{Disclaimer: Because this is the second book in a series while this will be spoiler free for this edition it will have spoilers for An Ember In The Ashes. If you havent yet picked up Ember I have a review for it here that is entirely spoiler free and I highly suggest reading it before coming back to chat about Torch with us!}
A Torch against the night is the second installment in the Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir (Which is now officially optioned for four novels as Sabaa originally hoped for) and it picks up exactly where Ember left off. We find Elias and Laia together and fleeing the empire. And really when I say it picks up where it left off we are talking maybe a half an hour of running if that. They have only just left Helene in Elias' room and they are trying to flee the city and the chaos that has erupted because of the diversions that Laia and Cook created to get Elias free. When I say a dynamic start to a story thats understatement of the century. We are thrust back into the tense and slightly terrifying final scenes of Ember and it stays pretty heavy for a while.
The mission to Laia and Elias is simple, Elias promised to get Laia to Kauf Prison and her brother where they would get him free. So this story is heavily one of traveling. But sadly we dont get some chilled out road trip story like these precious babies might deserve. No this trip is perilous as the new Emperor is making work of chasing and killing these enemies of the state, and at the hand of Helene who struggles with her new role as his right hand man.
In this book we get to see so many of the people that we met in book one, a few new faces for book two, and get to see many of our favorites and not so favorites in an entirely knew light. The character growth here is amazing and for the circumstances they are thrown into very on point. I know theres some debate about regression for Laia and having her own agency but I think alot of people forget that some of her calls are seen as a total fail, and shes much more used to giving control to others, so the fall back in control is very on point for her over all. And the lessons she learns as a result of that really propel the end of the book to where she and everyone really need to be. So I sing Sabaa's praises in that respect as well.
Some might have an issue that alot of the book is traveling, which can feel a little choppy or jumpy if you are a more plot based reader, because the overall plot in this edition is the quest for Kauf. But if you are a more character based reader then you will not be disappointed. And for those who are plot driven you do get alot of chess pieces moving around so over all it isnt lacking just not always in the forefront. There is alot of resolution to some of the questions we get from book one, and a ton more questions built up for the third and forth books so there is so much here to sink your teeth into.
As I said in my review of Ember I love the way Sabba writes. Its both so simple and understandable and yet beautiful in the way she can paint the world for you. Seeing things through her characters eyes is never boring and I appreciate her way with words so much. It takes what could be stuffy historical feels and makes it all come off as real time adventure. It never lets go of the fantasy feel but doesnt bog you down as if your reading a text book or some long lost myth.
Its no secret that I LOVE Ember and Sabaa as an author so it should be no secret that I loved everything about Torch and give it all the stars, really, 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 across the board. Is Torch Against The Night on your TBR? Have another fantasy the rest of us just need to pick up next?
