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The second book in Sabaa Tahir's epic and electrifying story of freedom, courage, and hope.
A Flame in the Ashes told the story of Laia, a slave fighting for her family, and Elias, a soldier fighting for freedom. Now, in A Torch in the Dark , they are both on the run, fighting for their lives.
Following the events of the fourth Qualifier, the Martial Soldiers hunt for Laia and Elias as they escape Serra and embark on a perilous journey into the heart of the Empire.
Laia is determined to break into Kauf, the Empire's most secure and dangerous prison, to save her brother, whose knowledge of Serric steel is key to the Scholars' future. And Elias is determined to stay by her side—even if it means giving up his own freedom.
But dark forces, both human and supernatural, are working against them. Elias and Laia will have to fight every step of the way if they hope to defeat their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the cruel Commander Keris Veturia, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias's former best friend and the Empire's new Blood Shrike.
Helene's mission is terrible but clear: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the scholarly slave who helped him escape... and destroy them both. But how do you kill someone you desperately love?
"Tahir proves herself a master of suspense and a cunning adept at extreme situations, gripping readers from beginning to end... An action-packed story told at a breathtaking pace." - Booklist
"This sequel has a darker tone and even higher stakes than its predecessor, setting the stage for the thrilling conclusion."
- Publishers Weekly
"Excellent." - Kirkus Reviews
"The rare sequel that improves on the original... Impossible to put down." - Common Sense Media
""An adrenaline rush until the last page."" - BuzzFeed
"" A Torch in the Dark is one of those books that keeps you turning the pages without even stopping to take a breath."" - The Christian Science Monitor
"Fast, thrilling, and adrenaline-pumping, A Torch in the Dark is everything fans of the first book could want in a sequel." - The Bucks County Courier Times
""Gripping in every way... The stakes have never been higher, and the tension is acute as Elias and Laia race for their lives."" - USA Today
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