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

[Abi]

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Reading from the 3rd of January 2017

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[Edit~A]

I am starting this now

[— Massiel]

Chapter 3

(view spoiler)[I'm just started this book I will read it a little slow since I'm reading other books but for now I like it... It kinda reminds me to Legend btw. (hide spoiler)]

[— Massiel]

Chapter 11

(view spoiler)[Is getting addictive I have a few theories about what's going to happen or how is going to develoup everything about Elias and Laia. The only thing I'm greatful is that Sara didn't create name that I can't even spell. (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Chapter 1-12

(view spoiler)[ The beginning was a drag, now slowly I am starting to get into it. I really like Helen, more than Laia tbh, and I don't like the fact that Elia and Laia will end up together, cause I like Keenan as well, and it'd have been fun, if author chose Hel for Elias and Keenan for Laia, and unexpected as well... since now we all wait for E and L :/ (hide spoiler)]

[— Massiel]

Edit~A wrote: "Chapter 1-12

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[But I think that all about those test that Elias and Helen are doing it will end up with killing each other, idk I think, is a theory that I have. And I don't like Keenan idk but he gives me a bad vibration. (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Chapter 13-24
(view spoiler)[ Now I really want Helen and Elias end up together, unfortunately I know it's doubtful it will happen, but Laia annoys me. I don't like this character at all, and her parts are dragging, I get bored when I read them, she is whining or whining nothing else... And it ruins the book. So much that I have to download the audio book to listen to it, since while reading it I was getting distracted -_- (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Chapter 25-36
(view spoiler)[ I hate love triangles and even more I hate love squares. I hate how both Elias and Laia pant after Helene and Keenan and in a second after each other. Tbh I wish Keenan and Helen were the main characters, since they act more like ones than these two do especially Laia. I think my dislike towards her comes more from the spotlight author put on Helen, she is so present, and she always proves Elias wrong, she fights her morals for him and goes against them, and it brings her to the top, while Laia greets on our nerves... the thing is, it's not the character's fault, but authors, for making her not different exactly-even though it's visible that's her intention-but just pitiful, not admirable, or moral strong, or purposeful, no, just pitiful, that's a bad, really bad move towards your main character. (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Chapter 49

Ok this made me laugh!! is she serious??? Is she kidding me, cause ir was quite the opposite,,, OMG, no for real???
(view spoiler)[“Had their friendship, which seemed so precious to him, ever been real to her? Or had she betrayed him the way Mazen betrayed me?” (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Finished

finally, all I can say that it was a drag for me.

(view spoiler)[ I hated the main female character, I don't like love triangle/squares, but sometimes it works when they are nicely done, this was not the case, since it all was confusing and frustrating but not intriguing. I think the romance part ruined it. Even though the writing style, the vocabulary was AMAZING, truly amazing, what was written was not. It appeared that author wanted to write about love, struggle, but it was like bits of that or this was shown here and there since author didn't manage to actually link them, make something out of them. The spying part could have worked better, bt there was basically no spying, she put in Keenan, but there was no enough Keenan, she wanted Helene I don't know for what, ,but she put it so high that she threw shade on Laia, especially at the end, when I was like "That's my girl!", and Elias, I liked him I guess a bit, but he was annoying as well, panting after Helene and Laia, and moreover, I disliked him when he started to have thought about using Helene, she loved him, he knew it, she covered for him, but all he thought was win her over so she can send me free, that's not what true best friends do. That's why my last post on this thread made laugh, since she actually valued their friendship, while he just tried to used it, her for only hi advantage. (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Agnès wrote: "Edit~A wrote: "Chapter 1-12

[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 16 : like it so far. Edit~A, I thought the same as you. [spoilers removed][spoilers removed]"

I agree with the first part, but not the second, I didn't like Laia :/

[— Massiel]

Chapter 24

(view spoiler)[I'm a little tired about all this weakness with Laia, is just... too much, I mean can she please shut up a minute about her weakness? I'm starting to like this book but sometimes I don't get it at all this test that the choosen are doing and the plot is kinda losing the point but I'll continuing reading. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

Hi, can I still join this!?

[— Massiel]

@Ariel I think you can

[Edit~A]

Till the end of January, anyone can :D

[Ariel]

Yay, I will be joining today! I started last night but I only got a page in before I fell asleep! I am so excited, this is my first buddy read!

