Categories | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
Author | Sabaa Tahir |
Publisher | Razorbill; Reprint edition (August 29, 2017) |
Language | English |
Paperback | 496 pages |
Item Weight | 1.25 pounds |
Dimensions |
5.9 x 1.3 x 8.9 inches |
I. Book introduction
A Torch Against the Night is a fantasy novel written by Pakistani-American author Sabaa Tahir. It was published on August 30, 2016 by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Random House. It is the second book in the An Ember in the Ashes series, preceded by An Ember in the Ashes and followed by A Reaper at the Gates. The story follows former slave Laia and former soldier Elias on a mission to save Laia’s brother; and Helene, the unfortunate blood shrike. The novel is narrated in the first-person, alternating between the points of view of Laia, Elias and Helene.
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time
Book two in the New York Times bestselling series
A USA Today bestseller
A Wall Street Journal bestseller
“Spectacular.”—Entertainment Weekly
“Fresh and exciting…Tahir has shown a remarkable talent for penning complex villains.”—A.V. Club
“Even higher stakes than its predecessor… thrilling.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“[An] action-packed, breathlessly paced story.” —Booklist, starred review
Set in a rich, high-fantasy world inspired by ancient Rome, Sabaa Tahir’s AN EMBER IN THE ASHES told the story of Laia, a slave fighting for her family, and Elias, a young soldier fighting for his freedom.
Now, in A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT, Elias and Laia are running for their lives.
After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.
Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.
But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.
Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.
Editorial Reviews
Named one of the best books of the year by:
- TIME
- Entertainment Weekly
- Buzzfeed
- Amazon
- PopSugar
- Bustle
- Paste Magazine
- PopCrush
Praise for A Torch Against the Night:
“The stakes here are high and the plot runs like a well-oiled machine, ratcheting up the tension with every chapter.” —NPR.org
“An adrenaline rush till the very last page.” —Buzzfeed
“The sequel to Tahir’s bestselling smash An Ember in the Ashes finally comes out in August, and let me tell you, it does not disappoint.” —Book Riot
“A Torch Against the Night is an unabashed page-turner that scarcely ever pauses for breath.” —The Christian Science Monitor
“Fast-paced, exciting and full of adrenaline, A Torch Against The Night is everything fans of Tahir’s debut could possibly anticipate in a sequel.” —The Bucks County Courier Times
“Thrilling…Tahir meticulously plots these novels, ramping up the suspense and including plenty of surprises.” —The Buffalo News
“Delivers in every way…The stakes have never been higher, and the tension is acutely felt as Elias and Laia run for their lives.” —USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog
“At last, it’s here…It’s as heartbreaking as it is action-packed, delivering a worthy second installment in Tahir’s bestselling series.” —Paste
“Tahir proves to be a master of suspense and a canny practitioner of the cliffhanger, riveting readers’ attention throughout.…[An] action-packed, breathlessly paced story.” —Booklist, starred review
“This sequel has a darker tone and even higher stakes than its predecessor, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Excellent.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The rare sequel that improves on the original…unputdownable.” —Common Sense Media (Five Stars)
Amazon.com Review
An Amazon Best Book of September 2016: With sequels there’s always an underlying worry that the second book won’t live up to its predecessor, but Sabaa Tahir’s A Torch Against the Night not only meets expectations—it surpasses them. Tahir returns to Elias and Laia’s quest to rescue Laia’s brother from an impenetrable prison while eluding the Emperor and Commandant. Helen, now the Blood Shrike, is under the Emperor’s orders to kill them, and it’s clear that she still knows her former best friend as well as ever. The stakes are higher in this novel and the suspense just keeps building from new directions. The characters’ internal conflict is almost painful to read, but that’s part of what makes the story so intense. How can you kill someone you love? And how do you watch someone you love die trying to save you? Packed with cliff hangers, A Torch Against the Night ends with the same feeling as the first: a burning desire to read the next book. Right. This. Minute. –Seira Wilson, The Amazon Book Review –This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
About Sabaa Tahir
– Sabaa Tahir is a Pakistani-American young adult novelist best known for her New York Times-bestselling An Ember in the Ashes and its sequels.
– Two of her novels, An Ember in the Ashes and A Torch Against the Night, were listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time in 2020. In 2022, her novel All My Rage won the 2022 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award.
– Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s eighteen-room motel. Her parents emigrated from Pakistan to the United Kingdom before moving their family to the United States. She attended UCLA, during which time she interned at The Washington Post. After graduation, she took a job there as a copy editor. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash, and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks, and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
– For more information, please visit Sabaa at SabaaTahir.com or on Twitter @SabaaTahir.
II. [Reviews] A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
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1. EMILY MAY Review A Torch Against the Night
I realize I am not staring into his eyes. I am staring into my future.
I see it for a moment. Pain. Suffering. Horror. All that I love, all that matters to me, awash in blood.
Oh my god. I loved it.
Last year, I read and enjoyed an advance copy of an unknown book from a debut author – An Ember in the Ashes. I sped through it, loved it, rated it five stars, and thought that was the end of that. On to the next one. Like most books I rate and review, I expected it to be forgotten in a sea of YA. But suddenly, out of nowhere, it was a bestseller! And that’s when I got some unprecedented backlash for my review.
“I’m really surprised you liked this.”
“This is just like ten million other books – how can you think it’s so good?”
“I’m not sure I can take your opinion seriously anymore.”
Ouch.
And I was like:
“What? I just liked it.”
*voice getting smaller*
“I’m not saying it’s the best book ever or anything.”
*even smaller*
“Okay, maybe it wasn’t that great.”
But, you know what? Fuck it. I loved this book and the first one. I know they’re not something out of this world and I know the story is not that original, but I don’t care. Because, for me, it’s not what a book is about, but how it’s told. And I think both An Ember in the Ashes and A Torch Against the Night are told with nail-biting tension and perfectly-paced action. I hung on the author’s every word.
