An Ember in the Ashes (Ember Quartet, Book 1)

If I look back at the feelings I’ve had for Young Adult books the last couple of years, I have to admit that have been mostly negative. Especially when books got quite the hype, somehow I didn’t get it. So I was a bit reluctant to believe the hype that surrounded this book. With a Goodreads rating of 4,32 stars and a synopsis that hinted at typical Young Adult storylines, I was scared that this was going to be another book that just wasn’t for me. But somehow, I loved it. It has all the elements that should make me not like it, but somehow Sabaa Tahir managed to weave it into a story that hooked me completely.Laia lives with her brother and her grandparents in the poorer neighbourhoods of the Empire. They are all so called ‘Scholars’, which is a class of people defined by the exact characteristic the name refers to. They are ruled by the Martials, a wealthy and ruthless class of people that are trained specifically to stay in power. Her parents were rebel leaders of the Revolution and were murdered by the Martials. Her brother has been sneaking out during the night for the last few months, but Laia doesn’t want to ask why. When he comes home one night and asks her to hide his sketch book that he always carries with him, she alarmed that he might have done something dangerous. Their house gets raided by Martials and a specially trained assassin, a Silver Masks, because they suspect her brother of working together with the underground rebels who want to overthrow them. They take her brother into custody.Laia manages to escape and tries to find the rebels her parents leaded so long ago and together with them hatches a plan to infiltrate the Martial academy to get inside information in return for their help in freeing her brother.The other point-of-view character is Elias Veturius, a boy who is in his last year of training at the Military Academy to become a Silver Mask. However, he doesn’t feel comfortable being this cold, ruthless person they want him to be and he plans to run away after his graduation. He has a best friend, Helene, who he has this strange chemistry with, but his mind is more on escaping his military future than on anything else. His grandfather, Quin Veturius, is the patriarch of the genus Veturius and a powerful, rich man. The curious character in his family though is his mother who is also the Commander of the Military Academy. There’s no love lost between mother and son, which has also soured her relationship with her father, Quin.When the mysterious and almost mythical Augurs come to fulfil a prophecy they made a long time ago regarding the next Emperor, he has a difficult dilemma put before him. Will he leave, or will he stay and fulfil his destiny and try to make the Empire a better place?I’ve read some reviews pointing out that the names for the different layers of the society (Scholars, Martials, etc.) are a bit easy and unoriginal. I think I will have to agree with them on this point. It’s not very imaginative and it probably could have had more exotic, made-up names that went with the fantasy world. However, it simplifies the story to a certain degree and that’s not always a bad thing. It gave more room to focus on the character development instead of the world.It is quite obvious that at some point both main character’s paths will cross and as I mentioned before, this does have typical elements of a Young Adult book, so it seemed pretty likely that they would fall in love. However, both also have other love interest, which make it a bit more tense and uncertain. In the end I really liked the chemistry between all these characters and how it led to certain confrontations, but never seemed to resolve into one particular relationship. It leaves a lot open for the next book, which will have the more romantic souls among us definitely yearning to read more.I’ve always been a fan of a sort of “games” format in books, where there are for example different trials for the main character(s) to overcome. That’s probably another reason why I liked this book so much. An Ember in the Ashes chose to utilise a darker side of this. These particular scenes were some of the most cruel and emotionally heavy, but somehow it fit very well with the story and only made it stronger. The fact that I didn’t know what the trials were going to be and how they would turn out, added that element of surprise that I love when reading.I really enjoyed most of the characters. Elias is definitely a complex character and his part of the story was probably my favourite. His internal struggle to do the right thing while being born on the wrong side of the good-evil balance was really powerful. He also had some difficult choices to make and he definitely decided to follow a path I would never have chosen. Another one of my favourites was Helene, his best friend. She’s such a strong and vulnerable person at the same time, it left me rooting for her. She is very loyal to her family and to the Martials, but her loyalty for Elias rivals that which gives her a lot to think about too. The chemistry between them is palpable and made for some enjoyable reading. I think my third favourite character was the kitchen slave Izzi, who grew up in the Military Academy as a kitchen slave to the Commander. She’s like a delicate flower that completely blooms open throughout the book.I think you can see from this review that the character development for most of the characters was definitely one of the main positives in this book, along with the actual storyline. I already aluded to it earlier, but in terms of worldbuilding we don’t get a lot. It didn’t bother me personally, there was enough going on to distract me from it, but I would love to see a bit more in the next book.In the end I was really sad when I finished the book because I wanted more. I can’t wait to buy the second book and get reading again, because the book ended on quite a surprising note and I’m dying to know what happens next.

