It's interesting to me that you love this series primarily for Laia and Elias being together and not at all for Helene when for me it's the opposite. I kind of constantly wanted to be reading about Helene because she's such an interesting and complex character to me, + I love Harper.
I have to agree with you there. Helene was my favorite part of this book. I really enjoyed Elias and Laia in the first two but Helene's story was the one I wanted to know the most.
Helene’s chapters were honestly what I rooted for the entire book. I enjoyed Laia and Elias, but like HELENE ABD HARPER JUST WOW I HIGHKEY LOVE THEM MORE THAN LAIA AND ELIAS?
For some reason in this book, I actually really really rooted for Helene. Her POV was one of the most amazing things I've ever read. Like sure, at times she's stupid but Elias and her POV's ended on such good cliffhangers that it destroyed me. More than Laia's tbh but Laia's my girl and I'll love her forever.
The conversations in this series on refugee crisis, genocide, nationalism, classism, racism, destiny v. fate, family, humanity. Ugh. My heart. Sabaa is just on a whole other level. It's like she took the real world, mashed it into 500 pages, and slapped a magic system on it. Devastating and beautiful all at once. I talk a lot more about all of this on my ARATG discussion video on my channel as well.
Girl idk HOW but Helene's my favorite character and everyone else seems to hate her?? I mean I understand why and I ADORE Laia and Elias with every fiber of my being but for some reason, Helene is everything to me. Her wielding that war hammer at the end was the epitome of badass and I love her😭 This series is perfection!!
I really wanted more development of Elias and Laia's relationship. I love them together and as characters individually. But I needed more intimate moments to believe they indeed love each other because love is something that takes time to develop. Harper and Helene didn't give a shit about each other but they began to care and the way their relationship progresses is a little bit more realistic than Elaia's one for me. The moment Helene healed Harper I screamed out loud. Also, Laia is such an amazing character. She's sweet, kind, strong, brave and isn't afraid of calling you on your bullshit.
AnjXMoonStone Exactly!! Like, in the first book they feel physical attraction. In the second, Laia falls in love with Keenan because she sees herself in him in ways she couldn't with Elias and yet, Elias is in love with her already. In the third book, they say they are in love with each other, but I don't know I needed more moments when they realized they are indeed in love with each other. Also, I expected a little bit more understanding in Laia's part when at the end he says he's the Soul Catcher and Laia throws the armlet he made to her. I found it a little bit selfish because Elias died and that was the only way he could live again and help her but l don't know what Laia wanted from him.
jimin's lemonade I guess this can't be helped when the book doesn't really focus that much on Laia & Elias's + Harper & Helene's relationship. It's my misfortune that romance takes a backseat in this book haha. And if you also consider Reaper's pages... By the way, uhh- not to sound demanding, but I wish the books had more pages - I mean, if any of the books had 600 pages I wouldn't care. I'd straight-up devour them anyway. I NEED MOREEE HAHAHA. Moreover, oohhh I didn't really see the armlet throwing incident from that perspective before haha. The first thought I had when I read it though is that it will be some sort of reminder of Elias's humanity? Sort of a tether in case he goes too far? I don't know, I was imagining scenarios where very bad things happen to Elias, and they need to bring his humanity back, and the armlet she made for Laia was the solution. Kind of- I don't know if you've seen The Vampire Diaries yet? But I could totally see a TVD situation happening on the fourth book.
AnjXMoonStone Oh yes, you are probably right about Elias' humanity. But Laia seemed so upset and Elias even explained to her that his failure with the ghosts had influenced his decision. Elias is almost obsessed with Laia and I wanted more delicate moments. About the length of the books... I think Ember is now a successful series so I do think Sabaa can write as much as she wants (debut books need to be short and mostly when it's a series). Besides romance, the emotional part of the book needed more development. I love Helene and Harper more because they are literally together almost all the time together and I saw better progress. I don't like Helene's ideals that much though, but Harper is THAT man lmao
AnjXMoonStone I think someone is going to replace Elias as soul catcher but I don't know where he stands now. What's Elias position now that The Nightbringer and the jinn are free now? He's not even Elias anymore though :(
SPOILER WARNING OKAY I NEED TO RANT Sooooo Helene and Harper??? UHH yes please. I loved their slow burning romance and how we could see in every Blood Shrike chapter that Harper was so in love with her, and so was she but couldn’t show it. Gosh. And then they finally kissed. I’m not okay. When Helene was attacked in the streets and when Harper stayed with her- I need to stop or I’ll get emotional again. When I saw that Elias’ name for the final chapter was just The Soul Catcher I could hear my heart break. And just in general all scenes between Elias and Laia, especially towards the end, had my heart breaking. I was so ready to see their romance actually happen in this book but nope Sabaa Tahir obviously hates us all. And that intimate scene between them had me shook but I was all for it. Until i found out that she wouldn’t remember it... my heart broke yet again. The last scene with them had me physically crying??? Surely it’s not just me who didn’t guess that Cook was Laia’s mum?? Like I knew that she would play a big role in this book but I didn’t think THAT was going to happen. Big yikes. Honestly I hated Helene in the first two books but I actually liked her in this book. The scene where she teared off her mask had me shook because it was such an epic moment, although tragic seeing as it was done for the wrong reasons. Marcus on the other hand... regardless if he’s losing his mind because of his brother’s ghost, he was a dick. Livia deserved better. So to conclude: this book killed me and I’m not ready for the next one
Just finished this and omg the part that got me the most was when Helene finally breaks down in the tunnel, and rips her mask off because nothing mattered more than the safety of her people ugh got me teary eyed. But seriously, I love the main characters in this book soooo much, they’re all such complex and interesting characters and I’m rooting for them all. Also the commandant is the single most horrifying villain I’ve ever seen, she keeps surprising me with the extremes she will go to in order to obtain power.
SPOILERS BELOW Rant: 1. Helene and Harper..... since Elias and Laia were apart, I was clinging to that ship the entire book... just for it to be pulled apart... 2.I KNEW cook was the lioness! I knew it from An Ember in the Ashes!!! 3. Elias’s last chapter and how it said ‘the soul catcher’ instead of ‘Elias’ I literally cried 4. You failed to mention the tiny fact that THE WHISP IS QUINNS WIFE?! I’m sorry, I’m done
I don't think Helene and Harper's separation is definitive at all. The reason was believable because Helene thinks she needs to focus only on the Empire, but I guess she and Avitas are going to have more intimate moments and she's going to realize that she can be Helene with him. In fact, she already is Helene with him. He even calls her that on his mind.
I know many people are team Laia, and although I l adore her and Elias I’ve always been team Helene. She is such an interesting character. I also lived for her and Harper’s chemistry.
Roxan Vasilik I know! Her and Harper are perfect, both so closed, but hopefully they can open each other up😅😅 I died at the end when they couldn’t get together at the end
Ah I am the complete opposite! I love Helene so very much! She’s so complex and so strong and just so amazing! I’ve actually never been the biggest fan of Laia until this book! I feel like I’m the only one who loves Helene lol!
Bookables 😂😂Girl I love Helene too...especially in Reaper. She's just amazing. I've always liked Laia and as the series progressed I grew to love her even more. Elias is my husband and nobody can tell me otherwise 😭💞
Bookables ever since the first book, helene has always held such a special place in my heart. i shipped her with elias, but now i just want her to be happy & hopefully with harper!! laia annoyed me in the first two books, but her character finally felt like it had a strong purpose here. AS FOR ELIAS, HIS TRANSITION TO THE SOUL CATCHER RUINED ME!!!!! i can’t believe i’ll have to wait 2 years until the next book :(
yess i love helene too!! I didn’t know what to feel about her in the first book but after reading the second book and from her perspective, she started to become one of my favs. I grew to admire her devotion so much that I envy it. And omgkdjdjegdj her and Harper is crazy....o my heart!!
Laia is one of my favorite female main characters ever, I agree with everything you say about her. What I love is that it's very much show and not tell: we actually see Laia being strong instead of other characters constantly telling us how badass she is (there are some book series that..... struggle with this). Even though it's a fantasy series, her character development feels so realistic and relatable. But yeah, A Reaper at the Gates destroyed me as well. I NEED BOOK FOUR RIGHT NOW PLEASE.
How can you possibly not like Helene...i cannot compute this...she was just such a great, complex and intriguing character Plus her and harper had the most realistic romance...ughhh gosh i just love helene so so so much But i get you, Elias and Laia are also great. The whole book was great. The story is a masterpiece i loved all 4 POVs.
If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have read this series. It is my favorite series ever and I couldn't be more grateful for you because of the fact that you showed me these books.
Laia is the epitome of the best strong female character. And NOT in the trope-y way. She's strong because she puts others before herself, cares not only for her family but for her people and anyone that she meets, has unfaltering determination, and really becomes a true leader. Her development from AEITA to ARATG was so natural and compelling. My favorite scene was also when she voiced her achievements and what she's been through over the course of the year to the king of Adisa. It was the first time she every said anything about what she's survived and I felt like a proud mom reading that. I also have the same feelings about Helene as you. She didn't really grow on me until the end of the book. I do appreciate how she began to drop what she had been ingrained in her from Blackcliff and started using her own values to drive her. Watching her family be killed in front of her and because of her, having to turn a blind eye to her sister's constant torture by the hand of the Emperor, trying to save her sister and baby nephew from the Commandant, trying to save the Empire not because she's loyal to it but because she wants a future for her nephew, trying to stop the Commandant from usurping the throne. These things lit a fire under her ass, as opposed to fighting for the Empire simply because its her duty to. The scene that made me like Helene most was towards the end when she leaves her sister to be taken away from the overrun city and goes to continue fighting because it would tear her up inside to escape as her men are slaughtered, looking for her to be there fighting next to them. She's trying her hardest to hold off the Karkauns from getting to the tunnels where the escapees are. And eventually, she ends up doing it BY HERSELF. She's come to the realization that she's going to die but she's going to go down swinging. She's wounded, exhausted, stressed, in excruciating pain after ripping her mask off her face, but she keeps fighting. I would love to watch that scene acted out in a movie. It reminds me of the scene from LOTR when Boromir is being shot by arrows left and right but he continues to fight. If Helene would have died during that, it actually would have been a more emotional moment and I'd miss her. But I'm glad she lived. AND ELIAS. MY HEART. For him to start out as just trying to rid himself of the control of the Empire and be free, to being on the run while slowly dying, and then tortured in Kauf Prison, and then actually die, and then to be chained down to the Waiting Place as Soul Catcher and having to let go of his humanity HURT MY SOUL. OMG. Sabaa Tahir is so cruel for doing that to him. lol This man just can't get right and it's not fair. It's heart-wrenching that he never got the freedom that he wanted. The Augur's promised him that he'd get freedom of body and soul, and as Soul Catcher I guess he gets it, but at the expense of losing Laia. Which makes me want to cry. He's back to having a duty to pass ghosts on. Hopefully someone else comes along in the next book who can take his place because idk if i'll be able to take him and Laia being separated any longer!
it's interesting to me that people can dislike a character like helene from this series, but like or even adore matthias from the six of crows duology, because they are very similar in terms of their struggle to overcome ideologies ingrained into them from birth, yet people are always a lot more forgiving of matthias than helene... can't relate. personally, reading about the struggle of someone who lost so much, who loses so much throughout the series, dare i say it - more than any of the other characters... and still pick herself up, still show sparks of humanity and love and duty.. idk, i just adore helene with everything i have and i hope she gets her happy ending. i actually didn't like elias in the first book and he's still a bit meh to me, though i do like laia. the relationship between them to me is secondary to everything else, and i honestly don't care much about it, but i do care about the scholar's plight and i very much look forward to finding out how laia deals with it in the last book, and i SO look forward to her developing a relationship with helene. it's going to be so much fun watching my favourite two characters finally interact in a (hopefully) non-hostile way. i can't wait!
Laia didn't annoy me as much in this book. I liked her alot in the first book, in the second book...not so much. But Helene remains my all time favorite she is sooooo badass😎 all in all this book was great I still love Elias and I hope that he does get his humanity back and has his happy ending with Laia
I love helene the most in this series. In the beginning I loved elias most but through book two and through to book three, I just grew to absolutely adore helene. She is the best of all. I can't get why people dont like helene??? And yes my favourite ship is of couse helene and harper...
I used to have conflicting feelings about Helene, but started to love her through this book. I especially love the little moments she and harper have! ❤️
Guuurl you forgot about THE AUGURS BEING THE SCHOLARS 😱 AND CAIN THEIR KING LIKE 😱 HOW IT IS POSSIBLE ????? + I don’t know HOW YOU CAN’T LOVE HELENE (i feel like I’m the only one who stands her) I really hated Laia from the beginning but I kinda like her in this one so yeah BUT ELIAS Aka MY HUSBAND (I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING ELSE) TURNING TO THE SOUL CATCHER IS HOOLLLLYYY SHIIIIYTTT THAT BROKE MY HEART
Love hearing your thoughts Helene was hands down my favourite part of the book. I loved how much she cared about her sister and, as you said, how she's un-learning everything she's known her entire life and questioning so many things. Laia didn't...annoy me is not quite the right word (and I still LOVE her), but I didn't find her parts as engaging as in the previous books - particularly the first. As for Elias, I felt no tension whatsoever. From the very beginning, I felt like there was only one possible path for his character to go, and then it did. And I hated it, but I knew there was no other way for it to end, so I didn't feel any anxiety, just sadness. I would have liked him to have continue to fight Mauth and keep his humanity because it would have been different from what I expected just as much as I did because it’s, well, his humanity. And as for Cook, I can't say I saw it coming, but I wasn't surprised at all. My biggest anxiety for the next book is where Sabaa takes it plot-wise. I’m so over THE YA high fantasy novel, because I feel like 99% of them are exactly the same. This series started off so different from many others, but in this book (and Torch) had some elements that hit a little close to the standard, boring YA high fantasy blueprint for me. The fact that Elias and Helene are just as big characters as Laia (and that I do love them) gives me hope, but I hope the next book has an ending I don’t expect, rather than one I’ve read so many times before.
Thank you for the review/summary! I read this book about two years ago and kinda forgot what this book was about. You helped me remember how much I love this series.
*SPOILERS FOR A REAPER AT THE GATES* The thing about these books is that the worst thing that could possibly happen ALWAYS HAPPENS. It's just so heartbreaking and Sabaa Tahir holds no freaking punches. Also, my heart kept being crushed with all the suffering Lydia went through. I HATE HIM SO MUCH and I am so glad Helene killed him. Also, can we like talk, that the final Elias chapter wasn't called his name but Soul Catcher??? I have done nothing to deserve that kind of pain??? And also, I feel like Nightbringer is way too powerful. Like, I can't imagine how he could even be defeated, he's literally always a step before everybody and he tortures them all and gets them exactly where he needs them and he's so good at manipulating people and also just so powerful and scary? Also, I am dying to get to know more about the Commandant. She's so fascinating. SO IN CONCLUSION, I AM DESTROYED
Stanisław Grabowski I know!!! I died when he was named the soul catcher, started crying in the middle of class- I mean... I was totally paying attention to the teacher and not reading... yeah....
I don't think the Nightbringer is going to be destroyed/defeated in the end. I think he may find peace with the Scholars, Martials, and Tribes (but not without some pain) because he was made to love, and the jinn are always going to be needed to restore balance in this world according to Mauth. This is all so bittersweet. I don't hate the Nightbringer, I kinda understand him and his reasons and I find his love for his people so heartbreaking but hopefully he wont be filled with hatred and vengeance for too long. The real enemy is Keris, the bitch of Blackcliff can go die honestly.