I honestly don’t give a shit anymore if these books are objectively good (what even is that, anyway?). I race through them. My heart pounds. The pages just fly by in my desperation to find out what happens. They’re nasty and brutal, full of evil surprises and even more evil things that you see coming but can’t stop.
A Torch Against the Night picks up right where we left off and, if you enjoyed the first one, it’s very easy to be pulled back into the rhythm of the story and world without recapping. I wondered if I would be able to easily follow the stories of Laia, Elias and Helene after more than a year away from them, but I needn’t have worried. I felt the rush of everything coming back to me as I was once again immersed in this world.
Often, sequels wander aimlessly, but this one was perfectly plotted. It didn’t feel like it was bridging a gap – the story moves along, many important and awful things happen, secrets are revealed and Tahir rounds off this installment well, whilst still promising so much more from the next book. I can’t freaking wait.
I love all three narrators, but Helene is worth five stars alone. Out of all of them, she has been through the worst kind of hell and has had to make the most difficult decisions. I love her internal conflicts over what she wants to do and what she should do. She’s sharp and smart, just cool enough to be badass, whilst also painfully, relatably human.
Seriously, I just have nothing bad to say about this book. I think, if I tried, I could feasibly come up with an original-ish idea for a fantasy that has not been done before. However, I think to take a somewhat familiar story and inject it with new life so that it becomes virtually unputdownable is a much more commendable achievement. Bravo, Ms Tahir, bravo.
2. RENÉE AHDIEH Review A Torch Against the Night
magnificent.
TORCH simply burns, in all the best ways. it’s everything you’ve come to love and expect from the brilliance of Sabaa Tahir, except BETTER. twisty, turny awesomeness abounds on every single page. and you will not want to keep turning them until the tale is over.
the wonderful thing about A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT is that–though it never shies away from depicting cold brutality–the nuances of emotion are just as deeply felt. just as passionately rendered. you will yell at your favorite characters, laugh with their loved ones, and perhaps even shed a tear or two for a villain.
this book is even better than EMBER. and THAT’S saying something.
3. JESS Review A Torch Against the Night
5/5 stars. I want to cry!
How do you understand that the book you just finished reading is a good book? Which is worth 5 whole stars, and maybe even more?
I’ll tell you my opinion – you should feel it. You have to feel the characters, go through the experience they are going through. You have to feel that you are experiencing what is going on in the book with the characters.
It’s a very great connection to a book, and it doesn’t happen with most books. Usually, you just read the book from your point of view as a reader. It’s hard for you to connect with the characters. And, if you did connect with a particular character, that doesn’t mean you necessarily feel and become the character.
If you don’t understand what the hell I’m talking about -because I’m a completely complicated person who can’t explain herself- I’ll explain now.
From the first book I connected with Elias.
Yes yes, Elias. Not Laia. I know many of you have mostly connected to Laia, I don’t, but I’ll go into that later.
Me and Elias are alike. I will not begin to explain why, because it’ll be long, but our personality is similar.
Throughout the first book, the moment I was sucked into the plot, I could put myself in the position of Elias. I experienced the emotions with him, I experienced the failures with him. It was amazing. It doesn’t happen to me with characters usually, so it’s a delightful feeling in my opinion. It’s fun.
As soon as I started reading the current book, I was worried that this connection would pass. It happened to me before that I became very attached to a certain character, but in the next book she/he changed a bit, and the connection broke off. So it didn’t happen in this book. I could still feel Elias. Experience the world he‘s in. But thank God this connection isn’t physical, is it? It could’ve been sucks. (those who don’t know what I’m talking about – sorry, don’t do spoilers).
So in summary: Elias is a freaking king.
Now let’s talk about Laia.
Like I said before, I’m not a big fan of Laia. And to be honest? I liked her even more in the first book. In the current book she was a little far from me. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good character. But I guess it’s because of my amazing connection to Elias and the fact that Tahir added Helene’s point of view.
Oh, Helene. We will talk about her, I have many things to say about her.
In the first book, she confused me. Big Time. In one episode I thought she was nice, in another I thought she was annoying, in another I said to myself “Oh! What a badass!”, And, in another chapter, I thought to myself, “What the hell?”. So yeah, I couldn’t even form an opinion about her. Which is why I am so happy that Tahir decided to add her point of view.
From the first episode, which was told from Helene’s point of view, I could begin to piece together the puzzle pieces of her character. I could finally understand her, accept her and then love her.
And yes, I might surprise you again, but I love Helene more than Laia. (And like I said, that’s probably the reason for my distancing from Laia’s character, too).
Is it just me or is this review very confused? You see, it took me 4 days to write it. I don’t know, I feel like I’m confusing everything, maybe it’s just me, but I always find it hard to explain myself when I talk about something so good.
So characters, characters, characters…
I have to take a few lines and write about Tas, this sweet, strong boy I loved so much. And Darin, who I finally got to know. Although that’s obviously not enough, and I must pick up the third book. And Helene’s amazing family. And IZZI, oh IZZI!
And Keenan, who I love so much. Really, even after this book, after all the craziness that was discovered, I still really loved Keenan’s character.
And you can’t forget Harper, of course. He was so intrigued to me! His character was so intriguing. I felt like I was slowly sipping from the bottle, and I hadn’t even reached half of it. I really liked him, and I look forward to getting to know him better in the next book.
So after talking about the characters, I’ll talk about the plot.
Sabaa Thair knows how to write a good book. She knows how to keep the reader in suspense and make him turn a page and keep reading.
It’s amazing how you always stay thirsty for more, how you can’t put the book out of your hands. How you keep expecting something and still enjoy it when you receive it.
I’m not sure I’ll be able to get more opinions into this review, because I’m starting to feel that my excited brain is starting to confuse everything again.. So I’ll stop here.
Excuse me if you read this shit called “review” and I hope you enjoyed this book as much as I did.
