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A review by cberri
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I didn't like this book. I didn't hate it either, but I definitely don't have very many nice things to say about it.
The worldbuilding is the most distracting part of this book for me because it's just so bad. When I think about something for more than a few seconds, it sorta falls apart. Maybe to other people this isn't a huge deal, but I can't help but feel like things happen in this book to move the plot along and not because they actually make sense in the given world (and this extends to the characters as well; they do things that seem otherwise entirely out of character just to make the plot happen and it's a little grating after a while. I know not everyone acts with strict set of rules, but I do have to draw a line at some point about their behavior.)
As for the Characters, I'm not endeared towards any of them? Helene is the most interesting, but sometimes they'll undercut her character by bringing up her feelings for Elias. And I like Elias and Helene, moreso than him and Laia, but the way this book and other characters talk about at times is so bizarre. But when they actually just treat her as a girl with a crush instead of some alien, she's quite enjoyable.
As for the others, Elias has potential to be interesting but I mostly end up frustrated or confused by his actions. I'd love to say he has major character growth, but he sorta doesn't? I'm actually struggling to say anything about him without just listing off different actions he takes that piss me off.
And Laia; I understand what the author is trying to do with her, but she spends, not an exaggeration, 90% of this book having done nothing worthwhile. She spends almost all of this book just sorta ... Existing? It's not interesting for the plot and it's not even interesting for her character. I like that she grows more suspicious of the rebels wrt her brother before finally acting on these things, but I can't really praise much else. (She's also a shitty spy... Not her fault or even something I'm criticizing the story for, just a side note. She's bad at it.)
There are some side characters that are likable, but otherwise unremarkable.
There's also a weird thing with women in this story? They're beaten and tortured and sexually assaulted at every turn like it's amazing how much of this can be fit into one book.
Quick note about the romance; it's not great, despite how much time is spent on it.
All this is pretty negative, but as far as stories go, this one's biggest weakness overall is just that it's sorta boring and cliche. There's nothing new or exciting about it, but for what it is, it's not the worst thing I've ever read.
The worldbuilding is the most distracting part of this book for me because it's just so bad. When I think about something for more than a few seconds, it sorta falls apart. Maybe to other people this isn't a huge deal, but I can't help but feel like things happen in this book to move the plot along and not because they actually make sense in the given world (and this extends to the characters as well; they do things that seem otherwise entirely out of character just to make the plot happen and it's a little grating after a while. I know not everyone acts with strict set of rules, but I do have to draw a line at some point about their behavior.)
As for the Characters, I'm not endeared towards any of them? Helene is the most interesting, but sometimes they'll undercut her character by bringing up her feelings for Elias. And I like Elias and Helene, moreso than him and Laia, but the way this book and other characters talk about at times is so bizarre. But when they actually just treat her as a girl with a crush instead of some alien, she's quite enjoyable.
As for the others, Elias has potential to be interesting but I mostly end up frustrated or confused by his actions. I'd love to say he has major character growth, but he sorta doesn't? I'm actually struggling to say anything about him without just listing off different actions he takes that piss me off.
And Laia; I understand what the author is trying to do with her, but she spends, not an exaggeration, 90% of this book having done nothing worthwhile. She spends almost all of this book just sorta ... Existing? It's not interesting for the plot and it's not even interesting for her character. I like that she grows more suspicious of the rebels wrt her brother before finally acting on these things, but I can't really praise much else. (She's also a shitty spy... Not her fault or even something I'm criticizing the story for, just a side note. She's bad at it.)
There are some side characters that are likable, but otherwise unremarkable.
There's also a weird thing with women in this story? They're beaten and tortured and sexually assaulted at every turn like it's amazing how much of this can be fit into one book.
Quick note about the romance; it's not great, despite how much time is spent on it.
All this is pretty negative, but as far as stories go, this one's biggest weakness overall is just that it's sorta boring and cliche. There's nothing new or exciting about it, but for what it is, it's not the worst thing I've ever read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Torture
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault