A Torch Against the Night

Sabaa Tahir

Aug 2016 · An Ember in the Ashes Book 2 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time
Book two in the New York Times bestselling series
A USA Today bestseller
A Wall Street Journal bestseller

“Spectacular.”—Entertainment Weekly

“Fresh and exciting...Tahir has shown a remarkable talent for penning complex villains.”—A.V. Club

"Even higher stakes than its predecessor… thrilling." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“[An] action-packed, breathlessly paced story.” —Booklist, starred review


Set in a rich, high-fantasy world inspired by ancient Rome, Sabaa Tahir's AN EMBER IN THE ASHES told the story of Laia, a slave fighting for her family, and Elias, a young soldier fighting for his freedom.
 
Now, in A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT, Elias and Laia are running for their lives.

After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.
 
Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars' survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.
 
But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus's will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape...and kill them both.

Ratings and reviews

The Commandant's omnipotence as an antagonist rapidly grows tiresome, and it feels as if every chapter makes sure to spend at least one paragraph describing how horny Elias, Laia, or Helene are for their opposite sexed counterparts. After An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night has thoroughly quashed any flame I had for the series.

Sabaa Tahir knows how to tell a story. Really was surprised by her. Love this series so much. Suspense, romance, tragedy. It leaves you wanting more. I can't want for the 3rd book

Way too addicting, but consistently worth the wait when I had to put it down for everyday life. Great character development, wonderful foreshadowing combo'd with unexpected twists. Has become one of my favorite series and can't wait to jump into the next part of the characters' stories.

About the author

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s eighteen-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash, and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks, and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. 

For more information, please visit Sabaa at SabaaTahir.com or on Twitter @SabaaTahir.