A Torch Against the Night

An Ember in the Ashes, Book 2

By: Sabaa Tahir, Samantha Sutherland

Narrated by: Aysha Kala, Jack Farrar, Samantha Sutherland

Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The sequel to the explosive New York Times best-selling debut, An Ember in the Ashes, that's captivated readers worldwide.

A Torch Against the Night takes listeners into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia's brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire's twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself - a mission that might destroy her instead.

©2016 Sabaa Tahir (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

Praise for An Ember in the Ashes: " Game of Thrones fans will relish Tahir's debut set in a brutal Rome-inspired empire. It follows Laia, a slave and Elias, a young soldier, whose lives are unexpectedly intertwined in this story of freedom, loyalty and love." ( Independent)
"The writing is as smooth as silk and keeps one reading long after the lights should have been out." (Robin Hobb)
"With An Ember in the Ashes, Sabaa Tahir shows us light in darkness, hope in a world of despair, and the human spirit reaching for greatness in difficult times." (Brandon Sanderson, number one New York Times best-selling author)
"I fell in love with Laia and Elias from the moment we met. This is a story you'll read with your heart in your throat." (Lauren DeStefano, New York Times best-selling author)
"A heart-pounding story of love and loss, with the most original world-building I've read all year. Deeply felt and deeply moving, I could not put it down." (Margaret Stohl, New York Times best-selling author of Beautiful Creatures)
"This electric debut is a pulse-pounding, action-packed Romeo and Juliet story in a richly imagined world with a great twist and heroic characters you'll root for and won't stop thinking about." (Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times best-selling author of Frozen and The Ring and the Crown)
" An Ember in the Ashes is a spectacular page turner that asks readers to consider how far they'd go to save the ones they love. Sabaa Tahir is the next superstar in young adult fiction and her debut is as cinematic as Gladiator and as high-stakes as Game of Thrones." (Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times best-selling author of Counting by 7s) and I'll Be There)
"Blew me away.... This book is dark, complex, vivid, and romantic - expect to be completely transported." (MTV.com) "Tahir spins a captivating, heart-pounding fantasy." ( Us Weekly)

Great sequel

Riveting from the first moment. Fast paced and with some great twists and turns. A fun read!

Good story, disliked the performance

Parts that are whispered mixed with loud ones - had to keep adjusting volume. It is inconvenient to do it constantly, as I listen to books on my commute.

The story itself is a nice change from the usual fantasy - as it is set in middle-eastern inspired universe. Can't wait for part 3.