An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Title: An Ember in the Ashes
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Pages: 443
Genre: Fantasy (YA)
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Buy: Amazon| Kobo| Chapters Indigo| B&N
*Received e-ARC for honest review*
Summary (Goodreads)

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.

LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.

When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.

Review: 

Sabaa Tahir, I have a serious book hangover after reading this amazing debut! This book really does destroy you because I already need more to this book! It has to be one of favorite fantasy books that I have read! Hope that there is more from Sabaa from this creative world because it was addicting! From the moment I read the synopsis I had a good feeling this book will be amazing! 

An Ember in the Ashes pulls you in immediately right from the start when you meet the main character, Laia. What happens to her family (brother) is heartbreaking and will leave you thinking what is going on and the different society this book endures. Laia's situation was to find the Scholar Rebellion in order to get her brother back during the raid from the Martial Empire who is holding him for trial. 

I loved reading from bother Laia and Elias (academies finest soldier) points of views because there was no confusion with the story line and the transition between the two didn't want you to put the book down. The story was smooth and easy to read since it didn't always left were it left off in the previous character points of view. The world Sabaa Tahir created is easy to imagine and the details were perfect. (since I had the e-book it was a little different to view it with the map). 

Now to the interactions/chemistry between Laia and Elias, though it wasn't a lot you can feel the tension at some points of the book. It was not a strong romantic book were we see these two characters meet but it had more action and plot twists that as you see both Laia and Elias characters grow even bigger. There was also Laia's relationship with Kennan where you can see a different side to both the rebellion and her trust in Elias as well. 

While many things happened that will make you speechless by the end of the book, you will want to wish there was a second book! Sabaa Tahir is an amazing writer and I am already wishing for a sequel because that ending O_O. I can tell you that I had a book hangover that lasted a few days. I couldn't pick up a book for a few days!! Overall, get this book on April 28, you will love it and reread it over and over!! 

5/5