An Ember in the Ashes
David Gemmell Morningstar Award nominee 2016.
Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.
LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.
ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier — and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.
When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.
Vow your blood and body to the empire.
Keep your heart for yourself.
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Sabaa Tahir
Sabaa Tahir’s name has become synonymous with high-stakes, heart-pounding fantasy. Born in the United States to Pakistani immigrant parents, she grew up with a unique cultural blend that deeply influences her writing. Her debut novel, An Ember in the Ashes, burst onto the scene in 2015, quickly establishing her as a force to be reckoned with in the world of young adult fantasy.
Drawing inspiration from both her own experiences and the rich history of the Roman Empire, Tahir created a world that feels both timeless and urgent, where oppression, rebellion, and unyielding hope are the driving forces behind every character's journey. Her writing style weaves an intricate tapestry of action, emotion, and deep moral questions, with each page filled with tension that keeps readers eagerly turning to the next.
Ember Quartet
Ember Quartet consists of four books — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
