An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Hello reader! Today I'm going to review one of my all time favorite action and adventure books: An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. 

   This marvelous book takes place in what I assume some twisted sort of Ancient Rome. It is ruled by an Empire and has an academy called Blackcliff where it trains Martials (or Masks because they wear iron-silver like masks that meld to their faces). 

    There are three different groups: Martials, Scholars and The Tribes. In a small Scholar village lives Laia, a 16-17 year old girl that lives with her grandparents and her brother Darin. One terrible day(that I can't give to much detail on)Darin is imprisoned. Laia makes it her primary job to save her brother, regardless of all the sacrifices she will have to make. So, she sets out to go find the Resistance and when she does the price is costly.

In order to save Darin, Laia must pose as a slave and spy on the Commandant in the heart of Martial territory. In the one, the only, Blackcliff Military Academy.

     Meanwhile Elias Veturius, the Commandant's one and only son, is said to be the finest soldier at Blackcliff but secretly is its most unwilling. Elias is the only one in his group to not have his mask properly melded to his skin. He hates everything and anything about the Empire. Except for maybe one acception, Helene Aquilla (the only girl in Blackcliff) who is  his best friend. And pretty much his only. 

 

     Elias has never wanted anything more in his entire life than to desert the Empire. But he knows if he does they'll track him down and kill him. No exceptions whatsoever. Until one day a marvelous opportunity falls into Elias's hands. One so great, so perilous, so dangerous that Elias will be lucky to come out alive. 

    This book is extremely graphic so if violence is not your thing than STEER CLEAR FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH! It is also made very clear that slaves get sexually assaulted and Helene has to put up with banter and catcalling and other nastiness. But nothing she can't deal with. This book portrays some very strong women and you get to watch Laia be shaped into one of them. The morals consist of what it means to be good, how dangerous the world can be but primarily focuses on the question "what would you do to save someone you love?"

    And, if you're anything like me, you'll read the last page first which is a big NO! It spoils! So don't look up any questions you have either! 

   However, I love this book so much. I read the entire thing in two days and could not put it down to save my life. Recently the sequel, A Torch Against The Night, came out. It was also tremendous. As for that book please STEER CLEAR FROM THE BACK! Huge plot twists in both books so I advise not to go nosing through different parts. Thank you. 

   Well, I hope this review made you decide to pick this book up and if you do please enjoy! 

Remember to keep reading and be nice to others,

Scribbler On The Roof