Tahir formed the idea for An Ember in the Ashes in 2007 and wrote the book over a period of six years. Zacharias – The twin brother of Marcus Farrar. Marcus – An ignorant soldier in Blackcliff who was one of the four chosen for the trials, becoming emperor at the end.' Ĭommandant – The cruel head of the military academy, Blackcliff, as well as the mother of Elias, and is considered 'one of the most powerful people in the Empire.' Helene – Helene Aquilla is Blackcliff Academy's only female student and also best friend to Elias. The scion of one of the Empire’s finest families, Elias wants only to be free from the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce.' But one night, Empire soldiers raid Laia’s home-and life as she knows it changes forever.' ĭarin – Laia's brother is older by two years, apprentice to Spiro Teluman, and designs his own weaponsĮlias – This character is described as 'the finest soldier at Blackcliff Military Academy-but secretly, its most unwilling. She and her family eke out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets, trying their best not to draw attention to themselves. Laia – Laia is described on the official An Ember in the Ashes web site as 'a Scholar living with her grandparents and brother under the brutal rule of the Martial Empire. Elusive as the rebels are, they’re the only weapon the Scholars have against the Empire and its soldiers.Īugurs – 'The Augurs are a group of 14 Martial holy men and women who are believed to be immortal, and who are revered as advisors and seers.' Characters The Resistance leaders are the best and the bravest of the Scholars. Resistance – The Resistance is a band of Scholars that work in secret to overthrow the Empire. Tribes – The Tribes are a group of nomads inspired by the Bedouin tribes of North Africa. Martial children destined for Maskhood are taken from their families at the age of 6, and trained at Blackcliff Military Academy for 14 years.' They fight with speed and skill that is almost inhuman. Masks – 'Named for the eerie silver masks that cover their faces, these soldiers are the Martial Empire’s most ruthless enforcers. The Resistance is a secretive group made up of Scholars seeking to overthrow the Empire. Many Scholars are enslaved by the Martials, and those who are not enslaved live a difficult, poverty-stricken life. Scholars – The Scholars are a race of oppressed individuals who once ruled the land that has since been occupied by the Martial Empire. His legends live on in Blackcliff Academy, a school built to prepare and identify the future Emperor now a training ground for the Empire’s deadliest soldiers-the silver-faced Masks. He was called the Masked One, for the unearthly silver mask he wore to scare his enemies and the silver scims he battled with. He named himself Emperor and established his dynasty. When Elias meets Laia, the two realize that their destinies are more intertwined than they could have ever dreamed.įive hundred years ago, a warrior named Taius led the Martial clans to take over the Scholar Empire. But Elias has no wish to take the tests, or be ruler. Along with his best friend Helene Aquilla and his two rivals Marcus and Zak Farrar, he has been chosen to take the Trials, a series of tests that will decide who the next ruler of the Empire is. Laia seeks out the help of the anti-Empire group called the Resistance, and agrees to infiltrate an infamous military school for them if they help her break her brother free from prison.Īt the school, called Blackcliff Academy, Laia meets a student named Elias Veturius. Darin is arrested by Martial forces and accused of being an anti-Empire rebel. Their existence is a grueling one as they are seen as second-class citizens by the ruling Martial elite. Plot Ī Scholar girl by the name of Laia lives in the Martial Empire with her grandparents and brother Darin in the city of Serra. International translation rights have been sold in 30 countries as of October 2015. The book was a New York Times, USA Today and international bestseller. The novel is narrated in the first-person, alternating between the points of view of Laia and Elias.

In a fantasy world inspired by Ancient Rome, the story follows a girl named Laia spying for rebels against the reigning empire in exchange for their help in rescuing her captive brother and a boy named Elias struggling to free himself from being an enforcer of a tyrannical regime. It is the first book in the An Ember in the Ashes series, followed by A Torch Against the Night.

It was published on Apby Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Print ( hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-bookĪn Ember in the Ashes is a young adult fantasy romance novel written by American author Sabaa Tahir.

Ember and ashes