An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Reviewed by David L.
Grade 9

"VOW YOUR BLOOD and BODY to THE EMPIRE. KEEP your HEART for YOURSELF." When you read a book, it is the questions it asks that you give your undivided attention to. Questions like what truly is freedom? By the side of my loved one or my family? Should I give up when hope seems to be lost? What road to take when my fate is already foretold? Duty or Family?

These are what Sabaa Tahir has in hold for her readers of An Ember in the Ashes. In An Ember in the Ashes, the female protagonist, Laia, goes undercover into the Blackcliff Military Academy to save her beloved brother. In this process, Laia cross paths with the second protagonist, Elias. He is one of the finest warriors of Blackcliff, but secretly trying to escape the harsh reality of Blackcliff. As he tried, he was chosen for the trials to become the new Martial Emporer. This leads both protagonists down their fate, in search of freedom.

In Sabaa Tahir's book, I really loved how she displays her characters and the way the plot unfolds. First the characters, she started off portraying both Laia and Elias as weak and fragile. Then, the characterization fits perfectly with the plot. The plot as in something like against the odds.

Given all of that, I would love to recommend this book to someone else. The author creates the setting of this book in a whole other world, where fantasy exists. Personally, fantasy and supernatural is the type of theme for me, and I would recommend that to anyone else into it. Sabaa also creates this mood throughout the story where things happen, and the protagonists try not to give up to reach their ideal freedom. This of course can be interpreted into a moral of don't give up until you reach your goal, and that is point I can recommend this book to another.