esconce's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Genocide, Classism, Cursing, Hate crime, Death, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual harassment
shalladin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Torture, Trafficking, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Classism, Death, and Misogyny
griffinthief's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Blood, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit and Trafficking
g4bby's review
- 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: Xenophobia, Cursing, Blood, Hate crime, Violence, Trafficking, Slavery, Murder, Genocide, War, Police brutality, and Death
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: Trafficking, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Torture, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Death, Rape, Medical content, Hate crime, Gore, Animal death, Death of parent, Child death, Murder, Slavery, Sexual violence, Police brutality, and Sexual assault
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: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
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, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
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: Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Violence
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: Blood and Rape