An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes #1) by Sabaa Tahir - Restarting January 15th 2018

[Emma]

OK so...surprise 62% because I got so lost in the story that I didn't even realize it was more than half over: (view spoiler)[ So I'm loving the Trials stuff. Elias is fantastic, but I'm worried about the secret Helene is keeping. I'm thinking that if Marcus wins, she'll be his Blood Shrike. But since Elias clearly can't die, idk What's gonna happen.

I was also really surprised about the supernatural creatures showing up. I don't dislike it, but based on the blurb for the book I was totally not expecting it.

I loved the Moon Festival scene and LAIA SHOULDN'T TRUST THE RESISTANCE! (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Up to Part 3: (view spoiler)[ That Third Trial was ROUGH. I felt terrible for Elias. I felt bad for Helene, but I feel like she is more of a true Mask than Elias.

I am interested to see what the Augers are up to. They seem to be doing very fishy things. Also, considering they have all these powers and can read minds and do prophesies and stuff....like why are trials even necessary? Can't they just tell who is supposed to be the next Emperor instead of allowing a twin-murdering basket case to rule? Something has to be up. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Done: (view spoiler)[ Ok so I really really liked this. The whole idea of a Roman themed society was super interesting and done really well. It fit in with the story well. I also liked the surprise supernatural element to this. Like, the Augers were one thing, but to have ghuls and efrits and jinn in there was cool as well. I think we'll see more of that in the next book, as Cook has now told Laia the story of the Nightbringer. Also...WHO IS COOK? She's disfigured, but familiar to Laia. She knows how to make potions and mixtures, and gets very upset when they talk about Laia's family. IS SHE LAIA'S MOM?!

I really like Elias and I'm Interested to see where the next book goes, because there has to be more to it than just, hey let's go rescue my brother. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

I'll be a little late to this, classes made me get behind in my reading. Should start by Friday/Saturday!

[Courtney]

Can I join in on this one?

[Dr. Andy]

Of course Courtney!!

[[deleted user]]

10% (view spoiler)[ what will they do to laia? Well at least she found the rebels. I hope they help her save her brother. (hide spoiler)]

[Cami]

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[ This kind of reminds me of Legend, with the exception of the gender role switch, and that Elias is ready to escape already. I can already sense that Helene likes Elias and he's too clueless to realize. (hide spoiler)]

[Cami]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[ This Empire is a mess! Everyone, with the exception of Elias and Helene, are complete savages. Everyone, including WOMEN, degrade women. They act as if rape is in their right and no one has a say. It's completely disgusting. It's like society has gone back to square 1, where they don't even have morals. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15: (view spoiler)[ I actually respect Helene because not only does she want to better the Empire IF she becomes Empress, but she wants to get women more rights and make them seen as equals in the Empire. Women are basically supposed to be at men's disposals whenever and wherever. Poor Elias just wants to run away, but having the Commandant as your mother is hard. I'm pretty sure she would kill her son without question. I also feel like she might end up liking Laia (or "slave-girl"), but then when she finds out that she was a spy (since she's basically the Governor from The Walking Dead, with a paper cementary instead of a fish one), she'll hate herself for not realizing that she was betraying her. This book is MESSED UP. But real addicting! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[ I'm enjoying this so far. The writing style is light and easy to follow. I'm really curious about this whole society and I can't wait to learn more. Also Helene is totally suspicious about Elias. He needs to be smart if he's going to escape. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Cami wrote: "Chapter 3: [spoilers removed]"

I can totally see the Legend connection!

[Cami]

Andrea wrote: "Chapter 4 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I know, it's really good so far! I don't really like Helene though, she kind of just does what people say. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Cami wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Chapter 4 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Now I'm at chapter 7 and (view spoiler)[ I totally agree with Helene liking Elias. She blushed when he was naked! She is also doing everything to keep him from getting in trouble. Yeah, she doesn't really seem to have a spark, just a sheep really. Though I do like that she's third in their class as the only female Mask. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ Holy shit I can't believe they whipped someone to death! That was really intense. I'm torn between Elias trying to desert. On one hand I don't like the military regime, it's too harsh. But I also don't want him to die or his friends have to hunt him down. Maybe he'll get an assignment that gives him more freedom. I wonder what this auger guy wants? Glad Laia found the rebels, I have a feeling Sana might take her under her wing. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Up to Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ So that auger was really interesting. I like how mysterious and mystical it was. Now that Elias, Helene, Marcus and Zak are chosen, I'm hoping that Elias and Helene are the two that live. But I don't know who I want to be the Emperor and who the Blood Strike. If Elias is the Emperor he might change the Empire for the good whereas Helene would most likely leave it like it is. I'm glad that Laia is trying to save her brother, but I'm also scared for what will happen. Excited to see how these two will finally meet! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished part one (view spoiler)[ I want to know what Helene is hiding! I'm also kind of glad they have similar visions for the Empire, even though Elias doesn't want to rule. Oh and his grandfather is a complete ass. Laia's been a slave for three hours and she already got whipped, this is terrible. Why was Kitchen-Girl so scared when Laia said thanks? (hide spoiler)]

Cami- I agree with everything you said in your chap 15 spoiler

[Abby]

Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[I don't know about Laia, but I wouldn't survive life as a slave under the Commandant. Sheesh! (hide spoiler)]

[Cami]

Andrea wrote: "Finished part one [spoilers removed]

