An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes #1) by Sabaa Tahir - GBR - Restarting January 1st, 2023

[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.

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes #1) by Sabaa Tahir will be our 1st GBR for April 2020.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

[Eesh]

This is actually going to be a reread for me. I read this one almost four years ago, and the sequel a few months after that. But I've forgotten enough things that I need to reread both before I can continue the series.

[iana]

I've no idea what this is about, but I've had this for a while and been meaning to read it! I haven't heard of any other books written by this author other than this series, but I can't wait to get into it. :D

[HeatherH]

Guiana wrote: "I've no idea what this is about, but I've had this for a while and been meaning to read it! I haven't heard of any other books written by this author other than this series, but I can't wait to get..."

This is her only series but it is so so good!!

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Quirks wrote: "This is actually going to be a reread for me. I read this one almost four years ago, and the sequel a few months after that. But I've forgotten enough things that I need to reread both before I can..."

Same for me. I read the first book a while ago and I want to do a re-read. :)

[[deleted user]]

23% (view spoiler)[ What is Laia going to have to succumb to at the hands of the commandant? I feel so much for Laia her life has been turned upside down so quickly. The night began with her thinking her brother a traitor until finally realizing he was no traitor but someone trying to help. We find out he is NOT part of the resistance but on his own, what was he trying to do? Can you really blame him? He is his parent’s son and he want to change the world they live in. As for Elias, I need him to win this trial and become emperor so he can change all the rules and be free. I am curious on what Laia and Elias will be because Laia can also read minds!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

40% (view spoiler)[ Yeay! Elias made it… with all the craziness he had to endure and on top of that his mother trying to have him and Helene killed by those two idiots! Helene must not be dead; she must be the Blood Shrike. I can’t wait to see what will happen to Elias mother, to Helena, to the twins. I am also tired of waiting for Mazen to save Laia’s brother, I feel like he is the one that betrayed Laia’s parents. He has something to do with the commandant! I feel it. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Quirks wrote: "This is actually going to be a reread for me. I read this one almost four years ago, and the sequel a few months after that. But I've forgotten enough things that I need to reread both before I can..."

I am on the same boat Quirks. I read this in 2016 and can hardly remember most of the things that happen. I'm enjoying re-reading this.

[[deleted user]]

62.0% (view spoiler)[ I was so scared for Laia and izzy. I am so glad he was there. I cant wait to see what happens keenan or elias? Elias is so good. So quick. Very smart to keep them safe. What is the deal with helena and the singing. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

80.0% (view spoiler)[ Why are they taking her? What did she do and what is that augur doing with the commandant? I cant believe Elias had to kill his own friends. I am not liking this trials!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished... (view spoiler)[ I can't believe Helene so blindly trusted the Augur. I am glad Cook is helping Laia. I can't wait to find out who the Nightbringer is. So glad that Laia is able to help him, and now they will go and help Darrin. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

25% (view spoiler)[ I liked that Laia didn't fight and ran away because it makes her normal. She's not this warrior who could take down 4 men at once, she did what a lot of people would do. And how terrible that her grandparents were killed and now she has almost no family.

Elias is a great character, I like that he fights against the masks and his mom is truly awful. Whipping a 10 year old boy to death?! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Cinthia wrote: "23% [spoilers removed]"

WHAT?! (view spoiler)[ I didn't catch that she could read minds!! How did I miss that omg.
I do feel for Laia, you're right, her whole world changed in a moment. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

45% (view spoiler)[ I like the trials because it makes the plot more interesting to me. I don't understand why the Commandant hates her son so much that she's trying to have him killed? Like, woah girl.

I get that Elias and Laia have chemistry, but I like him with Helene. She's a badass and he obviously cares for her. They'd be a good match. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Cinthia wrote: "40% [spoilers removed]"

Ooh yes! (view spoiler)[ I like Helene and want her to make it. And the twins can't be good and need to be handled.
We know someone betrayed Laia's parents so it could be anyone. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

55% (view spoiler)[ It's sad that Helene thinks Laia and the other slaves are below her and that even having slaves is okay, but when you're raised to think that and don't have outside influences to tell you otherwise, it's not a surprise. I hope Elias can talk to her and get her to see differently.
I hope Laia and Izzy are okay! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

75% (view spoiler)[ Oh Helene. I know why Elias was mad at her, but that was too harsh. And she helped Laia. And now they're fighting to the death and he's killed guys he grew up with. Ugh so terrible.

I'm glad Laia is okay, I'm worried about who the traitor is (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Cinthia wrote: "62.0% [spoilers removed]"

Me too (view spoiler)[ Laia would have been raped and killed if he hadn't saved her. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Cinthia wrote: "80.0% [spoilers removed]"

I know! (view spoiler)[ the trials are awful, Elias almost killed Helene and now they'll both always know he would have done it. And Marcus had to kill his own twin! That's messed up. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

finished (view spoiler)[ The ending was good but sad. Poor Helene, stuck serving Marcus now. I get that she only wanted to help Elias and thinks it's worth sacrificing 1 girl to save thousands.
I'm really glad Laia and Elias got out and hopefully they can get her brother out of prison. Also, Keenan sucks ha (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Cinthia wrote: "Finished... [spoilers removed]"

Agreed (view spoiler)[ Helene is too trusting that the way things are now is how they should be and now she's in a bad situation. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah A]

So I just started this one today, because my hold just came in. I don't think I have read anything like this before.

[Danique]

An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes #1) by Sabaa Tahir will be one of our GBRs for January 2023.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

[Danique]

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

[Cinthia]

End of Ch. 8: “You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it.” (view spoiler)[ So I guess we now know whom the book was titled after. This has been such a crazy start. We meet Laia, who just witnessed her grandparents murdered, and her brother taken to jail for a sketch book, and the resistance is unwilling to help Laia free him. I feel so bad for what happened to that poor boy that tried to escape. And the Augurs! so are they 500 years old? crazy! (hide spoiler)]

[Cinthia]

Up to Ch. 13: (view spoiler)[ Wow how can the Commandant be so heartless, dude really he is your own son and you are going against him, trying to have him killed? What in the heck did the commandant carve on Laia's skin? I don't like Mazen, I wonder if he was the traitor! I don't think it's going to go well for Izzie if she becomes friends with Laia, the commandant is just looking for an excuse to carve the other eye out! I wonder about the Smyth too, what is he that he can see the ghuls just like Laia can? (hide spoiler)]

[Cinthia]

Up to Ch. 23: Poor Laia I hope everything she is doing works out, (view spoiler)[ she is suffering her own hell trying to save her brother. I am enjoying the tension of the trials! I am rooting for Hel and Elias... I don't like Marcus, I feel Zak is the one that is going to finish him for good. And the commandant! someone needs to put a stop to her, and now we find out she collaborating with the Nightbringer? It's getting interesting with all this new creatures... I hope the smith is telling the truth about Darin and he is able to help them. (hide spoiler)]

[Cinthia]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ Darin is still not saved! Marcus is the emperor and Helene is his blood shrike, Laia came back for Elias before he was killed and Laia's death was faked and she found out Mazen was a scumbag that lied about Darin's whereabouts or his intention to help her. I can't wait to see what new group Laia, Elias and Darin make! First! Get Darin from wherever he is! (hide spoiler)]