Review: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Thursday 18 June 2015



Title: An Ember in the Ashes

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Release Date: June 4th, 2015 (UK)

Book one of a series

Rating:

Goodreads | Book Depository



This is absolutely my favourite book of the year so far. Set in a terrifying Ancient Rome like world, An Ember in the Ashes tells the story of a young girl fighting to save the remnants of her family and a soldier who wants to escape the brutality of the military and find freedom.

Laia lives with her grandparents and her brother after her parents and older sister were murdered by the military. A Mask (a soldier) comes after her brother which results in his capture, the murder of their grandparents and Laia on the run to find The Resistance: the rebels trying to overturn the empire. The Resistance agree to help her on one condition: she goes undercover as a slave to the Commandant in Blackcliff Academy.

Elias is a soldier at Blackcliff Academy under the rule of the horrific Commandant. He has been a student there since he was six years old and has been subjected to a lifetime of brutality, torture and violence. He doesn't agree with the way the empire is run, has had enough of the unnecessary violence and is planning his escape to freedom.

The world-building is really top-notch. It is a cold, brutal, terrifying world and you can't help but feel scared for the characters. I was constantly on the edge of my seat urging the characters to not get caught. The Trials were particularly grim and heart-wrenching and I couldn't believe some of the things they had to do!

The Commandant is one of those convincing villains who is truly scary and really live up to their reputation. She isn't someone who is all words and no action; she absolutely carries out her threats. She has no mercy, she doesn't show any sympathy and is completely cold-hearted. She has no qualms about torturing her slaves and you really don't want to get on her wrong side.

There is a love square but it doesn't completely overtake the rest of the story. There is still so much action and suspense and the romance just burns nicely alongside. Laia and Elias is a forbidden love as soldiers and slaves cannot have relationships (the soldiers are only allowed to rape them!) but their chemistry feels very real. But Laia also finds herself attracted to Keenan who is her handler/informant in the Resistance and who has also lost his family so they have a true connection. Helene has been Elias's best friend since they were six and she is in love with him but Elias doesn't want to ruin their friendship and doesn't reciprocate the strong romantic feelings. Despite all of the romantic feelings flying around, there is also a strong friendship component woven throughout. This was refreshing as other relationships, and the implications of those relationships, were explored rather than just romantic ones.

The writing is some of the best I have read; compelling, picturesque and makes for a real page-turner.

This was originally plugged as a standalone but I am really happy to hear that there will be a sequel as I think there are too many questions left hanging for it to be a sufficient standalone. There is still so much left to be explored and I'm so excited to meet these characters again. 

14 comments:

  1. I want to read this so bad! It was one of my most anticipated releases of this year. I haven't been in a fantasy mood lately, though, so I was waiting to read this one. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
    Also, Nicola, I love your blog and i've nominated you for the Liebster Award. I'd love to see your answers to the questions! You can check out the post on my blog for more info.
    Olivia @ Fluttering Pages

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    1. I hope you enjoy it when you read it! I thought it was so, so good.
      Thank you for the nomination! I'm going to try and have a response up this weekend :)

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  2. OOoh nice! Hearing amazing things about this one! I just need to find time to read it! Just as I get a break from review books and read some older ones, I get more review books. Hoping to wrap those up in a week or so and then hopefully get to this one soon as well! But then, erg, there are a few summer releases coming out soon that I will be dropping everything for! lol!

    Glad to hear you enjoyed this one though! I have high hopes that I will be loving it too! Plus I love that UK cover and I must read my US copy, before I can decide on adding yet another edition to my already overstuffed shelves!

    Again, great review!

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    1. Ahh I know what you mean! I only allowed myself to read this because I caught up with my ARCs (well.. I caught up for June lol). I have more ARCs coming up for July so I'll be reading those before diving back into my own books. I have a huge list of releases from the past few months that I want to read too. I can't fit it all in! :P

      Thanks! I really hope you enjoy it. I love the US cover too and might try and get a copy so I can have both.

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  3. Intriguing.
    *Strokes imaginary goatee*

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  4. I agree! I am so happy there will be a sequel. I can't imagine being left hanging like that forever. I really like the US cover, but this one is so nice as well. I don't know which one I prefer!

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    1. Me too! There's no way it could have ended like that.
      I agree! Both covers are so nice. I'm thinking about getting myself a US copy so I can have both!

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  5. I thoroughly enjoyed this book too! The world-building was pretty amazing. I loved the ties to Ancient Rome and the complexity of the world. The romance is a bit confusing, and I don't know if Elias and Laia will work out... I'm just not sure!! This book has everything and I can't wait for the next one. Lovely review!

    Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books

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    1. That's what I really loved too. It was such a great world to read about and really well written.
      I'm not sure how the romance is going to work out either! Elias and Laia definitely have something but then she has a connection with Kennan too so I just don't know! I'm excited for the next one too! Thank you :)

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  6. Just bought this today because your review finally forced me to take the leap! It's not like you have to do too much arm twisting to convince me to buy a book, nevertheless, I read your post and was like, "FINE. I'll go buy it." So thank you, Nicola! (;

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    1. Haha yay! You're welcome :P I really hope you enjoy it!

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  7. Your review has me so pumped to read this! It was gifted to me from one of my blogger friends, but unfortunately, I haven't been able to pick it up just yet. I'm reading as fast as I can so that I can hurry up and get to it! I'm so ready to dive into this wonderfully terrifying world everyone keeps raving about!

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    1. I was doing the same! I was powering through my June ARCs because I knew I had this waiting haha. I hope you get to read it soon and love it as much as I did! It is so good.

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