An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Title: An Ember in the Ashes

Author Name: Sabaa Tahir

Age Rating: 14+

Star Rating: ✦✦✦✦✦
Genre: Fantasy

Summary:

This story is a fantasy epic with its setting inspired by Ancient Rome. A riveting debut, it’s a book that’ll keep you up all night as you race to finish it. Laia is a Scholar, yet she’s also a slave, meanwhile, Elias Veturius is a soldier. Both of them are disillusioned with the actions of the brutal Martial Empire. When Laia’s older brother Darin is arrested by the Empire’s soldiers, Laia knows she must do whatever it takes to save him, before he gets executed.

As Laia ends up becoming a spy in a precarious position, she meets Elias at Blackcliff Military Academy, an elite school for the Empire’s most skilled soldiers; the Masks. Will both of them escape the clutches of the empire with their lives intact? And if so, will Laia be able to successfully save her brother?

Favorite Character:

Obviously, my favorite character was Laia of Serra. Despite there being two main characters, I found myself gravitating towards Laia more. Not only is she a brown female lead (some representation needed in the fantasy genre), she’s also no damsel in distress. Laia is a strong, independent person, who is able to overcome her fears. I’m sure anyone in her position would’ve cracked under the pressure of being a Resistance spy.

Storyline Development:

An Ember in the Ashes is an amazingly written novel, where it makes complete sense to have the switching point of view every chapter. Laia’s significant character growth is one of the driving factors for the plot moving along. And meanwhile, we have the male lead Elias, who is in no way lacking in comparison.

As the only sane person at Blackcliff Military Academy, Elias hates killing. A great example of how your upbringing affects who you are, Elias is basically the only soldier who isn’t some tripped-up psychopath. Seriously! And to boot, he’s apparently woefully attractive. 

Worldbuilding:

In a Militarism society based on Ancient Rome, the world-building is easy to understand, unlike other confusing stories where I can’t seem to wrap my head around the terminology. Overall, the way that Tahir introduces the elements of the world without making it seems unnatural is a great skill.

My Thoughts:

first and foremost, I wasn’t expecting to read a serious story about love, loyalty, and sacrifice. Laia’s love for her brother far transcends my own, and it’s clear whose life she values more as she recklessly powers through the obstacles in her life.

The creativity of the author astounds me, as she delivers an astonishing and truthful message through her words. “Friends are temporary, family is forever.” Goes to show why you shouldn’t be badmouthing the fam in front of your friends. Also, there are mentions of inappropriate things and overall vulgar language throughout the course of the novel, just a trigger warning to make sure you don’t read something you won’t like.