BOOK ONE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES

Instant New York Times bestseller
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir
Amazon's Best Young Adult Book of 2015
People's Choice Award winner - Favorite Fantasy
Bustle's Best Young Adult Book of 2015

"This novel is a harrowing, haunting reminder of what it means to be human -- and how hope might be kindled in the midst of oppression and fear." -- The Washington Post

"An Ember in the Ashes could launch Sabaa Tahir into JK Rowling territory...It has the addictive quality of The Hunger Games combined with the fantasy of Harry Potter and the brutality of Game of Thrones."--Public Radio International

"An Ember in the Ashes glows, burns, and smolders--as beautiful and radiant as it is searing."--Huffington Post

"A worthy novel - and one as brave as its characters." --The New York Times Book Review

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.

Item Information Item Information

Format: TradePaperback
Author: Tahir, Sabaa
ISBN: 9780593206935
Condition: Used
Dimensions: 8.90 x 1.00
Number Of Pages: 480
Publication Year: 2020

Customer Reviews

Rating Snapshot

5 ★ 40%

4 ★ 60%

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4.4

5 Ratings

0 Recommendations

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Engaging story line leaves you begging for the next installment.

Heather C. - 1 year 8 months ago

Within the world of An Ember in the Ashes, based on ancient Rome, lives Laia and her family who are doing their best to live by the Empire's strict and often cruel rule. But when Laia's older brother is accused of treason and taken away to be tortured and most likely killed, she begins her search for anyone willing to help her save her brother from the same fate that stole away her family. During her journey that takes her deep into the finest military academy she meets the schools best soldier, Elias, whose only wish is to be free from the tyranny that has controlled him his entire life. Learning to trust and care for each other while fighting for survival and the hope that someday the Empire will no longer control their lives gives this book an exciting and engaging story line that leaves you begging for the next installment.
HPB Staff Review
A thrilling dystopian adventure

Ashley W. - 2 years 1 month ago

I adored this book. The main character Laia was living a boring and relatively safe life on the outskirts of a dangerous empire. When it is discovered that her brother is a spy and is accused of treason it turns her world upside down. With no family left she is forced into the school that trains the very people who massacred her family. It is a beautiful journey where friends become foe and enemies become allies.
HPB Staff Review
Discover life under the Martial Empire.

Kristen B. - 3 years 3 months ago

Laia and her family live under the Martial Empire when her brother is suddenly arrested for treason. Laia knows what happens to traitors in this devastatingly brutal world they are living in and decides to go undercover as a slave to rescue him. While on the mission, she meets Elias, the top soldier in the Empire and is terrified at first. She soon realizes that he is not who he seems and just might be able to help her. An Ember in the Ashes is a deep and enveloping read. Switching narrators back and forth between Laia and Elias allows the reader to know and understand a lot more about the Empire and gives it a certain depth that would not exist otherwise. This is a very promising first book in a series from Sabaa Tahir and I am definitely excited to find out what happens with Laia and Elias next!
HPB Staff Review
the YA version of Game of Thrones

Luke G. - 4 years 5 months ago

Do you need something to tide you over until the next installment of Game of Thrones?But need something just a little toned down? Then pick up "Ember in the Ashes"! You'll find that just like GoT, these characters also constantly believe the bad guys will be noble, and that good will triumph-- and of course it won't. Nail-biting, suspenseful, with just a little bit of romance mixed in, "Ember in the Ashes" is sure to delight, and stress you out, in just the right ways.
HPB Staff Review
Great Summer Read!

Laura K. - 5 years 6 months ago

This is a great book by Sabaa Tahir about two characters on the opposite end of the social spectrum in a very interesting world. This book has a past fantasy element but tinged by a Roman Martial element. The plot was different and appealing, and all of the characters are fully formed and intriguing. I found myself wanting to read more about Elias and Laia as they struggled from opposite ends of the world. I was constantly surprised by the plot and backstory and found myself wanting more. It had a fresh take on what is quickly becoming a well-worn genre, and I found myself staying up late to finish it! This is also one of the rare YA books that aren't forced to be a trilogy (skipping the lackluster word-filler curse that is the middle book) but will have a sequel book coming out this August. This is a well-paced book with intrigue and great characters! But you don't have to take my word for it!
HPB Staff Review

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Engaging story line leaves you begging for the next installment.

A thrilling dystopian adventure

Discover life under the Martial Empire.

the YA version of Game of Thrones

Great Summer Read!