I can’t remember how or when I first heard about this book but it has been on my Amazon wishlist for a while. Recently it dropped down to 99p for the Kindle version so I grabbed it. I probably had pretty low expectations when starting this, but I was hopeful.The book is set in Serra, a World dominated by the Empire. Its people, the Scholars, are squashed under the self-righteous thumb of the military elite army known as "Masks". The story is told from two perspectives; Laia and Elias. Laia is one of the Scholars - now ruled over by the Martial Empire - many of whom are poor, illiterate and even enslaved and when her brother is arrested and presumably tortured by the Masks, she seeks out the Resistance for help. The Resistance will not help her for free and they demand that she must enter Blackcliff Military Academy as a slave in order to spy on the Commandant. Elias - the son of the Commandant - is a Mask and makes up the second perspective in this book. We start the book with the two characters apart and we follow them as their paths intertwine.I wasn’t prepared to enjoy this book as much as I did so I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the characters, the storyline and the pace of the book. Points are knocked off because it’s not very original and it is a bit predictable but overall, a nice easy read that kept me interested. I’ll be picking up the second book in the series at some point.

’You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy.’’An Ember In The Ashes’ is a series that I’ve been meaning to read for years now and I truly could kick myself for failing to have done so sooner. Fantasy is pretty much my go to genre and the series is an immensely popular one so I really don’t know how I’ve only just got around to reading it now. I’m happy to say that it lives up to its immense hype though and I’m itching to carry on and devour the rest of this series.Setting wise this book has truly blown me away. Brutal seems too tame a word to describe the school where much of it takes place and there will surely be many a moment to make most readers shudder. There’s an almost dystopian feel to the twisted system at play in the world and the divide between different citizens is an incredibly brutal one. There’s a wealth of history to unravel and gloriously intriguing supernatural elements that come into play. Plus there’s a powerful group called the Augurs who I can’t quite decide what to make of but leave me brimming with curiosity. Needless to say I’m hooked.The narrative is dual perspective and works wonderfully for this world. It allows you to see through the eyes of individuals from immensely different backgrounds, both of who I found infinitely fascinating. Elias whose somehow held onto his humanity despite the brutal world that he was raised within and Laia who was born into the horribly mistreated Scholar class. The Commandant makes a chilling villain to try and unravel and the connections that both individuals form are fascinating to learn about.There’s never a dull moment in this truly non-stop plot and I honestly could not put this novel down. There’s so many twists and turns throughout; so much drama, danger, darkness and intrigue. It’s an immensely addictive novel which is absolutely riveting but simultaneously highly uncomfortable to read at times due to its horrors.Needless to say I recommend this novel and can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series. The world and characters fascinate me to no end. The mixture of military brutality and supernatural intrigue intrigues me infinitely. If you haven’t already done so – especially if you’re fond of fantasy and dystopian novels – then please do check this book out immediately.

This is why I bloody love this genre so much, books like this one!! I have fallen in love with it from the very first page. I knew straight away that I had a special book in my hands. While I am totally late to the party, I am rather glad that I don't have to wait long for the next one. This is almost like a Romeo and Juliette story in a way, Laia and Elias couldn't be more different. Laia looses her family, either murdered or locked up. To save her brother she asks for the help of the rebellion. They send her on a mission into the greatest military academy, where she is to be the slave of the leader. Elias is about to graduate this academy and about to become exactly the same as the person that has murdered her family. They should be enemies, however they find themselves drawn to each other instead. What neither of them knows is that every choice they make could have a massive impact on the Empire itself. Will they make the right one? This book is AWESOME, in every single way. I have loved the characters and the whole forbidden love thing. I couldn't put it down, i didn't want to. And while I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, at the same time I never wanted it to finish. This book makes me so glad so many in this genre are series instead of stand alone's, because I want to stay with this world and its characters for a long time still. Beside amazing main characters there is many more I love to. This story has a villain that literally made my blood boil over. Brutal, disgusting and hateful. But it made for some very powerful reading. The rebels have some interesting characters too and its really hard to say who we can trust and who we cant. But another favorite character is Helene. She is BADASS, I love her. She is fierce, loyal and the person you need on your side. This book is full of everything I love about a good book and more. A new favorite. I don't think there is that many people who haven't read this yet, but if you haven't then what are you waiting for? This is the one you shouldn't miss. I am now waiting for my preorder of A Torch Against the Night to arrive and I am seriously so excited.

Too short a read to stand with the masters of epic fantasy but the author is still young. I hope she carries on writing, soon she may well be the best of the new fantasy writers.The novel was engaging though it lacked the complexity of a true epic fantasy novel, but a good enough heroic fantasy read that never promised too much and delivered a simple story in a decent manner. It's been a while since I didn't want to stop reading at night. This one has me intrigued enough to keep reading, even though there were no surprises but surprises are rare after readibg a few dozen series in fantasy.Thee are two more books in the series, not sure if it's finished series but the author is writing them at a decent pace, it's feels like yesterday since I read about her making a big spalsh in States when her series sold for a record amount. Been on my reading list ever since, this time it lived up to expectations.Why 4 stars instead of five? Because it is judged against every other series I've ever read and that list has some big names.It's barely 450 pages long. The likes of Steven Erikson, G RR Martin or late Robert Jordan would be just getting started at that point. If those names don't mean anything to you then smile because you still have something wonderful left to discover. If you are new to fantasy genre then start with this one and ease your way into epic fantasy. If like me you are waiting to peek behind those stone doors or to see if a certain dwarf gets to ride dragon ( or if we will get to see two different endings to a same story).... at least we got another decent writer in the genre. Something to do as we wait and wait and wait and chant, they are not my...... Female k9s? To quote Gaiman.

