An Ember in the Ashes is one of the many books that I have purchased years ago, and let it sitting on my shelf, wasting away in my ever-growing TBR. Until now that is. And can someone smack me for taking so long to pick it up? Thank you.

I can totally see how and why this series had ignited so much love and passion those many years ago when it released, but there‘s one thing I need to get out: Am I the only one or is Elias Verturius the most underrated fantasy book boyfriend of the 2010s? I‘ve seen people fangirling. Of course I did. But damn, the shouting should have been louder. This man deserves all the attention. I want to hold him, and never let go of him. He alone is worth your time to read this series. But this book offers so much more.

Because it‘s been some years since my purchase of the copy, I must admit I went into the story more blindly. I had forgotten most of the premise the blurb offers, and didn‘t bother rereading it for I wanted to just finally enter the world Sabaa Tahir had created. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed. The world we meet in An Ember in the Ashes is a dangerous, cruel and violent world. Yet, interesting. Mind you this is one of the world that probably most of us would end up dead within two seconds, but this is what makes it so interesting to see the characters navigate through them. And what made it even more beautiful was to see how hope itself was embedded in this story that is overshadowed by some much pain. I loved how the main focus wasn‘t set on something magical, but the brutal education of the Masks, and the protagonist navigating as a slave, trying to find a way to save her brother. Still, magic does make its appearance, and I loved how it was incorporated into the plot, promising a hellfire once its presence can‘t be avoided any longer.

Just as the worldbuilding was intriguing, so were the characters. It took me no time to get attached to the two main characters - Elias and Laia. Both of them, finding themselves on the complete opposites of the power structure in this book, reveal to have more in common. We get to know each of them on their own, learning of their hopes, dreams and fears. Elias immediately had my heart, and I was just wishing I could jump into these pages to give him comfort and peace. As for Laia, I was not expecting her character to be so … fragile. If I can say so. Usually, the heroines of YA fantasy books get the hang out of everything rather quickly, while Laia relies for way too long on the help of others. However, I was suprised to end up loving her character arc so much. Her development takes time, and for once, it makes it a little bit more convincing, but also I just liked to see someone continue to choose to survive, despite lacking any skills necessary for that aside from sheer will. Laia and Elias make an interesting pairing, in the sense, that they truly make sense for each other. Which made the fact that it took some time for them to share scenes alone almost unbearable. But to be honest, with everything at stake in their lives, that made sense. I was admiring to see them living their seperate lives, crossing each other‘s paths once in a while, before fate wasn‘t able to keep them away any longer from each other. (Despite the other potential love interests) Though I have to agree with many people voicing their opinions that the relationship between these two characters felt a bit rushed, I still enjoyed seeing them together in scenes, and therefore didn‘t mind that aspect as much as I already felt it was a slow-burn that will probably never take me out of my misery. Aside from these two, however, there are also many secondary characters that will get you just as invested. And maybe that‘s why I can forgive the rushed pace of the relationship forming between Elias and Laia, since we get so much time seeing them bond with other characters.

An Ember in the Ashes is an amazing first installements to a series I can‘t wait to binge (and still want to slap myself for taking so long to do so) filled with characters that will have you invested within seconds, a world so cruel and violent that you won‘t be able to put down the book, and the message of hope that itself feels like an ember in the ashes, ready to ignite everything.