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1-Page Summary of An Ember In The Ashes
Overall Summary
The book An Ember in the Ashes (2015) by Pakistani-American author Sabaa Tahir is set in a world loosely inspired by ancient Rome. The story follows two characters who are members of an oppressed group, and their struggles to resist the regime that oppresses them.
The novel begins with a 17-year old girl named Laia. She is part of the Scholars, who are a more enlightened group of people that used to rule the region but have been ruled by the Martials for 500 years. The Martials enforce law mercilessly and established an oppressive system called the Empire.
Laia’s parents were once part of a movement to gain freedom from the Martial Empire. Unfortunately, they were killed in the uprising along with an aunt. Laia now lives with her grandparents in the backstreets of the empire.
A girl, watching her brother come home from a mysterious activity, guesses that he has been helping the Resistance. She and her brother start to have an ordinary conversation when they are attacked by Martials (the overlords of this land). Her brother is taken away by Masks (a secretive group of elite soldiers who represent the Martials), as he was found guilty for treason. In the surprise attack, her grandparents were murdered. The boy shouted for his sister to run away and she took flight.
Laia flees to the city of Serra. In the sewers/catacombs, Laia meets Mazen, a member of the Resistance. She asks for help in recovering her brother from Blackcliff Military Academy. Mazen agrees only if she spies on Commandant at Blackcliff Military Academy first. He believes that Laia could uncover secret information about Empire’s plans and use it against them in their fight against tyranny.
She pretends to be a slave and is assigned to serve a general, although she isn’t sure if she can trust Mazen. Keenan and Sana seem trustworthy though.
The book then switches to Elias’ perspective, a skilled fighter who is the son of a Commandant. He wants to run away from his life in the Empire because he doesn’t want to be a Mask and doesn’t like fighting.
He was planning on escaping, but the Augurs (people who can see into the future) named him an Aspirant. He is one of four people chosen to compete in a competition called “The Trials”. The current leader has no offspring so whoever wins will be the next Emperor. They are treated like gladiators and have to compete against each other for this position.
Laia gives Mazen and the Resistance information about what’s happening in the Empire. She tells them that Darin is still alive, but they need more proof before attempting a rescue mission. Meanwhile, Emperor Marcus has heard about what happened to his brother and plans to attack the capital and regain control of it.
As a slave, Laia has to follow orders from the Commandant. She often sees Elias, who is kind and critical of the Empire. As they talk, they become emotionally involved with each other. Helene becomes jealous but keeps her feelings inside since she doesn’t want him distracted during the Trials.
The tournament begins. Zak is killed by Elias after he charges him and the two battle. The Commandant announces that his slave, Laia, has been working with the Resistance. She must die because she’s a traitor to the Empire; whoever kills her first will be crowned Emperor. Marcus shoots her with an arrow, but everyone assumes she’ll die from it anyway so they declare Marcus as their new Emperor. Elias refuses to kill Laia and is now considered a traitor; he’s sentenced to be executed on the following day for refusing orders of his father (the Commandant). Helene replaces Marcus at becoming vice-emperor (aka Blood Shrike) due to being appointed by Marcus himself before his death in order to help keep up appearances during this time of crisis for them both.
