An Ember in The Ashes (An Ember in The Ashes #1) by Sabaa Tahir

The world was well built, Blackcliff, the Scholar quarters, the catacombs, etc. I didn’t’ have to stress to understand what the author wrote; it’s so unlike some YAs whose worlds are poorly built.

Burning skies! Finally, a YA book that lived up to expectations. I don’t’ know whether it’s because I’ve read lots of YA, have very high expectations, or because YA books are either similar in plot or characters. The fact is that I usually end up disappointed. Nevertheless, this turned out different, despite its lack of originality in the plot,(will emphasize on that). The writing and characters made this book different, good different, and I love it. The battle scenes are not the best I’ve’ read, but I have to admit the author did a great job. The only reason why I didn’t rate this book five stars is that:

1. Laia is whiny. She spent basically all her time thinking about her guilt and how she won’t be able to get her brother out, it was annoying.
2. Unnecessary repetitions, the author repeated lots of stuffs, like Laia’s’ indecisive and Elias’s’ fear of becoming his worst nightmares, we got it the first few times the author mentioned it, there was no need for the rest.

Fear can be good, Laia. It can keep you alive. But don’t let it control you. Don’t let it sow doubts within you. When the fear takes over, use the only thing more powerful, more indestructible to fight it: your spirit. Your heart.

Worldbuilding and Writing

The world was well built, Blackcliff, the Scholar quarters, the catacombs, etc. I didn’t’ have to stress to understand what the author wrote; it’s so unlike some YAs whose worlds are poorly built. The book is written in the first person dual POV of Elias and Laia. It is a major fast read and understandable.

Characters

Elias is what a YA male protagonist should be like. He is neither perfect nor evil. He is kind even when he doesn’t have to and is willing to die for others despite what his people think. I love his POV because it was so much fun to read! Unlike that of Laia, the whole mask drama and politics was perfectly depicted by the author. I love his relationship with the other characters.

Laia is your regular YA female protagonist, whiny, insecure, indecisive; you name it. But amidst all this, she is a good person, she is willing to go through hell for her brother, which is admirable.

Helene: I feel so bad for misjudging her, I thought she was like other Martials and Masks, but she is not. She is a great female character, badass but still girly. She is a rule follower and believes so much in her people, but when she came to choose between loyalty to the empire or her best friend, she surprised me.

I love Keenan and Izzi so much, and I just want the commandant or Markus to die in the next book. These two are pure evil.

Plot

The martial conquered the scholars and enslaved them. Laia is a scholar and Elias is a martial Mask. Masks are special elite soldiers of the martials. When Laia’s brother is imprisoned she will do anything to get him out including spying on the Commandant of Blackcliff, the school where they train masks.

I mentioned earlier that the plot is not original cause it’s kind of like the Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks. Not to mention, Elias and Helene are too much like Gavin and Karris. But since the book is a mini retelling of the old Roman empire it’s understandable.