4. JESSICA S Review A Torch Against the Night
A Torch Against the Night is Sabaa Tahir’s second book in the An Ember in the Ashes series (that’s right SERIES! As when I write this today, Sabaa announces an additional two books will be added to the series at large!). Which is a good thing because this one ends with so many loose-ends and whatnot that I would be most unhappy if that was the actual end for our characters. Even with one more book, as I initially thought this would be a trilogy would feel rushed with all the need to tie up those loose-ends! But I’m getting ahead of myself here!
While a great deal of things happen in this one, on the same hand not much truly happens. But this is in no way a bad thing. I enjoyed all the buildup to things to come. And I am pretty sure the next book is going to be explosive! We have Laia and Elais on the run from the Commandant and certain death while they try to make their way to Kauf, the prison where Darin, Laia’s brother, is being held prisoner.
Not long into their journey they are joined by Keenan and Izzi, who I was most excited to see! I always liked Keenan and his broody moods, but yet how he developed a softer side when it came to Laia. And Izzi is truly one of teh most bravest characters I’ve met in this series! Plus she’s a very loyal friend to Laia.
The danger is amped up a bit when we learn that Elias has been poisoned and doesn’t have long to live, but he will do everything possible to rescue Darin before his time comes to an abrupt end. This I think truly adds to the danger and pacing because I couldn’t reas fast enough to see if he would make it or not.
Then there’s Helene, who’s got a few chapters of her own. She’s now the Blood Shrike to the emperor–Marcus–and her first mission is to find Elias and bring him back for a public execution. Which Helene will have to administer. Helene has a lot of inner battling going on because a part of her still loves Elias, but then she’s also hurt because he essentially chose Laia over her. This definitely makes the love complication I talked about in the first book even more messy, for Laia and Elias still have that other person who they care for, but they still care for one another.
The love complication, as I said, remains to be messy in this one. Though it does seem Helene is trying to do her duty to the emperor and also because she needs to protect her family. Then there’s Laia and Keenan and of course Elias. I always enjoyed Keenan’s character like I said and I must say I was completely surprised by how this love complication gets settled. At least on one side. it’s too soon to say for the other half. Plus, more obstacles still stand between….everyone!
There’s a lot of detail to what happens in here and I don’t want to get into all of it because of spoilers. But you can know that this was a remarkable read filled with lots of tension, action, suspense, and of course some stolen moments of romance. There’s secrets abound in this one too! There’s so much mystery surrounding a certain character that we’ve been getting hints at for two books now. I can’t wait for clear answers! Obviously, we can gather some things about what’s going on, but for me, I’m the kind of reader who needs to know exactly what’s what! LOL!
The ending to this one was good! It’s not entirely cliffhangery, but a nice pause in the actiony moments. There’s still a great deal to come for all our characters involved. And I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Marcus gets a few chapters pov’s next time, because he too is going through somethings that we only get hints of!
A Torch Against the Night was an incredibly alluring read and I am anticipating the release of the third book to see what fates await all our favorite characters! If you haven’t started this series yet, I highly recommend it! It’s a nice fantasy read that isn’t overly hard to understand its world and rules and naturally, it’s one dangerous place to live in! Good thing I’m just a reader on the outside! LOL! Yet another fabulous read from the talented Sabaa Tahir that leaves me craving for more…but at least this time I am not screaming in agony while I wait! 😉
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
5. VICKYOREO Review A Torch Against the Night
It is so very hard for me to review this book. I absolutely loved An Ember in the Ashes and fell in love with Elias and Laia within a couple of chapters. The higher powers surrounding them who already knew of the future sending them on a complicated path of self-discovery, torture and worse.
Then this book comes along and made me excited, worried, then a little bored in the middle there, but then I was torn apart and heartbroken. A Torch Against the Night follows three POVs; Laia, Elias and Helene. Laia a talented Scholar girl who has such strength and bravery in her heart that Elias, The Mask, can’t help but care for her and admire her…perhaps love her a little. Helene, A Mask and now the Emporer’s Blood Shrike told a heartbreaking story of hunting down the man she loves deeply to kill him to save her family and gain respect from the entire Empire.
Elias swore to Laia they would travel to Kauf prison and break her brother free after discovering that her brother holds a secret that could save the Scholars from genocide at the hands of the Empire. They are hated for their weaknesses, but have a deep strength none of the Empire understand. They travel together, care for each other and offer each other strength. They compliment each other perfectly. Then there is Keenan, a Resistance fighter who Laia cares for, maybe loves a little but his love weakens her, makes her feel silly and foolish. His protectiveness hides her away from the strength that Elias gave her. Two different loves, one strong the other suffocating.
But love, or the love stories here, never really has a time and place in this book, as with the last one. It is hinted at, it is used to offer strengths in times of hardships…or to further a plot point. But there is always so much more going on for it to be the focus. The characters face horrors, tortures, death, the manipulation of creatures far more powerful than themselves. They discover a loss of control on their personal destinies.
My reasoning for not giving it a glowing 5 stars is this: I admit to skim reading a little in the middle. I adore the characters but they can sometimes remain within their own heads a little too much. My personal opinion is that the characters can not seem to settle on their feelings. I openly ship Elias and Laia so her hesitations with Keenan bugged me. Elias is such a strong character but far too hesitant with Laia and that bugged me (especially knowing what he knew about himself and her accepting it was going to happen and still wanted to remain close to him) I am unsure how Elias’ new ‘occupation’ will allow for a growing love story between him and Laia so I feel I have lost a little hope and heart there. Though I will try to trust the author with this one. I understand a fantasy is not always about the romance but these two speak so loudly to me. I have my fingers crossed something will work.
Overall its a great book with fantastically well rounded characters that develop within themselves as the story progresses. The villains are fantastic. The Heroes are worth caring about. I look forward to book 3
6. YASMINE Review A Torch Against the Night
Picking up where An Ember in the Ashes left off, this book follows Laia and Elias as they flee the Emperor, the Commandant and well, pretty much everyone. Things appear pretty grim for them, and sufficed to say, this theme continues throughout the book.
