Reviews tagging 'Racism'

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

19 reviews

esconce's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

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

mordshunger's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Ooof. 

First: cw slavery apologetics incoming I guess.

Spoiler

It's clear there is a full redemption ark coming up for Helen. She may change, but she cannot be excused. I will do my due diligence and continue with this series. If I am wrong, I will come back and delete this. But if I am right, she will continue to be an actual romantic interest, which is frankly disgusting at this point. If he ends up with Helen or even entertains the idea, this is a 1. She is an unforgivable heartless and evil bitch. She really only does good for him, and not because it is right. She would have had a hundred slaves die and sleep like a baby. And buhuhuhu she is so sad that anyone would think she is evil. Her dramatic explanation doesn't actually explain "everything" - her actions and words about slaves and slavery were not necessary for her deal. They were the truth.

Otherwise, loosely in order as I thought while reading:

Pretty standard ya fare, it's okay. It made me laugh in places because everyone is obviously hot, everyone has a distinct mysterious smell, moves with grace, has an indescribable eye colour that shifts with their emotions and so on and so on. Strong debut energy on this one, but as a teenager I wouldn't have minded. Main character has "golden" eyes. It's really laid on thick. MC continuosly gets down on herself about being weak or looking bad and I am quite tired of the projected glow up to a confident and desired warrior hero... Oh lord now it's labour vs management in the resistance.


There is a lot of clumsy exposition and more telling than showing. Familiar set-up and predictable backstory and first act. 

It is very important the reader is reminded every few pages how wonderfully slim and attractive the women are. Apart from different wild eye and hair colour combinations, I'd say all women all slender goddesses with sensual curves. Unless they are old and scarred. Good grief.

His chapters are more enjoyable. But - Take a shot every time he calls Helen a "girl" in a derogatory way.

It's a good thing Laia is otherworldly hot, otherwise this book would be hard pressed to make some major plot happen. It appears to be the sole reason for any man interacting with her or helping her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Death, Torture, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Colonisation, Blood, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

redhothabanero's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.5

This is a very good book with great world building. However, it had some things that reminded me a lot of The Children of Blood and Bone (which I know was published later but just so happens that I read TCOBAB first so that's where my mind would go. Which btw if you haven't read it then you should. It's really good and slightly better than this one IMHO). I really liked the characters in this book and I will for sure read the other ones in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Murder, Rape, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Child death, Grief, Slavery, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Confinement, Torture, Death, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, and War

flowergrove's review

adventurous reflective 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

I really enjoyed this book! It's the first book I've read in about five months and I have been meaning to read it for a very long time now. My girlfriend picked it out of my TBR and I am really glad that she did. The characters Laia and Elias were loveable and very easy to get behind. Their point of views and the way they mixed and collided with one another was fun to follow. I am looking forward to the next book! (Which has already been ordered.) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Racism and Sexual harassment

veeronald's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Violence, Rape, Child abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Police brutality, and Confinement

Moderate: Classism, Torture, Blood, Sexual content, Suicide, Trafficking, Genocide, Child abuse, Murder, Vomit, Bullying, Colonisation, and Death

Minor: War, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

lqvekanej's review

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

5.0

an absolutely stellar piece of writing. i already went in after hearing so many good things, and wasn’t disappointed. i’m so excited to continue reading elias and laia’s story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

devinder's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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

4.5

 I absolutely LOVE Elias and Laia. They're vibrant characters, and DIVERSE. They are morally grey, complicated, and a little messed up in the head, but ultimately their character arcs are so SO satisfying to witness (even if by the end of this first book, they're not entirely completely new people). And the side character made me cry and scream so the whole line-up is so strong.

The multiple POVs are probably the biggest reasons why this book is irresistible each of the chapters changes from Laia to Elias and back and it almost always ends on a cliffhanger. Each of the plots interwoven and are is completely compelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Slavery, War, Death, Sexual assault, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

Moderate: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Racism and Trafficking

liveyour_story's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Racism

Moderate: Colonisation

Minor: Rape

pieinthesky's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Sabaa Tahir’s beautiful writing is gripping and allows the reader to deeply understand what the characters are going through. The world building is not very complex but it takes almost half the book for things to get interesting. The story seems too slow at times but I suppose that is intentional. It helps with understanding the fears and dilemma the characters face, the severity of their choices and builds tension in the story. Up until about 300 pages I wasn’t a fan of either of the main characters but as I finished the book I could see that the author meant for us to see the characters struggle and grow and hence be invested in their journey. 
Can’t wait to read the next book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape

Moderate: Racism

luliposatieris's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Trafficking, Slavery, Torture, Pregnancy, Murder, Racism, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, War, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Misogyny, Sexism, Abortion, Physical abuse, and Grief