[Edit~A]

Ariel wrote: "Yay, I will be joining today! I started last night but I only got a page in before I fell asleep! I am so excited, this is my first buddy read!"

Haha enjoy!

[Ariel]

Well, I don't know how to "add spoilers" so I wrote a regular update and here is the link!

On chapter 6

https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...

[— Massiel]

@Ariel That's easy! You just have to add < spoiler > and that's all and to close it just add "/" like this < / spoiler > but without space.

[Ariel]

(view spoiler)[ I have just finished part 1 of this book and I'm having mixed feelings! It's so much to keep up with. A lot of character and lot of terms and history. It's a complex story. I am still bothered by the split narration!

What is up with Elias and Helene!? There is so much tension and Elias has these random thoughts. I thought he'd somehow become involved with Laia but now I am not so sure. I definitely didn't see Laia's family history coming! So sad that's she's lost everyone in her family but I hope that we can focus a little more on her (which is why this book is very hard to follow). And what is up with the Commandment? Get a grip lady! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

Chapter 22!

(view spoiler)[ I am flying through parts of this book and crawling through the rest! So far, I wish we could see a little more character development and see the Elias and Laia cross paths more. Elias' thoughts are also pretty confusing. Does he like Hel or does he find Laia attractive? I wish this path was more clear so I could fall in love with them a little more but I guess we will just have to see. Laia is a terrible spy and I feel like her parts go the slowest for me. She just hasn't stepped into being a strong character and I hope that changes.
The Commandant is a totally B word but I can't help but wonder if there is something so much more to her story and her intentions. Elias' Grandfather isn't much better. It is crazy to think that someone with so much depth came from such a hard upbringing. I am crossing my fingers for a little more action and these two characters to cross paths more! Okay, I'm off to more reading! (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

Chapter 23

Sorry, I know I JUST updated but this chapter really rubbed me the wrong way because all these names are so hard to understand. There are so many elements/creatures that it's very hard to keep up. This really should have some illustration to help readers imagine what the heck all of these things look like.

[— Massiel]

@Ariel For me the names are easy! I have read names so difficult that always forget about them.

[Ariel]

Circe wrote: "@Ariel For me the names are easy! I have read names so difficult that always forget about them."


That's what I hope to eventually do! At least the main characters names are fairly simple.

Just finished chapter 29! Is it possible to be on team Laia & Elias? I know this book is not about romance, but I can't help it. And I want to smack Hel in the face!

[— Massiel]

@Ariel Hahah I don't like Laia and neither Helene they both piss me off, I don't know if is not about romance but they have a little part just narrating about kiss or lips or a body I don't like it too much neither I want action.

[— Massiel]

Chapter 35

(view spoiler)[Laia is so stupid for devil's sake she really pissed me off! I can't stand Laia and neither Helene at first I like them both but now this two girls just pissed me off so much. Laia is so stupid about this resistance that I wouldn't be surprise if they betrayal her or use her since the beginning if my brother were in prison I would ask the same things that the lady chef says Laia is so stupid to trust too much and this people like a fucking puppy. I'm reading this because of Elias, I like him so much and more that all the thoughts that I had been thinking he says it in the book.

By the way, I love so much Spiro and Afya already and I wanna kill Laia everytime that Spiro is talking and she goes away, ugh. (hide spoiler)]

[— Massiel]

Chapter 42

I really want to end with this book already, I don't like anymore

[Rebecca]

I started this book as a reading assignment at my school (we had a list we could chose from), and I'm halfway in but absolutely LOVING it. The book starts out really fast though and I ended up having to go back and re-read things.

[— Massiel]

Finished!

(view spoiler)[So... I really don't this book I'm going to read the second book just because there's another buddy read and because I hate to leave an incomplete series of book, I can’t stand Laia for real and I wasn’t surprise about all that happen in the final chapters I was annoying and desperate to finish the book. I can’t stop thinking about Legend while I read a lot of chapters I hate to compare books but this one and Legend gives me the same vibration I really had high expectations about this series but wow what a disappointment was. To be honest, I love the first chapters until the thirty something and after that just… no. I really loved Elias but in the previous chapters I just didn’t anymore.

