A while ago, I was in Sydney for a conference and was able to get to the Dymocks bookstore. I’d heard the store was quite special. It was! For readers and writers, it is an awesome place, and I would recommend anyone who is visiting Sydney to visit as they explore the Sydney shopping precinct. I also walked down to the Quay and stared at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House and had an amazing lunch in one of the café’s that lined the harbour. That aside, I spent way too long at Dymocks enjoying the book sections they’ve created. I stumbled across The Ember In The Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir. I bought the first two in the series of four before returning home and have enjoyed them immensely. I visited the Dymocks store in Adelaide after that and bought the final two. So, no spoilers, but the story is told through the perspective of a young girl Liai, who faces one challenge after another. There are so many enjoyable, and connected twists, with an epic conclusion, that all I can say is if you like a roman-esque / hunger games kind of story that this series will not disappoint. The story is told with many layers that eventually unfold and blend into one and you are left with no doubt that Sabaa is a wonderful storyteller. I’d certainly recommend this Young Adult story for anyone from 15 to 100+.
It’s a unique tale and I enjoyed it very much.
There are FOUR books in the series: An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against The Night, A Reaper At The Gates, and the final installment, A Sky Beyond The Storm.
An orphan fighting for her family. A soldier searching for his freedom. A story burning to be told.
Laia is a scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested in the dead of night for treason and her loved ones slain, Laia must go underground as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from those who claim they can save her brother from execution… (an extract from the cover of book 1).
I’d definitely recommend this series!
And because I’m feeling visual today, I thought I’d post an few extra photos of what Sydney has to offer:
.jpg)
.jpg)