December Series BOTM

[[deleted user]]

Our December Series BOTM is An Ember in the Ashes. Discuss the book here!

[Sofia, duckish things]

I love this series. I know it's cheesy and basic, but I still love it. Elias *swoon* is amazing, Laia is... not my favorite, but she was okay in the first book. I do love Helene. Her character arc is *chef's kiss.*

[Annie]

I love this series too...third and first was the best for me but second was good too. When I first read it I was surprised by how dark it was, I thought it was going to be another one of those "popular kid YA books".

[Sofia, duckish things]

I know. It's so delightfully dark and violent. It's what makes it unique. I liked the second one best because I didn't like Elias in the third book.

[Annie]

Sofia wrote: "I know. It's so delightfully dark and violent. It's what makes it unique. I liked the second one best because I didn't like Elias in the third book."

Oh yeah, I forgot he was even in the third book XD
Honestly if I had to pick only one I'd pick the third because Helene kicks some serious butt in that one

[Lyn]

I got this book recommended by another bookstagrammer yesterday. Can group admins read my heart!?

[ATheReader]

OMG OMG THE 4th BOOK COMES OUT TODAY AND I PREORDERED IT AND THIS IS MY FAVORITE SERIES AND DROP THE MIC I WILL PROBABLY CRY MY EYES OUT

okay that's it
THESE CHARACTERS ARE THE BEST and the plot and the writing and everything just everything okay okay I'm gonna calm down now

[Sofia, duckish things]

ATheReader wrote: "OMG OMG THE 4th BOOK COMES OUT TODAY AND I PREORDERED IT AND THIS IS MY FAVORITE SERIES AND DROP THE MIC I WILL PROBABLY CRY MY EYES OUT

okay that's it
THESE CHARACTERS ARE THE BEST and the plot..."

YASSSSS IT CAME OUT AHAHAHAHA

[Sofia, duckish things]

Annie (Local Trashcan Resident) wrote: "Sofia wrote: "I know. It's so delightfully dark and violent. It's what makes it unique. I liked the second one best because I didn't like Elias in the third book."

Oh yeah, I forgot he was even in..."

There is SOOO much angst in the third book. I remember crying a lot. But Helene? SHE'S SO AMAZING.

[ATheReader]

I CAN'T FOCUS I NEED IT NOW- but YEAH the third book was really interesting and developed a lot of things and omg get me the 4th book now

[Laura]

Omg this series is amazing. I just got my hands on the final book and I am not emotionally prepared. is any else reading/has read ASBTS?

[Laura]

Sofia wrote: "I love this series. I know it's cheesy and basic, but I still love it. Elias *swoon* is amazing, Laia is... not my favorite, but she was okay in the first book. I do love Helene. Her character arc ..."

agreed. I still kinda hate Helene because she's so hypocritical and serious but I do appreciate her character arc- I think I'll love her more in the final book. And I have a feeling Elias will die since he's too good to be true ahhhhhhh. plus it always ends that way in these war ridden books, especially if it's Roman Empire inspired, ya know?

[ATheReader]

OMG YOU HAVE THE FINAL BOOK?? Mine hasn't come yettttt. I will read A Sky Beyond The Storm when it comes in the mail later today so yes I am. yeah I like Helene's character arc but didn't like her and if Elias dies I will die. DIE

[n*]

i only vaguely remember an ember in the ashes because a friend of mine lent it to me when we were at rehearsal together lmao
perhaps it's time for a reread o.0

[Laura]

ATheReader wrote: "OMG YOU HAVE THE FINAL BOOK?? Mine hasn't come yettttt. I will read A Sky Beyond The Storm when it comes in the mail later today so yes I am. yeah I like Helene's character arc but didn't like her ..."

I rented it from a digital library since I didn't wanna buy it lol. I use the app Libby which is free- you just put in any of your actual library cards and you can access that library's digital selection! I was on hold, but I put the hold up months ago so I was 7th in line out of 50 people for 4 copies of the E-Book lol.

OMG someone agrees with me about Helene! I swear she's everyone's favorite character and I feel like no one agrees with me that she's too unlikeable. She's willing to do so much shit for those she loves but doesn't even consider the other people she's affecting, unlike Elias. He's in the same environment and would do anything for Laia but he is more considerate and less "I WILL LITERALLY MURDER EVERYONE", ya know? Plus she's low-key racist and supports slavery which I cannot deal with. Maybe my dislike of her is just amped up because she's beside Elias, who's such a sweetheart. But my points still stand!

If he dies, I'll survive since the Poppy War already drained me of emotion so I can come to your funeral LMAO.

[ATheReader]

Oh that is a great idea! I preordered it in July and I love reading books physically so now all I can do is WAIT. She is REALLY unlikeable and the "duty" she has to the empire is ridiculous. YES SHE DOES SUPPORT SLAVERY and is the worst at expressing her feelings.. like what she did in the end of book 3!! Yep you will be invited to my funeral if he dies. *Death of my soul*

[Laura]

a bit random, but where do y'all buy your books (other than local/indie bookstores)? I wanna buy some online but amazon is a shitty company and negatively impacts bookstores. But places like Barnes and Noble or other bookstores are so pricey. I sometimes use BookOutlet and those cheaper sites but the selection is so limited.