Well, I still have hope to find another dystopia series that I’ll love again but the previous dystopias I had read is all the same but I still have hope. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

Chapter 45

(view spoiler)[ So, yes this book has had some chapters that drag on and it has been more than a little confusing. BUT finally we have love between Elias and Laia! I knew Helene was a freaking idiot. She kept going back and forth between her duty to the Empire and being a decent person. It was confusing when she went to sing to Laia (to heal her) but I knew all along she was a crappy person. Poor Laia has been beaten and stabbed so many times, at this point its ridiculous she's still alive. She still has yet to really add anything to the plot. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

I finished. It was a sprint to the finish line because I am going to the library today. Here is my final review. I am super annoyed with the ending

(view spoiler)[ What is the freaking deal with Hel? Why is this girl like a yo-yo!?!? She's good, she's bad. I can't keep up. I am happy that we got to see a good amount from the Commandant, I think there are still some things that we will discover in the future.
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (hide spoiler)]

[Beatrice]

Chapters 1-3 (view spoiler)[I don't like the audio version. Not a fan of the voice actors. So far this is really good. I'm more hooked with Laia's POV. (hide spoiler)]

[Beatrice]

Chapter 4 - 10 (view spoiler)[ So far it is great. I'm not a huge fan of Fantasy books and there are times it confused me with all the history they have.

Plus, So. Many. Characters. I like Laia's point of view than Elias's (hide spoiler)]

[Beatrice]

Chapter 11 - End of Part 1 (view spoiler)[This slowed me down a bit. I'm excited for Part 2 and I can't wait for Laia and Elias to meet.

I wonder if Helene has feelings for Elias.. vice versa. I don't ship them though.

Damn Commandant is brutal af. (hide spoiler)]

[Beatrice]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[This part is such a page turner. I didn't expect to enjoy this. I wasn't sure how this love square works... Not a huge fan of it honestly.

I want Elias and Laia to end up together. I think Elias and Helene are good as friends. I want this book more on forbidden love. (hide spoiler)]

[Beatrice]

End of Part 2 (view spoiler)[Helene is stupid. Damn it. I think she has a plan to save Elias and hopefully.. Laia. (hide spoiler)]

[Beatrice]

89 % (view spoiler)[wtf Augur Cain is an ally or something? (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting August 6th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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[Abi]

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Reading from the 15th of September 2017

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[Maddie]

Thanks, can't remember who I was reading this with but I'll read it eventually, assuming that person posts :p

[Maddie]

Starting this one now.

[Maddie]

I love this narrator!

[Maddie]

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[Oh wow what's Darren up to with his sketches! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2. Oh no another multiple POV audio. That's hard.
(view spoiler)[At least we have one from each side. Clearly Elias and the girl will get together. Oh wow he's planning to desert! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[So they call the authorities the Masks?
I agree! It's really not fair of Darren to leave it where it could be found, and then to just expect his sister to lie for him? I mean, yeah the trust should be there, but so stupid to leave it lying around.
I really like Darren though.
Oh my god they just killed their grandparents ruthlessly!
Must be a hard decision she made to run! I'm glad she did,
because she knew she couldn't do anything. (hide spoiler)]
Her narrator really doesn't sound 17. Sounds younger, like maybe 14? But I really like the young narrators.

Chapter 4. Elias's narrator is way too old haha. Need to average both out.
(view spoiler)[Ah so the Masks are supposed to mould to their faces, but Elias' hasn't because he doesn't want to be a Mask and he takes it off whenever he has the chance.
How does he know he'll leave in 36 hours? And why would he if he knows he'd get caught? Ah, so he won't be a part of this again.
Oh wow the boy died from the whipping!
Oh shit the Commandant's his mum! (hide spoiler)]
I'm so pleased I re-listened to that bit, because I totally misunderstood it.

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[Imagine going down to the catacombs! That's terrible!
I'm pleased that it wasn't her in the Resistance all along, and that it was her brother instead. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Stopping for today. I'll listen to more tomorrow. I want to understand this book because I've been meaning to read it for a while, so I'll only listen when I can focus.

[Maddie]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[Right so Darren's decided not to desert, because the Augur said his life would be shitty if he did.

And Lea's parents were in the Resistance! That's crazy! Wonder how this'll all turn out, what with Lea's parents leading the Resistance and Elias' mother leading the Masks.

Wonder what's happening with Darren..

What are these hallucinations? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[It's so cruel that they 'picked' him for the special thingy. It's because they knew! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[So the Scholars are the poor people? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[Ugh now the romance starts. I knew immediately. So frustrating.
I'm keen for these trials! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[Wait what? These aren't his kills, because half of those people are alive! Ah yeah, an illusion. He knows it's an illusion, yet he still is freaked?? There we go, out of it.
Wait how'd Helen find him? Oh right she's one of the Chosen ones too, and I suppose her first Trial was the cliff, as she's afraid of heights? (hide spoiler)]

I really love Lea as a MC! She's a relatable girl, not that rebellious, and I could see her being normal, not a typical bad-ass defiant woman.

