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A review by destdest
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Not really a review but more so some rambling thoughts
-Easy to read. I breezed through pages like it was nothing. I looked up and half the book was already read.
-The different people, the scholars, martials, masks, and so… the racial makeup was hard to get a grasp on. I think scholars are pale, lighter-skinned and martials are generally darker, whether in skin or hair color. But some people are blonde, redhead, dark-haired and so on. Maybe it’s more of a cultural thing than a general look because every character’s looks ran the gamut.
-Marcus was horrid. Like a hyena laughing at brutality, grossness, and violence. I don’t think he had any redeeming value. It’s unfortunate placement the first line about him refers to his darker skin, then him being called ugly.
-I’m not sure why only one girl is allowed each year, and in a school of boys raised to be brutish and barbaric.
-Things are cruel at the academy for everyone, the students and, especially, the enslaved. The threat of being raped is a very real, ever-present thing here for the female characters and slaves. In addition, the carnage rises high and children are not spared. There’s a constant sense of peril, which runs throughout the story.
-I’m ambivalent about the Helene-Elias stuff. I didn’t really care for the romance aspect in general, but the strain it put on their friendship was interesting to watch. I wonder why Helene is SO loyal to him.She’s is staking life decisions on one dude.
- I <b>loved</b> the Cook, the real MVP! Also, Laia has some good character development.
- hormones are all powerful. Characters close to death and being actively tortured in ENSLAVEMENT, but got time for their hearts to go doki doki. Well, okay, even during tragedy, people fall in love.
- I'm ready for the Commandment to get rocked.
I guess the real friends we made were the sexism and battle weaponry we met along the way.
In all seriousness, I’ll read book two. I want to see where this goes.
-Easy to read. I breezed through pages like it was nothing. I looked up and half the book was already read.
-The different people, the scholars, martials, masks, and so… the racial makeup was hard to get a grasp on. I think scholars are pale, lighter-skinned and martials are generally darker, whether in skin or hair color. But some people are blonde, redhead, dark-haired and so on. Maybe it’s more of a cultural thing than a general look because every character’s looks ran the gamut.
-Marcus was horrid. Like a hyena laughing at brutality, grossness, and violence. I don’t think he had any redeeming value. It’s unfortunate placement the first line about him refers to his darker skin, then him being called ugly.
-I’m not sure why only one girl is allowed each year, and in a school of boys raised to be brutish and barbaric.
-Things are cruel at the academy for everyone, the students and, especially, the enslaved. The threat of being raped is a very real, ever-present thing here for the female characters and slaves. In addition, the carnage rises high and children are not spared. There’s a constant sense of peril, which runs throughout the story.
-I’m ambivalent about the Helene-Elias stuff. I didn’t really care for the romance aspect in general, but the strain it put on their friendship was interesting to watch. I wonder why Helene is SO loyal to him.
- I <b>loved</b> the Cook, the real MVP! Also, Laia has some good character development.
- hormones are all powerful. Characters close to death and being actively tortured in ENSLAVEMENT, but got time for their hearts to go doki doki. Well, okay, even during tragedy, people fall in love.
- I'm ready for the Commandment to get rocked.
I guess the real friends we made were the sexism and battle weaponry we met along the way.
In all seriousness, I’ll read book two. I want to see where this goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child death, Sexism, Death, Death of parent, and Bullying
Minor: Rape