I can't wait to learn about the commandant as well, at this point she's someone we know the least about, besides her ruthlessness. I feel like shes going to have a point of view in the last book of the series so we learn about her history to understand why she is the way she is. OOOHHH IM SO EXCITED!!! HOW CAN I WAIT ANOTHER YEAR??!! *overwhelmed with emotion*
Eliaaaaas whyyyyy. This book gave me so many feelings. I agree with all your Laia and Elias ranting, the armband scene at the end killed me. Helene didn't bother me quite as much in the first couple of books, but I agree in this one she got some good character growth at the end. Even though I'm very sad about Elias, I am excited to see Laia and Helene's relationship and them working together (at least that's what I'm assuming will happen) in the next book.
It's funny coming here after just finishing the book and seeing you gush about Laia and Elias cos I spent this entire book hoping one or both would die, they bored me to tears until the last 1/5 of the book where Elias finally stops being himself and Laia finally teams up with Helene. I am team Helene all the way!!! Helena and Harper just ugh.... I love them. And I am high key on Nightbringer's side ngl, I don't think he's all that bad. But Keris... she's Final Boss Battle villain level.
I just finished reading this today and it just tore me apart. When you started talking about Cook, I started tearing up again because her and Laia's interactions were just so heartbreaking for me and... I can't.
Yes to all of this!!! I was heartbroken and devastated but it was such an amazing book! So many feels! Also..I love the part where her brother was tell her she couldn’t go off by herself and she just goes OFF on him and in her little rant she FINALLY admits out loud that she loves Elias! And I loved that Musa was like “I was really glad to hear you finally admit that out loud” and she was like “we are not discussing Elias.” Lol
I never really understood what you meant by this series “destroying you”, but after reading these books I totally get it. I think Sabaa Tahir channels George R. R. Martin when she is writing. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
I just finished this book and your review made me realize I liked Laia and Elias' parts more than I originally thought. But for me Helene's story was the most interesting. It was the most compelling to me. It seemed like Laia and Elias' didn't really do much but they did I just was most engaged with Helene's part. I can't wait for the 4th.
I literally just finished reading Reaper so this video could not have been better timed because I AM DECEASED after that ending. I totally felt the same about the library scene! It TOTALLY reminded me of that episode of ATLA because like that is one of my fav episodes! I agree on all accounts about Laia, I love her strength, I love her doubt and I love her ability to keep moving forward. and that scene with Helene at the end was 100% my fav part of the book despite all the consequences it will have.
One of my fav plot twists was that one of the ghosts who keep haunting Elias in the waiting place turns out to be his grandmother!!! 👀👀👀 I ❤️ this series soo much!!! Def my all time fav fantasy series. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
The story base of An Ember in the ashes reminded me of Throne of Glass but with WAY BETTER execution. Elias is love and somehow Laia reminds me a bit of Arya. Just finished A Reaper at the gates ❤️
I'm finding this way late as I just got into the series, but I absolutely love all of this lol. I love how much you love Laia and Elias. I'm crazy about them too. Absolutely adore them
I didn't like Laia or Elias I don't really care what happens to them. From book one I've loved Helene so much! She's complex and kind and I was rooting for her so much. I just want her to find love and be happy and rule everything. Also her romance with Harper is so sweet and believable. I really don't like Laia and Elias together. For me their romance is superficial, based only on physical attraction and sexual chemistry and the whole time reading I was bored wondering why they even love each other.
😭😭😭😭❤️ I just love these books so much man, they just hit me in the feels and they are at times so profound and reflect real world situations in a beautiful nuanced way, I just love these books.
I totally agree with your opinion on Helene! I actually really liked her character in the first half of Ember, but then she started treating Laia like dirt. She just irked me after that, and there were times where I can barely tolerate her, but I did start to like her again a little bit when I reached the end of Reaper.
I wasn’t going to make this comment if you haven’t mentioned confidence, you don’t like Helene and love Laia your opinion not my business and it’s not my business to make somebody change their taste or mind, but you want people to feel confident actually little girls feel confident because of Laia? She only speaks tough and has her ass saved by everybody. She is saved by Musa because of her mother, king lets her go because of her mother, she has everybody her saved because of somebody, and what she does actually screw things horribly. This is the character who is supposed to provide me with confidence? The last time I checked it’s your actions that mattered and not saved by literary everybody and have absolutely no problem with it. Standing up for yourself is great but again when you did nothing solely by yourself and all the people who helped you is because of your mother/boyfriend/armlet, she hasn’t proved herself as worthy.
I agree with you soooooo much. So complex. And my heart was thumping the whole time....Elias cannot become the soul catcher entirely. I NEED him with Laia. My heart depend on it. BTW thanks for recommending this series to me, it now has a very special place in my heart.
I just finished this book and I am so not okay right now. I just want my boo Elias back😭😭😭. But I have hope for the next book there’s going to be struggle but I have hope. I don’t want to wait a year
I love this series so much, and I only read it because you recommended it, so thank you!!! I think for me A Reaper at the Gates is the best book in the series so far.
i read the first 2 books couldn't bring myself to read the third because i just knew that elias was going to be tortured more so i thought i'd watch a spoiler review and see if i can handle it BIG MISTAKE although now at least i'm a little more emotionally prepared for elias to lose his humanity i'll still cry my heat out and also.....cook is lioness!!!!!! i did NOT see that coming i kinda thought she was the traitor before the whole keenan thing in torch. but than i was like...well...there goes that still...what!? but yeah...now i'm wrecked and i still have to read reaper and wait for 4 months for the final book!..which i know isn't a lot compared to what some of u have been waiting for..but .still a lot foe me.
Yeah I agree with not liking Helene as much as the other two. And that romance is everything! I do think the Nightbringer chapters to start giving us more info about him
dont wanna brag but i saw the cook part coming from a mile off but still, i just... goddamn it!! that part was heart wrenching. i dont want her dead honestly.
Spoiler rant real fast: Can we all just discuss the fact that Mauth actually spoke to Laia from Elias's body???? I have no idea how to handle that. Does he actually feel for Elias, will he help him in the future? I have no idea but that part honestly broke my heart and stomped on it. Also, we better get some cute baby scenes in the next book but honestly Sabaa Tahir has made me wary (scared for my cinnamon rolls) of the future in this series. Also, also, thanks for making this video!!
I started reading ARATG yesterday morning and I finished it just a few hours ago. Normally a book this size would take me about a week to finish it but GIRL did I fly through this book. And I was completely wrecked. It took me some hours to put myself together again. Now I gotta wait until next year (unless there's another delay) for the final installment and I am just...Not ready for that but at the same time I need, but at the same time I'm not ready to know how it ends and...I'm terrified honestly
Please bear with me for this may be too long Firstly, can we talk about the AMAZING world building saba tahir has done? ( Not just from a philosophical perspective of building a society, that may seem from roman/historic ages but is gripping from the same issues as our present times ) I am talking about the complete history of this world, how the jinns were responsible for helping the ghosts move on, how everyone had a role to maintain balance in the universe, how it was broken and its consequences. Secondly, is it just me or was the Nightbringer's character the most interesting? She gave such an amazing backstory to the guy and, when I read the first chapter (which was the nightbringer's pov btw) I was hooked! Thirdly, one of the main things that struck me in the book was the commentary on mental health among other very real issues. Take Marcus, for instance. He is probably the most hated Character coming second only to the Bitch of Blackcliff, but there are moments when you feel so bad for him. This is the beauty of writing- being able to invoke feelings of sympathy for even the most brutal characters. Whenever he spoke to his brothers ghost, especially when he begged Helene to heal him (pointing to his head), I could really feel something for this monster, even though I wanted him dead like a thousand times. Also, I must confess although I loved Helene, she was never my most favorite character (laia takes that spot!) I was always rooting for her. Especially in the 2nd book after what happened to her family and how she was 'unmade' I just wanted her to have one solid win...haven't gotten one yet!! Although stories are built for us to love main characters the most, I have a hard time doing that. With this series, I was sold within the first book! The amount of growth she has shown, the obstacles she faced, to finally think of herself as 'not nothing' was so well executed. She is a sweetheart really. (Btw that plot twist about the Cook had me in tears!!) I did like Elias alot in this book, and I was heartbroken when he lost his humanity and refused to help Laia, although when I think about it and try to remove all the love I have for him, and their love, it was the right thing to do, but hey, if the right thing was easy to do, everyone would've done it. (The chapter where the name changes from Elias to Soul Catcher was so depressing!) Lastly, I haven't read the last book yet, but I really want to see how Meherya's success turns out for the world. What will the jinn do now? Will my laia and Elias get something remotely close to a happyish ending? And Helen and harper ofc. Also, I am really looking forward to a friendship hopefully growing between laia and helene. I mean they have already made so much progress, they owe each other their lives, both have lost family, (I really loved the line where Helen understood cooks relationship with laia and says " curse the world for what it does to mothers..." or something on those lines) Anyway, sorry for the long rant!
