Reviews with content warning for Genocide - An Ember in the Ashes

Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

36 reviews

luuley's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.25

Content Warnings

jennabenna's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

3.75

This was a good first book in the series. The world, main characters, and conflict are set up well. I found the slow pace if Laia's personal growth to be frustrating, and Elias to be a little too "perfect". I didnt love the dumb choices the characters (especially Laia) kept making. But I am optimistic for continued growth from the characters, so I cant wait to read the next two books now that the plot has really gotten going!

Content Warnings

esconce's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have read this whole series but just wanted to write my final reviews, the characters in this book definitely get better as the story and series as a whole progresses. I personally really disliked Helene in the beginning but over time she became my favorite character by the end of the series. It definitely has a couple “Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire” sort of moments, but it deals with a surprising amount of classism racism and more that honestly just fits really well. The world building is just top tier and Keenan stays as one of my favorite characters from the beginning to the end. :D 9/10 would read again

Content Warnings

takarakei's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.25

If you like books where no one is who they say they are and you don't know who you can trust... this is it! It's very dark, honestly I am surprised this is labeled as YA. Besides it following young adults and them all being horny teenagers, the subject matter that this deals with is very adult (see TW). I really enjoyed the dual POVs, world building, and the mysterious qualities. It is very attention grabbing and interesting right from the get-go, and it was a very unique concept. I can feel a much more intriguing plot line to come in the rest of the series...

You have a soul. It's damaged, but it's there. Don't let them take it from you...

Content Warnings

kingrain23's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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

Content Warnings

sh543's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? No

4.25

Content Warnings

pnutbutterprincess's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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? No

4.0

Laia is a Scholar, one of the people who have been conquered and subdued by the militant Martials. When as Martial soldier kills her grandparents and takes her brother from her, leaving her alone, Laia is faced with overcoming her fears in order to save her only remaining family.

She goes undercover as a slave in the military academy, where Elias, a soldier nearing his graduation, is planning his escape to seek a life where he won't have to kill any longer.

I was caught up quickly in the vivid world of the story, finding myself quickly invested in the lives of both Laia and Elias in their struggles against almost inevitable failure. The worldbuilding is well done, it being clear that there is much more than the scope of what is seen in the story, and small glimpses are given of some mythical and magical element to the world, expanding it beyond a warring land of countries and states. Romance and friendship and adventure twist the story into an exciting tale, as Elias and Laia find their paths crossing as should-be enemies but finding no reason to hate each other, rather their goals begin to align as the tension escalates and both are finding themselves in increasing danger in a political state of upheaval and looming conflict.

I hope to see more of the mythical elements coming in the later books, and look forward to seeing more of the diverse and lifelike characters which I really came to like in this first book.

Content Warnings