Review: THIS. BOOK. WAS. INCREDIBLE! Why did it take me so long to get to this series?! Tahir’s writing is absolutely beautiful and she is definitely on my list of favorite authors. 

Tahir’s complex world-building blew me away. I found the idea of modeling the world after the Roman Empire fascinating and I loved being able to explore Blackcliff! The imagery really helped me picture the space and form distinctions between the different soldier rankings (skulls, fivers, yearlings, and masks). Tahir also took her time crafting the religion (with figures like the augurs) and establishing the different groups of people and the conflicts they had with each other (Martials, Tribesman, and Scholars). 

It was not hard to form attachments to Tahir’s characters, as she wrote in multiple perspectives which I appreciated! The romance was subtle and I loved how topics such as war and oppression took center stage. 

“An Ember in the Ashes” is definitely one of the best books I have read in a while! I cannot get enough of the story and I am looking forward to picking up book 2!