I have watched many of your videos in like a week length and Im glad i did cause there is so many books that i have been debating on whether or not to read them and you have touched on many of them, which is great for me! I feel like we have the same tatse in books so it helps alot. i cant wait to come across a review of a book i read or loved to see ur points! keep it up! Wish i had people to talk about books to lol
AND, about helene and harper. I think Laia should teach helene a lesson that the last time, she and Elias had any chance in a torch against the night before it ALL WENT TO REGRET, Elias freaking broke it off because he thought it was for the better good. can i just say, MY GODDAMNED FOOT
Just got done reading this. And holy fuck this takes over as my favourite fantasy series. One point, I agree with most of what you said but I don't understand why Helene gets so much hate from so many people. Yes, she was righteous, horrible and everything Laia & Elias are not. But she has only ever seen life from the Empire's perspective, she doesn't know any better until she feels and sees it and begins to understand why she was wrong. Elias still had his very early childhood with Mamie Rila in his heart. We can't expect Helene to instantly see the light or see it as fast as Elias does, but we will be so appreciative when she does. I guarantee, in the 4th (and I think final?) instalment of the series, EVERYONE is gonna 180 on Helene and I am so fucking ready. The build up for her character is so overwhelmingly powerful, she is set up to becoming my favourite character ever if Sabaa Tahir writes her well. Don't get me wrong, Elias has become my favourite Male character (I'm sorry Jem, Will and Hadrian!) out of any series and Laia is close to my favourite Female character but the sheer size of Helene's character development and everything she stands for coming into question? That is going to explode in the most amazing fashion and I am just praying it pays off for her. She better be the one to kill the Bitch of Blackcliff, so help me God. Speaking of, Keris is honestly the worst but I love how she outwits anybody. There has to be a reason as to why she's this way and I hope Sabaa Tahir gives us a solid explanation for Keris and her actions. I have a feeling Cook is still alive. I just know it. I want so badly for her to have one final, concrete explanation as to why she can't be what Laia wants her to be despite Laia forgiving her. There is a reason it wasn't made abundantly clear that she is gone. Whether she comes back as a "human" or not is another story. I have a feeling either Cook or ... will replace Elias as the Soul Catcher... Who, you might ask..? Avitas Harper. I think Helene will be too harsh on him and force him away time after time, he'll give up and offer to replace Elias and perform his duties as the Soul Catcher so Elias can be free and reunite with Laia. It's selfless, it's his form of asking for forgiveness for the crimes he's committed. I think Helene won't find love, I doubt she'll have a "Happily Ever After..." but her heart will be forever Avitas' and though he will give up on ever getting it from her, she will give it to him and only him. I hope they are completely bound to one another in some way. Nightbringer has had his entire race enslaved (much worse than the Scholar's or anybody else) for literally a thousand years. He was the King of the people who pass lost ghosts to the afterlife. He is basically "Love" in its purest form. Sometimes you have to love something enough to let them go and that's what he personifies for me. But it has been slowly torn from him by his desire to free his people. It's pretty easy to see why people side with Nightbringer, he's not inherently bad, he's just going about it all wrong and it's so easy to see why he's gone down this dark path. A brilliantly complex antagonist. Elias & Laia... Oh gosh, I want so desperately for them to be entwined forever. I want Elias to be freed from his duties and I want them both to pass into afterlife, hand in hand, for eternity. They both are such sweet souls. Laia has grown right before us and become every bit as Lioness as her mother. I want Laia's love to set the Nightbringer free. I want her to keep fighting. I want Laia and Elias' love to prevail. They are just the sweetest and they deserve to have each other's love for life and beyond. All in all, 5/5. Top 3 Fantasy series I've ever read. At a minimum. Absolutely astounding.
JUST FINISHED READING THE BOOK AND FINALLY I CAN CLICK TO YOUR VIDEO. OH. MY. GOD. My heart can't handle it... :( And yes! The library scene also reminded me of the avatar's library & giant owl.
i just bought the first book today because i saw the other two on the front display at barnes and noble! i’m reading it literally just because you recommended it haha
I need to get caught up in this series. I finished book 1 and am currently on the first quarter of Torch against the night. I really need to power read.🤓🤓
I just finished the book (I know I am LATE) and checked when the new book is comig out... xD I only have to wait 4 days ? LAst time I had to wait like 2 (?) years :D
SPOILER DO NOT READ THIS COMMENT! When Elias came back to Laia, after he lost himself she was begging him to come back and she remembers when he told her, “no matter how I’ve changed, I love you” I died inside. I just finished this book like five minutes ago and I need my OTP back. When she tossed the armlet...I’m so upset 😭😭😭😭
Helene is actually the most interesting character for me. She’s just so complex and I just love her ugh
The moment the chapters go from "Helene" to "BloodShrike". Killed me. So great. Period. Haha
she is the best :')
Me too I love her
SAMEEEEEEEEEEEE her and harper
The thirds book is my fav because of blood shrike. I grew to love her and deep down I wanted her and Elias to get together 😢
It's interesting to me that you love this series primarily for Laia and Elias being together and not at all for Helene when for me it's the opposite. I kind of constantly wanted to be reading about Helene because she's such an interesting and complex character to me, + I love Harper.
Same, she's definitely the most interesting character in the series, imo.
I really enjoy all of the characters but Helene and Harper are my favorites.
Agreed. Helene and the Commandant story overshadowed Elias and Laia in this book.
Gwen Leaf yessss exactly!! I loved helene+harper so much and she really grew as a character
I have to agree with you there. Helene was my favorite part of this book. I really enjoyed Elias and Laia in the first two but Helene's story was the one I wanted to know the most.
Helene’s chapters were honestly what I rooted for the entire book. I enjoyed Laia and Elias, but like HELENE ABD HARPER JUST WOW I HIGHKEY LOVE THEM MORE THAN LAIA AND ELIAS?
Tasnim E. meeeee af😭😭
For some reason in this book, I actually really really rooted for Helene. Her POV was one of the most amazing things I've ever read. Like sure, at times she's stupid but Elias and her POV's ended on such good cliffhangers that it destroyed me. More than Laia's tbh but Laia's my girl and I'll love her forever.
The conversations in this series on refugee crisis, genocide, nationalism, classism, racism, destiny v. fate, family, humanity. Ugh. My heart. Sabaa is just on a whole other level. It's like she took the real world, mashed it into 500 pages, and slapped a magic system on it. Devastating and beautiful all at once.
I talk a lot more about all of this on my ARATG discussion video on my channel as well.
Girl idk HOW but Helene's my favorite character and everyone else seems to hate her?? I mean I understand why and I ADORE Laia and Elias with every fiber of my being but for some reason, Helene is everything to me. Her wielding that war hammer at the end was the epitome of badass and I love her😭 This series is perfection!!
Helene is the best by far in this series I fell deep in love with her growth. I'm rooting for her and Harper have a happy relationship in the future.
I really wanted more development of Elias and Laia's relationship. I love them together and as characters individually. But I needed more intimate moments to believe they indeed love each other because love is something that takes time to develop. Harper and Helene didn't give a shit about each other but they began to care and the way their relationship progresses is a little bit more realistic than Elaia's one for me. The moment Helene healed Harper I screamed out loud. Also, Laia is such an amazing character. She's sweet, kind, strong, brave and isn't afraid of calling you on your bullshit.
