I read the entire “Ember in the Ashes” series in about three weekdays.
Keep in mind that I work for eight hours every weekday, commute to and from work, write, study and have other responsibilities. I accomplished this because every single time I had a break, every single time I had the teeniest bit of time, my head was buried in Sabaa Tahir’s creation.
Laia is our main character. A member of the Scholar race who had her grandparents killed and her brother captured by soldiers of the ruthless empire. Elias is a specially trained soldier of the empire, a Mask, and despite all his training, compassion and a desire for freedom are weaknesses he hasn’t managed to overcome.
Sabaa Tahir’s story is impressive, to say the least. And the greatest strength, I believe, lies in the characters. Laia and Elias are compelling personalities, and Tahir masterfully uses conflicts—both internal and external—to further polish these characters, bringing them to life.
The “Ember in the Ashes” series is a pure fantasy novel, with a world-building to match. Tahir creates a detailed and immersive world, with different races, customs, governing styles, cultures, and hierarchies. The Martial Empire, the setting of most of the story, is explored in its entirety. In time, we can see the regime for what it truly is—an oppressive kingdom that lays waste to its enemies and makes victims of its people.
The plot is fresh.
I mean, it’s YA fantasy. At this point, I almost feel like I’ve seen it all. But the “Ember in the Ashes” series didn’t feel old. It didn’t feel typical or unoriginal. Tahir does not shy away from the gritty themes of oppression, slavery, and war. She tackles these topics head-on, crafting a story that excites you but makes you think. Yes, there were some predictable parts in the series.
Still, it had enough twists and turns to keep me flipping the page, eager to find out what comes next.
Of course, there is the romance. Nothing surprising there. Laia and Elias fall in love and Tahir uses the romance to add a new layer to the characters and their motivations. While their feelings for each other are deep, we do have the occasional love triangle. Nevertheless, the romance is a subplot of the series and while it is given due consideration, it does not overpower the main plot.
“An Ember in the Ashes” is a good read. And it is definitely one of the best fantasy romance series I have read.
Fantasy romance done right.
Thanks for reading.
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