A Torch Against The Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2)
By Sabaa Tahir
Genre: YA Fantasy

The Jist:

This sequel hits the ground running and doesn’t stop, but that’s one of my favorite things about Sabaa and her stories: they are never EVER dull. An engaging story and characters that grow more complex throughout had me staying up into the wee hours of the morning reading. And the twist. Oh man I didn’t see it coming. Well done Sabaa.

The Details:

Plot: I was very impressed by the sense of urgency Sabaa created in the story. They had to get to Darin in time and break him out or else all hope would be lost for the Scholars. That sense of urgency, along with the many, MANY roadblocks thrown in the character’s paths created a compelling storyline that held my interest throughout. My only beef was maybe a tad too much time was taken in the journey to get there, but even so I never doubted the need for Laia or Elias to get to Kauf prison.

Characters: Oh Sabaa. I can’t decide if I love or hate you for creating such real, vibrant characters because it makes the story SO MUCH BETTER, but it also makes me love them dearly and hurt when they hurt. Poor Helene. I felt so much for the poor girl and was thrilled to get into her head a little more in this book. And I was grateful that Laia wasn’t quite as whiny in this book as the other. I loved watching her grow and come into her own. And I’m going to marry Elias. ‘Nuff said.

Pace: In my opinion, pace is one of Sabaa’s strong suits in her books. There is never a dull moment. There’s either action or some monumental moment between characters (why won’t you kiss Laia and Elias!?!?!?!). I had a hard time putting this book down because every chapter left me with an unquenchable desire to learn what happens next.

World/Setting: It was nice to see more of the world in this series: to see different towns, forests, and the prison (shiver from fear). I thought her descriptions were a perfect balance of giving me a small visual in my head but not so much description that it burdened the pace or left no room for my own imagination.

The Recommendation:
Read it. Especially if you love fantasy and are looking for a story featuring strong, wonderful minority leads.

Luna’s Rating: 5/5 Lunas