Any suggestions other than bookdepository.com? (I live in the US btw)

[[deleted user]]

i use amazon or b+n

[ATheReader]

I sometimes use amazon (usually I don't), barns and noble is my go to, child's play (there is a book section), and sometimes local bookstores. It is just more convenient to go to the main ones because I live in the city. I don't use book depository because they are racist.... so yeah

[Laura]

Nikki wrote: "i use amazon or b+n"

oh I know of those already but thanks for the suggestions :)

Also, I know amazon isn't ideal for book buying but AEITA is on sale on for Amazon Kindle now, I believe. there's a lot of books on sale for Black Friday on most websites but I know that amazon is usually the most accessible for people! Hopefully any of you guys who wants to read it on Kindle can get it now :)

[Emma]

Yay, I'm so excited! I'll be rereading the first two and then picking up on the third. Somehow, I've just never got around to reading it so this is a perfect time to catch up <3

[Laura]

ATheReader wrote: "Oh that is a great idea! I preordered it in July and I love reading books physically so now all I can do is WAIT. She is REALLY unlikeable and the "duty" she has to the empire is ridiculous. YES SH..."

Oh I understand, I prefer physical books as well but the pandemic closing libraries is frustrating!

Yes! She's literally an emotional wall who just goes "Duty I must complete my duty I am serving the empire it is my duty". That. Sh*t. Gets. Old. The empire has literally done nothing but make her life worse so I don't understand her?? Even before she remained complacent to keep her sister safe, it honestly was not very believable for me.
Plus she still seems to have this bloodlust that most of the Masks have which is really frustrating. I low-key wanted her sister to die so that she wouldn't continue to go batsh*t every time she was harmed, my gosh.
I hope Helene dies instead of Elias if someone has to die, I'll be able to cope with that. But then I'll feel so bad for Harper! They're so into each other and I just want Harper to be happy :(

[Emma]

laura likes lit ⁷ wrote: "a bit random, but where do y'all buy your books (other than local/indie bookstores)? I wanna buy some online but amazon is a shitty company and negatively impacts bookstores. But places like Barnes..."

I do Barnes & Noble, Book of the Month & my local used bookstore, as well as Scribd for audiobook/ebooks. I'd definitely recommend supporting a small business/indie this year if you can, but if not, you can also try Thrift Books! They're a large online bookstore with pretty cheap prices - I have never personally bought from them before, but I just looked at their site and they have a pretty big selection!

[Laura]

Emma wrote: "laura likes lit ⁷ wrote: "a bit random, but where do y'all buy your books (other than local/indie bookstores)? I wanna buy some online but amazon is a shitty company and negatively impacts bookstor..."

thanks, I'll definitely check them out :)

[Emma]

ATheReader wrote: "I sometimes use amazon (usually I don't), barns and noble is my go to, child's play (there is a book section), and sometimes local bookstores. It is just more convenient to go to the main ones beca..."

Actually, I think that was BookOutlet, but I could be wrong!! There was definitely controversy surrounding BookOutlet (for good reason!!) because they told a Black book tuber they wouldn't partner with her because they looked for 'family friendly' reviewers, or something along those lines. It was super disgusting

[ATheReader]

laura likes lit ⁷ wrote: "ATheReader wrote: "Oh that is a great idea! I preordered it in July and I love reading books physically so now all I can do is WAIT. She is REALLY unlikeable and the "duty" she has to the empire is..."

I am pretty sure you're referring to Harper but yeah all she cares about is the concept of the empire, not the empire itself! Like hun you keep talking about how much you love the people but you are making it worse for them

[ATheReader]

Emma wrote: "ATheReader wrote: "I sometimes use amazon (usually I don't), barns and noble is my go to, child's play (there is a book section), and sometimes local bookstores. It is just more convenient to go to..."
SORRY you're right I was referring to BookOutlet! Bookdepository is owned by Jeff Bezos so its like amazon for books only

[Laura]

ATheReader wrote: "laura likes lit ⁷ wrote: "ATheReader wrote: "Oh that is a great idea! I preordered it in July and I love reading books physically so now all I can do is WAIT. She is REALLY unlikeable and the "duty..."

oh yeah my bad, I meant Harper haha.

I just remembered that BD is owned by amazon and I had no idea that book outlet was racist! thanks for the heads up, I'll look into it more

[ATheReader]

laura likes lit ⁷ wrote: "ATheReader wrote: "laura likes lit ⁷ wrote: "ATheReader wrote: "Oh that is a great idea! I preordered it in July and I love reading books physically so now all I can do is WAIT. She is REALLY unlik..."

:) of course- glad I never bought from them- I found out right before I was going to buy from them!

[Emma]

ATheReader wrote: "Emma wrote: "ATheReader wrote: "I sometimes use amazon (usually I don't), barns and noble is my go to, child's play (there is a book section), and sometimes local bookstores. It is just more conven..."

Yeah, I mix them up all the time lol!

[ATheReader]

Emma wrote: "ATheReader wrote: "Emma wrote: "ATheReader wrote: "I sometimes use amazon (usually I don't), barns and noble is my go to, child's play (there is a book section), and sometimes local bookstores. It ..."

It actually makes it more fun when you mix it up

[Amelie]

I’ve only read the first book, and I thought it was okay. I enjoyed the story and the whole concept of the Resistance fighting back, though the love triangles did annoy me (I shipped Helene with Elias). I’m thinking of continuing on though. Does the series get better?

[Sofia, duckish things]

I think it gets better, as long as you don't mind a little angst. The Resistance was cheesy to me, but it disappears in the next books.

[the bard]

i regret volunteering this book before i read it... whoops. i think i'm in the minority, so i hope you guys like it.

[Sofia, duckish things]

I feel like once I reread this, I'll suddenly discover every problematic thing about it because that's just how I am. So I don't want to reread it. But I kind of have to before I get Sky for Christmas.

[Sofia, duckish things]

I did love the character development in Torch, though.

[ATheReader]

I reread it and loved it the same, soooo there :)

[ATheReader]

I reread it and loved it the same, soooo that's my experience :)