Reading Order
Ember in the AshesAn Ember in the Ashes Reading Order
Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series is a 4-book fantasy saga set in a Roman-inspired empire where Scholar slaves serve Martial soldiers. The series follows Laia and Elias from opposite sides of the empire's brutality through a revolution neither asked for. Each book picks up directly after the last — this is a series that must be read in order.
Where to start
An Ember in the Ashes
Complete Ember in the Ashes Book List
- 1Buy
An Ember in the Ashes
Sabaa Tahir·2015·Book 1 — Laia goes undercover as a slave; Elias wants to escape the empire he serves - 2Buy
A Torch Against the Night
Sabaa Tahir·2016·Book 2 — Laia and Elias flee together; the empire closes in - 3Buy
A Reaper at the Gates
Sabaa Tahir·2018·Book 3 — The Night Bringer's plan becomes clear; the Nightbringer arc escalates - 4Buy
A Sky Beyond the Storm
Sabaa Tahir·2020·Book 4 — The saga concludes; the fate of the Scholar people and the empire decided
Ember in the Ashes — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the An Ember in the Ashes reading order?
Read in order: An Ember in the Ashes (2015) → A Torch Against the Night (2016) → A Reaper at the Gates (2018) → A Sky Beyond the Storm (2020). The series is complete at 4 books. Each book picks up directly where the last ended.
How many Ember in the Ashes books are there?
There are 4 books in the An Ember in the Ashes series: An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night, A Reaper at the Gates, and A Sky Beyond the Storm. The series is complete. Sabaa Tahir's more recent novel All My Rage is a standalone contemporary novel, separate from this world.
Is An Ember in the Ashes YA or adult?
An Ember in the Ashes is typically classified as YA (young adult), though it is notably darker and more brutal than most YA fantasy. Its themes of slavery, oppression, and warfare are handled with more moral seriousness than typical YA. Adult readers who enjoy dark fantasy regularly pick it up and don't find it feels juvenile.
What is An Ember in the Ashes inspired by?
Sabaa Tahir drew on ancient Rome for the empire's military structure and brutality, Mughal and Afghan culture for the Scholar people, and the ongoing realities of racial oppression and occupation for the series' emotional core. The world is not a direct historical analogue but draws heavily from multiple real-world sources.
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