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

[Eesh]

Elias and Laia are running for their lives.
After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf - the Empire's most secure and dangerous prison - to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars' survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene - Elias's former friend and the Empire's newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus's will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own - one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape... and kill them both.

[Tati]

Excited for this!!

[Eesh]

Same. The first one was so good and I can't wait to read this one.

[Tati]

I knoooow!

I know this comes out in August, but September is full of exciting releases!

[Abby]

I'll try to join this. I'm on a hold list for the library so who knows when I'll get it... Can't wait though!

[Dr. Andy]

I'll try to join in if I can! I loved the first one :D

[CallMeSensei]

Yes. I'm in!

[Helen 2.0]

Joining!

[Tati]

End of chapter 5- this is so good so far!

(view spoiler)[ This Helene chapter broke my heart... And what did her dad truly promise?? (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Tati wrote: "End of chapter 5- this is so good so far!

[spoilers removed]"

Mine too. And whatever it was, it couldn't have been good.

This was a hell of a way to start the book. Could barely breath through these chapters.
Oh and, I finally get why Sabaa loves Helene so much. Can't wait to read more about her.

[Tati]

Yeah, I'm liking Helene too!

21% and theory time: (view spoiler)[ Helene will find them, heal Elias and die as a consequence. (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

28% (view spoiler)[ oh, boy... Her dad traded one daughter for another daughter? That won't go down well between them, I'm sure. (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

39% (view spoiler)[ How many people are going to die because of this riot? Also, can someone pretty please address the elephant in the room, that is Elias' poisoning? (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

41% (view spoiler)[ Oh, no! But Elias is a bit stupid, isn't he? After all the sacrifices that were made for him, he wants to go and everything? (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

End of part 3: this is getting a tad too crazy for me

[Tati]

End of chapter 49 (view spoiler)[ Okay, I'm having a hard time believing that Elias would really die. I mean, this is YA, and main characters in YA don't die (TFioS being an exception) (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Wow Tati your reading pace O.O haha! I'm only on chapter ten!

[Eesh]

Tati wrote: "Yeah, I'm liking Helene too!

21% and theory time: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I agree on the healing part, but I don't think she'll die. She's too important a character and this isn't the last book of the series. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Tati wrote: "28% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I don't think Hannah minded. She reminds me of the sister who married Wickam in Pride and Prejudice and some other stupid character I can't recall. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

I just got this one. Will start it tomorrow.

[Eesh]

Beginning of chapter 29
(view spoiler)[You know, I get that Darin is her brother and she loves him, but for fuck's sake, the bitch is butchering an entire class of people and all she has any concern about is one guy!? (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

Quirks wrote: "Beginning of chapter 29
[spoilers removed]"

I loved this comment!!

[Eesh]

Tati wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Beginning of chapter 29
[spoilers removed]"

I loved this comment!!"

Glad you liked it! I was a little annoyed at Laia at the time.

[Helen 2.0]

Tati wrote: "Yeah, I'm liking Helene too!

21% and theory time: [spoilers removed]"

Yep seems likely.

[Xiamera]

Yay, I got my copy! Gonna join you guys and start at some point today.

[Trisha]

I'm hoping to join today too, but it might be tomorrow!

[Xiamera]

6% (view spoiler)[ The commandant is a truly scary and cold blooded woman. (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

20% (view spoiler)[ Wait a min, Laia can do magic or something?! (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

27% (view spoiler)[ Enter Keenan, Elias' rival for Laia's affections. I'm surprised Izzi is there too though. (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

30% (view spoiler)[ Well, at least it's Hannah and not the sweet one. Would it almost be better to let the people depose Marcus? (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

48% (view spoiler)[ Hmm, I didn't think that the Waiting Place was on the same plane. (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

Tati wrote: "41% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I was hoping that Laia would have woken up and followed him but it wasn't to be. (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

76% (view spoiler)[ Well, I guess it makes a certain sense. The commandant is rather ruthless. I wonder if the Nightbringer was aiding her in this mission if it furthered his own. I want her downfall so bad. (hide spoiler)]

[Xiamera]

Finished. (view spoiler)[Well I guess it ended well enough. Poor Helene. Ended up liking her a bit and Harper too. I can wait to see where the next book goes. (hide spoiler)]

[CallMeSensei]

Tati wrote: "Yeah, I'm liking Helene too!

