Begin with Laia and Elias
Start with An Ember in the Ashes; none of the later books is designed as a separate entry point.
Book Series · 4 Books
An Ember in the Ashes Books
In order from An Ember in the Ashes to A Sky Beyond the Storm.
Sabaa Tahir's completed fantasy series follows Laia, a young woman living under an oppressive empire, and Elias, a soldier who wants to escape it, as resistance grows into a war with both human and supernatural stakes.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read An Ember in the Ashes
Read the four novels in numbered order. The story, relationships, political conflict, and consequences continue directly from one book to the next, ending with A Sky Beyond the Storm.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
This is an intense YA fantasy about an empire built on enslavement and fear. It includes executions, torture, imprisonment, child abuse, threats of sexual violence, battles, supernatural horror, serious injuries, grief, and major character deaths.
Romance and loyalty are important, but the books spend substantial time with oppression, moral injury, and the costs of war. They are best for teens prepared for sustained danger rather than readers looking for a light magical adventure.
Where to start
Where Should My Teen Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1348
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2015
An Ember in the Ashes
By Sabaa Tahir
A slave and a soldier defy an empire, risking everything for freedom.
480 pages· 124,141 words· Est. 11.5 hour read
$13.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In a brutal empire where defiance means death, Laia, a slave, must spy for rebels to save her brother. At the military academy, she meets Elias, a soldier yearning for freedom. Together, they face impossible choices that could alter the empire's fate. Will their intertwined destinies ignite hope or lead to destruction?
In reading order
An Ember in the Ashes Series
4 books · Published 2015–2020
#1
Sale price
$1348
An Ember in the Ashes
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2015
A slave and a soldier defy an empire, risking everything for freedom.
#2
Sale price
$2085
A Torch Against the Night
Chapter Book · Ages 14–17 · 2016
Fugitives Elias and Laia race against dark forces to save her brother from a deadly prison.
#3
A Reaper at the Gates
Chapter Book · 2018
A rebellion's fate hangs in the balance.
#4
A Sky Beyond the Storm
Chapter Book · 2020
A battle against vengeful jinn and a rising empress threatens to unleash an apocalypse. Who will survive the storm?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the An Ember in the Ashes series?
There are 4 books in the An Ember in the Ashes series. It began with An Ember in the Ashes in 2015, and the newest book, A Sky Beyond the Storm, was published in 2020.
What order should you read the An Ember in the Ashes books in?
Start with An Ember in the Ashes and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #4.
What ages are the An Ember in the Ashes books best for?
The series is best for ages 12–18, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring An Ember in the Ashes to life.
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