An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, Book 1) by Tahir, Sabaa (June 4, 2015) Hardcover

An Ember in the Ashes is a very dark story that doesn't shy away from the dark side of human nature. It's a very harsh world and there's a lot of death, killing and torture.I found it easy to get into despite the writing being very dry, the world around the characters isn't described much. At one point Laia goes to a moon festival at night and it's all lit up with lanterns. This should have been vibrant and full of life but it felt flat. I couldn't picture it in my mind.The speech and behaviour are very modern, which sounds odd in the historical setting.I do like the way the two different viewpoints of Laia and Elias were written though and I like how it takes a while for them to start being aware of each other. Laia I really enjoyed reading. She starts off quite timid and scared and we get to see how she grows and gets braver.There's not much romance, which I liked. There's a bit too much worrying about who fancies who (and seriously, these people have bigger things to be worrying about), but no proper romance, and definitely no insta-love!I found it strange how the characters have gone through some very traumatic things but still act like normal teenagers (even though Elias is supposed to 20). Their life experiences don't seem to have had much emotional impact on them.The trials Elias goes through are physically and emotionally difficult. They're aimed at choosing a new Emperor and removing the old one and people die in the process, but somehow it feels like they're not that big a deal, they're no more important than a big exam or a job interview. Elias is more worried about if his friend fancies him or not, and does he fancy her back.The whole thing seems unrealistic, but I would say suspend disbelief if you can because the story is good. It's full of twists and turns and I didn't want to stop reading and go to work or to bed. I know I like a book when my other half has to forcibly remove it from my hands.

Too short a read to stand with the masters of epic fantasy but the author is still young. I hope she carries on writing, soon she may well be the best of the new fantasy writers.The novel was engaging though it lacked the complexity of a true epic fantasy novel, but a good enough heroic fantasy read that never promised too much and delivered a simple story in a decent manner. It's been a while since I didn't want to stop reading at night. This one has me intrigued enough to keep reading, even though there were no surprises but surprises are rare after readibg a few dozen series in fantasy.Thee are two more books in the series, not sure if it's finished series but the author is writing them at a decent pace, it's feels like yesterday since I read about her making a big spalsh in States when her series sold for a record amount. Been on my reading list ever since, this time it lived up to expectations.Why 4 stars instead of five? Because it is judged against every other series I've ever read and that list has some big names.It's barely 450 pages long. The likes of Steven Erikson, G RR Martin or late Robert Jordan would be just getting started at that point. If those names don't mean anything to you then smile because you still have something wonderful left to discover. If you are new to fantasy genre then start with this one and ease your way into epic fantasy. If like me you are waiting to peek behind those stone doors or to see if a certain dwarf gets to ride dragon ( or if we will get to see two different endings to a same story).... at least we got another decent writer in the genre. Something to do as we wait and wait and wait and chant, they are not my...... Female k9s? To quote Gaiman.

Laia and Elias lead very different lives, but fate intends to bind them together in a world that is slowly falling apart.Ten hells, this is a good book!I admit, it was a little slow to start with. Or, not exactly slow, as there's a lot of action and intrigue from the start - more that you try and grasp Laia's world, just to be thrown into Elias' very different life. But once you establish the basics, everything runs smoothly.I really liked that the story doesn't bring together Laia and Elias until about half-way, which allows both plots to run alongside each other, both strong and exciting.Even after their friendship starts to develop, it doesn't overcome their very independent ambitions, or any other aspect of their lives. It is so refreshing to read a story of this genre that doesn't devolve into doe-eyes and obsessed thoughts.The other thing that stands out about this book, is that it is BRUTAL.This may be classed as YA, but it is full of physical and psychological torture; threats of rape; violence; murders, etc.Just as you get used to the level of pain and violence, something else arises (the third trial - absolutely crushing!).The Martial Empire only recognises strength, and emotions are only there to be broken. It thinks nothing of killing its slaves; its own children; or even the soldiers that devote their life to the Empire.I loved all the characters. Laia and Elias are flawed in their own way, and make excellent central characters, but the supporting cast are just as strong. Izzy, Marcus, Cook all shine when they get to be part of the story.But my favourite is easily Helene. She's the only female Mask (loyal and brutal soldiers trained from a young age) in a generation, and has survived the brutal training. She is one of the guys, and has proven herself to be one of the best. She is loyal to the Empire, but isn't afraid to bend the rules and risk punishment, if she can help her friends. Helene is always the level-headed one that can be relied on to keep her friends in check and out of trouble. She is a true leader, and even though she accepts her emotions, she rarely lets them affect her.So yeah, she's pretty awesome. I can't wait to see where her path leads in the next book, and how her fate has been sealed by Elias' choices.I would definitely recommend checking this one out, and I can't wait to start A Torch Against The Night!