An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir Book Review

Summary

This book takes you on an adventure in a world where it's either bow to the fearsome Martial Empire or face the deadly consequences. Laia's a lowly slave while Elias is hopeful soldier-in-training. Both of them feel trapped in their lives. When Laia's brother is arrested for treason, she accepts the help from the rebels in return for her infiltrating the terrifying base where the most powerful soon-to-be soldiers are training.

Laia is now having to subject herself to undeserved torture, both mental and physical, by the overseer of the base, the Commandant. Whatever it takes to help her brother, Laia will suffer through it. When she and Elias meet, they realize that they aren't so different. Their adventure takes them on a journey of breaking through the lives that were forced upon them.

The mysteries that the two uncover about their past and their future astound them. The friendships formed and broken almost make them give up. Will they be able to make it through to the end? Will they be able to lift each other up enough?

Opinion

Scale of 1-10:

9

I have read this book so many times and yet I still get excited and so emotionally involved when it comes to these characters! I love the moments of triumph that they experience and I hate the moments of defeat. I also really enjoy the character building and that almost all the characters have throughout the entire book. Okay, even the side characters that you don't see much of, have some of the coolest and most heartwarming building of character.

I really like stories that have people like Elias who are like the only good person out of hundreds of bad people. I absolutely adore seeing his train of thought as he despises the violence and killing that he is forced to commit. There is one scene in the book that absolutely BREAKS my heart because Sabaa Tahir writes his misery so well that I actually kind of started tearing up. Thanks a lot Sabaa! You have made me way too emotionally invested in this fictional character!

The one thing I don't like is the kind of flip-floppy feelings that Elias and Laia have with other characters outside the two of them. Elias especially seems to struggle with it. While I get that it's a normal feeling to be confused about feelings towards someone, it kind of started getting annoying. This is NOT A HUGE HANG-UP. I still absolutely adore this book other than that teeny tiny aspect.

I am very much in love with the characters and story! So for the love of God, if you haven't considered reading this book, I suggest you do.

Age Rating

14+

The only reason that I didn't rate this any younger than 14+ is because of the sheer darkness of the content. It's not just references, it's very dark concepts like rape and murder.

Language:

The language that is throughout (though not every other word) consist of "damn", "hell", "b*tch", "bastard", and "ass". One woman is referred to as the "B*tch of Blackcliff". Another woman is constantly referred to by that same word in a very negative way by a very cruel character. I just didn't like it because it got me all fired up mad when he would call her this!

Sexual Content:

There are mentions of whores and whorehouses that the soldiers seem to go to frequently (except Elias). There are also comments about looking at a woman up and down. There are many references to rape throughout the whole book. Laia is a slave and constantly fears getting raped by the soldiers but seems to avoid it for the most part except in one instance. (SPOILER!) Nothing happens because Elias intervenes but she is injured (see the Violence section).

Although this seems very dark, there are still some romance that is more pure and sincere instead of disgusting like what I mentioned above.

Violence:

Violence is always very present in the story-line. There are multiple references to stabbings and blood. References to very violent tortures like whippings, carving of the skin, and coals being shoved down a throat are made. There is also a character who says her eye was poked out by a fire poker when she was really young. The violence can, at times, be pretty graphic so if you have a weak stomach, you may want to skip over those parts.

Other:

There are a couple of dark things that happen in the book. Elias has a lot of dark thoughts because he doesn't want to be killing others. Laia also struggles with extremes amount of guilt that makes her think she's going crazy. Both characters just seem to have dark thoughts that are usually related to the sheer amount of death that takes place.

Here's the link to the book on Goodreads:

An Ember in the Ashes