History Literature / AnEmberInTheAshes

A second book, ''A Torch Against the Night'' was released in August 2016, followed by a third book, ''The Reaper at the Gates'', in June 2018. The fourth and final book, ''Sky Beyond the Storm'', was released in December 2020. Movie rights have been optioned by Paramount Pictures.

A second book, ''A Torch Against the Night'' was released in August 2016, followed by a third book, ''The Reaper at the Gates'', in June 2018. Movie rights have been optioned by Paramount Pictures.

* FreudianExcuse: Stretched as thinly as possible in the Commandants case. She’s was the best in her class, as good a warrior as any man, yet her father made [[HeirClubForMen her son his heir.]]

* ThePatriarch: Quin Veturius, the 77-year-old leader of Gens Veturia, the Empire's oldest house. Also a CoolOldGuy to Elias. Has a somewhat StayInTheKitchen attitude, as he never took pride in his daughter's (the Commandant's) accomplishments like he does Elias', and he even named [[HeirClubForMen Elias]] his heir [[InadequateInheritor instead of her]].

->''"You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it."''

* SugarAndIcePersonality: Keenan. Often described as cold in expression and demeanor, he eventually [[DefrostingIceQueen warms up to Laia]] and DefrostingIceQueen falls in love with her.

* WouldHurtAChild: The Commandant had no qualms about ordering a ten-year-old to be whipped to death for desertion or [[EyeScream gouging a five-year-old's eye out]] to punish her [[ParentalSubstitute surrogate mother]].

Elias Veturius is Blackcliff's finest soldier, and also it's most [[GotVolunteered unwilling]]. Before he can desert, he is summoned to participate in the Trials, a series of life-and-death ordeals to crown the new Emperor and his lieutenant. There, he meets Laia, and as they struggle to survive the [[CrapsackWorld brutality]] around them, their choices have the power to shape the fate of the Empire. Expect plenty of political and supernatural intrigue.

* TheDragon: Marcus, Elias' and Helene's most hated enemy, even before the Trials. Second only to Elias, he's a dangerous foe with no qualms about [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty fighting dirty]].

* UnreliableNarrator: In-universe. The Commandant claimed she left Elias in a Tribesman tent, safe for someone to find him. However, Mamie Rila claims he was straight up left for dead in the Tribal desert.

* SecetlyDying: Zig-zagged. [[spoiler: After being poisoned by the Commandant, Elias realizes he has five or six months to live. He tries to keep the truth from Laia for as long as possible, but it doesn’t last. And their allies are able to figure it out on their own.]]

* Unreliable Narrator: In-universe. Keir claimed she left Elias in a Tribesman tent, safe for someone to find him. However, Mamie Rila claims he was straight up left for dead in the Tribal desert.

Elias Veturius is Blackcliff's finest soldier, and also its most [[GotVolunteered unwilling]]. Before he can desert, he is summoned to participate in the Trials, a series of life-and-death ordeals to crown the new Emperor and his lieutenant. There, he meets Laia, and as they struggle to survive the [[CrapsackWorld brutality]] around them, their choices have the power to shape the fate of the Empire. Expect plenty of political and supernatural intrigue.

* ActionGirl: Helene, Blackcliff's only female recruit.

* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Helene to Elias. [[GreenEyedMonster She is not pleased]] when she sees his growing affection for [[BeautifulSlaveGirl Laia]].

A second book, ''A Torch Against the Night'' is set to be released in August 2016. Movie rights have been optioned by Paramount Pictures.

* ThePatriarch: Quin Veturius, the 77-year-old leader of Gens Veturia, the Empire's oldest house. Also a BadassGrandpa to Elias. Has a somewhat StayInTheKitchen attitude, as he never took pride in his daughter's (the Commandant's) accomplishments like he does Elias', and he even named [[HeirClubForMen Elias]] his heir [[InadequateInheritor instead of her]].

** Helene makes a deal with the augurs to save [[spoiler: Elias]] if she swears loyalty to whomever wins the Trials.

* CompleteMonster: The Commandant. She actually regrets not killing her newborn child, Elias, when she had the chance.
--> '''The Commandant:''' I couldn't do anything but wait until you were born so I could kill you and be done with it.

** As stated above, the Resistance offers one to Laia. It's the only way to save her sole remaining family member. [[spoiler: Too bad they don't uphold their end of the deal]]

* JerkassWoobie: Even Elias feels bad for Marcus when Marcus had to kill his twin brother during the [[InvoluntaryBattleToTheDeath third Trial.]]

* LaResistance: Laia's parents were the greatest leaders the Resistance ever had. Now it's split into factions and was manipulated by the Commandant.

''An Ember in the Ashes'' is a YA novel written by Sabaa Tahir, set in a world loosely based on {{Ancient Rome}}. Five hundred years ago, the Martials, a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race]] conquered the Scholars, a peaceful people. The Scholars have only known suffering and slavery at the hands of the Martial Empire and its ruling class. When Laia, a Scholar girl, witnesses her brother being captured by Martials, she turns to the Resistance, who offers her a [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse deal]]: spy for them in the Empire's most brutal training academy, Blackcliff, and they will rescue her brother.

Elias Veturius is Blackcliff's finest soldier, and also its most unwilling. Before he can desert, he is summoned to participate in the Trials, a series of life-and-death ordeals to crown the new Emperor and his lieutenant. There, he meets Laia, and as they struggle to survive the brutality around them, their choices have the power to shape the fate of the Empire. Expect plenty of political and supernatural intrigue.

--> '''The Commandant:''' I couldn't do anything but wait until you wee born so I could kill you and be done with it.

* ThePatriarch: Quin Veturius, the 77-year-old leader of Gens Veturia, the Empire's oldest house. Also a BadassGrandpa to Elias. Has a somewhat StayInTheKitchen attitud, as he never took pride in his daughter's (the Commandant's) accomplishments like he does Elias', and he even named [[HeirClubForMen Elias]] his heir [[InadequateInheritor instead of her]].

* GoodIsNotNice: [[WelIntentionedExtremist Resistance leader Mazen]] is reluctant to help Laia rescue her brother [[spoiler: and doublecrosses her at the end. Only Keenan's interference prevented her death.]]

* WhipItGood: The Commandat's favorite weapon is a whip.

* BeautifulSlaveGirl: Laia. It's not an asset when she's at a place like Blackcliff.

* EvilMentor: The Commandant to Marcus and Zak. She teaches them how to shield their minds against the augurs so that they can cheat undetected.

* SugarAndIcePersonality: Keenan. Often described as cold in expression and demeanor, he eventually warms up to her and [[DefrostingIceQueen falls in love with her]].

* JerkassWoobie: Even Elias feels bad for Marcus when Marcus had to kill his twin brother during the [[InvoluntaryFightToTheDeath Third Trial.]]

* BeautifulSlaveGirl: Laia. It's not an asset when she's at a place like Blackcliff; Marcus attempts to rape her.
* BigBad: Keris Veturia, the Commandant of Blackcliff, and also Elias's hateful mother, poor guy. She doesn't have a kind bone in her body, as Laia soon discovers.

--> '''Elias:'''

* TargetedHumanSacrifice: The winner of the last Trial is the one who kills Laia first. It gets complicated because Elias is not willing to let her die.

--> '''Elias:''' "Telling Marcus not to cheat is like telling him not to breathe."
* EvilMentor: The Commandant to Marcus and Zak. She teaches them how to

* WhenHeSmiles: Keenan. Laia observes, "it takes years off his face."

--> ''Elias:'' Helene might be the only girl here, but there's a reason she's ranked third in our class. It's the same reason that bullies learned early on to leave her alone. She's clever, swift, and ruthless.

''An Ember in the Ashes'' is a YA novel written by Sabaa Tahir, set in a world loosely based on {{Ancient Rome}}. Five hundred years ago, the Martials, a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race]] conquered the Scholars, a peaceful people. The Scholars have only known suffering and slavery at the hands of the Martial Empire and its ruling class. When Laia, a Scholar girl, witnesses her brother being captured by Martials, she turns to the Resistance, who offers her a deal: spy for them in the Empire's most brutal training academy, Blackcliff, and they will rescue her brother from prison.

* FieryRedhead:

* WouldHurtAChild: The Commandant had no qualms about ordering a twelve-year-old to be whipped to death for deserting or [[EyeScream gouging a five-year-old's eye out]] to punish her [[ParentalSubstitute mother-figure]].

''An Ember in the Ashes'' is a YA novel written by Sabaa Tahir, set in a world loosely based on [[AncientRome]]. Five hundred years ago, the warlike Martials conquered the Scholars, a peaceful people. The Scholars have only known suffering and slavery at the hands of the Martial Empire and its ruling class. When Laia, a Scholar girl, witnesses her brother being captured by Martials, she turns to the Resistance, who offers her a deal: spy for them in the Empire's most brutal training academy, Blackcliff, and they will rescue her brother from prison.

A second book, ''A Torch Against the Night'' is set to be released in August 2016. Movie rights have been optioned by Paramount Pictures.