REVIEW: An Ember In the Ashes (Sabaa Tahir)

Book: An Ember In The Ashes

Author: Sabaa Tahir

My rating: 4/5.

Premise: Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. When Laia's brother is arrested for treason by the empire, the only people she can turn to are the rebels. But in exchange for their help, they demand that Laia becomes a spy in the Empire's greatest military academy. There, she meets Elias, the academy's finest soldier. But 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.

[⚠️ CW: slavery] 

This book grew on me. At first, it felt a bit like other YA novels I've read, but by the end I wanted more! The story is written in dual perspective, alternating between Laia and Elias. In Laia, we see a timid girl strengthen into a fighter. In Elias, we see the chains the empire puts on even its favoured members. I loved the character development and interactions. Some bits were predictable, but there were others that surprised me. Overall, a good start to a series that I now neeeeed to continue!