jacey | Booklog 52/2021: Sabaa Tahir: An Ember in the Ashes

Based on an ancient Roman-like culture, the Scholars have been subjugated by the Martials. When Laia's brother is imprisoned and her grandparents killed, Laia goes to the resistance. Her paernts were resistance fighters, long dead. The resistance leader gives her a mission to be a slave in the Commandant's household and spy for the resitance. In exchange he will rescue her brother. Elias, the Commandant's (hated) son is in the last few weeks of his martial training as a 'mask'. He hates the cruel system and is planning to do a runner when he is chosen for the trials to select the next emperor. It's not what he wants, but he's stuck. He and Laia meet in passing and he's drawn to her. They end up being each other's salvation when it turns out that the resistance leader is not exactly on Laia's side. This is the first book in an ongoing story but it has a good conclusion and a lead into the next book. It's violent - there's a high body count and a lot of beatings and maimings, but the two main characters are interesting and it's a good page turner. Sabaa Tahir is not kind to her characters.