A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2) by Sabaa Tahir

[Phoenix (Online Elf), Moderator]

A Torch Against the Nightby Sabaa Tahir

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.

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Please join us :)

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Starting now. I have the audio so it's easy to listen while I work.

[Gisela, Moderator]

Ok, I'll start tomorrow then.

[Gisela, Moderator]

I want Elias to end up with Helene instead of Laia...

[ShoSho , Moderator]

We have Helen's POV in this book.

[Gisela, Moderator]

I noticed that... I’m looking forward to reading/listening to her POV. I still think the Augurs are manipulating them somehow and Elias is doing exactly what they expected/ wanted him to do.

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Chapter 10

(view spoiler)[
Huh Laia has a super power now! She can be invisible! She is so clumsy it's getting on my nerves. She slips, trips and walks into things all the time!
What do you think Helen's father gave Marcus in exchange for her life? I'm thinking one of her sisters! (hide spoiler)]

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Ugggh it's not a love square anymore! It's a pentagon!!!!

[Gisela, Moderator]

ShoSho wrote="Chapter 10"

(view spoiler)[ I think he offered Hannah, Livvie tells Helene that Hannah has been acting smug, becoming empress would explain that. Why would Cook tell Helene the story about Elias and Laia but then tell her to leave Laia alone? If she wanted Elias to be hurt, then why help save him? Do you think she might really be Laia's sister? (hide spoiler)]

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Gisela wrote: "ShoSho wrote="Chapter 10"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
I don't think Cook is her sister but she's something to her, old friend of her parents, a relative but age-wise I don't think she can be her sister. I thought she is about 50-60

I'm thinking like Helen and Laia Cook has some super power. (hide spoiler)]

[Gisela, Moderator]

I’m still not happy with the world-building. Also, what the heck!? The pentagon! Why?!

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Chapter 32 I think
(view spoiler)[
Aaaaaaaaaaa I didn't see that coming! I didn't think that could happen. I was thinking she'll be one of the main characters. (hide spoiler)]

[Gisela, Moderator]

I'm around Ch. 20 and still think Helene is far more interesting than Laia... or Elias.

[Gisela, Moderator]

Ch.47 (view spoiler)[ I knew it was suspicious that all the garrisons couldn’t spare soldiers! Also Keenan! Ugh we are down to a triangle again... but I didn’t see it coming. (hide spoiler)]

[Gisela, Moderator]

Ch. 53
(view spoiler)[Poor Helene! I have a theory that she’ll become Empress and Harper will be her Blood Shrike. I still find her more interesting than Laia or Elias... (hide spoiler)]

[Gisela, Moderator]

I’m done.

[ShoSho , Moderator]

I have another 4hours to go.
Did you like it?

[Gisela, Moderator]

I’ll wait for you to finish before I comment. :)

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Gisela wrote: "Ch. 53
[spoilers removed]"

Yep! Helen and Harper are far more interesting that Laia and Elias.

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Gisela wrote: "Ch.47 [spoilers removed]"

I didn't either. I thought maybe just maybe he could be traitor but I didn't think he could be what he is.

A lot of unexpected things happened, I'm not a fan of books that kill the characters too easily. This is one of those books.
I finished it but I didn't really enjoy it. It felt torturous to listen to it. The book had a very negative a dark feel to it. I'm just a bit curious but not enough to read the next one. Maybe when I'm in the mood to read a depressing book I'd read the next one.
what about you G?

[Gisela, Moderator]

I didn’t really enjoy it either. I can’t connect or identify with Laia, maybe because she feels like every other heroine in YA. There’s nothing special about her. Why do people follow her? Because the author wants it that way. Why is Keris so evil? Just because. The world building is severely lacking. I get the sense that the Augurs are manipulating events but to what end? What do they want? We should know by now. Also, Elias and Laia’s feelings for each other feel forced. Helene is out of the triangle, she essentially laid to rest her feelings for Elias and she has bigger things to worry about. I want to see more of her and Harper. I though this was a trilogy but it’s really 4 books and the last one isn’t out yet. Maybe I’ll pick up book 3 when B4 comes out. I want to know what happens to Helene.

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Yes let's read 3 and 4 when 4 comes out.