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danaslitlist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment
bwgwave's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Torture, and Abortion
mariahlynnpeck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape
readwithria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An Ember in the Ashes is the brutal beginning of a YA series I would have loved when it first came out. If there’s one thing I love in my fantasy books, it’s reluctant spies baby! Laia has the makings of a very interesting character, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with her in the next books.
Elias has the more interesting arc in this book. But that being said, I could have done with less romantic tension in his POV chapters. We have some Lenny of time in the other three books, and his journey through especially Part II is really compelling even without it.
I think the world has the potential to be really interesting. We know very little about why some people have magic, where the fey creatures come from, and what the overall goals of the antagonists are. I’m looking forward to learning more about that soon, but I do wish we had learned a bit more in this book.
All in all this was an enjoyable, anxiety-inducing book. I will definitely be continuing the series. 4 stars
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
tabea1409's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
ceruleanheather's review against another edition
- 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
This book was one of those slow burn books for me. It started out slow, but interested me enough to keep going. The issue was that I listened to the audiobook on Libby to start with, and I had to return it before I finished listening! So of course I had to get the kindle edition. Thankfully that just happened to coincide with a re-read event the publisher was doing the ebook was on sale! Yay!
Anyway, rambling aside, something happened about a third of the way through the book and I was hooked. I was so mad at some of the things happening. I had to keep reading because surely there would be justice? Then I realized it is a 4 book series...
Elias is definitely a tortured soul. He is a Mask, a soldier for the empire whose only purpose after graduating Blackcliff Academy is to be a soldier, yet he resists in small ways. He is loyal to those who deserve it, kind despite his upbringing, and also conflicted about morality and destiny. Elias is best friends with Helene, the only female student at Blackcliff. They have an easy relationship with one another, always watching each other's backs. However some feelings start to complicate things between them, and we see how their choices differ but the motives for both characters are similar. Elias feels more deeply than you'd expect from someone in his position, and I think that his empathy is ultimately what will continue to drive him in the next few books. Helene made my heart hurt.
Laia is fierce, though she doesn't know it at first. She starts the story as a very frightened girl, yet she has fighting instincts from the beginning. She is a Scholar, which ironically means she isn't supposed to be able to read and is also part of the lower class in this society. After some very traumatic experiences, Laia eventually finds herself seeking the help of the Resistance. This leads to her infiltrating Blackcliff under the guise of being a slave, but unfortunately this means she is the slave of the absolutely ruthless and terrifying Commandant. Her loyalty and love for her brother drive her, but she also eventually connects with Elias and that affects some of her choices.
The love triangle was definitely a plot point, but I wouldn't say that it drove the story. Instead it was more about each character's individual choices and morality. The story is very fast paced, with lots of action and information coming in from both perspectives. There are prophecies, mysterious hooded figures that seem to run the entire show, spies, betrayal, schemes, reveals, and just a dash of romance.
There is a lot of violence in this book. This world is based off of the Roman empire, and you can definitely feel that in the events that occur. There is slavery, torture, physical abuse, SA, threats of SV, and then you add evil creatures who supposedly did not exist coming back into the story. All of the violence was well written though, and does not seem to be there just for effect. It helps to set the atmosphere and make you feel deeply about the characters.
Side note: If you liked The Hunger Games, Fourth Wing, and/or Throne of Glass I would definitely recommend this book!
I am definitely glad that I found this when I did, as the ebooks are cycling through going on sale during the re-read event!
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Suicide, Abortion, and Death of parent
The Scholars are treated very poorly. Many are slaves, and many get treated like livestock. It is rough at times in the story.marlene_suntie_helton's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
notapenguin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Suicide, Abortion, and Death of parent