21% and theory time: [spoilers removed]"

Oh wow. I can definitely see that. She's already sacrificed a lot for him.

[CallMeSensei]

Beginning of ch. 12/23%:

(view spoiler)[ I'm crazy scared of what the Commandant has up her sleeve to slowly poison her son like that. It really can't be anything good.

Laia gets more and more brave. I love her character.

I feel like I'm missing something about the Cook--did I forget something vital from An Ember in the Ashes? What's going on with this lady? (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Chapter 40
(view spoiler)[I have two things to say:

1. I kinda like the Warden. Yeah, he's a fucking psychopath, but that's probably why I like him. The crazy ones are always the most interesting.

2. I am getting more and more annoyed with Laia. Does she even have a though other than Darin? Why does she care about Scholar massacre? Because Darin is a scholar. Why is she travelling with Keenan? To find Darin. Why does she give a shit about Elias? She doesn't. He's just her key to getting Darin.
Darin. Darin. Darin. It feels like the Commandant could kill everyone on the planet, and she wouldn't mind as long as Darin was okay. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Chapter 46
(view spoiler)[Yes! Go Elias! (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Tati wrote: "End of chapter 49 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[MCs not dying is one of the things I like about YA. After going through he'll, you deserve a happy ending. Besides, isn't real life miserable enough? We don't need that shit in books too. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Chapter 54
(view spoiler)[I no longer like the Warden. There's crazy, and then there's whatever he is. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

I really liked the book and just wrote the review (took me like an hour) and gave it 4.5 stars.

[StellarLuna ☾✩]

(view spoiler)[ CallMeSensei (Jordan) wrote: "Beginning of ch. 12/23%:

I'm crazy scared of what the Commandant has up her sleeve to slowly poison her son like that. It really can't be anything good.

Laia gets more and more brave. I love h..." (hide spoiler)]

I know I feel the same way about Cook too! Did I forget something???

20% (view spoiler)[ Oh man, for a moment I thought the commandant was redeemable but not anymore. UGH! Also, why the love triangle???? Keenan just showed up out of nowhere. WTF?!
Lastly, I can't wait for Hannah to get whats coming to her. She irritates me!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

21% (view spoiler)[ Yeay! Keenan and LIzzy found Elias and Laia, hopefully this means they are going to get more help in freeing Darren. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

36% (view spoiler)[ Poor Elias there really was nothing he could do to save his real family. At least he save Helene. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

50% NOOOOO (view spoiler)[ Not Lizzy!! why did Lizzy have to die??? I did not like that! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

80% Whaaaa??? (view spoiler)[ Keenan is the nightbringer???? what in the heck, he was after that bracelet the whole time?? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

90% OMG! I didn't think Marcus would do that... (view spoiler)[ I didn't think he would follow through with the threat of killing Helene's family if she didn't capture Elias... she really thought he would forgive it if she brought more important news of the Commandant planning a coup de tat... (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished... Another shocker... (view spoiler)[ Harper is Elias' brother? does the Commandant know? did I miss that part? he betrayed her though... agh. I'm at a loss... (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Xiamera wrote: "76% [spoilers removed]"

I feel exactly the same way... (view spoiler)[ when is her downfall gonna happen?? and Yes the Nightbringer had ultimate motives... agh so did not see it coming, Why oh Why did Keenan have to be unreal? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Quirks wrote: "Tati wrote: "End of chapter 49 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Well put!! I don't need that heartache... (view spoiler)[ glad that Elias was able to make a deal and come back to the world of the living... (hide spoiler)]