Yes! I wanted Laia and Elias's relationship to develop too. We really didn't get to witness the time they spent together because of the timeskip :((
AnjXMoonStone Exactly!! Like, in the first book they feel physical attraction. In the second, Laia falls in love with Keenan because she sees herself in him in ways she couldn't with Elias and yet, Elias is in love with her already. In the third book, they say they are in love with each other, but I don't know I needed more moments when they realized they are indeed in love with each other. Also, I expected a little bit more understanding in Laia's part when at the end he says he's the Soul Catcher and Laia throws the armlet he made to her. I found it a little bit selfish because Elias died and that was the only way he could live again and help her but l don't know what Laia wanted from him.
jimin's lemonade I guess this can't be helped when the book doesn't really focus that much on Laia & Elias's + Harper & Helene's relationship. It's my misfortune that romance takes a backseat in this book haha. And if you also consider Reaper's pages...
By the way, uhh- not to sound demanding, but I wish the books had more pages - I mean, if any of the books had 600 pages I wouldn't care. I'd straight-up devour them anyway. I NEED MOREEE HAHAHA.
Moreover, oohhh I didn't really see the armlet throwing incident from that perspective before haha. The first thought I had when I read it though is that it will be some sort of reminder of Elias's humanity? Sort of a tether in case he goes too far? I don't know, I was imagining scenarios where very bad things happen to Elias, and they need to bring his humanity back, and the armlet she made for Laia was the solution. Kind of- I don't know if you've seen The Vampire Diaries yet? But I could totally see a TVD situation happening on the fourth book.
AnjXMoonStone Oh yes, you are probably right about Elias' humanity. But Laia seemed so upset and Elias even explained to her that his failure with the ghosts had influenced his decision. Elias is almost obsessed with Laia and I wanted more delicate moments. About the length of the books... I think Ember is now a successful series so I do think Sabaa can write as much as she wants (debut books need to be short and mostly when it's a series). Besides romance, the emotional part of the book needed more development. I love Helene and Harper more because they are literally together almost all the time together and I saw better progress. I don't like Helene's ideals that much though, but Harper is THAT man lmao
AnjXMoonStone I think someone is going to replace Elias as soul catcher but I don't know where he stands now. What's Elias position now that The Nightbringer and the jinn are free now? He's not even Elias anymore though :(
I was extremely worried that Harper was the Nightbringer because Helene does not deserve that.
SPOILER WARNING
OKAY I NEED TO RANT
Sooooo Helene and Harper??? UHH yes please. I loved their slow burning romance and how we could see in every Blood Shrike chapter that Harper was so in love with her, and so was she but couldn’t show it. Gosh. And then they finally kissed. I’m not okay. When Helene was attacked in the streets and when Harper stayed with her- I need to stop or I’ll get emotional again.
When I saw that Elias’ name for the final chapter was just The Soul Catcher I could hear my heart break. And just in general all scenes between Elias and Laia, especially towards the end, had my heart breaking. I was so ready to see their romance actually happen in this book but nope Sabaa Tahir obviously hates us all. And that intimate scene between them had me shook but I was all for it. Until i found out that she wouldn’t remember it... my heart broke yet again. The last scene with them had me physically crying???
Surely it’s not just me who didn’t guess that Cook was Laia’s mum?? Like I knew that she would play a big role in this book but I didn’t think THAT was going to happen. Big yikes.
Honestly I hated Helene in the first two books but I actually liked her in this book. The scene where she teared off her mask had me shook because it was such an epic moment, although tragic seeing as it was done for the wrong reasons. Marcus on the other hand... regardless if he’s losing his mind because of his brother’s ghost, he was a dick. Livia deserved better.
So to conclude: this book killed me and I’m not ready for the next one
I suspected that there were something going on with Harper and helene since a Torch against the Night
Helene is the best character in this book
Joshua Gregoire no
Art 3mis yes
Just finished this and omg the part that got me the most was when Helene finally breaks down in the tunnel, and rips her mask off because nothing mattered more than the safety of her people ugh got me teary eyed. But seriously, I love the main characters in this book soooo much, they’re all such complex and interesting characters and I’m rooting for them all. Also the commandant is the single most horrifying villain I’ve ever seen, she keeps surprising me with the extremes she will go to in order to obtain power.
SPOILERS BELOW
Rant:
1. Helene and Harper..... since Elias and Laia were apart, I was clinging to that ship the entire book... just for it to be pulled apart...
2.I KNEW cook was the lioness! I knew it from An Ember in the Ashes!!!
3. Elias’s last chapter and how it said ‘the soul catcher’ instead of ‘Elias’ I literally cried
4. You failed to mention the tiny fact that THE WHISP IS QUINNS WIFE?!
I’m sorry, I’m done
Gryffindor Girl and the Augur Cain being the Scholar king who had taken away the powers from the Jinn.
The story of the Nightbringer where he was kind and has love for his people
omg yes when I saw his chapter heading was The Soul Catcher my heart stung a little.
I don't think Helene and Harper's separation is definitive at all. The reason was believable because Helene thinks she needs to focus only on the Empire, but I guess she and Avitas are going to have more intimate moments and she's going to realize that she can be Helene with him. In fact, she already is Helene with him. He even calls her that on his mind.
I hope that will happen.............I hope so so much
ahhhh i keep seeing this book everywhere on booktube, i really need to get started on this series!
I know many people are team Laia, and although I l adore her and Elias I’ve always been team Helene. She is such an interesting character. I also lived for her and Harper’s chemistry.
Roxan Vasilik I know! Her and Harper are perfect, both so closed, but hopefully they can open each other up😅😅 I died at the end when they couldn’t get together at the end
Same
Ah I am the complete opposite! I love Helene so very much! She’s so complex and so strong and just so amazing!
I’ve actually never been the biggest fan of Laia until this book!
I feel like I’m the only one who loves Helene lol!
Bookables 😂😂Girl I love Helene too...especially in Reaper. She's just amazing.
I've always liked Laia and as the series progressed I grew to love her even more. Elias is my husband and nobody can tell me otherwise 😭💞
i love helene, she's my favourite! she goes through so much, i feel for her.. i just want her to be happy ;-;
Bookables ever since the first book, helene has always held such a special place in my heart. i shipped her with elias, but now i just want her to be happy & hopefully with harper!! laia annoyed me in the first two books, but her character finally felt like it had a strong purpose here. AS FOR ELIAS, HIS TRANSITION TO THE SOUL CATCHER RUINED ME!!!!! i can’t believe i’ll have to wait 2 years until the next book :(
yess i love helene too!! I didn’t know what to feel about her in the first book but after reading the second book and from her perspective, she started to become one of my favs. I grew to admire her devotion so much that I envy it. And omgkdjdjegdj her and Harper is crazy....o my heart!!
Laia is one of my favorite female main characters ever, I agree with everything you say about her. What I love is that it's very much show and not tell: we actually see Laia being strong instead of other characters constantly telling us how badass she is (there are some book series that..... struggle with this). Even though it's a fantasy series, her character development feels so realistic and relatable. But yeah, A Reaper at the Gates destroyed me as well. I NEED BOOK FOUR RIGHT NOW PLEASE.
Yes that's exactly right
How can you possibly not like Helene...i cannot compute this...she was just such a great, complex and intriguing character
Plus her and harper had the most realistic romance...ughhh gosh i just love helene so so so much
But i get you, Elias and Laia are also great. The whole book was great. The story is a masterpiece i loved all 4 POVs.
If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have read this series. It is my favorite series ever and I couldn't be more grateful for you because of the fact that you showed me these books.
Amy Edmondson this makes me so incredibly happy ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Laia is the epitome of the best strong female character. And NOT in the trope-y way. She's strong because she puts others before herself, cares not only for her family but for her people and anyone that she meets, has unfaltering determination, and really becomes a true leader. Her development from AEITA to ARATG was so natural and compelling. My favorite scene was also when she voiced her achievements and what she's been through over the course of the year to the king of Adisa. It was the first time she every said anything about what she's survived and I felt like a proud mom reading that.
