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The first book in the bestselling Embers in the Ashes series. An epic, thrilling story of freedom, courage, and hope.
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither of them is free.
In the Martial Empire, the answer to defiance is death. Those who don't shed their own blood for the emperor risk losing the people they love and everything they hold dear. It is in this brutal world that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. They don't defy the Empire, having seen what happens to those who dare.
But when Laia's brother is arrested and accused of treason, she is forced to take action. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her own life to act as a spy inside the Empire's military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the academy's finest soldier—and, secretly, its most reluctant. What Elias desires most is freedom from the tyranny he's been trained to enforce. Soon, he and Laia realize that their lives are intertwined—and that their choices could forever change the fate of the Empire itself.
"A breathtaking story of love and loss, with some of the most original world-building I've read this year. Deeply felt and moving, I couldn't put it down." - Margaret Stohl, author of the Beautiful Creatures series
"Tahir's deft and polished debut alternates between two very different perspectives on the same brutal world, deepening both through contrast. In a story rife with political intrigue and haunted by supernatural forces, the real tension comes from watching Elias and Laia struggle to decide where to give their loyalties." - Publishers Weekly
"I was so absorbed in this book that I missed my flight. If this doesn't convince you to read An Ember in the Ashes , I don't know what will. An explosive, wrenching, epic debut that will keep you glued to the pages. I hope the world is ready for Sabaa Tahir." - Marie Lu, author of the Legend series
"" A Flame Among the Ashes draws readers into a world marked by violence and oppression, but it does so with simple prose that offers moments of beauty in its directness. This complexity makes this a worthwhile book—as courageous as its characters."" - The New York Times Book Review
""A setting inspired by Ancient Rome, a fierce battle for freedom in the face of tyranny, and a villain who makes Cersei Lannister and Dolores Umbridge look like pathetic amateurs."" - MTV
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