An Ember in the Ashes

BOOK ONE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES Instant New York Times bestseller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir, this novel serves as a haunting reminder of humanity and the flicker of hope amidst oppression. It combines the addictive qualities of The Hunger Games with the fantasy elements of Harry Potter and the brutality reminiscent of Game of Thrones. In a brutal world inspired by ancient Rome, Laia is a slave living with her grandparents and older brother in the impoverished backstreets of the Martial Empire. Under the Empire's oppressive regime, defiance leads to death, and Laia's family has learned to remain silent. However, when her brother is arrested for treason, Laia faces a life-altering choice. To save him, she agrees to spy for rebels within the Empire's most formidable military academy. There, she encounters Elias, the academy's top soldier, who secretly yearns for freedom from the tyranny he is being trained to uphold. As their paths intertwine, Laia and Elias discover that their choices will not only affect their lives but also the fate of the Empire itself.