A Torch Against The Night - Ember Quartet (2)

If you liked the first book in this series, you will love this book. It picks up the story where it left in the first book. The bloodshed and brutality is as it was expected given the plot in the story. Elias, i love him even more in this book. Laia has emerged as more bold and strong character, and more determined taking her own decision in this book. Helen has outshined everyone else. She played a small but very important role in the first story and i had expected more from her in the second one. True to that, she is the torch against the night. She took all the right decision for the Empire as the newest Blood Shrike, even though it broke her heart into pieces.As in the first book, at every step the reader will worry about Elias and Laia, about their safety and their future, and their mission. The otherworldly characters, nightbringer and jinns adds the unexpected twists and give direction to the story.[***SPOILER ALERT***Death is so close to Elias at every step. I just wanted Elias to be always there for Laia. And he stayed and helped Laia in her mission. I had expected that he will have to give up his last chance at freedom. I really love him for his struggle to fight against the poison in his body and keep moving and take the lead and right decision in his limited time to help Laia to free his brother from the most dangerous prison Kauf of the Empire. After getting captured in Kauf and being brutally interrogated by the sadistic Warden, he kept himself strong against all odds and used his presence of mind and skills to make the mission a success.Laia’s character has improved very strongly in this book, from a mere timid Scholar girl in the first book. She had confusions and doubts but she took her decisions very determinedly. But she had her feelings fluctuating between Elias and Kennan. I think that’s because she didn’t wanted to hurt both. But Elias never felt bad to see Laia with Kennan, though he was rough with Kennan, might be because he knew that he is going to die soon. Laia discovers her hidden power. She emerged more smart and more strong in this story.I felt Helen as the most strong character in this story. It was heartbreaking to see her family killed before her own eyes. Her struggle to capture Elias, the fugitive, and to kill him will make one cry. Everyone she loved was killed. The cunning and bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus blackmails her with her family members. And the merciless Commandant plans a plot to keep her away from the Empire. Helen does everything right for the Empire. She is one shining star who outshines everyone one, and the Emperor Marcus and the Commandant does not deserve her. I want her to take revenge from both for what they did to her family. My feeling for Avitas Harper softens by the way his behavior and action changes for Helen by the end.I had never liked Kennan. Though he helped Laia many times, i had a feeling that he has his own selfish reasons behind it. I felt bad when Elias left on horseback to fulfill the mission, when he got the knowledge the he is left with very less time. I could not imagine Laia alone with Kennan. Now I know why.I loved the way how Afya turned up, when least expected, in the end to help out Laia when she was all alone, boosted her confidence and moral level and kept her promise. The mission was a great team work, with Elias and Laia as the mastermind. Everyone who helped them both for this, there contribution was very valuable including the efforts and risks taken by the scholar slave kids Tas and Bee.A great and progressive story. The ending has left so much more to explore in the next book to come. (hide spoiler)]“So long as you fight the darkness, you stand in the light.”"Failure does not define you. It's what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air."

Packaging was excellent, liked the condition of book I got..

What the book is about-A Torch against the Night picks up from the ending of its prequel, that is the escapade of Laia and Elias from Blackcliff. The rest of the story is about the journey from Blackcliff to Kauf prison and in between the hurdles, helps and hard choices made by the characters.My thoughts-Wonderful to the core! The plot progress is fast-paced and smooth but the first three or four chapters are kind of slow and then picks pace. The book is a bumpy journey as many sorrowful, cruel incidents take place but still at the same time there is a hope to succeed in the end. I understand Laia and Elias better in this book and Helene's POV is a real good addition to the book. The dialouges are well-written and setting is realistic.Full of action, adventure, romance, secrets to be revealed, heart-breaking decisions to be made. Go for the book!

Book 2 picks off right from where book 1 left off. No time skips, no recaps. If you thought book one was heart wrenching, then get ready to have to heart ripped out. Are Elias and Laia ever gonna catch a break? Noooo. But this book introduced a magic element which was really nice. And look, the girls actually get the job done by themselves, without whining and relying on the guys. Once again, Sabaa Tahir knows how to develop her characters with realism.

I don't know what to write about this book. The first book of this series set a benchmark and this book didn't dis-appoint me at all.The story goes around a Mask(Aquilla), a traitor(Elias) and a slave(Laia). The story is very brutal and full of violence and less politics(Unlike Game of Thrones series). There's some secretes in the second book of the series(No spoilers).Just read, you'll love this book.