I had heard a few mixed reviews for this follow-up novel before its release, so I postponed reading it, however, having now finished, its safe to say I actually found this book to be pretty enjoyable.
The book opens with a suitably sinister undertone, which I loved (what can I say, I like things a little creepy). This really helps to raise the tension at the beginning and each chapter/point of view (POV) ends with a disquieting moment, or important revelation which serves to drive the pace of the story and encourages you to read further. I appreciated this element, however if you prefer a more laid-back sort of pace, then you might not. However, I am partial to a lot of action and suspense in books, so its safe to say I was hooked.
The story has 3 POVs – Elias, Laia, and Helene. I really, really, enjoyed reading the parts from Helene’s perspective. She is my favourite character and I loved being able to explore her relationships, particularly with her family, more and gaining insight into her personal thoughts and motivations. This is also allowed a further understanding of her feelings towards Elias, which was much appreciated. I was intrigued by her interactions with Marcus and the Commandant, although they are of course suitably sinister and frequently violent.
Laia’s perspective is without a doubt the most boring; while her character was relatively satisfactory and sometimes enjoyable throughout the first book, she is at times unbearable during this novel. This detracted away from some of my enjoyment of the book as at times she needs to put things into perspective and honestly someone needs to give her a good shake. Helene Aquilla, she ain’t. That girl can handle a lot. Laia – not so much.
I am definitely a fan of a Helene/Elias relationship and I absolutely do not ship, nor believe Laia and Elias as a couple. Did this decrease my overall enjoyment of the novel? Not quite, but it is something to bear in mind. The character POVs and storyline lead heavily towards a Laia/Elias pairing, but I am certainly not buying it, and Laia, in my opinion should probably remain a single pringle. This leads me on to her and Keenan’s relationship (and his character as a whole) which I can barely tolerate. I have never felt an affinity toward Keenan, and therefore I struggled to read passages in which he featured for the first two thirds of the book. He reminds me of Jack in Bridget Jones’ Baby, a film I watched recently – very try hard, and a bit of a douche, who (to me) has relatively little reason to be there (at least for most of the book). He does get significantly more character development toward the end however I was less impressed and more relieved.
In terms of new characters, I really liked Shaeva and Afya, they are both such interesting character and although they play fundamentally different roles throughout this book, they were welcome additions and helped to breath fresh life into the story.
Tahir definitely has a real way with words, and the writing flows beautifully; it’s really easy to picture the scenes and feel immersed in the story. The Empire came alive and I especially enjoyed the descriptions of The Forest. That’s not to say this novel is perfect – it isn’t – but it is told well, making it an enjoyable read.
This book has a lot of interesting themes regarding death, loyalty and sacrifice. There’s some very intriguing passages concerning the more mythical creatures (jinn, efrit, etc.), and the bridge between life and death or the beyond – termed ‘the waiting place’ in this book. This land is governed by the soul catcher and I found her segments really thought provoking and captivating, particularly as she seems to be neither kind nor callous, she merely just exists, and there’s a lot of her backstory that has yet to be unraveled. Her interactions with one main character in particular constituted some of my favourite parts of the book.
Just a quick mention to the actual physical copy of the book – oh my god, I am dead. It is stunning. The beautiful orange/gold embossed cover spine is so stunning and really eye-catching. Yes, cover art isn’t everything, but I can appreciate a good one when I see it.
One negative is that the book does suffer slightly (at least toward the first two thirds) from ‘middle book syndrome’ in that it is largely unclear as to why the main characters are doing what they are doing. I imagine if the main characters were to actually discuss this properly it would go something like this:
Laia – Okay Elias, I know we’re like, wanted by the whole Empire and your pal Helene is totally gonna have to track you down and, you know, kill you, but could we make a very quick detour from fleeing for our lives and go rescue my brother from a completely impenetrable prison?
Elias – I’m sorry what?
Laia – Pleeeeease
Elias – Okay, well, I’m sure you have a good reason for risking both our lives (and countless others) for this mission right?
Laia – Well, there are rumors that he can make fancy weapons…
Elias – What? Weapons? I have weapons?!
Laia – Yeah but these are super fancy
Elias – Oh er, okay, cool, I guess, because we totally need those right now… for all the fighters we don’t have…
But you get my point, I know we’re supposed to believe/accept that breaking Laia’s brother out of prison is of immediate importance, but I’m frankly skeptical. We don’t really get to see a lot of Darin throughout the book so I’m hoping reasoning and motivations will be explored a bit more in the next book.
The last third of the book was extremely fast-paced and engaging, and really helped to drive the story and provided some interesting twists and turns, some that were expected, and some that were definitely not. This last section is without a doubt the strongest of the book and really rounded out the plot nicely, leaving lots of potential for the next novel, and I’m hopeful for lots of further development for the main 3 characters in the next installment.
7. ANDREEA POP Review A Torch Against the Night
“So long as you fight the darkness, you stand in the light.”
A Torch Against the Night is the very glorious sequel I had expected from Sabaa Tahir. But what distinguishes itself from its prequel is the otherworldliness of it. The breath of Death on our characters’ necks. The villain(s) that are evil incarnate. The idea of a prescribed destiny. The new abilities and powers. The demons, the stories, the souls — everything combines with a well-built plot, an expanded universe and realistic, flawed portrayals of characters in order to deliver the best kind of chills.
From the very first page, we’re thrust back into Tahir’s fictional world quite violently. Starting exactly where Ember ended, we’re reminded of the stakes, the world and the unnatural. Plus Elias and Laia’s slow burn, sizzling chemistry.
I had initially rated this book with 5 stars, but I ended up changing it because no matter how much I loved how it all unfolded, I had to admit there was something irking me: the inconsistency of the pace. The plot unravels with several ramifications that, at first glance, only deter from the main storyline. Or at least the one I deemed main in my head. Raider’s Roost. Nur. The Waiting Place. All the back and forth between Antium and the countryside. But they did enrich a captivating world, so I partly appreciated it. However, I still found myself wishing more exciting things happened. And I can guarantee that’s what is probably going to happen in the third novel, because wheels have been finally been put into motion.
