I can’t believe it’s over. The Ember in the Ashes Quarter has been so hyped to me and within a year I finished them all! I’m actually incredibly proud that I managed to do this because I rarely pick up series this fast! Keep reading this book review to find out what I thought about this finale!
Summary
The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.
By his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.
Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory—or to an unimaginable doom.
And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life—and love—he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save—or destroy—all that he knows.
Review
With a finale to a hyped series or any series, the stakes are incredibly high. I was so excited for this finale. Having read A Reaper at the Gates in December, I am actually shocked I read this one so quickly. Not even mentioning the fact that my library hold was initially scheduled for FIVE MONTHS. So thank you to all the speedy readers in front of me! What I appreciated in A Sky Beyond the Storm was the scope. Tahir has to contend with three books worth of emotional trauma, sacrifices, and betrayals.
In some ways, our favorites have been hardened. Had their emotions and love twisted against themselves. Remembering a history of treason, events that have ripped our heart out, and anger, do we give into rage? Do we stoop to the levels of our enemy? That’s one of the biggest themes that Tahir examines in A Sky Beyond the Storm. Are we really so different from our enemies? Do we not all start out believing we are the heroes of our own stories? Surrounded by villains and believing that we are right? And then the question becomes, how do we become better than them?
In a world where people become symbols, do we lose ourselves to the name? To the roles, expectations, and image? What does it say about our world when power, war, or duty hardens our heart to stone. We don’t win by becoming casual and cruel with casualties. But that’s too often the world. One that takes our pain, guilt, and fears, and twists them. That traps us in a never ending wheel of retribution. How do we move past these great sins and mistakes, missteps and betrayals? When we lose everything we love, when it’s ripped from our grasps leaving us with clenched fists.
Overall, if you’ve read the first three and are intrigued, you absolutely need to read this finale. And if you’re wondering if the series is worth reading, then the answer is yes. I am so glad I caught up and joined y’all this year. Find A Sky Beyond the Storm on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.
I love how you put into words the central themes at the heart of this book. It really is such a meaningful book and the characters really get under your skin. This is definitely one of the best YA fantasies I’ve ever read and Sabaa really pulled at my heartstrings with this final installment. She is such a skillful writer.
Thank you! Yes this series is so epic and I loved it even though I really wasn’t sure at the beginning!