A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2) by Sabaa Tahir - Restarting July 13th 2020

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting July 13th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Brinley]

Up to page 135
(view spoiler)[ I’m not liking this one as much as the first one. I don’t like the characters as much, and the whole poisoning thing is stupid. If his mother wanted him dead, she wouldn’t have used a poison that could take six months to kill. She’s too effective of a killer for that. Also, I’m really not a fan of the relationship between Laia and Elias. I honestly ship her and Keenan more, it just feels so insta-lovey between her and Elias. Although I say that, Keenans character needs a lot of work before he actually is compelling, I don’t like how the author made him weirdly obsessed with Laia (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

To page 273
(view spoiler)[ I'm still not liking this very much, the characters feel super flat. The whole scene with Laia being a stubborn brat and refusing to get into the wagon unless the Scholars did too was ridiculous. It literally led to Izzi and her friends deaths.

I feel like I missed something with Cook, or she was just written really badly. Why the heck is she just creeping around, and why am I supposed to care?

I'm so tired of this love triangle. It's overly forced, and insta love/infatuation on both sides. Laia is just using Elias, and Keenan deserved better than he was written as.

Also, why the heck does Laia have magic?? It wasn't necessary, and I really don't like that development. Are we just giving it to everyone now?? Some for Helene, some for Laia, and no, there doesn't need to be a logical reason why, they're just the specialist type of special. Yick

I actually find Helene more interesting now, I just wish we could get to the point. This has way too many perspectives with nothin going on (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

To page 380
(view spoiler)[ So we're just going to ignore the fact that Laia had sex with a literal demon?? Wonder how Elias is gonna react to that one (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Page 397
(view spoiler)[ Can he stay dead? I'm tired of him and his drama. Let's get to some substantial plot and leave him with the soul catcher (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ This was a huge disappointment to me. So much of it seemed illogical (he was poisoned why exactly?? Why does everyone have magic?) I hate the romance, and I was honsetly hoping that Elias would just stay dead. Don't even start me on the fact that an immortal deity was infatuated with a 17(?) year old girl with no skills other than a poorly explained magic skill. Despite all of that, I did like Helene's transformation at the end of the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Sorry, I'm behind! I may be able to start this today :)

[Brinley]

Don't worry about it! take your time!

[Aly]

Okay, actually starting right now

[Aly]

I'm listening on audio so I don't know what page numbers they correlate with. I'm going to post after each part ends

[Brinley]

ok

[Aly]

Ugh work has been awful and I keep having to pause my audiobook

Part 1 (view spoiler)[ I feel really bad for Helene, she's caught in a terrible position. And Elias doesn't love her like she loves him, even though they'd be a much better couple than him and Laia. They don't seem to fit at all.

Elias is dying from poison and the parts with him and the soulcatcher are interesting. Him going off alone seems like a bad idea. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Brinley wrote: "Up to page 135
[spoilers removed]"

Okay yes! (view spoiler)[ I agree this isn't as good as the first one and that Elias's mom wouldn't poison him like that. Everyone knows she hated him, so why be sly?
I've thought that Elias should be with Helene and Laia should be with Keenan. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Aly wrote: "Ugh work has been awful and I keep having to pause my audiobook
"

(view spoiler)[ I also felt terrible for Helene, like she didn't deserve what she got. They would be a better couple! They actually fit together, Laia and him have nothing in common, and they were just so insta-love. Helene honestly has it the worst, she has to choose between the guy she loves and her family.

I agree, Elias's mom was a killer for a living. If she wanted him dead, she would've killed him, or at least poisoned him with something that didn't take six months. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ that was much quicker than part 1, but the story feels so slow. Still really feeling for Helene that she's forced to hurt people and turn some in to Marcus. I am liking Harper, maybe they'll have something?

Why do some people have magic? I think I missed that part. Laia is bugging me, it was her fault Izzy died. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Brinley wrote: "To page 273
(view spoiler)[I'm still not liking this very much, the characters feel super flat. The whole scene with Laia being a stubborn brat and refusing to get into the wagon unless the Scholars did too was ..." (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Yep, agree. Laia sucks and I only really care about Helene in all this. The magic is weird and I don't understand it.
Who even is Cook? I haven't been paying good attention (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Aly wrote: "Brinley wrote: "To page 273
[spoilers removed]

Yep, agree. Laia sucks and I only really care about Helene in all this. The magic is weird and I don't understand it.
Who even is Cook? I haven't ..."

(view spoiler)[ Cook was the lady that Laia worked under in the first book. She's speculated to be related to Laia in some way. She's the one with the scars all over her face and was part of the resistance.

I couldn't tell you why some people have magic, because it was never explained. I never understood it either, but apparently Laia can disappear, and Helene can heal people by singing. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Brinley wrote: "Aly wrote: "Brinley wrote: "To page 273
[spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[ Yep, agree. Laia sucks and I only really care about Helene in all this. The magic is weird and I don't understand it.
Who even is Cook..." (hide spoiler)]

Ah that's right. I remember her now

[Aly]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ That blows that Keenan is a djinn and now Laia fucked it all up by giving him the armlet. And they had sex!
Meanwhile, Elias is dying and trying to save Daran. Wow (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Brinley wrote: "To page 380
[spoilers removed]"

Ha! No kidding

[Aly]

finished (view spoiler)[ Did you notice how many times it said Laia gasped? Like, girl stop doing that. It kept getting her noticed by the bad guys but I guess she never learned.

I pretty much only like Helene in this, I feel really bad for her that her parents and sister were killed and her other sister is going to marry Marcus. She needs people in her corner to help her.

Laia is irritating and I don't care what happens to her really. Elias is a little interesting with his soul catcher thing, but not my favorite.

I'll probably still read the next one because I'm holding out hope for Helene to take over as ruler (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Brinley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

Yeah (view spoiler)[ I agree that it doesn't make that much sense. I'd guess Laia is some sort of fae, but still. Helene is the only good character (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Let me know if you want to read the next one

[Brinley]

I guess we could read the next one, when would work for you?

[Aly]

Not until August, but I'm free the whole month

[Brinley]

Ok, how about the 10th?

[Aly]

Okay sounds good. I'll ask for a thread

[Aly]

Here it is!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Brinley]

Thanks!