An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir - Restarting June 3rd, 2022

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 12 (view spoiler)[ Wow I am super loving this again!! I love the narrator already. I'm not sure how I feel about Laia tho. I hope she'll become braver since I'm not really a fan of scared Laia, but she definitely has the makings of a great hero. I love Elias omg--my poor tortured son. I want good things for him plsssssss (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 20 (view spoiler)[ These trials are fucking intense as shit!! Like holy crap. I hate Marcus, he is a damn snake. Zak isn't as bad but I don't care for him much. I wonder if Laia will die by the end of this series since Elias saw her in his graveyard battlefield thing. Cause if she does that was some evil ass foreshadowing Sabaa. I hate the Commadant, I hope she dies at some point. Also, Helene so clearly likes Elias it's kinda painful to watch (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 34 (view spoiler)[ I think I love Helene. I mean she isn't perfect, but I just love her. She needs someone who could love her better than Elias tho. Idk if they'd make a good match. Fucking Marcus needs to die tho and the Commandant. I STILL LOVE ELIAS <3 Also I think Cook is right and that Laia should be more wary about what the rebels are telling her, cause idk if they're trustworthy. Definitely ship Laia more with Elias than Keenan, but overall way more invested in the plot than any romances. I want Elias to find freedom, but idk how he will. He definitely needs to win the next trial!! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Wow that ending was batshit crazy!!! I can't believe I forgot some of it. I am so glad Helene and Elias are alive. Helene will make a good blood shrike, but what will happen to my baby Elias!?! I need good things for my baby plssss (hide spoiler)]


Ch. 20 (view spoiler)[ This has been pretty crazy! I love the addition of Helene's perspective, also gotta say I absolutely love the narrators, they're amazing. I hope Helene will figure out wth the Commandant is up to, she's dangerous af and Marcus is clearly her pawn even if he doesn't realize that. I don't want Elias to die from the NIghtweed poison--Helene needs to heal him PLEASE *sobs* But omg I love Elias's tribe mom, she is the best (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ Holy fuck Elias got captured!!! NOOOOO This is not allowed. *sobs some more*. I think he made the right decision going by himself as much as I hate it. I'm not sure what to make of Helene's chase on Elias. When did Cook become such a badass!?! I need to know more about her like now!! (hide spoiler)]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ Tas is adorable and Elias should let him help, pleaseeeeeee. Keris is a damned bitch and I hate her. Helene needs to stop whatever this bitch is planning! What is up with Laia being able to turn invisible like that shit is cool af! ALSO WTF KEENAN WAS THE NIGHTBRINGER HOW DID I FORGET THAT!?! I wish he hadn't gotten Laia's armlet (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I definitely sobbed when Elias died. Also I'm really happy Harper turned against the Commandant and decided to be on Helene's side. I need to know what he told her about his and Elias's father tho!! Like please Sabaa, tell me so I can ship Harper and Helene because I'm sorta starting to. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[ I feel like Helene and Elias are being stupid rn. They're not doing the right stuff. Helene needs to stop thinking Elias is the answer to all of her problems, he's not and she needs to let him go. Elias needs to not be so hung up on Laia. Shaeva told him he had work to do and he didn't treat it the right way. He'll end up paying for that mistake I'm sure. Marcus is so clearly haunted by Zak, I think it's possible the Nightbringer was responsible but who knows. Also Livia is pregnant!?! That poor girl, she doesn't deserve any of the shit that's happened to her (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

25%: (view spoiler)[I like Elias and Hel's friendship.. but I don't ship them. Nope, sorry. I can't. It pains me. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

50%: (view spoiler)[These trials man.. they are mindblowing. I hate his mom so much because she is such a god damn bitch. Can someone get her a snickers? Also I like how Laia is sort of making friends but I have a strong ass feeling that it's going to bite her in the ass. (hide spoiler)]
75%: (view spoiler)[oh lord.. I know what's going to happen. Don't go out there!! (hide spoiler)]
100%: (view spoiler)[Okay I like his friendship with Helena - sucks that it didn't go further than that.. but I'm still shipping him and Laia. Now after reading about all the shit hitting the fan (and still hating his mom) I can't wait to see what the next book will bring me! Will they save her brother? I don't remember. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

23%: (view spoiler)[okay now i'm remembering this book - pretty sure I hated that elias was basically sick/dying/being a baby back bitch in this book. however, now i'm finding that creepy thing that was speaking to Helene (and omg I realized I probably called her Helena in my comments for the first book xD #dying) was just downright creepy. ESPECIALLY IN THE AUDIO. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

46%: (view spoiler)[hmm... I'm just skeptical about that place and that girl.. I have a bad feeling about this. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

77%: (view spoiler)[I JUST WANT MY BABIES TOGETHER AGAIN! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? Also so thankful that her brother is still alive. Good looks baby Jesus! ALSO ELIAS CAN'T DIE - HE JUST CAN'T. I'LL DIE. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

