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A review by ellieshay
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
Overall I really loved this book.
It was a great YA fantasy, definitely one of my favorites, with true morally grey characters, strong character growth.
We follow Laia who's life is ripped out from under her in the first chapter. And follow her as she tries to spy to get information to those who can help save her brother.
We get a true understanding of her fears and real human reaction to such horrors that start the beginning of her story. In so many stories we have from the begin, the MC is straight up brave, witty and deals with the dark situations in epic ways. Laia was shown in such a great way. We sore her let fear control her, how she runs and feels guilt. How she isn't strong (from here point of view) and we watch as she grows from wanting to be saved to understanding that she must, relay on herself and become the brave MC we see in the end and we root for it!
We then also follow Elias who is training as a killer for the empire and how he truly hates and dismises the empire and the wrongness of what he is trained. We watch as he is prepping to flee from his post only to be thurst into trails where he is promised 'true freedom'. We follow as he graples with the mortality of what happens and his actions and reactions to the injustice. We watch him growing and dealing for living the people and life he has known for a life he wants and knows is morally better and see him accept his darkness and his morals as he makes his decisions.
Overall the two MC were both great character to follow and deal with their weaknesses, strengths and morals. The character development definitely was the main focus of the book, and it was building up the characters before there connections.
There was a very minor sub-plot of romance. It wasn't the focal point of the store. I'm sure it will growth and become more prominent as the books go on, but I just found it lacking. Felt more like a ow burn in that the MC's really didn't met or see each other till about half way through the book. There stories were told separately before they became connected, which I kind of liked.
<Spolier> chapter 38 was so cutel and unfair! This author is not afraid to kill so many characters! I tried while reading this part you really felt Elias pain and his faith break in this moment completely with the empire. </Spolier>
So over all the book and a bit of a slow start but once it started to come together and the characters got closer to there goals it really picked up and I couldn't put it down.
It was a great YA fantasy, definitely one of my favorites, with true morally grey characters, strong character growth.
We follow Laia who's life is ripped out from under her in the first chapter. And follow her as she tries to spy to get information to those who can help save her brother.
We get a true understanding of her fears and real human reaction to such horrors that start the beginning of her story. In so many stories we have from the begin, the MC is straight up brave, witty and deals with the dark situations in epic ways. Laia was shown in such a great way. We sore her let fear control her, how she runs and feels guilt. How she isn't strong (from here point of view) and we watch as she grows from wanting to be saved to understanding that she must, relay on herself and become the brave MC we see in the end and we root for it!
We then also follow Elias who is training as a killer for the empire and how he truly hates and dismises the empire and the wrongness of what he is trained. We watch as he is prepping to flee from his post only to be thurst into trails where he is promised 'true freedom'. We follow as he graples with the mortality of what happens and his actions and reactions to the injustice. We watch him growing and dealing for living the people and life he has known for a life he wants and knows is morally better and see him accept his darkness and his morals as he makes his decisions.
Overall the two MC were both great character to follow and deal with their weaknesses, strengths and morals. The character development definitely was the main focus of the book, and it was building up the characters before there connections.
There was a very minor sub-plot of romance. It wasn't the focal point of the store. I'm sure it will growth and become more prominent as the books go on, but I just found it lacking. Felt more like a ow burn in that the MC's really didn't met or see each other till about half way through the book. There stories were told separately before they became connected, which I kind of liked.
<Spolier> chapter 38 was so cutel and unfair! This author is not afraid to kill so many characters! I tried while reading this part you really felt Elias pain and his faith break in this moment completely with the empire. </Spolier>
So over all the book and a bit of a slow start but once it started to come together and the characters got closer to there goals it really picked up and I couldn't put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Rape