An Ember in the Ashes
-
- £2.99
Publisher Description
‘Tahir spins a captivating, heart-pounding fantasy’ – Us Weekly
Read the explosive New York Times bestselling debut that’s captivated readers worldwide. Set to be a major motion picture, An Ember in the Ashes is the book everyone is talking about.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death.
When Laia’s grandparents are brutally murdered and her brother arrested for treason by the empire, the only people she has left to turn are the rebels.
But in exchange for their help in saving her brother, they demand that Laia spy on the ruthless Commandant of Blackcliff, the Empire’s greatest military academy. Should she fail it’s more than her brother’s freedom at risk…Laia’s very life is at stake.
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.
Reviews
PRAISE FOR THE EMBER QUARTET:
‘The writing is as smooth as silk and keeps one reading long after the lights should have been out’
Robin Hobb, bestselling author of Assassin’s Apprentice
‘Sabaa Tahir shows us light in darkness, hope in a world of despair, and the human spirit reaching for greatness in difficult times’
Brandon Sanderson, bestselling author of the Mistborn and Stormlight Archive series
‘A harrowing, haunting reminder of what it means to be human’
Washington Post
‘Takes you into a world as bloody and ruthless as Game of Thrones, but there’s a tender and humane heart to these books, too’
New York Times
‘An explosive, heartbreaking, epic debut that will keep you glued to the pages’
Marie Lu, bestselling author of Legend
‘This book is dark, complex, vivid, and romantic—expect to be completely transported’
MTV.com
About the author
Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s eighteen-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash, and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks, and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
For more information, please visit Sabaa at SabaaTahir.com or on Twitter @SabaaTahir.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
As one of the conquered Scholar people, Laia has grown wary of the ruthless Masks that enforce the Martial empire's laws. But the lesson doesn't hit home until Masks imprison her brother for aiding the Scholar Resistance. Desperate to save him, Laia agrees to spy for the rebels as a slave in Blackcliff, the hellish school where Masks are trained. Her mission becomes all the more dangerous when the empire's prophetic Augurs announce that, for the first time in centuries, four newly graduated Masks will compete for the emperor's throne. One of these "Aspirants," Elias, had been on the verge of desertion before he was chosen, and he only stays to compete because of the Augurs' warning that he will never know freedom unless he undergoes the Trials. Tahir's deft, polished debut alternates between two very different perspectives on the same brutal world, deepening both in the contrast. In a tale brimming with political intrigue and haunted by supernatural forces, the true tension comes from watching Elias and Laia struggle to decide where their loyalties lie. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Loved it!
This is such a good book! I don’t know why I haven’t picked it up sooner! Would definitely recommend if you fancy something a bit different.
Great read
Great read, after a break of being too busy really reminded me how much i enjoy reading.
BEST BOOK IVE EVER READ
I'm really into fantasy books, but many I have read led to disappointment but not this one!
"An ember in the ashes" has something going on, on every page and never stops your imagination from seeing this world and the amazing characters 'Elias and Laia' who have to face there missions throughout the book
Amazing and highly recommended! Can't wait for book two!!