5 Books to Read if You Loved ‘An Ember in the Ashes’
Have you been searching for a book that will recreate the magic you felt in An Ember in the Ashes?
Me too. Luckily, I have five books that will help you fill the Laia-shaped hole in your heart.
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Kiva Meridan saves lives inside of a death prison.
Tending the sick keeps her alive, but Kiva is no fool. Her days are numbered. One day, a comatose prisoner—the Rebel Queen—arrives on death row with a secret message: Don’t let her die. We are coming.
Freedom beckons, and Kiva does the only thing she can to save the Rebel Queen’s life: she takes her place on death row.
Let the death trials begin.
Kiva has an unerring sense of duty to the condemned prisoners coupled with a crippling need to escape. The odd combination works so well in a protagonist that you can’t help but cheer for Kiva.
The chemistry between Kiva and Jaren reminds me so much of Laia and Elias. Much like Elias, Jaren is also a cinnamon roll disguised as an alpha.
Highlights:
I’m secretly a cinnamon roll love interest
Grumpy/Sunshine
Magic belongs to the nobility
Death traps
Gulag-inspired worldbuilding: a mix of overly-punished and rightfully-punished prisoners beneath gray skies and deadly watchtowers forced to work until they die.
Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova
Renata uses her magic to steal memories.
She spent her childhood imprisoned by royals who used her magic to destroy countless lives. Now, she’s a member of the rebellion. When the royals execute the love of her life and recapture Renata, she’s determined that things will be different this time.
Renata won’t be their weapon. She will avenge the man she loved.
The emotions that permeate this story stuck with me for a long time. Renata’s deep self-hatred, its origin, and the things currently feeding it are probably enough material for an essay.
One incredible plot twist near the end made me gasp. No way! You can’t be serious.
Highlights:
Spanish-inspired worldbuilding: detailed magic system, distinct royal hierarchy, and talismans that boost magical power.
Deeply emotional
Wounded protagonist
Drama—all the drama! Dramatic relationships, intrigue, and reprehensible antagonists.
The Liar’s Crown by Abigail Owen
I am more than the future queen’s secret twin.
I am a body double. A sleight of hand trick to fool my kingdom’s ancient, ageless enemy, King Eidolon.
It’s my duty to keep my sister safe. When the monstrous Shadowraith captures me instead of her, he’s in for a nasty surprise.
Monsters don’t frighten me. In fact, I may like monsters a little too much.
The Liar’s Crown is fun. There’s no better way to put it. It’s a palate-cleanser to Incendiary’s darker mood.
Mereneith is sassy and capable. Her magical powers are neat. The romance is more predictable than others on this list.
Highlights:
Twin sisters
Familial duty
Sassy protagonist
Magical powers
Enemies-to-Lovers
Ninthborn by J.E. Holmes
Princess Ediline knows the rules to living as a cursed child:
Don’t let the foreign prince spy on her kingdom, even though Ediline’s father is using her as a decoy for her blessed-by-the-gods twin brother.
Don’t fall in love with that prince. That’s a big one.
Above all else, don’t steal the world’s most powerful magical sword to keep it from falling into the wrong hands—especially since those hands belong to Ediline’s power-hungry father.
Too bad Ediline has never been good at following the rules.
I love this cover art! The style echoes high fantasy. It’s appropriate because the world reminded me of The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
Unlike Locke Lamora’s exploits, Ninthborn is a clean YA fantasy that feels like high fantasy.
This Indie book is a hidden gem. I highly recommend this book if you’ve already devoured the other books on my list. Ediline is a genuinely likable person who deals with deeply unfair circumstances with wit and tenacity.
Highlights:
Underdog heroine
High fantasy world, YA fantasy readability
Slow-Burn romance
Hard choices: the protagonist winds up in tight spots with some tough choices to make.
Difficult family relationships
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
Zafira always comes out alive.
Nasir always makes his kill.
When the sultan demands that Zafira and Nasir work together to recover a talisman, the two have different goals.
Zafira struggles to prove that her worth lies beyond her gender. She’s hidden her identity all her life. Now, discovery is inevitable.
Nasir struggles to not fall in love with Zafira. It’s possible that Zafira the Hunter is the only prey that he cannot kill even if he wanted to.
I’m guessing that if you loved An Ember in the Ashes, then you’ve read We Hunt the Flame. If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for?
The worldbuilding is so good that slipping into Arawiya feels effortless. The relationship drama never feels forced or contrived. It’s one of those books where the empowerment theme feels earned, real, and important.
Highlights:
Middle-Eastern-inspired worldbuilding: sweeping geography, ancient magic, and the sense that darkness lurks in every shadow.
Deeply emotional
Warrior protagonist
Multiple PoVs
Assassin love interest
Happy reading, everyone!
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