An Ember in the Ashes

Laia and Elias live in a Rome-esque kingdom under the control of an emperor. Laia is a Scholar, the lowest rank in the class system. Elias is a Mask, a martial soldier tasked with carrying out the will of the empire. Their worlds cross when Laia disguises herself as a slave to infiltrate the walls of Blackcliff Academy in order to uncover information that could save her brother's life. Elias, on the other hand, is forced to compete in the Trials, four difficult tasks that will try the very essence of his mind, his body, and his soul, to be the next emperor.

This was such an refreshing dystopian novel. The typical elements that readers often see in YA dystopian novels were there: a tyrannical government, a caste system, etcetera. However, Tahir takes these elements and she weaves them in such a way that An Ember in the Ashes doesn't feel like the typical dystopian novel. Skies! It is unique and quirky in its own right and it's near impossible to put down.

We get two character perspectives (Laia and Elias) that alternate throughout the novel (odd chapters are Laia, even chapters are Elias). We are able to fall in love with the two characters separately and then fall deeper once the storylines intersect and the two become greater forces in each others' lives. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.

What I particularly enjoyed in this book, though it's just one of the many, many things I loved, was that the romance was on the side. It was there, of course, but it wasn't really an element that was in your face throughout the novel and it didn't really come into play until towards the end. I think this really allowed for the storyline and for the characters to fully develop (and let's be honest, with all that Laia and Elias were dealing with, they needed a romance like they needed a sword to the neck). It also sets up for a lot of drama and angst for the sequel (and there better be a sequel, because that ending...!)