"An Ember In The Ashes" - Sabaa Tahir

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I hope everyone has had a great weekend. I have a page turner for you with "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir. This book was unbelievable! I originally had my doubts when I began hearing about this book on various outlets that provide advanced reader's copies to reviewers. Boy was I wrong! First off, let me just say that this book is the first book in a series. I, the ill-informed reader, did not know this until I was reading the last word and literally yelled. What. A. Cliffhanger. You've been forewarned fellow readers!

"Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free. Under Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Empire risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. 

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire's impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They've seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia's older brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from the rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire's greatest military academy. 

There, Laia meets Elias, the school's finest soldier - and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he's being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined - and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself. "

What a about a description! While I did find the beginning of the book a bit difficult to follow due to the amount of information given, (new worlds, caste, ranks, names) it was impossible to put down after the first 40 or so pages. Tahir writes the book from both Laia and Elias's perspectives, switching back and forth between the two. I liked being able to see the two different sides and while they were raised completely different, they have similar views and ideas. Tahir gives depth to all of the characters and does a great job of bringing their two stories together all the while keeping the reader holding on by a thread, grasping for more. Great start to a new young adult series. Perfect for ages 12 and up. I cannot wait for the next book!

As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations! I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts on the book!

Happy reading fools :)

"The Last Sacrifice" (Vampire Academy #6) - Richelle Mead

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I really wonder who those people are that get a nice, slow, relaxing summer. I feel like I have been going non stop since May!! No worries though. I have been making sure to set time aside for reading, it's just getting these reviews typed up for you that has been difficult! Excuse the slow pace. I type all day sometimes for my job so by the time I'm home, it's not quite what I feel like doing. But I keep you waiting no longer!

This next review is the FINAL book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. If you have read any of my other reviews, you know all about my feelings towards this series and how desperately I have been trying to finish it. Well look no farther, I have! Make sure to check out my reviews on all 5 other books in the series. If you have not read them, skip the next section as it will have spoilers for those of you who have not read the first 5!!

The Last Sacrifice picks up right where Spirit Bound left off, Rose in jail, convicted of murdering Queen Tatiana. Now I do not want to ruin or give anything away about the book but needless to say if you have read the other books, it's safe to say you can guess a few things that are sure to happen but alas I will leave your mind to wander. There was plenty of disobeying of the rules, trysts and internal conflict between Rose, Dimitri, and Adrian, and little hidden secrets that all come out in the open. I will say this: no matter how much I have whined about this series from book 2-5, the ending was perfect. Mead did a fantastic job at wrapping up the series and bringing everything to a (somewhat) logical conclusion. I do think this book is probably the best in the series since book one. I thought she did a great job with the way things ended between Rose and Dimitri as well as bringing together all the questions surrounding Spirit. Did she leave any room for more books in the future? Absolutely. Do I hope there will be any? No. But Mead did leave the door cracked, just in case. Let's just say, I'm glad I'm done and on to the next quest!

Speaking of new books, I made the "mistake" of going to the library without a list this past Sunday. I'm normally one of those people who either has a set list of books with their call numbers when I walk into the library OR I request the books ahead of time and can walk right up to the counter and leave. Sunday that didn't happen. I went in with one book in mind and perused......and perused......and perused. The destruction that followed filled my entire bag plus me carrying one.

So now comes the task of choosing my next book. I have everything from spy and intrigue, mystery, and young adult to autobiography, children's, and cozy mystery! Get ready! I hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Happy reading fools :)