Regardless, there is a sort of redundancy in both Elias and Helene’s POVs as they both battle their own demons. Which is the only flaw of this book, in my opinion.
If you had any inkling of love for Elias in the first book, then prepare yourself for full-on worship and adoration. This sequel painted him in true hero colors, highlighting his altruism, his devotion, his intensity and, most of all, his fairness. There was a particular character development that broke my heart which I hope somehow will be reversed by the end of the series because from the beginning I had the image of Elias and Laia as Emperor and Empress stuck on my retina, with Helene as Blood Shrike. I also need to mention his amazing dynamic with his adoptive family which was a wonder to see. SO BEAUTIFUL.
This time around, Laia makes a lot of mistakes. Disastrous one after disastrous one. But I liked that instead of drowning in guilt, she turned a critical eye against her actions and learned from them. Betrayals change her. New allies shape her. And love strengthens her.
“It takes only a split second for life to go horribly wrong. To fix the mess, I need a thousand things to go right. The distance from one bit of luck to the next feels as great as the distance across oceans. But, I decide in this moment, I will bridge that distance, again and again, until I win. I will not fail.”
Helene Aquilla, however, was incredible. I didn’t think it was possible to love her more than I did in Ember, but I was so wrong. She grows a lot in this installment, through emotional hardships that plague her at every step. Her whole journey is a turning point, the stepping stone for her maturity. The question of duty vs. heart remains deeply rooted into her persona and heartbreak shapes her anew in an astounding, almost terrifying image. I cannot wait to see how this colder, broken, hollowed Helene is going to enact her revenge and show the world her wrath. After all, the title of this book is an omen to the fire in Helene Aquilla.
“But you, Helene Aquilla, are no swift-burning spark. You are a torch against the night – if you dare to let yourself burn.”
The matter of the ‘love-square’ as I like to call it is entirely resolved by the end of the novel. At least I think so. Or just let’s go ahead and call it a pseudo-love-triangle because even though the focus is on an almost-pair that has my heart bursting with joy, the possibility of old flames coming to life yet again is not wholly crushed because feelings of mutual love still reside in a back corner, even though they are one of deep friendship. But the romance situation resolves messily and I was displeased (or better yet, uncertain) of how the story developed on a couple of occasions.
“Failure doesn’t define you. It’s what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.”
By far, the most compelling aspects of this continuation are the villains. The Commandant manages to upgrade her bitch title to the one of ultimate bitch. I swear, I haven’t read such a beautifully written bad character in a long time, one that thrives on power and bloodshed, on gore and brutality and perennial violence. It was fascinating and utterly horrifying to witness how easily she can make a whole nation crumble.
The Warden is a new bad guy but immensely intriguing in his sadistic ways. The Nightbringer establishes himself as a layered, complex character that is not as straightforward as one might think. Honestly, I do not know what to further expect from him because his involvement in this book is jaw-dropping.
Another one of the most intriguing characters of the whole book is Marcus. I loved his cunningness and his… cleverness, I suppose, even if he’s not one of the good guys. It was one of those instances where you can just clap to the performance, but be glad he’s just fictional.
Other things worth mentioning: the Aquilla family; Avitas Harper (omg you’re gonna love him and I hope he plays a bigger part in the following books); KEENAN HOLY SHIT KEENAN; Izzzzzzyyyyyy; COOK; Shaeva (oh, sweetie); Afya, the most badass and honorable Zaldara ever; Elias with children around — you’re not up to it, I’m telling you.
The wait until 2018 will be a torturous one, because A Torch Against the Night moved all the right pieces to make my heart crack and crave more destruction. Thrilling, captivating and intelligently written, this sequel cemented the status of this series as a ‘MUST-READ’ so I urge you to read it the first chance you’ve got.
ENJOY! <3
8. TAMISHLY Review A Torch Against the Night
I love this book so much! The world didn’t want me to finish it up while I was reading it. The sleep demon came. The hunger gods knocked. The toilet jinns grimaced. Yes, nothing serious. Let’s not blame the world when you love a book a little too much!
⚔️ Ten bleeding hells! 🗡️ Helene, my heart is breaking into a million stars 🌌
“Most people are nothing but glimmers in the great darkness of time. But you, Helene Aquilla, are no swift-burning spark. You are a torch against the night – if you dare to let yourself burn.”
(Yes, so well written, Sabaa Tahir. Exactly what I wanted to tell her from the very beginning!
And yes, I did the happy mind swirl when I come across the exact book title in the writing knowing what it means and for which character it’s meant for.)
****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****
I am so dead now…. This sequel is the best ever!
Well, the ghosts, the jinns, the soul reaper, the magical beings, the bad emperor, the Commandent (I want to burn her soul arghhhhhh!) got stronger and more bloodshed this time made the reading much more nasty and I WAS TOTALLY SOLD.
Moreover, introduction of more intriguing characters like Mamie (you define strength), the Warden (hate him with all my book collection), Tas (boy, my precious, I want to adopt you so bad!), Afya (the one who made honor so honourable), Helene’s parents and sisters (love you, Livia and I don’t like you, Hannah).
Sabaa Tahir built up so many big secrets and magic to discover. She does reveal each of them with all the power a human mind can imagine and she does make each of them BIG. Each of the betrayals would maim your mind, each moment of ‘I trust you’ delivered so real. I freaking love her writing!
I seriously cannot believe Helene has not been mentioned in the blurb. While all other things are happening for Elias and Laia, it’s also the story of Helene. Her part is so big in this sequel and her story is just growing big.
This sequel is going to be my most favourite I guess. I laughed a lot during the unexpected moments of humour; cried my heart out like there’s no tomorrow. I cannot believe I would cry this much while reading the series after I read the first book.
I repeat. The betrayals. They will own you. They will shatter you. Damn, I trust convincing characters so easily.
I hope there’s more part of Keenan (get ready to be impressed with this character while reading this book) in the next books.
I love how the characters have been developed so real and good. The plot is getting thicker and more darker.
****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****
I wish….. I was there in the story only to adopt Tas. I found my fictional child.
Damn…. I am obsessed with this series.
Godddddddddddddd………
****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****
Thank you, author for some of the most beautiful and meaningful lines ever:
“Don’t lock yourself away from those who care about you because you think you’ll hurt them or – or they’ll hurt you. What point is there in being human if you don’t let yourself feel anything?”
****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****🌻****
My life is so blessed. I cannot wait to know more about the Nightbringer, the Blood Shrike, and the obvious two 💝
9. MAUREEN Review A Torch Against the Night
Well I wasn’t planning on finishing this book tonight but here we are. This is the only book in a while that has kept me reading past my bedtime because I just needed to FINISH!
I really enjoyed ember when I read it but I think the hype got to me a bit too much and I didn’t LOVE it. Not the case with this one. I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. I was also not 100% on board with it becoming a 4 book series at first (I love duologies! I want more of them!) but after this book I so am. I need more. There is so much more to exPLORE! I just hope it all connects well and isn’t rushed and doesn’t feel tacked on.
The world building in this book was so much better than book 1, probably because you see more of it. The characters got a lot more fleshed out, especially Helene, and I’m so glad they did.
The plot was great, albeit slow at times, but that’s my only complaint and it is a very small one.
It was just a really good sequel and great setup for more books.
10. NAZEEFA Review A Torch Against the Night
OH MY GOD.
Did I ever think Sabaa Tahir would let me down? Because if any part of me did, swiftly punch it to non-existence. Thanks.
I’m literally on the floor crying yet my heart feels so full.
An Ember in The Ashes lingered on suspense and brutality. The stakes have been high since the beginning. A Torch Against the Night is even more brutal, more heart racing and oh yeah, lots more deaths and twists that really had me worried for my heart.
The pacing is different to that of AEITA because there’s no trials of course. You could consider this a travelling adventure with lots of show downs. There’s no lack of heart palpitating scenes and even heart breaking ones. My favourite part of this book was the exploration of the Martials, the scholars, the tribes and the fantastical beings. The different facets of this world actually make you understand the Empire and it’s importance.
I love Elias, Helena and Laia with all my heart. Each character has a different perspective, a different story to tell in this world. They’re so much more than a romantic connection and that is clearly evident by the end of this book.
Laia really grows into a spark of hope in this sequel. Her emotions and character really touched me and I found myself rooting for her even more than I was before.
Helene, my one true love, my heart broke for her and she also broke mine a couple of times. Helene is the most complex character but not from a lack of understanding mind you. You understand her every motive and every emotion and that’s how Sabaa Tahir weaves her tangled webs.
And finally, Elias. My heart ached for him since the beginning of this book and it’s aching still. Make of that what you wish. I just love him with all my heart and I need a better fate for him plz Sabaa pleeeeeaaaaaseeeee.
I can’t wait for the next book. I need it now.
III. [Quote] A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
The best book quotes from A Torch Against the Night
“So long as you fight the darkness, you stand in the light.”
“Your emotions make you human. Even the unpleasant ones have a purpose. Don’t lock them away. If you ignore them, they just get louder and angrier.”
“Failure doesn’t define you. It’s what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.”
“But you, Helene Aquilla, are no swift-burning spark. You are a torch against the night – if you dare to let yourself burn.”
“Don’t lock yourself away from those who care about you because you think you’ll hurt them or they’ll hurt you. What point is there in being human if you don’t let yourself feel anything?”
“Laia is curled in a ball on the other, one hand on her armlet, fast asleep. “You are my temple”, I murmur as I knee beside her. “You are my priest. You are my prayer. You are my release.”- Elias”
“It takes only a split second for life to go horribly wrong. To fix the mess, I need a thousand things to go right. The distance from one bit of luck to the next feels as great as the distance across oceans. But, I decide in this moment, I will bridge that distance, again and again, until I win. I will not fail.”
“Perhaps I have become so accustomed to the burden of secrets that I do not notice their weight until I am free of it.”
“Fools pay attention to words in a fight. Warriors take advantage of them.”
“Don’t look so worried. Most successful missions are just a series of barely averted disasters.”
“Elias and Laia are each other’s countermelodies. I am just a dissonant note.”
“True suffering lies in the expectation of pain as much as in the pain itself.”
“She chuckles again. “Because sane plans never work, girl,” she says. “Only the mad ones do.”
“Children are born to break their mothers’ hearts, my boy.”
“Perhaps grief is like battle: After experiencing enough of it, your body’s instincts take over. When you see it closing in like a Martial death squad, you harden your insides. You prepare for the agony of a shredded heart. And when it hits, it hurts, but not as badly, because you have locked away your weakness, and all that’s left is anger and strength.”
“The rest is just wishes and hope, the most fragile of things.”
“Veturius is a Mask like the rest of us, yes. Bold, brave, strong, swift. But those were afterthoughts for him. Elias sees people as they should be, not as they are. He laughs at himself. He gives of himself – in everything he does. […] He’s the things that I can’t be. He’s good.”
“So you’ve made a few bad decisions. So have I. So has Elias. So has everyone attempting to do something difficult. That doesn’t mean that you give up, you fool. Do you understand?”
“Sometimes loneliness is a choice.”
“Failure doesn’t define you. It’s what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.”
“Family is worth dying for, killing for. Fighting for them is all that keeps us going when everything else is gone.”
“Mercy is weakness. Offer it to your enemies and you might as well fall upon your own sword.”
“Willpower alone cannot change one’s fate.”
“You are a torch against the night – if you dare to let yourself burn.”
“The stars are so different when you’re free.”
“Secrets are a snake’s way of doing business.” “And snakes survive,”
“If your sins were blood, child, you would drown in a river of your own making.”
“You fool, Helene. When you love, there is always more pain.”
