by Sabaa Tahir
Part of An Ember in the Ashes, book 1
First published 2022
Laia lives under the brutal Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, she must go undercover as a slave at the empire's military academy to save him from execution. In this savage world, Laia finds an unexpected ally in Elias, a top cadet haunted by his own secrets. Together, they must risk everything to outmaneuver the empire's ruthless rulers and have any hope of survival.
Genres: dystopia, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, underdog
Setting: Martial Empire
464 pages · Hardcover · Razorbill
Content warnings: abuse, slavery, violence