I also have the same feelings about Helene as you. She didn't really grow on me until the end of the book. I do appreciate how she began to drop what she had been ingrained in her from Blackcliff and started using her own values to drive her. Watching her family be killed in front of her and because of her, having to turn a blind eye to her sister's constant torture by the hand of the Emperor, trying to save her sister and baby nephew from the Commandant, trying to save the Empire not because she's loyal to it but because she wants a future for her nephew, trying to stop the Commandant from usurping the throne. These things lit a fire under her ass, as opposed to fighting for the Empire simply because its her duty to. The scene that made me like Helene most was towards the end when she leaves her sister to be taken away from the overrun city and goes to continue fighting because it would tear her up inside to escape as her men are slaughtered, looking for her to be there fighting next to them. She's trying her hardest to hold off the Karkauns from getting to the tunnels where the escapees are. And eventually, she ends up doing it BY HERSELF. She's come to the realization that she's going to die but she's going to go down swinging. She's wounded, exhausted, stressed, in excruciating pain after ripping her mask off her face, but she keeps fighting. I would love to watch that scene acted out in a movie. It reminds me of the scene from LOTR when Boromir is being shot by arrows left and right but he continues to fight. If Helene would have died during that, it actually would have been a more emotional moment and I'd miss her. But I'm glad she lived.
AND ELIAS. MY HEART. For him to start out as just trying to rid himself of the control of the Empire and be free, to being on the run while slowly dying, and then tortured in Kauf Prison, and then actually die, and then to be chained down to the Waiting Place as Soul Catcher and having to let go of his humanity HURT MY SOUL. OMG. Sabaa Tahir is so cruel for doing that to him. lol This man just can't get right and it's not fair. It's heart-wrenching that he never got the freedom that he wanted. The Augur's promised him that he'd get freedom of body and soul, and as Soul Catcher I guess he gets it, but at the expense of losing Laia. Which makes me want to cry. He's back to having a duty to pass ghosts on. Hopefully someone else comes along in the next book who can take his place because idk if i'll be able to take him and Laia being separated any longer!
Hot take - The Lioness kills her husband and daughter not to give them mercy, but to make sure they don't give up any secrets during torture.
Paige Burns I think she also mentions something like this at one point
Cheyenne Simon ya before she dies i think
Both, I think
I just read the book. It was amazing. Helene and Harper are my absolute favorites but I do like Laia and Elias. I cannot wait for book 4.
it's interesting to me that people can dislike a character like helene from this series, but like or even adore matthias from the six of crows duology, because they are very similar in terms of their struggle to overcome ideologies ingrained into them from birth, yet people are always a lot more forgiving of matthias than helene... can't relate. personally, reading about the struggle of someone who lost so much, who loses so much throughout the series, dare i say it - more than any of the other characters... and still pick herself up, still show sparks of humanity and love and duty.. idk, i just adore helene with everything i have and i hope she gets her happy ending.
i actually didn't like elias in the first book and he's still a bit meh to me, though i do like laia. the relationship between them to me is secondary to everything else, and i honestly don't care much about it, but i do care about the scholar's plight and i very much look forward to finding out how laia deals with it in the last book, and i SO look forward to her developing a relationship with helene. it's going to be so much fun watching my favourite two characters finally interact in a (hopefully) non-hostile way. i can't wait!
Laia didn't annoy me as much in this book. I liked her alot in the first book, in the second book...not so much. But Helene remains my all time favorite she is sooooo badass😎 all in all this book was great I still love Elias and I hope that he does get his humanity back and has his happy ending with Laia
I love helene the most in this series. In the beginning I loved elias most but through book two and through to book three, I just grew to absolutely adore helene. She is the best of all. I can't get why people dont like helene???
And yes my favourite ship is of couse helene and harper...
I used to have conflicting feelings about Helene, but started to love her through this book. I especially love the little moments she and harper have! ❤️
No one seems to talk about livia she’s a QUEEN
Sabaa Tahir is one of my favorite writers, and this series has been amazing. Helene is my girl! December 1st is almost here.
Guuurl you forgot about THE AUGURS BEING THE SCHOLARS 😱 AND CAIN THEIR KING
LIKE 😱 HOW IT IS POSSIBLE ?????
+ I don’t know HOW YOU CAN’T LOVE HELENE (i feel like I’m the only one who stands her) I really hated Laia from the beginning but I kinda like her in this one so yeah
BUT ELIAS Aka MY HUSBAND (I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING ELSE) TURNING TO THE SOUL CATCHER IS HOOLLLLYYY SHIIIIYTTT THAT BROKE MY HEART
Love hearing your thoughts
Helene was hands down my favourite part of the book. I loved how much she cared about her sister and, as you said, how she's un-learning everything she's known her entire life and questioning so many things. Laia didn't...annoy me is not quite the right word (and I still LOVE her), but I didn't find her parts as engaging as in the previous books - particularly the first. As for Elias, I felt no tension whatsoever. From the very beginning, I felt like there was only one possible path for his character to go, and then it did. And I hated it, but I knew there was no other way for it to end, so I didn't feel any anxiety, just sadness. I would have liked him to have continue to fight Mauth and keep his humanity because it would have been different from what I expected just as much as I did because it’s, well, his humanity. And as for Cook, I can't say I saw it coming, but I wasn't surprised at all.
My biggest anxiety for the next book is where Sabaa takes it plot-wise. I’m so over THE YA high fantasy novel, because I feel like 99% of them are exactly the same. This series started off so different from many others, but in this book (and Torch) had some elements that hit a little close to the standard, boring YA high fantasy blueprint for me. The fact that Elias and Helene are just as big characters as Laia (and that I do love them) gives me hope, but I hope the next book has an ending I don’t expect, rather than one I’ve read so many times before.
Thank you for the review/summary! I read this book about two years ago and kinda forgot what this book was about. You helped me remember how much I love this series.
*SPOILERS FOR A REAPER AT THE GATES*
The thing about these books is that the worst thing that could possibly happen ALWAYS HAPPENS. It's just so heartbreaking and Sabaa Tahir holds no freaking punches.
Also, my heart kept being crushed with all the suffering Lydia went through. I HATE HIM SO MUCH and I am so glad Helene killed him.
Also, can we like talk, that the final Elias chapter wasn't called his name but Soul Catcher??? I have done nothing to deserve that kind of pain???
And also, I feel like Nightbringer is way too powerful. Like, I can't imagine how he could even be defeated, he's literally always a step before everybody and he tortures them all and gets them exactly where he needs them and he's so good at manipulating people and also just so powerful and scary?
Also, I am dying to get to know more about the Commandant. She's so fascinating.
SO IN CONCLUSION, I AM DESTROYED
Stanisław Grabowski I know!!! I died when he was named the soul catcher, started crying in the middle of class- I mean... I was totally paying attention to the teacher and not reading... yeah....
Gryffindor Girl my EMOTIONS 😭😭😭
I don't think the Nightbringer is going to be destroyed/defeated in the end. I think he may find peace with the Scholars, Martials, and Tribes (but not without some pain) because he was made to love, and the jinn are always going to be needed to restore balance in this world according to Mauth. This is all so bittersweet. I don't hate the Nightbringer, I kinda understand him and his reasons and I find his love for his people so heartbreaking but hopefully he wont be filled with hatred and vengeance for too long. The real enemy is Keris, the bitch of Blackcliff can go die honestly.
