BOOK REVIEW: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

A complicated, rollercoaster high fantasy adventure.

This was a book recommended to me for the 12 challenge - 12 books in 12 months. It was perfect because it was one of those books that I’ve seen a lot, picked up and put down and said I’ll read that at some point. Well, I finally got to that point, and I’m glad I did.

I enjoyed this read, but I had some slightly mixed feelings about it through maybe the first 3rd of the book. There were times where I felt things were a little slow going as we were introduced to the characters, the world, the conflicts, and the basic structures of the plot. However, once I really got into the story, and the action picked up I was finally able to settle in on what was happening. 

Part of that comes from forming connections to the characters. I struggled with Laia for quite some time. I got a little tired of her whiney, scared behavior and how she carried herself and how she spoke. It became irritating to be completely honest. Here she is desperate to find the Scholar Resistance to plead them to save her brother after their home was raided, her grandparents killed and her brother taken captive. All she has going for her is that her parents were beloved and fierce resistance leaders who were betrayed and murdered years earlier.

So, in a compromise that she doesn’t even question out of desperation, she agrees to become a slave at Blackcliff Academy. This is the aspect of the story I really enjoyed. I found Blackcliff fascinating, the concept of training the empire's warriors and leaders to be killers and fulfill the ideals and beliefs, which include enslaving and controlling the scholar population. Enter Elias, who does not want to be there, wants to desert and is ultimately trapped. Hmmmm, trapped. just like Laia only in a different impossible situation.

Together they are enslaved in their own prisons  and desperate, they have a personal vendetta against the system, and they are both equal parts impulsive and secretive. There is a shared belief that they need to end the tyranny that seems to be controlled by the master puppeteer, the Commandant, who runs the Academy and is known to beat and kill slaves and students whenever it suits her. Their characterization was a yin and yang. They complimented each other very well. I feel that Tahir mirrors this same character balance with the Commandant and Mazen. I’m just going out on my own suspicions on Mazen, the current resistance leader. But it is clear that he is not as “good” as a resistance leader should be.

“This life is not always what we think it will be,” Cain said. “You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it.”

The other characters are also great, and I enjoyed them much more than Laia. From Cook and Izzi, the other house slaves, to Helene and Keenan. There is clear, unique character development that sets them apart from one another with distinct voices. They each influence Laia and Elias in different ways and help clarify and push story elements forward. But there are also the characters that are still cloaked in darkness. I’m left wondering exactly who and what they are. For example, the auguars. What exactly are they and what is their end goal? It appears that they have their own agenda, but then there is The Nightbringer. This is a character that is like a fleeting phantom, but clearly there is much more here than what we have been told so far! 

The world building is fantastic. I love how the school is created and the surrounding community seems to simply lay in the shadows. Laia's missions, trips and exploits enhance how everything fits together to shape this world into what it currently is. The allure of the catacombs and the maze of alleyways in the village all weave together to establish an aura of darkness and danger. It doesn’t lose its grip or influence on the tone of the book as the plot progresses, if anything it continues to enhance the desperation of the characters as time runs out for both Laia and Elias. 

The influence of Ancient Rome in the writing and the creation of the world is clear, and I, for one, love Ancient Rome! I also am a big fan of multiple points of view. Here we have alternating commentary from both Laia and Elias. Effectively implemented, we really see how these two characters, who seek the same thing, are on a collision course to each other. The POVs allow tension to rise and clarity on how they are impacted by different events happening.

The basis of the plot is Elias and Laia seeking different types of freedom. This is no secret. The reader learns basically from page 1; however a huge plot element is that a new Emperor must be named. Enter The Trials. The top four graduating students are selected to compete for the title of Emperor. An interesting concept. Clearly, Elias is one of the competitors because it would be pointless not to have him be one. Within the different pockets of character groups, there are different motivations, goals and schemes in how the trials will play out. There is a much bigger endgame than anyone knows, and it’s clear that no one party is privy to the plans and schemes of others. I really enjoyed this puzzle. Trying to figure out who was doing what. Who is pulling strings when. How are things being set up the way they are. As a result, I was much more engaged in the second half of this book than the first.

Where does this book land on my bookshelf?

For a good portion of the reading, I was certain that this would land solidly on my middle shelf. I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t blown away by it. As the story progressed, I became more and more invested in the complicated plot and the diversity of the characters. As a result, I have moved it to my top shelf. Not to the front of the shelf, but it definitely earned its place.  I loved how complicated everything became. The characters began to separate themselves from the mass  as the story progressed, setting them each apart with unique motivations. Some of which played well with others, and others did not. Almost every character is willing to sacrifice others for the benefit of themselves at some point. This was not a plot where selflessness was beneficial. It was a great book, and I would highly recommend it. I’m going to be adding the rest of the series to my TBR list ASAP!

Don’t forget to check out my other fun sites!

Brand New Website for book lovers: www.tinyurl.com/desertbookshelf It has links to my podcast Speaking LITerally, book reviews, breaking literary news, games, links to small business and more!

Speaking LITerally podcast! Our monthly misadventures into all things literary. Separated by the Atlantic, Liz and I come together in our love of reading!!! Find us wherever you listen to your other favorite podcasts! Click here to find us on iHeartRadio!

If you are really bored you can read about some of my personal adventures in life raising two teenagers and loving a husband who is fighting Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and all the lesson I learn along the way. Educate This.