An Ember in the Ashes

Have you ever had a book you couldn't stop thinking about? You run over the plot and characters in your mind while at work? You stalk the author for any information regarding book 2? Well...this was me for An Ember in the Ashes. This book blew me away. An epic story full of courage and wonderful diverse characters. A unique fantasy world that was cruel and wonderful at the same time. I just couldn't put this book down. Today's book is An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. I honestly can say only one other book had me glued to the pages and kept by my side until finished. That was Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen. Now I found another book to hold me captive. An Ember in the Ashes was masterfully written. The pace flowed steadily to the point I just read and read. The world the book centers around is brutal, ruled by the Martial Empire who enslave scholars, taking from them libraries, books and their freedom. Scholars live in poverty serving the Martials as slaves. They aren't allowed to read or write for the punishment is death. To maintain such order, the Empire has special warriors with deadly weapons to keep the Scholars in their place. If a Martials' child is accepted into the Blackcliff academy, they train to become these deadly warriors known as The Masks. They must wear silver masks 24/7, so they can form over their faces like second skin, given the name. However, there is a resistance that has been rising for years against the Empire. Striking out when they least expect it. The book moves from two different point of views. Laia is a young Scholar who knows how to read. One night a Mask comes to take her brother Darin away, for illegally drawing images of weapons, burns their house down and kills her grandparents. She can only do one thing, join the resistance and go undercover in Blackcliff to spy so her brother can be freed. It's in the resistance she meets the handsome fighter Keenan who helps her during her time at Blackcliff. She endures much cruelty, especially by the Commandment, the leader of Blackcliff. A woman with much power and cruel determination to search out traitors from the resistance. Elias is a highborn student at Blackcliff, training to be a Mask. But he wants no part of it and plans to desert only to be pulled back in by the Trials. Whoever wins these tests become Emperor. Those that lose die. He must compete against his best friend Helene under the watchful eye of his mother, the Commandment. Elias starts to have conflicting feelings for his friend Helene and the slave girl Laia. His story was my favorite part of the book. I loved his turmoiled emotions and how he sets out to do the right thing. Love triangle haters beware, this book has a double whammy of a love triangle. I really don't like love triangles. Elias has feeling for both Helene and Laia. Laia has feeling for Keenan and Elias. But Elias and Laia's emotions are more connected with the moment rather than true feelings. He likes Laia's looks and it seems to be based on that throughout the book rather than her wit. So who knows where it will lead. I love the connection between Elias and Helene and look forward to see what happens in the next book. They seemed the most perfect for each other. So the love triangle wasn't really that bad because the story is what the book is all about. Sabaa did a wonderful job weaving a realistic story in this fantasy world. It's violent with bloody scenes that make the story much more intense. I gasped. I cringed. I yelled. I was a ball of nerves. The description of the world brought to life every detail of the characters and setting. The action was non-stop and with each turn of the page some sweat gathered on my forehead with concern for Elias...oh and Laia! Sabaa did a wonderful job at this debut novel. I can't wait to see what she has next because I eagerly wait for the sequel..which we will get! Wahoo! Should you read it? YES! What are you waiting for? This masterpiece of a story is something you can't miss. You won't put it down. Trust me. It's a wonderful add to your library collection.

