Book Review :: An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Series: An Ember in the Ashes #1
Also in this series: A Torch Against the Night
Published by Razorbill
on April 28th 2015
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 446
Buy on Mighty Ape
Goodreads

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.

Last updated on 7 June 2022

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase with one of these links, I recieve a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read the full Affiliate Policy.

What is An Ember in the Ashes about?

An Ember in the Ashes follows Laia, who is working for the resistance in exchange for them getting her brother, Darin, out of the hands of the Empire, who killed the rest of her family.

Elias is part of that Empire, a Mask (named because of the silver half-masks they have moulded to their faces), but with a heart. He’s not like the others. All he wants is out, but his plans all change when the search for a new Emperor begins.

As Laia goes undercover in Blackcliff Military school as a slave, Elias is competing in the Trials, a competition where 4 students complete trials so one of them can be crowned the new Emperor. As Laia tries to find out information about her brother’s whereabouts as well as what the Empire are planning, she is beaten and controlled by the Commandant, the leader of the school. Elias has his own problems; a best friend who is also competing with him, the urge and need to escape the school, his duty to stay for the trials, and noticing the new slave girl.

Laia and Elias’ paths entwine, and while Laia wants to believe that the Resistance is doing everything they can to help Darin, she can’t help but feel not all is quite right. Someone is lying to her, someone knows more than they’re letting on, and she has to figure it out before her brother is killed.

“Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after. Such moments are tests of courage, of strength.”

---

My thoughts on An Ember in the Ashes

I really really enjoyed An Ember in the Ashes. I read it in 2 sittings; one for only about an hour, and one for about 4 hours straight after work one day. That’s how good it was.

I loved the idea and the plot line, and while people have likened it to Red Rising by Pierce Brown, I have yet to read that so can’t really comment. Perhaps just be aware of similarities if you pick up An Ember in the Ashes. To me, it reminded me of Star Wars of all things. Perhaps because there’s an Empire, an Emperor, a Resistance. Even her name is the same, different spelling, to that of Leia in Star Wars. Of course, it’s not set in space, but the connections were certainly there.

“There are two kinds of guilt. The kind that’s a burden and the kind that gives you purpose. Let your guilt be your fuel. Let it remind you of who you want to be. Draw a line in your mind. Never cross it again. You have a soul. It’s damaged but it’s there. Don’t let them take it from you.”

Speaking of setting, An Ember in the Ashes was inspired by Ancient Rome, and while I kind of get that in the book, it doesn’t really feel like it was that similar to Ancient Rome. Having done Classics at Uni, I didn’t really feel it throughout the book. However, that doesn’t even matter, because I loved the setting and thought it was wonderfully done.

The plot was fast-paced and riveting. The characters were so great, and I didn’t even mind that there was an awkward love triangle (or was it more of a square?). Some of the characters were horrific, and I mean horrrrriiifffiiicc. Don’t read this book if you’re squeamish or opposed to fictional characters slaughtering each other and being beaten. It’s harsh and bloody, and even though I’m not normally into too much of this, I feel like it added to the story rather than detracted from it.

The writing was wonderful and it was so easy to read, and yet gripping and exciting. I highly recommend this book if you like fantasy, young adult, and a little dystopian feel.

Have you read  An Ember in the Ashes? What did you think?