I can't wait to learn about the commandant as well, at this point she's someone we know the least about, besides her ruthlessness. I feel like shes going to have a point of view in the last book of the series so we learn about her history to understand why she is the way she is. OOOHHH IM SO EXCITED!!! HOW CAN I WAIT ANOTHER YEAR??!! *overwhelmed with emotion*
So does that mean that there wouldn’t be any Elias & Laia moments (romantic moments) please answereeeee
Hannah: *Posts*
Me: *Drops everything immediately*
That is the story of my life
Eliaaaaas whyyyyy. This book gave me so many feelings. I agree with all your Laia and Elias ranting, the armband scene at the end killed me. Helene didn't bother me quite as much in the first couple of books, but I agree in this one she got some good character growth at the end. Even though I'm very sad about Elias, I am excited to see Laia and Helene's relationship and them working together (at least that's what I'm assuming will happen) in the next book.
It's funny coming here after just finishing the book and seeing you gush about Laia and Elias cos I spent this entire book hoping one or both would die, they bored me to tears until the last 1/5 of the book where Elias finally stops being himself and Laia finally teams up with Helene.
I am team Helene all the way!!! Helena and Harper just ugh.... I love them.
And I am high key on Nightbringer's side ngl, I don't think he's all that bad. But Keris... she's Final Boss Battle villain level.
I just finished reading this today and it just tore me apart. When you started talking about Cook, I started tearing up again because her and Laia's interactions were just so heartbreaking for me and... I can't.
Here it goes -
The wisp's lovey is none other than the commandant 🥺
I personally like Helene's story more
Yes to all of this!!! I was heartbroken and devastated but it was such an amazing book! So many feels! Also..I love the part where her brother was tell her she couldn’t go off by herself and she just goes OFF on him and in her little rant she FINALLY admits out loud that she loves Elias! And I loved that Musa was like “I was really glad to hear you finally admit that out loud” and she was like “we are not discussing Elias.” Lol
I'm so happy that someone loves this series as much as I do !!!!
This series should have more hype :')
The nightbringer is just trying to get revenge on the people for killing his children
I totally saw that episode of Avatar... also I love Helene and Harper
I never really understood what you meant by this series “destroying you”, but after reading these books I totally get it. I think Sabaa Tahir channels George R. R. Martin when she is writing. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
I just finished this book and your review made me realize I liked Laia and Elias' parts more than I originally thought. But for me Helene's story was the most interesting. It was the most compelling to me. It seemed like Laia and Elias' didn't really do much but they did I just was most engaged with Helene's part. I can't wait for the 4th.
I literally just finished reading Reaper so this video could not have been better timed because I AM DECEASED after that ending. I totally felt the same about the library scene! It TOTALLY reminded me of that episode of ATLA because like that is one of my fav episodes! I agree on all accounts about Laia, I love her strength, I love her doubt and I love her ability to keep moving forward. and that scene with Helene at the end was 100% my fav part of the book despite all the consequences it will have.
One of my fav plot twists was that one of the ghosts who keep haunting Elias in the waiting place turns out to be his grandmother!!! 👀👀👀 I ❤️ this series soo much!!! Def my all time fav fantasy series. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
The story base of An Ember in the ashes reminded me of Throne of Glass but with WAY BETTER execution. Elias is love and somehow Laia reminds me a bit of Arya. Just finished A Reaper at the gates ❤️
aratg really made me love helene bc i kind of hated her in the first two djsjsk
she’s now kind of my favourite so uh
I'm finding this way late as I just got into the series, but I absolutely love all of this lol. I love how much you love Laia and Elias. I'm crazy about them too. Absolutely adore them
I didn't like Laia or Elias I don't really care what happens to them. From book one I've loved Helene so much! She's complex and kind and I was rooting for her so much. I just want her to find love and be happy and rule everything. Also her romance with Harper is so sweet and believable. I really don't like Laia and Elias together. For me their romance is superficial, based only on physical attraction and sexual chemistry and the whole time reading I was bored wondering why they even love each other.
I just finished this book and when I tell you my heart was BROKEN!!!
😭😭😭😭❤️
I just love these books so much man, they just hit me in the feels and they are at times so profound and reflect real world situations in a beautiful nuanced way, I just love these books.
I love Halene's character. She's not simple but shes a great character
I totally agree with your opinion on Helene! I actually really liked her character in the first half of Ember, but then she started treating Laia like dirt. She just irked me after that, and there were times where I can barely tolerate her, but I did start to like her again a little bit when I reached the end of Reaper.
I wasn’t going to make this comment if you haven’t mentioned confidence, you don’t like Helene and love Laia your opinion not my business and it’s not my business to make somebody change their taste or mind, but you want people to feel confident actually little girls feel confident because of Laia?
She only speaks tough and has her ass saved by everybody. She is saved by Musa because of her mother, king lets her go because of her mother, she has everybody her saved because of somebody, and what she does actually screw things horribly. This is the character who is supposed to provide me with confidence? The last time I checked it’s your actions that mattered and not saved by literary everybody and have absolutely no problem with it. Standing up for yourself is great but again when you did nothing solely by yourself and all the people who helped you is because of your mother/boyfriend/armlet, she hasn’t proved herself as worthy.
I agree with you soooooo much. So complex. And my heart was thumping the whole time....Elias cannot become the soul catcher entirely. I NEED him with Laia. My heart depend on it. BTW thanks for recommending this series to me, it now has a very special place in my heart.
It's been a month and a half since I read this,, now you're making me feel things again...….
I am so excited for this! Yes! Yes! Yes! I bought all 3 the other day.
I just finished this book and I am so not okay right now. I just want my boo Elias back😭😭😭. But I have hope for the next book there’s going to be struggle but I have hope. I don’t want to wait a year
I love this series so much, and I only read it because you recommended it, so thank you!!! I think for me A Reaper at the Gates is the best book in the series so far.
I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS SERIES TOO WAAAAAAAA
I’ve been waiting for this review! So exited to finally watch, thanks Hannah!
The scene you mentioned with Laia standing up for herself against the king and princess...she reminded me of Katara so much!
We love Helene.
This book tore my heart out and then stomped on it.
i read the first 2 books
couldn't bring myself to read the third because i just knew that elias was going to be tortured more
so i thought i'd watch a spoiler review and see if i can handle it
BIG MISTAKE
although now at least i'm a little more emotionally prepared for elias to lose his humanity
i'll still cry my heat out
and also.....cook is lioness!!!!!!
i did NOT see that coming
i kinda thought she was the traitor before the whole keenan thing in torch. but than i was like...well...there goes that
still...what!?
but yeah...now i'm wrecked
and i still have to read reaper
and wait for 4 months for the final book!..which i know isn't a lot compared to what some of u have been waiting for..but .still a lot foe me.
unpopular opinion i think: helene is superior to laia. but laia and elias endgame!😍
Yeah I agree with not liking Helene as much as the other two. And that romance is everything! I do think the Nightbringer chapters to start giving us more info about him
dont wanna brag but i saw the cook part coming from a mile off but still, i just... goddamn it!! that part was heart wrenching. i dont want her dead honestly.
Never clicked so fast in my life.
I just LOVE these books so much! ❤
Literally just finished this. Omg 😍
Hi Hannah I love your videos! I have just finished reading the book and your thoughts echo mine.
Can’t wait for the last book!
I loved Helene’s and secondly Laia’s point of view. Helene is the bestttt
Ahhh I'm still halfway thru book 2 so I'll come back to this. I really am enjoying this series so much.
Spoiler rant real fast: Can we all just discuss the fact that Mauth actually spoke to Laia from Elias's body???? I have no idea how to handle that. Does he actually feel for Elias, will he help him in the future? I have no idea but that part honestly broke my heart and stomped on it.
Also, we better get some cute baby scenes in the next book but honestly Sabaa Tahir has made me wary (scared for my cinnamon rolls) of the future in this series.
Also, also, thanks for making this video!!
I started reading ARATG yesterday morning and I finished it just a few hours ago. Normally a book this size would take me about a week to finish it but GIRL did I fly through this book.
And I was completely wrecked. It took me some hours to put myself together again.
Now I gotta wait until next year (unless there's another delay) for the final installment and I am just...Not ready for that but at the same time I need, but at the same time I'm not ready to know how it ends and...I'm terrified honestly
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!! I LOVE THAT YOU LOVE LAIA AND ELIAS AS MUCH AS I DO!!!! AHHHHH
Wasn't it Elias who rescued laia's brother ?
