A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
A 5-Star Book Review
Warning: Spoilers for those who haven’t read the series!
Reading the third installment of Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes series was like coming home to a very complicated family situation. A Reaper at the Gates is a fantastic read full of fantasy, love, and jinn.
Laia of Serra continues to lead the story as she fights to save her people – the Scholars – and the world. Betrayed by the Nightbringer in Keenan’s form, she must rebuild her trust in others. Being reunited with her brother, Darin, helps give Laia strength, but she feels an urgency in everything and being torn from her true love: Elias doesn’t help our young protagonist. As Tahir continues Laia’s journey, we meet the somewhat-trustworthy magical character Musa, and we know that much more will happen to Laia before the end of this third book.
As Laia continues her fight, Elias is still amongst the ghosts and jinn in the Waiting Place. He has his own battles as he negotiates his role as the Soul Catcher; he questions his decision to barter with Shaeva and doubts his ability to give everything to Mauth, the source of all fey powers. Elias continues to show his strength as a Mask, despite his internal pain and his deep love for Laia.
And then there is the Blood Shrike. She has suffered unimaginable loss, having been witness to the execution of her father, mother, and sister. Now her only goal is to protect her other sister, Livia, who the Emperor Marcus has claimed as his wife. The Blood Shrike is no longer Helene of Aquilla in any way. She is a murderer, a commander, and a sister whose mission is to rid the world of Commandant Keris Veturia, the Blood Shrike’s former teacher and the mother of her now-banished best friend Elias.
Sound complex? Yes, A Reaper at the Gates is a complicated world full of betrayals and questioned loyalties elevated by ancient magic and the jinn who are determined to break free from their captivity in the Waiting Place. The Nightbringer, their leader, is bent on retribution against the Scholars and as he seeks their freedom, he is willing to destroy everything that Laia, Elias, and the Blood Shrike have known and loved.
This is a five-star book for me because of the world-building and deep connections that the characters feel. While the complicate plot and twists take some time to get used to, the book is magical, and I found myself rooting for all three of the main characters. I can’t wait to read the final installment, A Sky Beyond the Storm, in January!
Bookish Brain 