An Ember in the Ashes

I started to like both main characters but that stopped early and then I just disliked both of them. I sort of liked Laia a bit more than Elias. I was, however, annoyed at Laia quite a bit and that didn't stop in this book. Laia's shown as this strong character, and she is, but the constant, constant mentions of needing to find her brother... did get annoying and repetitive. Especially when she kept saying that her need to save her brother was immediate and then took her time. I get needing to make plans but it just seemed like she kept forgot her urgent need to save him every time she saw Elias.

I'm hoping that Elias gets better and learns when he's away from the military school. I don't like it when the character says or does things because they have to fit in or to ensure others that they're not sympathetic. In here, mind you, they won't like it if Elias is being sympathetic to slaves... and treat them like they're people.

I can guess at the end romantic couple but I really hope they won't do a love triangle because I just can't see it. I do like Helene a bit more than Elias and Laia but not enough that I want her as a romantic contender. Also I just didn't really see enough reasons for the possible romantic couple to be together anyway.

I liked some of the world-building but I thought it was a lot to put in the first book. And then Tahir started to focus more on the characters and plot so the proper world-building was put on the back burner. I love world-building but don't like it when it's set aside for other aspects of the book (unless the other aspects are done well and I like them.