Besides, you know I always mention them, and I don't do it only because we discuss the book together: it's because they know what it means to review a book and analyze it with humor and intellectual honesty. Being honest the only character that had an influential role that I didn't absolutely hate was Helene. heart remains deeply rooted into her persona and heartbreak shapes her anew in an astounding, almost terrifying image. A Torch Against the Night is the second instalment in the An Ember in the Ashes quartet and I honestly didn’t think Sabaa Tahir could outdo herself after such a perfect first book but oh boy, was I wrong. Not even his fate at the end of this book could surprise or thrill me, probably because it felt like a random choice.

I just hope that A Reaper at the Gates will meet the standards of the first book, and resurrect my somehow shaken faith in these characters and their respective quests! That's not to say this novel is perfect - it isn't - but it is told well, making it an enjoyable read. And when it hits, it hurts, but not as badly, because you have locked away your weakness, and all that’s left is anger and strength.Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And watching the way Elias and Laia both help each other become the better version of themselves was the highlight of the book for me.

He reminds me of Jack in Bridget Jones' Baby, a film I watched recently - very try hard, and a bit of a douche, who (to me) has relatively little reason to be there (at least for most of the book). This is also allowed a further understanding of her feelings towards Elias, which was much appreciated.Sometimes I cringed at her choices, but given the circumstances, and what she would lose if she failed the horrible emperor she served, I couldn’t help but sympathize with her. A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison.