Summer Pick 2015
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
YA Fantasy
The Summary
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
– Blurb from Goodreads
The Characters
Our two main characters are Laia and Elias, though there are other notable characters that also play important roles and who are equally as compelling. Laia is driven by her loyalty and love for her family to jump head-first into danger. Though she constantly chastises herself for her cowardice, her actions prove that she is incredibly brave despite these insecurities. She comes off as a bit naive and sounds much younger than she is at times, but as a whole she was endearing.Elias, likewise, is also likable and I enjoyed witnessing his internal struggles and emotional conflicts. His compassion and fortitude make him an easy favorite. The dynamic between his relationship with other characters are varied, complex and believable... and often heartbreaking.
The Setting
This isn't quite dystopian and neither does it fully feel fantasy, but instead touches of both. The setting is very reminiscent of Roman-occupied Constantinople with classic mythological elements used to bring out the fantasy aspects. It's never heavy handed on it's use of magic which helps sell this world to the audience. Some have referred to this as a YA friendly version of A Song of Ice and Fire and I can certainly understand the comparison, though I think this book stands on it's own.
Overall Opinion
This is one of those books that has me not want to put it down. I was fully engaged from start to finish. There are so many moments that had me on edge, with jaw dropped open. It's a great mix of action, intrigue and drama. It's rare when a book lives up to the hype surrounding it, but I am happy to say that An Ember in the Ashes truly does live up to it.Be warned though - this is a very dark and gritty book, and the setting is an utterly bleak place. As a trigger warning, rape is a subject that is frequently discussed throughout the text, and while nothing occurs "on-screen", as it were, it may still be upsetting to some.
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