by Sabaa Tahir
The beloved and bestselling fantasy series that “glows, burns, and smolders.” (Huffington Post).
Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir's beloved New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?
Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off...
The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.
By his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.
Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory—or to an unimaginable doom.
And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life—and love—he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save—or destroy—all that he knows.
The beloved and bestselling fantasy series that “glows, burns, and smolders.” (Huffington Post).
Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir's beloved New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?
Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off...
The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.
By his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.
Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory—or to an unimaginable doom.
And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life—and love—he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save—or destroy—all that he knows.
Reviews-
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December 11, 2020
Gr 9 Up-In this novel that picks up just months after A Reaper at the Gate leaves off, the Jinn have been freed from imprisonment and serve their one and only leader, the Nightbringer, who is waging war against the Scholars to seek vengeance for his kind. The Jinn have joined with Keris Veturia, and the war for the Empire rages on, with death and destruction to anyone who stands in her way. Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, and Laia of Serra have joined forces to try to save the Empire and protect Helene's infant nephew and his mother, the Emperor and the Empress Regent, respectively, from assassination. All while Elias Veturius-now the Soul Catcher-grapples with his identity. He has long since forgotten who he was before taking his vow as Soul Catcher, the Banu Al-Mauth; passing the souls of the dead and protecting the waiting place are all he knows. But an encounter with Cain the Augur restores his memories of a long-forgotten life and relationships, and now he must reconcile his own humanity and his love for Laia of Serra. A new prophecy is bestowed upon the three main characters, Elias, Helene, and Laia, their fates entwined. The long-awaited final installment of Tahir's "An Ember in the Ashes" series wraps up many previously unfulfilled plot threads, bringing joy and heartache. Tahir's exquisite storytelling doesn't miss a beat, and she weaves in the memories and experiences from the three previous novels-reminding readers of the characters' complicated backstories and moments that may have been forgotten. In this diverse fantasy world, characters have various skin tones. VERDICT This series is an epic hero's journey, with love, adventure, and magic woven throughout. Recommended for every young adult collection.-Erica Coonelly, Monroe Township M.S., NJ
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Starred review from December 15, 2020
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* At last, the fourth and final volume (alas!) of Tahir's epic An Ember in the Ashes cycle has arrived. Happily, it finds the gang all here: Laia of Serra, of course; Elias, who is now known as the Soul Catcher, his emotions and much of his memory taken away by Mauth, aka Death; and the Blood Shrike. Oh, yes, there, lurking in the darkness, are the monstrously evil Commandant and the Nightbringer, King of the Jinn. As for the story, suffice it to say, the Commandant is in league with the Nightbringer to conquer the Empire. The Blood Shrike is their sworn enemy, her infant nephew being the Emperor and her sister, the Queen Regent. Laia--seeking to destroy the Nightbringer, who is busy with world-ending plans--is also trying desperately to bring Elias back to his old self. But can she succeed? Arguably the most ambitious of the four novels in the cycle, Tahir's latest offers exciting action, mounting suspense, and beautifully realized characters to love or despise. But more seriously, it also invites long thoughts about such large issues as death and love. Despite a pesky deus ex machina near the end, the result remains a deeply satisfying exercise in plotting and remarkably skillful storytelling. Readers will be reluctant to bid it adieu.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: An Ember in the Ashes is a best-selling series, and this book would have its loyal fans lining up even without the buzz being conjured by the publisher.COPYRIGHT(2020) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
