An Ember in the Ashes

There are many things that I like about this story. The dark setting with a resistance against an oppressive regime is intriguing. The beaten down nature of a subjugated people really does come through. Sabaa Tahir has a writing style that really evokes that oppression well. However, I do have several reservations against the story, particularly on the engagement I felt towards the characters.

The basic premise is great. The introduction with raid on a house by the authorities on a conquered people goes in dark places that I like. There is an overarching Romeo + Juliet story vibe as well - always a classic.

Unfortunately, I find the characters and their motivations somewhat unbelievable. The stupidity of some characters is really bizarre (how can someone who has been planning an escape for a decade end up acting suddenly so suspiciously right before its planned achievement?). I am hoping that the motivation of the Augers becomes clearer in later books, as they come across as really confused here.

I do love the introduction of some more arabic and middle eastern myth and legend - the use of efrit and djinn. There is a lot good here in the story. I will read the next couple of books to see where it goes - hopefully the characters will develop in a way that I find less jarring. Everything else here is good!