A Torch Against the Night

I think it's safe to assume that I will binge this series over the next few days. I am absolutely blown away! I feel like in fantasy sometimes there is a second book slump, but no slump here! This book was just as action packed as An Ember in the Ashes! I can't rave enough about how immersive Sabaa Tahir's writing is. Reading this series is experiencing this series. I've felt just a spectrum of emotions since starting this book. We continue to follow Laia, Elias, and Helene with multi-POV which I love. Elias's POV was my favorite in An Ember in the Ashes, but I really loved getting inside Helene's head a bit in this book. Both of their stories are filled with such inner turmoil and conflict, and @sabaatahir writes this beautifully. I really enjoyed that this book was very “mission” driven. I loved that there was a big goal that really kept the pages turning. There is a bit of a glimpse into the potential for a romantic relationship, but it is the slowest burn ever. There is a “one horse” moment which is always super fun. This book is filled with twists and turns, tragedy, sacrifice, betrayals, struggles... everything! I think this series is much darker than the YA fantasy series that I've read in the past, and I'm really enjoying the complexity that brings. The main characters all have such depth and a complexity that I haven't read in a really long time. Will I be downloading A Reaper at the Gates immediately? Absolutely! This is a YA fantasy series, 16+ for violence and themes.