An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir | Book Review
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Title- An Ember in the Ashes
Author- Sabaa Tahir
Publisher- HarperVoyager
Genre- YA Fantasy/ Adventure/ Romance
My Rating- ★★★★✰
Goodreads Rating- 4.25★
“An Ember in the Ashes could launch Sabaa Tahir into JK Rowling territory…It has the addictive quality of The Hunger Games combined with the fantasy of Harry Potter and the brutality of Game of Thrones.”—Public Radio International
Contents
Book Blurb
My Review
About the Author
Book Blurb
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
“There will be so much more in between. So much uncertainty. I don’t know if we’ll survive the catacombs, let alone the rest of it. But it doesn’t matter. For now, these steps are enough. These first few precious steps into darkness. Into the unknown. Into freedom.”
My Review
An Ember is the Ashes is a high fantasy based in an ancient Roman military run world with high stakes, lots of pain, adventure, and romance.
I enjoyed this story, but it’s one of those books that has been super hyped up and therefore hard to live up to expectations.
I don’t think I’ll read the rest of the series, but I can see why so many people love it. The characters are strong, the plot is exciting and detailed, and the world building is awesome.
Plot
Elias is a solider on a set path in life, but one he doesn’t want to follow. Laia is from an oppressed class of citizens and has her life turned upside down when her brother gets involved in some shady dealings.
Determined to save her brother, Laia goes undercover in the Military Academy as a slave with the promise that the resistance will help her brother.
But Laia’s new reality is brutal and filled with all new horrors. Elias is tied up in a prophecy he wants no part of. Together they have the chance to change their lives and the fate of the Empire.
I liked the plot. There was a lot to it and a few good twists along the way. Most of it was interesting, but I didn’t like the abuse that trended through the whole book. I understand it is all for emotional resonance with the characters, but I didn’t like the bad vibes I was left with after reading some of the scenes. This made me realise I prefer books without any torture elements.
World Building
This is a high fantasy world based on Ancient Rome. It has a very real ancient Roman Military feel to it. I’d say that the fantasy aspects come more from fantasy world than anything magical. Their are some elements of magic in the book; The Augurs are immortal beings, and there are jinns and wraiths. But these are minor elements and the world didn’t have the magical feel about it that I prefer in fantasy books. It’s more military based. But still very well done.
Characters
Helena was my favourite character. She stuck to her guns and was super tough.
The Commandant was a truly evil villain. She was really well written and made me genuinely hate her.
The characters are all strong and well rounded with all the right flaws and motivations, but I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of them.
Romance- classic love triangles and one for each main character. I’m a big fan of love triangles and romance subplots in fantasy, but for some reason I didn’t care much for these ones. I was more interested in the actual plot than the romance.
Summary
I liked the book but I wasn’t blown away by it. If you like high fantasy with with Military/ Ancient Roman vibes then this is the book for you.
“Three thousand bodies swing forward, three thousand pairs of boots snap together, three thousand backs jerk as if yanked straight by a puppeteer’s hand. In the ensuing silence, you could hear a tear drop.”
About the Author- Sabaa Tahir
#1 New York Times bestselling author of the An Ember in the Ashes series, which has been translated into over thirty-five languages. She grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s eighteen-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash, and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks, and all things nerd.
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