purplehulk713's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It was so lovely to return to Serra and visit Laia again. We never learn much about Darin and his perspective and motivations in the main series (partially because Sabaa Tahir doesn’t include him as a narrator at any time), so it was refreshing to see more of him. We also get to see more of Laia’s experience before Darin is arrested and Nan and Pop are killed by the Mask. Her anxiety with day-to-day life (though her situation is vastly different) makes her a very relatable character. I love Spiro as a character, and I did not expect him to
An ember in the ashes demands a spark within the forge…
Spoiler
be connected with Afya before Laia indirectly brought them together in the main series.Spoiler
The vividness of Sonia Liao’s drawings allows the reader to feel the horror of a Martial prison cell, the stink of Khassa root, and the overwhelming sense of doom felt by all Scholars (like Laia) because of the omnipresent Martial law enforcement. While there was no magic in this installment, there was some hints that it might have been present.Spoiler
Either Darin has incredible parkour skills or he inherited his mother’s supernatural agility. We also receive a cameo from the Lioness, Mirra of Serra, in a flashback, which I was so hoping for. And we may or may not very briefly see Cook in a panel of a street in the Illustrian District.Spoiler
This book distinctly develops Laia and Darin’s courage, and we also get to see each of them grow into their proper roles in society—Laia becomingSpoiler
her Pop’s healer apprentice and Darin becoming Spiro Teluman’s bladesmith apprenticeSpoiler
. There’s a lot to love in this graphic novel, and I can’t wait for the next installment.An ember in the ashes demands a spark within the forge…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Torture, Death of parent, Death, and Violence
maple_dove's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"What did you feel when you believed you had no chance, no choice, no control?"
". . . I felt rage."
OHHHHHWEEEEE
It's been a while since I read a An Ember in the Ashes book. Ngl, I got too emotionally attached to this series for my own good, which is why I separated myself from it 😅
Reading this book was one of those experiences of coming back to one of those fictional universes I feel like "I was supposed to leave for good."
Finished reading this in one day. Great art and loved the messages/themes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Classism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death
Poverty (moderate)
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