Please bear with me for this may be too long
Firstly, can we talk about the AMAZING world building saba tahir has done? ( Not just from a philosophical perspective of building a society, that may seem from roman/historic ages but is gripping from the same issues as our present times ) I am talking about the complete history of this world, how the jinns were responsible for helping the ghosts move on, how everyone had a role to maintain balance in the universe, how it was broken and its consequences.
Secondly, is it just me or was the Nightbringer's character the most interesting? She gave such an amazing backstory to the guy and, when I read the first chapter (which was the nightbringer's pov btw) I was hooked!
Thirdly, one of the main things that struck me in the book was the commentary on mental health among other very real issues. Take Marcus, for instance. He is probably the most hated Character coming second only to the Bitch of Blackcliff, but there are moments when you feel so bad for him. This is the beauty of writing- being able to invoke feelings of sympathy for even the most brutal characters. Whenever he spoke to his brothers ghost, especially when he begged Helene to heal him (pointing to his head), I could really feel something for this monster, even though I wanted him dead like a thousand times.
Also, I must confess although I loved Helene, she was never my most favorite character (laia takes that spot!) I was always rooting for her. Especially in the 2nd book after what happened to her family and how she was 'unmade' I just wanted her to have one solid win...haven't gotten one yet!!
Although stories are built for us to love main characters the most, I have a hard time doing that. With this series, I was sold within the first book! The amount of growth she has shown, the obstacles she faced, to finally think of herself as 'not nothing' was so well executed. She is a sweetheart really.
(Btw that plot twist about the Cook had me in tears!!)
I did like Elias alot in this book, and I was heartbroken when he lost his humanity and refused to help Laia, although when I think about it and try to remove all the love I have for him, and their love, it was the right thing to do, but hey, if the right thing was easy to do, everyone would've done it.
(The chapter where the name changes from Elias to Soul Catcher was so depressing!)
Lastly, I haven't read the last book yet, but I really want to see how Meherya's success turns out for the world. What will the jinn do now? Will my laia and Elias get something remotely close to a happyish ending? And Helen and harper ofc. Also, I am really looking forward to a friendship hopefully growing between laia and helene. I mean they have already made so much progress, they owe each other their lives, both have lost family, (I really loved the line where Helen understood cooks relationship with laia and says " curse the world for what it does to mothers..." or something on those lines)
Anyway, sorry for the long rant!
There's no way someone will hate this series , CAUSE IT'S THE BEST!!!!
I have watched many of your videos in like a week length and Im glad i did cause there is so many books that i have been debating on whether or not to read them and you have touched on many of them, which is great for me! I feel like we have the same tatse in books so it helps alot. i cant wait to come across a review of a book i read or loved to see ur points! keep it up! Wish i had people to talk about books to lol
AND, about helene and harper. I think Laia should teach helene a lesson that the last time, she and Elias had any chance in a torch against the night before it ALL WENT TO REGRET, Elias freaking broke it off because he thought it was for the better good.
can i just say, MY GODDAMNED FOOT
I feel the exact same emotions as you!!! I need book 4 right now!!!!!
I just finished the third book and I needed this review.thank you 😩😩
Just got done reading this. And holy fuck this takes over as my favourite fantasy series.
One point, I agree with most of what you said but I don't understand why Helene gets so much hate from so many people. Yes, she was righteous, horrible and everything Laia & Elias are not. But she has only ever seen life from the Empire's perspective, she doesn't know any better until she feels and sees it and begins to understand why she was wrong. Elias still had his very early childhood with Mamie Rila in his heart. We can't expect Helene to instantly see the light or see it as fast as Elias does, but we will be so appreciative when she does. I guarantee, in the 4th (and I think final?) instalment of the series, EVERYONE is gonna 180 on Helene and I am so fucking ready. The build up for her character is so overwhelmingly powerful, she is set up to becoming my favourite character ever if Sabaa Tahir writes her well.
Don't get me wrong, Elias has become my favourite Male character (I'm sorry Jem, Will and Hadrian!) out of any series and Laia is close to my favourite Female character but the sheer size of Helene's character development and everything she stands for coming into question? That is going to explode in the most amazing fashion and I am just praying it pays off for her. She better be the one to kill the Bitch of Blackcliff, so help me God.
Speaking of, Keris is honestly the worst but I love how she outwits anybody. There has to be a reason as to why she's this way and I hope Sabaa Tahir gives us a solid explanation for Keris and her actions.
I have a feeling Cook is still alive. I just know it. I want so badly for her to have one final, concrete explanation as to why she can't be what Laia wants her to be despite Laia forgiving her. There is a reason it wasn't made abundantly clear that she is gone. Whether she comes back as a "human" or not is another story. I have a feeling either Cook or ... will replace Elias as the Soul Catcher...
Who, you might ask..? Avitas Harper. I think Helene will be too harsh on him and force him away time after time, he'll give up and offer to replace Elias and perform his duties as the Soul Catcher so Elias can be free and reunite with Laia. It's selfless, it's his form of asking for forgiveness for the crimes he's committed. I think Helene won't find love, I doubt she'll have a "Happily Ever After..." but her heart will be forever Avitas' and though he will give up on ever getting it from her, she will give it to him and only him. I hope they are completely bound to one another in some way.
Nightbringer has had his entire race enslaved (much worse than the Scholar's or anybody else) for literally a thousand years. He was the King of the people who pass lost ghosts to the afterlife. He is basically "Love" in its purest form. Sometimes you have to love something enough to let them go and that's what he personifies for me. But it has been slowly torn from him by his desire to free his people. It's pretty easy to see why people side with Nightbringer, he's not inherently bad, he's just going about it all wrong and it's so easy to see why he's gone down this dark path. A brilliantly complex antagonist.
Elias & Laia... Oh gosh, I want so desperately for them to be entwined forever. I want Elias to be freed from his duties and I want them both to pass into afterlife, hand in hand, for eternity. They both are such sweet souls. Laia has grown right before us and become every bit as Lioness as her mother. I want Laia's love to set the Nightbringer free. I want her to keep fighting. I want Laia and Elias' love to prevail. They are just the sweetest and they deserve to have each other's love for life and beyond.
All in all, 5/5. Top 3 Fantasy series I've ever read. At a minimum. Absolutely astounding.
Oh my gosh yes. I needed this series because after the disappointment of the throne of glass series I need something that makes my heart MELT
JUST FINISHED READING THE BOOK AND FINALLY I CAN CLICK TO YOUR VIDEO. OH. MY. GOD. My heart can't handle it... :(
And yes! The library scene also reminded me of the avatar's library & giant owl.
i just bought the first book today because i saw the other two on the front display at barnes and noble! i’m reading it literally just because you recommended it haha
I need to get caught up in this series. I finished book 1 and am currently on the first quarter of Torch against the night. I really need to power read.🤓🤓
Cook's identity shocked me. I thought she would be Laia's grandmother from her Father's side
I ship helene from the very begining. I kinda hate elias didn’t ends up with helene
Que buena critica al libro, muchas gracias ! Saludos desde Colombia.
I just finished the book (I know I am LATE) and checked when the new book is comig out... xD I only have to wait 4 days ? LAst time I had to wait like 2 (?) years :D
I litteraly dropped everything (even A Reaper At The Gates) to see it
SPOILER DO NOT READ THIS COMMENT!
When Elias came back to Laia, after he lost himself she was begging him to come back and she remembers when he told her, “no matter how I’ve changed, I love you” I died inside. I just finished this book like five minutes ago and I need my OTP back. When she tossed the armlet...I’m so upset 😭😭😭😭
I love that Avatar reference you made :D
Omg I am fully dead by this book , I literally devoured it. I am sooo happy that you finally did a review for this book
I have been waiting for this. I just finished this and i have so many feels for it.
I died reading this book. It broke my heart to see all the pain the characters go through, and I can't imagine what will happen in the next book