I was so excited to read this book! And why not? The cover is gorgeous, the plot intriguing, and oh the hype! I really enjoyed watching the book community rally around Sabaa Tahir, and quickly elevate this book to a MUST READ! But, when I finished An Ember in the Ashes I came away feeling….undecided. Did I like the book? Yes. Did it leave me with burning questions and haunt me for days after reading? No. What I liked: The Characters Sabaa Tahir did so many things well in this book. An Ember in the Ashes is written from the dual perspectives of Laia, a Scholar slave, and Elias, a Martial training to be an elite assassin. Tahir moves between their stories effortlessly. The characters are so well developed, that even if the chapters weren’t labeled accordingly, there wouldn’t be any doubt who’s POV we were reading. What I loved most was that every single character was strongly written and well fleshed out, even the secondary characters. You walked away feeling that you knew Cook, Izzy, and Keenan just as well as Elias, Helene, or Laia. The Commandant is scary guys. JUST SAYING. The World Building As a product of her environment, the world of Ember is equally as terrifying as the Commandant. The Empire Is broken into the Scholars and the Martials. The Scholars are a conquered people living under the iron rule of the Martials. The Martials train their children to be assassins, carrying out the will of the Empire. Horrifying thought, right? The only confusing part for me was that some Scholars were slaves while others lived free. But Ember’s world is so much bigger than that. We are briefly introduced to the land of Marinn and the Tribal deserts that boarder the empire as well. Tahir fills Ember with vivid imagery and expertly weaves in touches of folklore and mythology until the world becomes a living breathing thing that jumps off the page. The Romance What I found really interesting is that Tahir didn’t fall back on the expected romantic plot devices. Was there a love triangle? Kind of. It was more like a quadrangle….rectangle…. diamond? Each of the main characters had more than one love interest. Elias had Helene and Laia, but Laia had Elias and Keenan. Laia and Elias never made sense to me. I was, and still am, firmly entrenched in Camp Helene. She’s his girl, mark my words. I also liked that Tahir kept it clean. What I didn’t like: There’s not much. It was a rough read in terms of the wanton brutality of the Martial class. I can’t count how many times I read the word rape. It wasn’t a pleasant aspect of the book or the world. Tahir did a pretty good job of tying up all the loose ends while still leaving you with a WHAT HAPPENS NEXT feeling. There was only one part of the book that I didn’t feel was tied up in a neat little bow by the end. Midway through, we are introduced to a…..ally of the Commandants. She calls him by a certain title and we hear a reference to him in one of the stories told to Laia. We get the idea that this ally is the one behind the scenes, pulling the strings, yet we never really hear anything more. All and all, I did enjoy this book. I was very fond of Elias and Helene. Their strength and honor were very appealing to me, as was their tried and true friendship. The world had a brutal beauty that was equally horrifying and mesmerizing. And while it didn’t necessarily leave me wanting for more, it’s solid!

This book kept me guessing and completely held my interest until the last words. This doesn’t happen nearly often enough. Thank you Sabaa Tahir. I am now a diehard fan.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir is a perfect book if you enjoy a good fantasy with a touch of romance. Set in a whole new, richly imagined world, this book is tough to put down. This novel’s plot is filled with so many twists and turns, I found myself reading on well after I should have turned out the lights! ❀ INTRICATELY PLOTTED WORLD An Ember in the Ashes is set in such an intricately plotted world that readers will easily picture themselves in it. Tahir’s descriptions of each hallway and secret passage of the story’s main setting, the academy, are so meticulous that readers can envision these easily. This setting is so different from other fantasy novels, which really sets it apart and makes it a really interesting book. ❀ EXTRAORDINARY AND UNIQUE The plot in An Ember in the Ashes is so extraordinary and unique. As I was reading, I thought of this book as a bit of a cross between Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling and Legend by Marie Lu. Similar to Harry Potter, An Ember in the Ashes, in Elias’s perspective, is about a game that takes place in an academy for those who had to earn their position. Like Legend, Laia is a spy who is sent to discover secrets about the game called the Trials. She spies on Elias and their paths cross. I really enjoyed how there are two different stories about two different people that connect to create a fantastic fantasy. An Ember in the Ashes has such an unpredictable plot that is nearly impossible to put down! ❀ OPTIONED FOR FILM Another thing that really impresses me about An Ember in the Ashes is the fact that this YA book series has already been optioned by Paramount Pictures. It really deserves the highest of accolades, even before publication! I am excited to see if the film will accurately portray the book and its characters. ❀ WILL KEEP YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir is definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year! I highly recommend it to everyone, especially those who love the fantasy genre. It is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games. The setting and unpredictable plot will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Muito lindo, muito bem feito, chegou bem embalado, perfeito !!!

I love the history, and the characters. Is about freedom of the soul, freedom of the body. There is not black nor white. They will have to ask themselft were there true loyalty resides. War, cruelty, and love.

I loved this book, and cant wait to read the rest of the series. It was a very unique world and story, and i got swept in it right away. Really recommend!!!