A Torch Against the Night

So full disclosure – I’ve fallen behind on blogging. I’ve got three books to write reviews for! 😬😬😬 My bad! But the first one is A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir. This is the second book in the An Ember in the Ashes series and I’m really starting to love these books! Here is a brief of the story:

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both. This book is definitely a ‘book 2’. There’s lots of story driving, but this book had the added perspective of Helene. I loved Helene in the first book and this book did not change that at all! She is probably my favourite character. Her decisions affect the whole country, and as a young woman, she bears that mantle incredibly well. She is just a kick-butt amazing character who don’t need no man! But she wants one. Because I love Helene so much, I want her to be happy. Which brings me to… Elias.

Elias is possibly one of my favourite male characters ever. I just love him. Sure he does and says stupid things, but I found it made him more endearing, not annoying. His sense of honor and pride is actually wonderful. Even though there are times when I just wanted to shout at him to stop being an idiot (especially about Laia) he is still one of the perspectives I look forward to most.

Laia. Possibly who we consider to be the main character. And the one I like the least. If we’re speaking of stupid decisions, I feel like she makes the most. But she does it all for what she perceives as good reasons, so I guess we can’t really fault her for that. I do think she is a tiny bit gullible and possibly too trusting – especially for the time and place she lives in. I’m can’t say too much for spoilers sakes. But really Laia. Use your brain love.

This book took so many turns that I really had no idea where it was going to end, which characters would still be alive and who would be on which side! It was basically like watching a Game of Thrones episode with all the betrayal! I really enjoyed the characters from the first book who came back into the story, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they develop more.

Overall I give this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars! A good solid read and I’m definitely invested in finding out what happens!!

Grab your own copy here 😊
Happ