samidhak's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars!
" 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."
Oh my god, I can't even think straight right now. The only thing I can think of is that if this were a standalone as it was supposed to be I would've literally taken my head off.
Elias, words fail me. You are one of the most truthful, genuine, pragmatic and courageous character in the history of Ya Fantasy.
Helene, I drew your face and facts from Helen of Troy. You're the perfect person. I wish you were the one the book was entirely about. I'd never tire of reading you.
Laia, you're so kickass. The sheer determination and strength in was mesmerizing.
These characters on a whole are just people who will impact my life from today and beyond.
I am soooo glad I read this book.
It surprises me how much I connect with this book, but on an entirely different level.
I hope the second book doesn't harbor any sort of love triangles.
Also a novella on Commandant's attitude won't hurt.
I literally can't wait for the next book to come.
For Izzi and Cook.
For Darin and Teluman.
And Keegan.
" You will burn, for you are an ember in the ashes. That is your destiny."
" 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."
Oh my god, I can't even think straight right now. The only thing I can think of is that if this were a standalone as it was supposed to be I would've literally taken my head off.
Elias, words fail me. You are one of the most truthful, genuine, pragmatic and courageous character in the history of Ya Fantasy.
Helene, I drew your face and facts from Helen of Troy. You're the perfect person. I wish you were the one the book was entirely about. I'd never tire of reading you.
Laia, you're so kickass. The sheer determination and strength in was mesmerizing.
These characters on a whole are just people who will impact my life from today and beyond.
I am soooo glad I read this book.
It surprises me how much I connect with this book, but on an entirely different level.
I hope the second book doesn't harbor any sort of love triangles.
Also a novella on Commandant's attitude won't hurt.
I literally can't wait for the next book to come.
For Izzi and Cook.
For Darin and Teluman.
And Keegan.
" You will burn, for you are an ember in the ashes. That is your destiny."
aplw's review against another edition
5.0
I stayed up so late to finish this book. I had my doubts in the beginning, but I was completely hooked. I need to know what happens with Elias and Laia noww
chronicacademia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Torture, Classism, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death, Racism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abandonment, Gore, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Hate crime
sai_g's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
INTENSE.
This book was a great read. The writing was perfect for me - not too flowery, not too blunt. I was into the story within seconds of starting the book. Laia and Elias are very well written characters which made me root for them, cry for them and sometimes just stop reading for a minute to gather myself.
It also had my favorite themes like friendship, loyalty, betrayal, morals, ethical choices, etc. I love when the characters' agony over the choices presented to them is portrayed well. It's described so well that their inner turmoil becomes yours, their pain yours, their small victories yours.
I do have to say, there were less "fantasy" elements in the book, but the story made up for it. So 🤷♀️. No complains. While it IS fast paced, the story hasn't gotten as much further as i had expected it to in the first book. That's a good strategy to make the reader want to read the sequel. Which is exactly what I'm going to do now. So off I go.
Overall, a worthy read. I had fun and can't wait to read the sequel.
PS: The Commandant should die. As soon as possible. As painfully as possible. I have never hated a character this much.
This book was a great read. The writing was perfect for me - not too flowery, not too blunt. I was into the story within seconds of starting the book. Laia and Elias are very well written characters which made me root for them, cry for them and sometimes just stop reading for a minute to gather myself.
It also had my favorite themes like friendship, loyalty, betrayal, morals, ethical choices, etc. I love when the characters' agony over the choices presented to them is portrayed well. It's described so well that their inner turmoil becomes yours, their pain yours, their small victories yours.
I do have to say, there were less "fantasy" elements in the book, but the story made up for it. So 🤷♀️. No complains. While it IS fast paced, the story hasn't gotten as much further as i had expected it to in the first book. That's a good strategy to make the reader want to read the sequel. Which is exactly what I'm going to do now. So off I go.
Overall, a worthy read. I had fun and can't wait to read the sequel.
PS: The Commandant should die. As soon as possible. As painfully as possible. I have never hated a character this much.
carame111111's review against another edition
3.0
Ok ok so many people love this book and I can understand why. I’m just not one of them. I liked it though I did but for me, the first half was really slow and I didn’t start to feel that “ahhh I can’t put it down” until the last 80 pages or so. It was also a bit gruesome and violent for me. I am a sensitive soul
chaoticbookgremlin_'s review against another edition
5.0
Skies, I love this book so freaking much.
It’s been a year-and-a-half since I last read it (long before I got Goodreads) so I knew I needed to re-read this series before I read A Sky Beyond the Storm.
AND I’VE FOUND SO MUCH FORESHADOWING IN IT.
Sabaa, you’re a freaking genius!
First Time Reading: June 2019
Re-read #1: December 2020
It’s been a year-and-a-half since I last read it (long before I got Goodreads) so I knew I needed to re-read this series before I read A Sky Beyond the Storm.
AND I’VE FOUND SO MUCH FORESHADOWING IN IT.
Sabaa, you’re a freaking genius!
First Time Reading: June 2019
Re-read #1: December 2020
alexga's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. I love when the main female character is not this badass assassin rightaway. When she needs to adapt, evolve.
I have one issue though. Why did she believe the resistance leader time and time again. Especially in their last conversation. She has no proof that her brother is where he told her he is. Imagine them crossing kilometers, suffering throughout the journey and then she finds out that her brother never was there.
I have one issue though. Why did she believe the resistance leader time and time again. Especially in their last conversation. She has no proof that her brother is where he told her he is. Imagine them crossing kilometers, suffering throughout the journey and then she finds out that her brother never was there.
afrobookricua's review against another edition
4.0
I am obsessed! I finished this book in one day (today) and I'm more happy I did. I couldn't put it down once Laia entered Blackcliff as a spy. The plethora of different characters/personalities were beautifully written and I found myself completely enthralled with Tahir's writing style. I did enjoy the switch between Laia's and Elias's personal narratives. I will say one thing that stumped me was the way in which attraction and love between Elias, Laia, Keenan, and Helene was handled in this book. It left me confused at times and slightly irritated. Otherwise, I'm definitely reading the sequel.