A review by khaleesimod93
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage, and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it."
It took a minute to get into the story, but the plot twist about 30 pages in, won me over completely. I knew something fishy was going on with both the resistance and the evilness of the commandant. I adore Laia. She has a quiet strength that is easy to overlook and underestimate. She learned so much truth and saw through the mask that Elias wore. I love Elias' character as well. They both grew separately throughout the book. The battle within Elias, his mother, his friendship, and his own feelings. It's so complicated. The love triangles in this story, which would usually bother, honestly added so much depth and humanization to the characters. This book is not for the faint of heart. It's dark and ugly and bleak. The evilness of Marcus and Keris is terrifying. One of the worst villians I have experienced in all my reading. She's evil for evils sake. There is nothing redeeming. No understanding. I'm worried for Laia and Elias. But also for Helene and what she will become under Marcus.
It took a minute to get into the story, but the plot twist about 30 pages in, won me over completely. I knew something fishy was going on with both the resistance and the evilness of the commandant. I adore Laia. She has a quiet strength that is easy to overlook and underestimate. She learned so much truth and saw through the mask that Elias wore. I love Elias' character as well. They both grew separately throughout the book. The battle within Elias, his mother, his friendship, and his own feelings. It's so complicated. The love triangles in this story, which would usually bother, honestly added so much depth and humanization to the characters. This book is not for the faint of heart. It's dark and ugly and bleak. The evilness of Marcus and Keris is terrifying. One of the worst villians I have experienced in all my reading. She's evil for evils sake. There is nothing redeeming. No understanding. I'm worried for Laia and Elias. But also for Helene and what she will become under Marcus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Child death
Minor: Rape