“But you are not finished. You are my masterpiece, Helene Aquilla, but I have just begun. If you survive, you shall be a force to be reckoned with in this world. But first you will be unmade. First, you will be broken.”
“His eyes are unfathomably sad as he lifts my chin. “Most people,” Cain says, “are nothing but glimmers in the great darkness of time. But you, Helene Aquilla, are no swift-burning spark. You are a torch against the night — if you dare to let yourself burn.”
“So long as you fight in the darkness, you stand in the light.”
“You are my priest. You are my prayer. You are my release.”
“Few people want witnesses to their pain, and grief is the worst pain of all.”
“You’re sure this is what you want?” I search her eyes for doubt, fear, uncertainty, but all I see is that fire. Ten hells
“I’m sure”
“Then I’ll find a way”“I’d say it’s impossible, but the Commandant trained the word out of me.”
“Rise, Elias Veturius.” Tas smacks my face, and I blink at him in surprise. His eyes are fierce. “You gave me a name,” he says. “I want to live to hear it on the lips of others. Rise.” I”
“You are my temple,” I murmur as I kneel beside her. “You are my priest. You are my prayer. You are my release.”
“There is more to this life than love, Helene Aquilla. There is duty. Empire. Family. Gens. The men you lead. The promises you make.”
“I miss you. I’ll always miss you. Even when I’m a ghost.”
“This is what it means to have faith, to believe in something greater than yourself.” A”
“The problem with greedy people, Pop once said to me, is that they think everyone else is as greedy as they are”
“Disappear! I scream the word in my mind, queen of the desolate landscape therein, ordering her ragged troops to a last stand.”
“When the fear takes over, use the only thing more powerful, more indestructible, to fight it: your spirit. Your heart.”
Book excerpts: A Torch Against the Night By Sabaa Tahir
Part I: Flight
I: Laia
How did they find us so fast?
Behind me, the catacombs echo with angry shouts and the screech of metal. My eyes dart to the grinning skulls lining the walls. I think I hear the voices of the dead.
Be swift, be fleet, they seem to hiss. Unless you wish to join our ranks.
“Faster, Laia,” my guide says. His armor flashes as he hastens ahead of me through the catacombs. “We’ll lose them if we’re quick. I know an escape tunnel that leads out of the city. Once we’re there, we’re safe.”
We hear a scrape behind us, and my guide’s pale eyes flick past my shoulder. His hand is a gold-brown blur as it flies to the hilt of a scim slung across his back.
A simple movement full of menace. A reminder that he is not just my guide. He is Elias Veturius, heir to one of the Empire’s finest families. He is a former Mask—an elite soldier of the Martial Empire. And he is my ally—the only person who can help me save my brother, Darin, from a notorious Martial prison.
In one step, Elias is beside me. In another, he is in front, moving with unnatural grace for someone so big. Together, we peer down the tunnel we just passed through. My pulse thuds in my ears. Any elation I felt at destroying Blackcliff Academy or rescuing Elias from execution vanishes. The Empire hunts us. If it catches us, we die.
Sweat soaks through my shirt, but despite the rank heat of the tunnels, a chill runs across my skin and the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I think I hear a growl, like that of some sly, hungry creature.
Hurry, my instincts scream at me. Get out of here.
“Elias,” I whisper, but he brushes a finger against my lips—shh—and tugs a knife free from the half dozen strapped across his chest.
I pull a dagger from my belt and try to hear beyond the clicking of tunnel tarantulas and my own breathing. The prickling sense of being watched fades—replaced by something worse: the smell of pitch and flame; the rise and fall of voices drawing near.
Empire soldiers.
Elias touches my shoulder and points to his feet, then mine. Step where I step. So carefully that I fear to breathe, I mimic him as he turns and heads swiftly away from the voices.
We reach a fork in the tunnel and veer right. Elias nods to a deep, shoulder-high hole in the wall, hollow but for a stone coffin turned on its side.
“In,” he whispers, “all the way to the back.”
I slide into the crypt, suppressing a shudder at the loud crrrk of a resident tarantula. A scim that Darin forged hangs across my back, and its hilt clanks loudly against the stone. Stop fidgeting, Laia—no matter what’s crawling around in here.
Elias ducks into the crypt after me, his height forcing him into a half crouch. In the tight space, our arms brush, and he draws a sharp breath. But when I look up, his face is angled toward the tunnel.
Even in the dim light, the gray of his eyes and the sharp lines of his jaw are striking. I feel a jolt low in my stomach—I’m not used to his face. Only an hour ago, as we escaped the destruction I wrought at Blackcliff, his features were hidden by a silver mask.
He tilts his head, listening as the soldiers close in. They walk quickly, their voices echoing off the walls of the catacombs like the clipped calls of raptor birds.
“—probably went south. If he had half a brain, anyway.”
“If he had half a brain,” a second soldier says, “he’d have passed the Fourth Trial, and we wouldn’t be stuck with Plebeian scum as Emperor.”
The soldiers enter our tunnel, and one pokes his lantern into the crypt across from ours. “Bleeding hells.” He recoils quickly at the sight of whatever lurks within.
Our crypt is next. My belly twists, my hand shakes on my dagger.
Beside me, Elias releases another blade from its sheath. His shoulders are relaxed, his hands loose around the knives. But when I catch sight of his face—brows furrowed, jaw tight—my heart clenches. He meets my gaze, and for a breath, I see his anguish. He does not wish to deliver death to these men.
But if they see us, they will alert the other guards down here, and we’ll be neck-deep in Empire soldiers. I squeeze Elias’s forearm. He slides his hood over his head and pulls a black kerchief up to hide his face.
The soldier approaches, his footsteps heavy. I can smell him—sweat and iron and dirt. Elias’s grip on his knives tightens. His body is coiled like a wildcat waiting to strike. I clamp a hand onto my armlet—a gift from my mother. Beneath my fingers, the armlet’s familiar pattern is a balm.
