An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir


I've never read a book that I wasn't sure if I liked or not until I picked up Sabaa Tahir's "An Ember in the Ashes." Let's just say this story was definitely unlike anything I've ever read - which is one of the main reasons I couldn't put it down.

If you're looking for your next YA series that's interesting, intriguing, and action-packed this book is my top pick for you.

So let's get into the review, shall we?


The Characters

The story is told from two points of view, the main characters- Elias and Laia. Laia is part of a people called the Scholars. They are inferior to Elias' group, the Martials, and seem to be the weaker group. That is, until we meet the Scholar Resistance (but that's farther down the line).

During a Martial raid Laia watches her grandparents get murdered and her brother arrested. In one night her entire world is lost and she goes to the Scholar Resistance for help, only to find out that the Resistance may not be who they appear to be. They order her to go undercover as a slave for the Commandant (basically the most evil principal you'll ever meet) of a Martial school called Blackcliff. But this school isn't your average high school. This places teaches kids how to murder and oppress everyone they come in contact with. And that's where we meet Elias.

Elias is not only a student at Blackcliff - he's the Commandant's son. And while he's not evil like his mother, he has killed and done things in the past he's not pleased with. In attempt to find freedom he wants to run away but he never gets the chance because he gets chosen to participate in this thing called the Trials (which is basically the Hunger Games attempt to find an emperor). Long story short, Elias meets Laia along the way and together they bring down Blackcliff.

I found both characters to be very endearing. Laia's a coward in the beginning but by the end of the story she's found her backbone and turns out to be a pretty good fighter. As for Elias, he's a very conflicted character. He goes back and forth between doing what's right and doing what's expected of him. I really look forward to seeing how the author is going to evolve these 2 characters.

The Conflict

Laia is determined to rescue her brother back from prison, even if she has to trust the wrong people. With a few twists and turns she slowly begins to realize that maybe every one is not who they say they are - and maybe, just maybe, the enemy is not who she thinks it is. Elias, on the other hand, has to deal with the fact that his best friend and fellow competition, Helene, is in love with him. He's kind of in between a rock and a hard place.

All in all this book caught my attention but there were parts when I found the writing to be a little slow. Fortunately, this writer knows how to hit you with an action scene just when your mind starts to wander so I found myself diving right back in. I give it a 4**** out of 5 stars.

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