100%: (view spoiler)[omg tears of joy when her brother woke up and I secretly like/hate that the forest got jealous of them kissing. I just want my ship to sail. Still said about Elias though - still secretly shipping the heck out of them. Sue me people! I also really liked Helene more - maybe it was the audio but it worked. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ Thank god Helene is starting to figure shit out!! I was so sick and tired of her losing to Keris. Keris needs to die like right the fuck now or I WILL RIOT!! Also, I'm not sure whether the Nightbringer needs to be stopped exactly. It seems like the jinn are needed to help keep balance between the living and dead. Maybe just his revenge scheme needs to be stopped?? Laia is kind of annoying me--girl you don't know everything don't act like you do (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ FFS CAN SOMETHING GO RIGHT FINALLY!?! I swear this whole book has been basically one thing after another not going right AND KERIS IS STILL FUCKING ALIVE. Why dammit why?? SOMEONE KILL THIS BITCH ALREADY! I'm kind of over Elias and Laia's relationship when they keep putting it in front of the Empire and everything. YOU CAN HOOK UP AFTER YOU SAVE THE DAMN WORLD. Also Laia was a complete bitch to Darin and he was literally fine with it wtf. Things better start looking up for once, or I will be angry!! Jk already angry. ALSO COOK IS LAIAS GD MOTHER ARE YOU SERIOUS JESUS FUCKING CHRIST (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Holy crap that ending!! THE GHOST IS ELIAS'S GRANDMOTHER- I'm calling it now but she is going to be absolutely critical to talking down Keris, I just know it!! Cook did not deserve that ending dammit. I'm glad Elias has finally become the soul catcher but I also feel like we're going to need Elias himself to make sure the Nightbringer doesn't wipe out the scholars. ALSO CAIN IS THE FUCKING SCHOLAR KING HOLY HELL!!!! So many things just blew my mind in the end there. LIKE FUCK HELENE AND LAIA ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER SIGN ME UP BITCH. THEN HARPER AND HELENE FINALLY FUCKING KISSED UGH I NEED THEM TO HAPPEN!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS AFTER FINISHING REAPER

[Lane]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ I feel like going to work for the Commandant is a terrible person. She sounds like a complete crazy person. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ I really want to know why Cook always stutters when she talks about the Resistance. Maybe the Augurs put some kind of spell on her so she can't talk? I agree with her that Maven is sketchy though. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ I really hope Izzi doesn't get killed. She is so sweet and she deserves to live a full life. She's so brave and loyal though. (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ Okay so Helene wasn't as bad as I thought she would be. I really want Laia to end up with Keenan though, even though I know it will be Elias, who I do like. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

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RESTARTING JUNE 3RD, 2022

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[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

I am here!

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

7%

(view spoiler)[This book is way more gritty than I imagined it would be. There is a lot of serious things going on right off the bat. I like that the author isn’t shying away from those things. It makes the story feel more real.

I really like Laia and I feel like her emotions were captured very well. She was scared and shocked to learn about her brother’s involvement with rebels and when the soldiers killed her grandparents. She wanted to be brave but she was afraid. I think that it was a very realistic response and I am eager to see her character develop more throughout the series.

I am curious about Elias’s backstory. He doesn’t want to be a soldier. I also want to know more about his best friend, Helene. I am curious about their friendship because she clearly doesn’t know his feelings about the Empire so can they really be that good of friends?

Holy shit, the leader of that creepy academy prison place is Elias’s mother? I did not see that coming. (hide spoiler)]

[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

Sorry for the late start! Challenges have thrown me some hard tasks

[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

Ch 1 - Ch 13 (28%): (view spoiler)[ I haven't been so hooked on a story from the start in a long time. Why did I wait so long to start it!! Shame on me.

The beginning is pretty hard, seeing Laia's family suffering, the horrors of the society they live... Elias' POV also shows us the brutality and how he wants to run away from it all. In a sense, I thought that he would do it and join Laia. But I was all wrong! I am curious to see what happens next now that Laia is in the Academy. I am hating the Commandant so much now! I feel like Elias' real father will have a role in the future of the series. Also curious about the trials. I thought Laia and Elias would be the love interests but I think this will go in a completely different way. (hide spoiler)]

[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

Loving it so far! I had to stop reading for a bit due to some other challenges and some festivities in my city but I am planning to finish it all today.

Ch 14 - Ch 24 (53%): (view spoiler)[ I haven't enjoyed a fantasy book so much in a long time, this is looking as a solid 5 stars! I prefer Elias' POV so far. Action, friendship, romance?, his relationship with his mom and his grandfather... However, I feel like Laia is starting to wake up and become stronger. Her POV has been so depressing so I am hoping for some more interesting things to happen, especially now that she is being more active as a spy. (hide spoiler)]

[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

Ch 25 - Ch 38 (75%): (view spoiler)[The writing is so addictive as most chapters end in a cliffhanger and then you need to read the other character's POV so you find out after finishing that one what's going on. What happened to Helene??!!

I don't know how I feel about the characters and the romance. I usually hate love triangles and this is a square... I am not a huge fan of Helene or Keenan but will they be the love interests or will the MCs be it? It is confusing as everyone feels lust for everyone lol (hide spoiler)]

[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Woooh what an ending!!!! I loved the book and I am looking forward to reading the next one. I am so happy that Elias and Laia are free, they kind of got a happy ending. Also, I was so proud of Laia for coming back for her friends. I am sad for Helena, I think she has got the worse fate by far and hope she can escape or get rid of the oath soon.

Overall, I am very confused about the romance and how it all will play out. The world-building is super rich and interesting, I can't wait to learn more! Solid 5 stars! (hide spoiler)]

[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

Looking forward to your thoughts, Vanessa! Hope you like it as much as I did, let me know if you want to continue reading the series.