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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
With the way I devoured this series, I'm so grateful I read them after they had all been published; the wait might have killed me!
All the books had me at the edge of my seat and immediately needing to know what happens next, but none more than book 4.
Things I liked:
How it all ended up. It's absolutely devastating, and so many people are lost by this book, but the ending felt right and left me with hope, somehow. Everyone was doing what they were meant to do, even if they'd lost everyone along the way. This world is brutal and you know that's what you're getting from the beginning, so I was prepared for the many deaths and the losses felt by our main characters, but that doesn't mean I didn't cry for the last 20 percent of the book, cause I did. So many tears. It's just such a gut wrenchingly moving tale.
Helene. She's an incredible character and I felt so invested in her story. She received loss after loss and kept standing, kept fighting for her people, finally saw that what her people were doing to others was horribly wrong, kept going no matter the blows she was dealt. I've never read a female character quite like her and I love her so much.
Things I didn't like:
Keris. I would have liked to have a bit more of her backstory, something that gives me more insight into her. Her ending was emotional but not as satisfying for me as it could have been.
The storyline with Rehmat. I didn't hate it, but it did feel a bit convenient for Laia to suddenly have this extra power that's perfect for taking down her very specific enemy.
Beyond that, I thoroughly enjoyed every inch of this book. Its plot and characters moved me in a way a series never has before. It's masterfully written and I adore it
All the books had me at the edge of my seat and immediately needing to know what happens next, but none more than book 4.
Things I liked:
How it all ended up. It's absolutely devastating, and so many people are lost by this book, but the ending felt right and left me with hope, somehow. Everyone was doing what they were meant to do, even if they'd lost everyone along the way. This world is brutal and you know that's what you're getting from the beginning, so I was prepared for the many deaths and the losses felt by our main characters, but that doesn't mean I didn't cry for the last 20 percent of the book, cause I did. So many tears. It's just such a gut wrenchingly moving tale.
Helene. She's an incredible character and I felt so invested in her story. She received loss after loss and kept standing, kept fighting for her people, finally saw that what her people were doing to others was horribly wrong, kept going no matter the blows she was dealt. I've never read a female character quite like her and I love her so much.
Things I didn't like:
Keris. I would have liked to have a bit more of her backstory, something that gives me more insight into her. Her ending was emotional but not as satisfying for me as it could have been.
The storyline with Rehmat. I didn't hate it, but it did feel a bit convenient for Laia to suddenly have this extra power that's perfect for taking down her very specific enemy.
Beyond that, I thoroughly enjoyed every inch of this book. Its plot and characters moved me in a way a series never has before. It's masterfully written and I adore it
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall, a solid finish for the Ember series and I liked where all of the main characters wound up. This book really goes deeper into the pitfalls of revenge v justice and emphasizes the ideas that if your forbearers did harm to a population, it is your responsibility to make it right as best you can. All of that wrapped up with incredibly fast-paced action, wonderful characters (also, I was about to tear my hair out with Elias and Laia for like 9/10ths of this book and it ruled. The pining was magnificent), and what I considered a pretty solid ending.
However, I did have some problems with the ending I think that my biggest qualm came with the ending on a more philosophical scale (I was fine with all the deaths and the personal ends of the main characters).I don't know how I feel about the fact that the Martials still get to have an empire and that an Empress (even if that empress is Helene) is in charge of this country. I feel like I would have personally felt a more equitable ending would be...I don't know, giving the Tribal people complete independence (or at least a vote on if they wanted to leave) and the Scholars should have gotten either a full on country supported by the Martials or every Scholar should have gotten so much money and land since they just went through another genocide. As I said, the book does reiterate the point that you are responsible for making right the sins of your forbearers, and that even if you didn't personally do something that you need to make it right. Also, I would have loved it if Tahir had kept with the idea that Helene is not going to be forgiven by all she hurt and she would have to be okay with that, rather than implying that she is eventually forgiven by those like Mamie Rilla. As my rating indicates, I didn't find it *that* much of a hinderance in my enjoyment of the series, and I can accept this ending as fair to the extent that the world Tahir will allow it to be.
I honestly can't wait to read whatever Tahir comes out with next, because if I like it half as much as I liked this series, I'm going to love it.
However, I did have some problems with the ending I think that my biggest qualm came with the ending on a more philosophical scale (I was fine with all the deaths and the personal ends of the main characters).
I honestly can't wait to read whatever Tahir comes out with next, because if I like it half as much as I liked this series, I'm going to love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tahir ends this multicultural fantasy series on an even note. I'd rate it somewhere a little above A Reaper at the Gates, but with writing that elicits moderate to deep emotion. The Commandant Keris Veturia will remain one of the top villains of current literature, in my opinion. Her character is multi-faceted: extremely evil but with deep pain that led me to sympathize with her a little. Kudos to Sabaa Tahir for writing such a well-written villain 👏🏼.
I'd sub-categorize this series as dark academia, since two of the protagonists are former students of the villain. It's rarely spoken of but I do wish Tahir let the alumni of Keris' school muse more over her as their former teacher than as a politician. However, I'm not a fan of the student-teacher relationship involved between two major characters, which became more scandalous when its revealed the teacher was in an open-marriage and impregnated his student. Also, Tahir writes in support of LGBT+ relationships, which is controversial within the Muslim community. I'm not Muslim but I'm just putting that out there for them and other readers who observe any religion that's against the LGBT+.
Overall Tahir's writing never bored me, plus she provides some mini-recaps, which is perfect for those (like me) who couldn't reread the first three books of this series.
I'd sub-categorize this series as dark academia, since two of the protagonists are former students of the villain. It's rarely spoken of but I do wish Tahir let the alumni of Keris' school muse more over her as their former teacher than as a politician. However, I'm not a fan of the student-teacher relationship involved between two major characters, which became more scandalous when its revealed the teacher was in an open-marriage and impregnated his student. Also, Tahir writes in support of LGBT+ relationships, which is controversial within the Muslim community. I'm not Muslim but I'm just putting that out there for them and other readers who observe any religion that's against the LGBT+.
Overall Tahir's writing never bored me, plus she provides some mini-recaps, which is perfect for those (like me) who couldn't reread the first three books of this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity
LGBT+ relationships