Author: Sabaa Tahir
Published: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Razorbill
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not
vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their
loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in
this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her
grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the
Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire.
They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s
brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In
exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she
will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest
military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest
soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free
of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon
realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will
change the fate of the Empire itself.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. No payments made between me and the publisher.
Laia is a slave who used to live with her grandparents until before her brother was incarcerated by the people they called Masks. Keenan, is part of a rebel group named Resistance, he hates Laia the first time they met because he thinks she will just bring danger to them. Elias, is a soldier, he’s one of the Masks, but at the same time he wants to turn his back from the empire and be free. Helene, is Elias’ best friend and a soldier too. Laia and Keenan’s rapport is better than Laia and Elias, that was just my observation while reading the book. I’m thinking of them and I’m getting more excited when Keenan and Laia meets. Laia and Elias on the other-hand is good but it was more like they are just friends or just an acquaintance but then, I am hopeful and looking forward to reading the second book A Torch Against the Night.
Despite the character’s romance confusion, I still enjoyed the story. It is a promising and interesting book. I do recommend this book to readers who love young adult or dystopian type of books.
Question for the readers: Who do you think is the best guy for Laia? is it Keenan? or Elias?
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| My Ratings |
Source: Goodreads
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