Cami- I agree with everything you said in your chap 15 spoiler"

@Andrea (view spoiler)[ I think Kitchen-Girl doesn't want to upset the Commandant seeing that she is crazy. And I know, Elias's grandfather is SO RUDE! (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Chapter 23: (view spoiler)[Laia shouldn't get Izzi involved! The Commandant will definitely kill her. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

In Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ I really don't like the Commandant. Why doesn't she like her own son? It makes for an intriguing villain story, but I'm really curious. Why did she try to get Elias killed too? So the Trial of Courage is over and Helene better not freaking die!? I'm starting to like her. If anyone was going to die, I was predicting for it to be Zak in this Trial. I wonder how Elias and Laia are going to interact? Like they've only crossed paths once. Plus Keenan and Laia have some subtle chemistry going on... Hmmm (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

THIS IS GETTING SO GOOD!!! Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ Where do I start?? The Moon festival was wonderful, I loved the chemistry between Keenan and Laia. But I also loved the chemistry between Elias and Laia. OMG I was so happy when Afya offered help to Elias, it was perfect! I think I'm leaning more to Elias and Laia. Too many feels too many feels! But Helene loves Elias and she won't talk to him and it's all messed up! They need to work it out. Argh. I was so mad when Helene threatened to turn in Laia and Izzi. Izzi is adorable and she was so fun at the Moon festival! Why is Marcus always like Helene belongs to me? No she don't you prick!! Erghhhh I want him to die already >:( (hide spoiler)] My thoughts are all over the place so I apologize for the craziness.

[Dr. Andy]

Chapter 42 (view spoiler)[ YAS ELIAS & LAIA!!! I need them to be together!!! The Augurs are ruthless, why did they have to pit Helene & Elias against each other. :((((((( I feel a little bad for Marcus since he killed his brother. I wonder what the fourth trial will be? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

25% (view spoiler)[ I feel so bad for laia she has endured so much in this short time. Her brother gets taken in for being a deserter which is pretty much a rebel. Laia then finds the rebels and asks for help but she has to help herself first, then she gets sold as a slave. On the other hand Elias seems to have the perfect life but it's not what he wants. I can't wait til their lives connect. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished!! (view spoiler)[ HOLY SHIT BALLS THAT WAS AWESOME!!! I'm so proud of Laia, I love how she decided she'd had enough of people fighting her battles for her. Now it's her turn to be brave! Yass girl yasssssssss. I loved the explosions and that Izzi escaped. I'm so ready to know more about cook. I'm so excited for the sequel!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Chapter 38: (view spoiler)[I'm in complete shock that Elias just killed Helene like that! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Abby wrote: "Chapter 38: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Oh but he didn't!! :O (hide spoiler)]

[Cami]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ Holy crap, one plot twist after the next! I knew there was something fishy about how Mazen knew where Darin was, and I didn't think he was going to free Darin from the beginning. And you would think that the Commandant would show even a flicker of pain for having to watch her son die, but she didn't even want him in the first place. Also, Marcus is basically going to be the dystopian emperor version of Nero, he's insane! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ch 17.. (view spoiler)[ omg how is the commandant able to get away with such brutality? Poor laia (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Finished: (view spoiler)[That book was crazy good! I can't wait to see if they're able to rescue Darin. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Abby wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

I guess we have to wait to find out in the sequel!

[[deleted user]]

58% (view spoiler)[ I'm glad that Laia got to dance with Elias. So cute. That woman though. A little intrigued. I have a feeling she will be an important character. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

66% (view spoiler)[ Laia should stop risking izzy that way but I understand that she has to. At least Izzy found the secret passageway. I also don't trust the rebels. Mason to be more exact. I hope derrin isn't dead already. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished... (view spoiler)[ Wow Laia saved Elias, now they are running together... this just got really interesting.. Cant wait for the 2nd one. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Abby wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

Together they can do anything!!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting August 15th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Tayla]

im in

[Xiamera]

Starting in a few

[Xiamera]

4% (view spoiler)[ Well this is off to a particularly violent start. I like it (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

(view spoiler)[ It's been a while since I've read about a female in the fantasy genre who was weak. I wonder how this will turn out (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

78% (view spoiler)[ Poor Elias, seems as if the vision he had in the wastes came true. (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

91% (view spoiler)[ Woo-hoo. Go Laia! Nice to see some gumption from you. (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

Finished. What a ride! I'm excited for the next one.

[Noella]

End chapter XI
(view spoiler)[OK things are moving along now that the two characters are about to bump paths. Laia is quite a boring character. The resistance and the empire are such basic tropes of dystopian books but I have a feeling this one will surprise me. The masks melding onto the face is an interesting idea, sounds really freaky (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

Chapter XIX
(view spoiler)[the commandant is brutal. I want some kind of backstory cos I wanna see some reasons of why she's so evil. (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

Xiamera wrote: "[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[
Yeah she's weak and helpless indeed... (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

XLV
(view spoiler)[they'd be insane to let Marcus rule. Oh what the heck, the empire is already stuffed up anyway :/ (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

Finished
(view spoiler)[it was good to see laia take action. I was a bit wondrous at how smoothly everything went though. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting October 6th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Meaghan]

I forgot to mark this as currently reading! I've been slowly working on it the past two weeks :)

[Meaghan]

Finally finished! It took forever, and it seems my buddy never joined, so I guess this isn't really a "buddy read" then