, I thought the characters had repetitive traits and showed limited growth in this first book. I would prefer the elimination of the stupid insta-lust romance for more insights into the characters, as I thought Tahir created a wonderful ensemble. My last critique involves the portrayal of women and the use of rape to drive the plot. If this society is modeled after one that oppresses women, this would make a lot more sense, but, since it wasn't clear, it left a sick feeling in my stomach, especially from a female author.