A review by cryosphinx
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

adventurous dark emotional 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

I love this, and can tell this is a series that deserves to be talked about. It's very much a story in dichotomy.  Laia, a slave  to the Empire from the lowest caste and Elias, a soldier for the Empire that wishes to desert it while being a part of it. Both of them want freedom, for different reasons, and of course they cross paths. It's a great plot, with a dabble of magic and mystical creatures.

There's some side characters that weren't super fleshed out (so far) but some were so it was a bit uneven. I felt like I was supposed to care more about the side characters that showed up more, but I ended up caring more about the others. The villainess in this story is one of the most villainous villains to ever villain, like she is truly a piece of work. It does feel a bit 2000s ya with a love triangle thrown in that didn't really do much (I don't like them in any case but it seemed forced). There's a lot of torture and violence, and almost seems gratuitous but it's very much inspired by events, and it's rough and raw.

Overall, I wish I had started this sooner. I bought this a while back but added it to my TBR when seeing recommendations of female rage. And about half way through this I ran out and got the rest of the series.
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