By Rachna Vipparla – Staff Reporter

Sabaa Tahir utilized her outstanding writing skills by crafting the book, ”An Ember in the Ashes.”

The novel was instantly #1 in the New York Times Bestselling list and the People’s Choice Award. In addition, it was also nominated for eight other awards including, the Goodreads Choice Award, the Milwaukee Teen Book Award, the Children’s Book Council Award, the Lincoln Ward, the Evergreen Teen Book Awards, and The Magnolia Award.

The historical fiction book was based off of the military conquests in an ancient Roman society. Tahir was initially inspired by The Liberian Civil War, but later created parallels to the clash between the common people and soldiers in ancient Sparta. Since this novel is based on a conglomeration of historical events, there are unpredictable twists that make “An Ember in the Ashes,” unique.

In the novel, part of the population lives under the martial law in fear, and the other half works for the military under a merciless emperor. It is a detestable system to live with for both parties, but regardless, everyone obliges without protest. However, when rumors of a war begin brewing across the land, the citizens and soldiers are filled with unrest and chaos begins breaking out. The book discusses war, sacrifice, chaos and poverty by portraying the story through characters with different perspectives.

Many factors make ”An Ember in the Ashes” an amazing literary piece. The character development put into the story is phenomenal. It adds depth to the book and creates an atmosphere that makes the story engaging. Each character is easily understood and the amount of pain they endure throughout the novel allows readers to sympathize with them. In addition, the unpredictable storyline leaves readers to be on the edge of their seats and constantly wanting to read more. The story is not cliche and is truly unique in comparison to more common teen novels. It is also remarkable how the author managed to make risky decisions in respect to the plot while maintaining clarity in the storyline.

Due to the realistic traces of historical tragedies, ”An Ember in the Ashes” may be too difficult to read by a sensitive audience. The story contains many unpredictable deaths, some of which are main characters. There is also an unsettling amount of sadism and hatred that is plainly reflected by the characters.

Without question, ”An Ember in the Ashes” is an amazing literary piece that is definitely worth a read.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars