Book Discussion: An Ember in the Ashes & A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Three years ago, Sabaa Tahir burst onto the YA scene with her explosive debut An Ember in the Ashes. It became an instant New York Times Best Seller and was included by many bloggers and digital media sites in their best YA books of the year lists in 2015. Its sequel, A Torch Against the Night, was met with equal fervor and accolades the following year. AEITA tells the story of Laia–a Scholar slave–fighting to save her brother; and Elias—a Martial Soldier—struggling to reconcile his moral compass with his duty.

Two of our Pop Culturalist writers discuss the first two books in the Ember Quartet and why it is a must read for any fan of YA fantasy.

Describe the series in five words.
Taraneh: Thrilling, Engaging, Multi-faceted, Explosive, Immersive.
Amna: Dark. Intense. Engrossing. Surprising. Complex.

Is there enough world building to get a feel of the setting?
Taraneh: Sabaa Tahir is good at toeing the line of descriptions to bring her world to life, but not overly describing them so readers can conjure up their versions of her world. The world her characters inhabit is intense and harsh, but it’s balanced by the hope Scholars (have to) cling to.
Amna: Sabaa Tahir doesn’t shy away from establishing a brutal and cruel world for her characters to live in. Her descriptions of the Martial Empire, Blackcliff Military Academy, and the Commandant elicit a strong fear and worry for the characters. But she also effectively balances the dark with the light through her depictions of the Scholars, the Tribespeople, and the Resistance that evokes a sense of hope for a brighter future.

AEITA and ATATN are told from multiple points of view. Did this work in favor of the story?
Taraneh: One hundred percent, yes. Seeing how Tahir’s world works from characters in different classes with vastly different lifestyles only makes the books more vivid. You can get a more in-depth and full picture. Getting into the minds of different characters also makes the characters more relatable. From Laia’s point of view, Helene is a cold Mask; reading Helene’s POV, you realize there’s more depth and complexity to her. She’s human just like Laia.
Amna: I definitely enjoyed reading from Laia, Elias, and Helene’s POV. It gives readers a clearer picture of what is going on in the different subplots and fleshes out the world a bit more. Plus, I love delving deeper into the minds of characters and connecting with them.

What did you think about the main protagonists and their character development?
Taraneh: I like that each of the protagonists are quite different from one another even when they share emotions (love) and feelings (hope). I actually think Laia’s character development is kind of the weakest in the books–although I love her–compared to Elias and Helene. On the surface, those two have big character development in their attitude and actions. Laia starts off good and stays good.
Amna: I am so in love with all three main characters! Sabaa has done an exceptional job of crafting three-dimensional, layered, and nuanced characters in Laia, Elias, and Helene. Each character has their own voice and significance to the larger story. You can also see how interactions with each other and events in the story help them evolve.

What aspects of the plot kept you engaged as a reader? Which did not?
Taraneh: This one is too hard for me to answer since it’s been a while since I’ve read Ember and Torch…I just remember the pacing being great, and the characters are amazing.
Amna: The fear of harm befalling the characters and the growing emotional connection between Laia and Elias kept me glued to the page.

What are your thoughts on Sabaa Tahir’s overall writing style?
Taraneh: She has a way of writing a story that addresses such deep, important issues—like oppression, prejudice, and freedom—in an accessible way. I think her writing is engaging and pretty much stays fast-paced. I appreciate how she does write complex characters and how she fits pieces of her story together.
Amna: What drew me to Sabaa’s writing was her ability to weave a story that is equal parts character and plot driven. She spends time building fleshed out characters with distinct arcs, but also crafting a complex and engaging plot that moves the story forward. I’m also impressed with how she incorporated heavy-handed themes, such as oppression, duty, destiny, loyalty, bravery, and sacrifice into the story.

Would you recommend this book to others?
Taraneh: A big fat YES.
Amna: 100% YES!

Give a blurb for the series!
Taraneh: An Ember in the Ashes and A Torch Against the Night are two books that should top every fantasy YA (or even fantasy adult) fans’ to-read list. Sabaa Tahir transports readers to a heart-racing world full of characters you won’t soon forget.
Amna: If you haven’t read An Ember in the Ashes and A Torch Against the Night yet, that needs to change NOW. This dramatic YA fantasy series reels you in with a captivating story, strong characters facing adversity in a high-stakes world, and will leave you clamoring for the third book.

Be sure to pick up the third book in the Ember Quartet, A Reaper at the Gates, out now!

About the Pop Culturalist Contributor, Amna
Amna is an elementary school teacher living in Texas who enjoys reading and writing about YA books in her free time. Her favorite authors include: Cassandra Clare, Sarah J. Mass, Sabaa Tahir, and Renée Ahdieh.