Scan barcode
g4bby'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
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Murder, and War
emilinkaa'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? No
4.75
An Ember in the Ashes is based on Ancient Rome, and is griping. You alternate between Laia and Ellias' perspectives and while they're both main characters, they have very different goals. But both of them are trying to be better, to save the people they love and themselves. I couldn't read fast enough. Then tension between the two main characters, as well as a host of secondary characters, had me staying up way too late to finish this novel, and immediately reaching for the second in the series.
The book is not light by any means, and I can't check enough content warnings for it. But it's griping, and wonderfully written, and shows that sometimes, the thing that makes us human, is our need to persevere, even when the odds are against us.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
trazimmariju's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
iwasagiftedkid'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? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture
readutation'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
1) The writing is very simple and straightforward and yet elegant at the same time. I’m impressed with it.
2) The plot is definitely engaging. I like how it started as, like, a military fantasy and then it branched out to full high fantasy mode. Everything was intriguing.
3) The characters are all interesting. Laia and Elias are wonderful protagonists, and even the antagonists are fascinating.
4) I like how the romance storylines are handled. It’s almost a love square, and it makes sense that Elias and Laia have different love interests before they meet each other.
4) The themes of power, revenge, and colonization are nuanced. I like that the Scholars, Martials, and the supernatural creatures are all in the wrong, and this is just an endless cycle of violence due to a greed of power.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
alingtori's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I've always struggled to keep up at the start a fantasy book because there's so much to take in--not just with the introduction of the characters, but also the worldbuilding. But Sabaa Tahir managed to do it without it seeming like an info dump. The story is action-packed and full of intrigue, each chapter keeping us curious at how it will all play out.
As for the romance, I'm still not keen on it as I'm still not completely sold as I'm not a fan of love at first sight. So the most believable to me right now would be Helene and Elias but I already know that they're not the endgame. I'm looking forward to how it will go.
Graphic: Death, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Hate crime
Minor: Rape and Blood