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Thursday, September 10, 2015

Friday 56 and Book Beginnings: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice


These are the rules:
1. Grab a book, any book.
2. Turn to page 56, or 56% on your eReader.
3. Find any sentence (or a few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
4. Post it.
5. Add the URL to your post in the link on Freda's most recent Friday 56 post.

Please join us over at RoseCityReader every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name.

Synopsis:
     I WILL TELL YOU THE SAME THING I TELL EVERY SLAVE.
THE RESISTANCE HAS TRIED TO PENETRATE THIS SCHOOL COUNTLESS TIMES. I HAVE DISCOVERED IT EVERY TIME. 
      IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE RESISTANCE, IF YOU CONTACT THEM, IF YOU THINK OF CONTACTING THEM, I WILL KNOW 
     AND I WILL DESTROY YOU.
Laia is a slave.
Elias is a soldier.
Neither is free.
     Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
     It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
     But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
     There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself. 




Book Beginning:
My brother reaches home in the dark hours before dawn, when even ghosts take their rest. He smells of steel and coal and forge. He smells of the enemy.

Thoughts:
This first paragraph is a great way to draw in a reader. It certainly drew me in.


Page 56:
"We. Can't. Help." He speaks slowly, as if I'm a child. Maybe before the raid, the chill in his eyes would have silenced me. But not now. Not when Darin needs me.

12 comments:

  1. I have this on my TBR pile and I am really excited to read it. That first paragraph certainly does set an atmosphere!
    http://dualreads.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/friday-reads-and-friday-56-with-book_11.html

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  2. I agree. That first teaser definitely caught my attention. :-)
    sherry @ fundinmental My TT

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    Replies
    1. For some reason, I am unable to leave a comment on your post, but your Friday 56 sounds really interesting. Ive never heard of that author before but I like the synopsis of the book you chose. I might have to look into borrowing it from the library. :)

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  3. I read this not too long ago and it was awesome! Thanks for sharing!

    Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings).

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  4. Both these quotes make mexthink this is going to be a very intense read.

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  5. I agree with Elizabeth B. Sounds very intense indeed.

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  6. I just finished this one! I think Elias is my favorite. Hope you are enjoying it and have a great weekend!
    My TTT

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  7. This is on my TBR and I love the teasers! I'm looking forward to reading this one!

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  8. I have this one wish listed. :-)
    Happy weekend!

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  9. You remind me why I wanted to read this one! I bet it keeps you rapt from beginning to end.

    Here's my 56 - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/09/11/the-friday-56-77-stillwater-a-jack-mcbride-mystery/

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  10. Wow. I like both quotes. I am going to check out this book.
    I missed making comments yesterday because I was at the emergency veterinarian clinic all evening with my dog. My Friday Quote

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  11. Smelling like the enemy....I want to know who the enemy is. :)

    ENJOY your book.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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