Book Title: An Ember in the Ashes
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Series: An Ember in the Ashes, Book 1
Published: 28th April, 2015
Synopsis:
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.
5 Breathtaking Stars!
I love this series! It keeps me hooked from the start and it Holds you so tightly that you will experience every emotion throughout
Love, hate, anger, sadness, pity, sympathy, happiness and probably everything else in between! So prepare yourself for a ride of emotional drains
This series is set in an era where the Empire is ruled by people called the Martials, and the most deadliest weapons are the students who train at the Black Academy who graduate as Masks. But their training isn't the normal routine. It's bloody and gruel, whipping and starvation are some of the trials they face from the age of 5.
Masks are trained to be ruthless and violent. And their main role once they graduate is to maintain order by punishing those who are in the Resistance.
The Resistance is a group of Scholars who are determine to take down the empire.
Years ago the Scholars were the ones who ruled, but now they are slaves to the Martial and as punishment, it is against the law for a Scholar to learn to read or write.
Now the Scholars want to overthrow the empire and rule again. But how can they defeat an empire that have a ruthless army to defend it?
This is where we meet Laia. A young girl who has everything taken from, including her freedom. Her brother is stolen and she turns to the Resistance to get him out, but they have a price, to spy on the Commandant. The most fearless and powerful leader of the Academy
Laia is not as brave as her family, but she will try, no matter. But this missions seems to open up many secrets and doors to Laia. What they have been telling her may not be what she thought was true.
Elias is a Mask, but he is not just any Mask. He is a Mask who despises the empire. Elias is too compassionate to be at the academy and yet he is the top of the class. Despite his high ranks, Elias wants to be free from the empire. But everything changes when he is selected for the Trials, this will determine who will become the next Emperor. But will Elias be able to survive these deadly encounters ? Will he ever be free?
Laia and Elias are thrown together in unexpected ways, if they wish to survive, they'll need to make some sacrifices. Elias is suppose to hurt Laia because she is far beneath him since she is a Scholar, and Laia is suppose to despise him since he is a Mask. But will these two enemies be able to work together? will they be able to trust each other ?
There is so much I want to say about this book, but I know if I say too much, it will give too much away! You'll just have to trust me and believe that this is a book you don't want to miss. It's gruesome and bloody but also heartwarming at times too.
Highly recommend you start this series!
I read this with the Buddy Read group as part of our monthly read :)
Be safe, read more :)
~ Karen x
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