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acuriousreader's Reviews (572)
It may be an unpopular opinion, but I really did not like this book...at all.
In regards to characters I personally found Lada to be extremely annoying. You were reminded almost every page that she had trust issues and that her home was Wallachia and she wanted to return to it, even though she found her making friends and allies under the Ottoman Empire and she felt safe. I feel like she had no real character development. At her younger ages she was portrayed as much older, but she never really grew from there. Her ideals remained the same, which is fine, but they never matured.
Radu on the other hand had great character development and was the only redeeming factor in this novel in my opinion. He started out as a sniveling coward of a little boy, who grew into a smart, clever, cunning and charming young man. He went from follower to leader as he realized he could use his weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Also the journey of finding out who he truly his and where his heart truly lies is amazing. You find out that he loves his best friend who is also male and you feel is confusing and heartbreak of the forbiddeness of it.
As far as the story goes, it sounds like a riveting and action packed story as far as the synopsis is concerned right?! Wrong… The story is dry and dragged on with way too much unnecessary filler, and doesn’t really go anywhere until the last 50 pages. Even then you are yawning and trying really hard for the story to grab you. Mehmed is mentioned so many times as the love interest, and by name, that you begin rolling your eyes at his mention. I think at the halfway point we should know these characters as familiar by now… thanks. Mehmed himself also doesn’t have much of a character development either and the little he does have is basically that he goes from a young playful boy to “hey I can make babies now”.
Over all I found this novel dry with no real memorable characters. I was actually disappointed to find out there was a second book coming as I fear that it too will be filled with unnecessary filler. I feel like if you took out the useless filler of And I Darken and did the same with the upcoming sequel it might make a decent standalone.
In regards to characters I personally found Lada to be extremely annoying. You were reminded almost every page that she had trust issues and that her home was Wallachia and she wanted to return to it, even though she found her making friends and allies under the Ottoman Empire and she felt safe. I feel like she had no real character development. At her younger ages she was portrayed as much older, but she never really grew from there. Her ideals remained the same, which is fine, but they never matured.
Radu on the other hand had great character development and was the only redeeming factor in this novel in my opinion. He started out as a sniveling coward of a little boy, who grew into a smart, clever, cunning and charming young man. He went from follower to leader as he realized he could use his weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Also the journey of finding out who he truly his and where his heart truly lies is amazing. You find out that he loves his best friend who is also male and you feel is confusing and heartbreak of the forbiddeness of it.
As far as the story goes, it sounds like a riveting and action packed story as far as the synopsis is concerned right?! Wrong… The story is dry and dragged on with way too much unnecessary filler, and doesn’t really go anywhere until the last 50 pages. Even then you are yawning and trying really hard for the story to grab you. Mehmed is mentioned so many times as the love interest, and by name, that you begin rolling your eyes at his mention. I think at the halfway point we should know these characters as familiar by now… thanks. Mehmed himself also doesn’t have much of a character development either and the little he does have is basically that he goes from a young playful boy to “hey I can make babies now”.
Over all I found this novel dry with no real memorable characters. I was actually disappointed to find out there was a second book coming as I fear that it too will be filled with unnecessary filler. I feel like if you took out the useless filler of And I Darken and did the same with the upcoming sequel it might make a decent standalone.
“Fools pay attention to words in a fight. Warriors take advantage of them.”
Ok, I thought I loved An Ember in the Ashes! But, A Torch Against the Night takes the cake… From page one you are thrown right into where AEITA left off, Elias and Laid escaping from Blackcliff. Elias is now a traitor to the empire and Laia a wanted Rebel Scholar, two people who were raised to hate each other must now rely on one an other for survival.
Every page is full of action, lust, love, and raw emotion. Leaving you not able to turn the pages fast enough! Sabaa Tahir really knows how to pul on your heartstrings with a love triangle and and ultimate betrayal.
“But you, Helen Aquilla, are no swift-burning spark. You are a torch against the night- if you dare to let yourself burn.”
A Torch Against the Night is a heart wrenching action packed novel that will leave you wanting more, more, more!
Most sequels are are chalked full of recaps from the first book in the series to remind you of who the characters are and what happened, which usually leads the reader all over the place and makes the first third of the book boring and annoying. A Torch Against the Night is an exemption to this. The characters are rememberable and well written enough that recaps are simply not needed and thankfully aren’t given.
In addition you get a new POV… Helen Aquilla’s. Im not going to lie, i was not fond of Helen initially. I thought she was your typical hardened woman caught in a mans world (cause really, Blackcliff is geared towards men). However, having chapters in her POV made me understand her, feel for her, and even grew to love her character.
“If your sins were blood, child, you would drown in a river of your own making.”
The story of A Torch Against the Night is much darker than its predecessor and ill admit can even be downright depressing at times. but, Sabaa Tahir knows how to hurt us so good with our characters on the brink of death the entire way through. All in all A Torch Against the Night is a gut wrenching, lovely, dark read and is everything we could have ever wanted from a sequel. It will leave your heart so, so, full while you are sobbing hugging your favourite pillow.
I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It is a must read in my eyes!
Ok, I thought I loved An Ember in the Ashes! But, A Torch Against the Night takes the cake… From page one you are thrown right into where AEITA left off, Elias and Laid escaping from Blackcliff. Elias is now a traitor to the empire and Laia a wanted Rebel Scholar, two people who were raised to hate each other must now rely on one an other for survival.
Every page is full of action, lust, love, and raw emotion. Leaving you not able to turn the pages fast enough! Sabaa Tahir really knows how to pul on your heartstrings with a love triangle and and ultimate betrayal.
“But you, Helen Aquilla, are no swift-burning spark. You are a torch against the night- if you dare to let yourself burn.”
A Torch Against the Night is a heart wrenching action packed novel that will leave you wanting more, more, more!
Most sequels are are chalked full of recaps from the first book in the series to remind you of who the characters are and what happened, which usually leads the reader all over the place and makes the first third of the book boring and annoying. A Torch Against the Night is an exemption to this. The characters are rememberable and well written enough that recaps are simply not needed and thankfully aren’t given.
In addition you get a new POV… Helen Aquilla’s. Im not going to lie, i was not fond of Helen initially. I thought she was your typical hardened woman caught in a mans world (cause really, Blackcliff is geared towards men). However, having chapters in her POV made me understand her, feel for her, and even grew to love her character.
“If your sins were blood, child, you would drown in a river of your own making.”
The story of A Torch Against the Night is much darker than its predecessor and ill admit can even be downright depressing at times. but, Sabaa Tahir knows how to hurt us so good with our characters on the brink of death the entire way through. All in all A Torch Against the Night is a gut wrenching, lovely, dark read and is everything we could have ever wanted from a sequel. It will leave your heart so, so, full while you are sobbing hugging your favourite pillow.
I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It is a must read in my eyes!
