An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)

by Sabaa Tahir

Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after.

Izzat means many things. Strength, honor, pride. But in the past century, it’s come to mean something specific: freedom.

“You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it.”

You will be chained to the darkness within yourself as surely as if chained to the walls of a prison cell.”

“You’ll never forget them, not even after years. But one day, you’ll go a whole minute without feeling the pain. Then an hour. A day. That’s all you can ask for, really.”

“Death before tyranny,”

Four they are, and four traits we seek: Courage to face their darkest fears Cunning to outwit their foes Strength of arms and mind and heart Loyalty to break the soul.

All the beauty of the stars means nothing when life here on earth is so ugly.

But there are two kinds of guilt, girl: the kind that drowns you until you’re useless, and the kind that fires your soul to purpose.