An Ember in the Ashes is a very dark story that doesn't shy away from the dark side of human nature. It's a very harsh world and there's a lot of death, killing and torture.I found it easy to get into despite the writing being very dry, the world around the characters isn't described much. At one point Laia goes to a moon festival at night and it's all lit up with lanterns. This should have been vibrant and full of life but it felt flat. I couldn't picture it in my mind.The speech and behaviour are very modern, which sounds odd in the historical setting.I do like the way the two different viewpoints of Laia and Elias were written though and I like how it takes a while for them to start being aware of each other. Laia I really enjoyed reading. She starts off quite timid and scared and we get to see how she grows and gets braver.There's not much romance, which I liked. There's a bit too much worrying about who fancies who (and seriously, these people have bigger things to be worrying about), but no proper romance, and definitely no insta-love!I found it strange how the characters have gone through some very traumatic things but still act like normal teenagers (even though Elias is supposed to 20). Their life experiences don't seem to have had much emotional impact on them.The trials Elias goes through are physically and emotionally difficult. They're aimed at choosing a new Emperor and removing the old one and people die in the process, but somehow it feels like they're not that big a deal, they're no more important than a big exam or a job interview. Elias is more worried about if his friend fancies him or not, and does he fancy her back.The whole thing seems unrealistic, but I would say suspend disbelief if you can because the story is good. It's full of twists and turns and I didn't want to stop reading and go to work or to bed. I know I like a book when my other half has to forcibly remove it from my hands.

Laia and Elias lead very different lives, but fate intends to bind them together in a world that is slowly falling apart.Ten hells, this is a good book!I admit, it was a little slow to start with. Or, not exactly slow, as there's a lot of action and intrigue from the start - more that you try and grasp Laia's world, just to be thrown into Elias' very different life. But once you establish the basics, everything runs smoothly.I really liked that the story doesn't bring together Laia and Elias until about half-way, which allows both plots to run alongside each other, both strong and exciting.Even after their friendship starts to develop, it doesn't overcome their very independent ambitions, or any other aspect of their lives. It is so refreshing to read a story of this genre that doesn't devolve into doe-eyes and obsessed thoughts.The other thing that stands out about this book, is that it is BRUTAL.This may be classed as YA, but it is full of physical and psychological torture; threats of rape; violence; murders, etc.Just as you get used to the level of pain and violence, something else arises (the third trial - absolutely crushing!).The Martial Empire only recognises strength, and emotions are only there to be broken. It thinks nothing of killing its slaves; its own children; or even the soldiers that devote their life to the Empire.I loved all the characters. Laia and Elias are flawed in their own way, and make excellent central characters, but the supporting cast are just as strong. Izzy, Marcus, Cook all shine when they get to be part of the story.But my favourite is easily Helene. She's the only female Mask (loyal and brutal soldiers trained from a young age) in a generation, and has survived the brutal training. She is one of the guys, and has proven herself to be one of the best. She is loyal to the Empire, but isn't afraid to bend the rules and risk punishment, if she can help her friends. Helene is always the level-headed one that can be relied on to keep her friends in check and out of trouble. She is a true leader, and even though she accepts her emotions, she rarely lets them affect her.So yeah, she's pretty awesome. I can't wait to see where her path leads in the next book, and how her fate has been sealed by Elias' choices.I would definitely recommend checking this one out, and I can't wait to start A Torch Against The Night!

Really enjoyed this book. It has been a while since I read a book I couldn't put down. Beautifully written and engaging characters I really believed in. I liked how the author didn't make it a straightforward love story between the two main protagonists as Elias has a strong friendship and love for Helene and Laia has feelings for Keenan. The Trials were imaginative, dark and testing. All I could see in my mind's eye with the Commandant was Cate Blanchett! I would have preferred it if it wasn't based on ancient rome as don't think it needed it and was a very different world. The names like Centurion jarred with me as thought the author was imaginative enough to come up with her own unique names. I also thought it odd that the Scholars couldn't read/were banned from reading when they were "scholars" after all and books hadn't helped them against the Martials. However these were only tiny niggles and perhaps stood out because the quality of everything else was so high. I think the violence in the book was a bit extreme at times and I couldnt quite get my head around the masks themselves and how they still left a face able to show expression or how Elias's would look not properly melded to him..this will probably become clear with the film?!Overall a fantastic, engrossing read. Can't wait for the next one.

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 WORLDAn 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 UNIQUEThe 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 FILMAnother 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 SEATAn 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!

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.

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 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!!!

Definitely a 5-star for me!!!!