[Maddie]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[Oh wow Zach and Marcus found them! They're the other two who got Chosen right? And then they tried to kill them! I really hope the Augur can heal Helen!
I like how Lea's afraid of Elias, and she doesn't instantly fall for him. I really like her as a MC.
Well that warning has a feel of foreshadowing XD (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[Why are all of these trials about trying not to die? They're actually trying to kill their Chosen? And why are they only trying Elias?
I don't understand how Elias and Helen are at the moment.
Are they near a cliff, with Elias over the edge, or what?
Uh oh the shadow things are freaky and they're working the Commandant? Ghouls! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[Wait, what? How did Lea end up in the same place as Elias and Helen, overhearing the same conversation? Bleh I'm confused, this is bad!
Oh wow Darren's set for execution! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 24 (view spoiler)[Oh right, so they didn't witness the ghouls, he just passed out when the rope slipped.
Helen won the Trial!! Awesome metal shirt she won too! And she has power? Interesting! Heals by singing!
Who's the Blood Shryke? Oh it's the second in command. Ah so if Helen wins the Trials and Elias comes second, he becomes the Blood Shryke and he can resign! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[I'm really pleased Izzy wants to help, and now Lea lets her because it's Izzy's choice! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 26 (view spoiler)[Oh no Helen doesn't actually want to help the living conditions for anyone but herself :( (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[Haha Keenan likes Lea?? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 28 (view spoiler)[Why is everyone attracted to Lea?
Who's this random woman dancing with Elias? Oh wow she's someone willing to help him! Some kind of rebel? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 29 (view spoiler)[Why don't they recognise each other?
Who are the martials? They're not the rebels are they?
Sad how she doesn't like him anymore because he's a Mask, but at least his position means something to her.
Ew imagine moving skulls!
Yay he has quick thinking skills! (hide spoiler)]

I just realised that all of these spoilers are questions XD

[Maddie]

Might finish today, but not sure.

[Maddie]

Chapter 30 (view spoiler)[Shit Marcus is so messed up! And disgusting! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[Ah the woman Elias danced with is a rebel. Well an aider of the rebels, helping them get weapons.
I quite like Keenan and Lea, better than Elias and Lea. Crazy how she's in such a dangerous position, and yet she's still interested in 2 guys...
Nooo they almost kissed! Wish they had! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 32 (view spoiler)[Lol almost witnessed their almost-kiss (hide spoiler)] Maybe she does, only a bit into the chapter.

[Maddie]

Chapter 33 (view spoiler)[Yay they found the entrance!
But now there's the dick Marcus! He's hurting her! (hide spoiler)] I really love this narrator. So emotional!
Chapter 34 (view spoiler)[Yay they found Lea. Helen has to heal her! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 36 (view spoiler)[How doesn't Elias know?
Oh no Helen :( (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 37 (view spoiler)[How does Keenan like her anyway?? No one in this book knows anyone else! God he's so annoying, constantly distancing himself. I hate characters like that. Not letting themselves do what they want. (hide spoiler)]
In the chapters between 37 and 41 (view spoiler)[What the heck was that battle?? Why did that happen? And they were actually fighting real people right? Why would their friends fight them?? (hide spoiler)] I don't understand.
Chapter 41 (view spoiler)[Told ya what Cook said would come back to bite her. They've been lying about the prison!
And I'm pleased Elias slipped up and gave her the entrance.
Oh wow Elias isn't wanted by his mother :( Didn't fully understand that story, as I'm doing something else while listening, but oh well.
I've never pictured Elias with his mask on. Maybe should have.
Bleh the kiss. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 42 (view spoiler)[Seriously? Helen doesn't care that she killed her friends?? She's terrible!
Ooohh Trial of Loyalty! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 43 (view spoiler)[Oh wow the Commandant has spies in the Resistance! Holy moly! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 44 (view spoiler)[Uhm so everyone's racing to kill Lea?
Who is the Emperor? I thought the Commondant ran the place?
Oh my god Marcus is the Emperor, and Helen needs to obey him now! Can't she just resign? He'll rape her otherwise! (hide spoiler)]