Review: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Title: A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2)
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: August 30th 2016
Publication Date: Razorbill 

Summary: 

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire. Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom. But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike. Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

***THIS REVIEW IS SPOILER HEAVY SO PLEASE READ CAUTIOUSLY***

I highly debated leaving this GIF as the whole review because I still don't know how to put anything that I am feeling into words right now. Though A Torch Against the Night didn't leave me heart broken at the end the events of this book just killed my heart. All the betrayal and death and love and action. 

My only issue with this book was the plot. I feel like it went around in circles. Elias is on the run. Laia wants her brother back. Helene needs to catch Elias. But they all come in grasp of this things to loose them again. It was enjoyable to read because I love the characters and the world but it was slower paced then the first novel. I think I feel this way because I went into this book with different expectations. Sabaa added Helene's POV into this book though, so it is interesting getting to see her side of the situation and how she is dealing witth becoming Blood Shrike. I thought she would talk more about her feelings for Elias, since it took up a main part of the first book but I guess I can hope for that in the following books. 

I talked about how I was really shipping Keenan and Laia in my An Ember in the Ashes review so I was super excited as they gotten closer in this book. Obviously I knew something sketchy was up with him and things weren't adding up but I never expecting that kind of betrayal. Sitting back and thinking about things now I does make a lot more sense, but it still hurt. I was rooting for them so hard when they were in the cave and they had sex, I thought it was so sweet and it was going to lead to good things. I was wrong. I should have just shipped her with Elias, it would have hurt just as much but at least he isn't the villain in the story. 

I liked where A Torch Against the Night ended, it isn't the happiest of endings but he didn't leave me in pain with how An Ember in the Ashes did. Everyone is content and doing what they are meant to do for now. I think I am going to wait before I start A Reaper at the Gates for the obvious reasons, but regardless of the plot issue with this book I still love these characters and this series so much. I am super excited to see where Sabaa is going to take this crew next!