The soldier reaches the edge of the crypt. He lifts his lantern—
Suddenly, further down the tunnel, a thud echoes. The soldiers spin, draw steel, and hurry to investigate. In seconds, the light from their lantern fades, the sound of their footsteps fainter and fainter.
Elias releases a pent breath. “Come on,” he says. “If that patrol was sweeping the area, there will be more. We need to get to the escape passage.”
We emerge from the crypt, and a tremor rumbles through the tunnels, shaking dust loose and sending bones and skulls clattering to the ground. I stumble, and Elias grabs my shoulder, backing me into the wall and flattening himself beside me. The crypt remains intact, but the ceiling of the tunnel cracks ominously.
“What in the skies was that?”
“It felt like a land tremor.” Elias takes a step away from the wall and eyes the ceiling. “Except Serra doesn’t have land tremors.”
We cut through the catacombs with new urgency. With every step I expect to hear another patrol, to see torches in the distance.
When Elias stops, it is so sudden that I barrel into his broad back. We’ve entered a circular burial chamber with a low, domed ceiling. Two tunnels branch out ahead of us. Torches flicker in one, almost too far away to make out. Crypts pock the chamber walls, each guarded by a stone statue of an armored man. Beneath their helmets, skulls glare out at us. I shiver, stepping closer to Elias.
But he does not look at the crypts, or the tunnels, or the distant torches.
He stares at the little girl in the center of the chamber.
She wears tattered clothing and her hand is pressed to a leaking wound in her side. Her fine features mark her as a Scholar, but when I try to see her eyes, she drops her head, dark hair falling into her face. Poor thing. Tears mark a path down her dirt-streaked cheeks.
“Ten hells, it’s getting crowded down here,” Elias mutters. He takes a step toward the girl, hands out, as if dealing with a scared animal. “You shouldn’t be here, love.” His voice is gentle. “Are you alone?”
She lets out a tiny sob. “Help me,” she whispers.
“Let me see that cut. I can bandage it.” Elias drops to one knee so he’s at her level, the way my grandfather did with his youngest patients. She shies away from him and looks toward me.
I step forward, my instincts urging caution. The girl watches. “Can you tell me your name, little one?” I ask.
“Help me,” she repeats. Something about the way she avoids my eyes makes my skin prickle. But then, she’s been ill-treated—likely by the Empire— and now she faces a Martial who is armed to the roots of his hair. She must be terrified.
The girl inches back, and I glance at the torch-lit tunnel. Torches mean we’re in Empire territory. It’s only a matter of time before soldiers happen by.
“Elias.” I nod at the torches. “We do not have time. The soldiers—”
“We can’t just leave her.” His guilt is plain as day. The deaths of his friends days ago in the Third Trial weigh on him; he doesn’t wish to cause another. And we will, if we leave the girl here alone to die of her wounds.
“Do you have family in the city?” Elias asks her. “Do you need—”
“Silver.” She tilts her head. “I need silver.”
Elias’s eyebrows shoot up. I cannot blame him. It is not what I expected either.
“Silver?” I say. “We don’t—”
“Silver.” She shuffles sideways like a crab. I think I see the too-quick flash of an eye through her limp hair. Strange. “Coins. A weapon. Jewelry.”
She glances at my neck, my ears, my wrists. With that look, she gives herself away.
I stare at the tar-black orbs where her eyes should be, and scrabble for my dagger. But Elias is already in front of me, scims glimmering in his hands.
“Back away,” he snarls at the girl, every inch a Mask.
“Help me.” The girl lets her hair fall into her face once more and puts her hands behind her back, a twisted caricature of a wheedling child. “Help.”
At my clear disgust, her lips curl in a sneer that looks obscene on her otherwise sweet face. She growls—the guttural sound I heard earlier. This is what I sensed watching us. This is the presence I felt in the tunnels.
“I know you have silver.” A rabid hunger underlies the creature’s little-girl voice. “Give it to me. I need it.”
“Get away from us,” Elias says. “Before I take off your head.”
The girl—or whatever it is—ignores Elias and fixes her eyes on me. “You don’t need it, little human. I’ll give you something in return. Something wonderful.”
“What are you?” I whisper.
She whips her arms out, her hands gleaming with a strange viridescence. Elias flies toward her, but she evades him and fastens her fingers on my wrist. I scream, and my arm glows for less than a second before she is flung backward, howling, clutching her hand as if it is on fire. Elias pulls me to my feet from the dirt where I am sprawled, pitching a dagger at the girl at the same time. She dodges it, still shrieking.
“Tricky girl!” She darts away as Elias lunges for her again, her eyes only for me. “Sly one! You ask what am I, but what are you?”
Elias swings at her, sliding one of his scims across her neck. He’s not fast enough.
“Murderer!” She whirls on him. “Killer! Death himself! Reaper walking! If your sins were blood, child, you would drown in a river of your own making.”
Elias reels back, shock etched into his eyes. Light flickers in the tunnel. Three torches bob swiftly toward us.
“Soldiers coming.” The creature whirls to face me. “I’ll kill them for you, honey-eyed girl. Lay their throats open. I already led away the others following you, back in the tunnel. I’ll do it again. If you give me your silver. He wants it. He’ll reward us if we bring it to him.”
Who in the skies is he? I don’t ask, only bring up my dagger in response.
“Stupid human!” The girl clenches her fists. “He’ll get it from you. He’ll find a way.” She turns toward the tunnel. “Elias Veturius!” I flinch. Her scream is so loud they probably heard her in Antium. “Elias Vetu—”
Her words die as Elias’s scim rips through her heart. “Efrit, efrit of the cave,” he says. Her body slides off the weapon and lands with a solid thump, like a boulder falling. “Likes the dark but fears the blade.
“Old rhyme.” He sheathes his scim. “Never realized how handy it was until recently.”
Elias grabs my hand, and we bolt into the unlit tunnel. Maybe through some miracle, the soldiers didn’t hear the girl. Maybe they didn’t see us. Maybe, maybe—
No such luck. I hear a shout and the thunder of bootsteps behind us.
….
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