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An Ember in the Ashes Graphic Novel Prequel #2
A Spark Within the Forge
REBELLION IS FORGED IN THE HEART OF THE EMPIRE.
Before they were torn asunder, siblings Laia and Darin lived contentedly with their Nan and Pop within the Scholar district of Martial-ruled Serra. While Laia is afraid to venture outside her home due to the heavy Martial presence, Darin loves to explore all parts of their city—even those that are forbidden.
As a dangerous illness spreads through Serra, Laia must confront her deepest fears in order to save a community besieged by disease. Meanwhile, Darin has a chance encounter with famed swordsmith Spiro Teluman that leads him down a precarious path away from his family . . . but towards hope for his people.
New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir joins writer Nicole Andelfinger and artist Sonia Liao for an all-new original graphic novel revealing early days in the life of Laia and Darin before the tragedy that pulled them into the An Ember in the Ashes mythology.
Before they were torn asunder, siblings Laia and Darin lived contentedly with their Nan and Pop within the Scholar district of Martial-ruled Serra. While Laia is afraid to venture outside her home due to the heavy Martial presence, Darin loves to explore all parts of their city—even those that are forbidden.
As a dangerous illness spreads through Serra, Laia must confront her deepest fears in order to save a community besieged by disease. Meanwhile, Darin has a chance encounter with famed swordsmith Spiro Teluman that leads him down a precarious path away from his family . . . but towards hope for his people.
New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir joins writer Nicole Andelfinger and artist Sonia Liao for an all-new original graphic novel revealing early days in the life of Laia and Darin before the tragedy that pulled them into the An Ember in the Ashes mythology.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2022
About the author
Sabaa Tahir
22 books34.8k followers**My apologies if I don't respond to emails or friend requests right away! Come find me on Twitter or Instagram @sabaatahir, or on my web site: www.sabaatahir.com
Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
May 31, 2022
Words cannot describe how much I love this series & these characters. I loved getting to see Zara for the first time, as well as Afya; I wasn’t expecting them in this book, so that was a pleasant surprise! Getting to see illustrations of all the people I’ve grown to love has been such a treat, I hope the 3rd graphic novel follows a bit of Helene’s backstory, or even an epilogue for all the characters!
March 5, 2022
This gave me so many feelings! I can’t believe that it’s been so long since I was in the ember world. Seeing Laia in her natural habitat with her Nan and Pop was just so sweet in the most bitter sweet way possible. Seeing Darin slowly starting to rebel against the system that he has been pushed down with was again hella bitter Sweet. I’ve always preferred the perspective of the scholars in this world and so seeing so much of that here was awesome. This perspective really helped to build up my anxiety, which was with me the entire ready of the series. I do know that I’m going to do an ember reread soon and I feel like this book will be the reason that I’m so excited for all of that pain all over again.
Read
December 30, 2022Everything having to do with this series leaves me emotionally shattered. 11/10.
April 15, 2024
5 Stars
I'm not surprised, it's got such a spotlight on the befores of Ember and really focuses on Darin and how he meets Spiro, little cameos from other characters and I was like oh ma gawdddddd.
To see Laia so fearful and how much she grows it's just setting it up so perfectly!
Low key knew I'd love this, but just so so happy I like looooooooved it!
I'm not surprised, it's got such a spotlight on the befores of Ember and really focuses on Darin and how he meets Spiro, little cameos from other characters and I was like oh ma gawdddddd.
To see Laia so fearful and how much she grows it's just setting it up so perfectly!
Low key knew I'd love this, but just so so happy I like looooooooved it!
April 9, 2023
5 stars
Enjoyed this prequel novel. Nice to see what Laia and Darin were doing before the series started.
Enjoyed this prequel novel. Nice to see what Laia and Darin were doing before the series started.
May 19, 2022
Loved this little glimpse into pre-AEITA Laia and Darin🥺🤍
Want to read
September 10, 2021THIS IS A THING?
Why didn't I know about it?
Why didn't I know about it?
Want to read
July 23, 2021Super excited to read about young Laia and Darin. February 2022 needs to speed up. 💜
June 6, 2022
This book is a prequel to the series "An Ember in the Ashes." The format for this particular book is a graphic novel, which is different from the rest of the series. Younger readers and anyone who likes graphic novels will like this book. Not only are the drawings well done and correctly depict characters and their surroundings, the plot is also excellently written and will draw the reader into the story.
We find ourselves in the city following Darin and his sister Laia doing their everyday activities. Stubborn actions of Darin and at first fearful but later daring undertakings of Laia set the stage for what will happen in An Ember in the Ashes. Both kids are very different and - at the same time - have the same flame in their hearts. It is a fast-paced book, with lots of risky decisions and hard choices. Overall, I would add this book to my collection of a must-read, especially if you are looking into reading the rest of the series.
- Natasha, Haymarket Gainesville Library
Click here to find the book at Prince William Public Libraries.
We find ourselves in the city following Darin and his sister Laia doing their everyday activities. Stubborn actions of Darin and at first fearful but later daring undertakings of Laia set the stage for what will happen in An Ember in the Ashes. Both kids are very different and - at the same time - have the same flame in their hearts. It is a fast-paced book, with lots of risky decisions and hard choices. Overall, I would add this book to my collection of a must-read, especially if you are looking into reading the rest of the series.
- Natasha, Haymarket Gainesville Library
Click here to find the book at Prince William Public Libraries.
January 2, 2024
My main issue with graphic novels is that their nature prevents them from being plotted well. This is no exception. While it definitely provides valuable insight in Laia and Darin’s character, it lacks enough plot to act as a standalone. However, I still recommend it to anyone reading the Ember in the Ashes series.
March 27, 2022
3.5 stars
This is more about Darius then Laia but my girl is scenes steeler.
This is more about Darius then Laia but my girl is scenes steeler.
March 24, 2023
nieważne co przeczytam z tego świata, to zawsze będzie 5 gwiazdek
April 23, 2022
Although "Spark" is better than the other graphic novel in this prequel series, it still just kind of fades away in the mind even as I'm reading it. I was reminded recently at a book event that Sabaa Tahir didn't write the dialogue herself; although she provided the general outline of events, she didn't write this, and honestly? It shows. It's just missing that Tahir pizzazz! The characters lack depth and vigor- I only connected to them at all because I've read (and adore) the Ember quartet and wanted to know more about their past. It's not ~badly~ written, it's just very noticeably NOT Tahir, and that makes me sad.
The artwork is pretty enough, and the colors and scenery are quite immersive! There were also a few odd little details that kinda felt out of place (like the Ikea-looking shoerack inside Nan and Pop's front door?).
The thing is: this just doesn't feel like it adds anything to the "Ember" world. Sure, we get to see Laia and Darin again, and we get teeny tiny LITTLE drops of info we maybe didn't know (or did we?), but there's just nothing to it. I basically read this and thought, "Oh. Okay." which is a HUGE difference from the other "Ember" books I read where I finished and was either a) sobbing, or b) finding myself spiraling into an existential crisis because the book was THAT GOOD.
I'm a diehard Tahir fan, and will read anything she puts out...but maybe in the future I'll just skip these graphic novels and stick to the work she's been fully involved in.
The artwork is pretty enough, and the colors and scenery are quite immersive! There were also a few odd little details that kinda felt out of place (like the Ikea-looking shoerack inside Nan and Pop's front door?).
The thing is: this just doesn't feel like it adds anything to the "Ember" world. Sure, we get to see Laia and Darin again, and we get teeny tiny LITTLE drops of info we maybe didn't know (or did we?), but there's just nothing to it. I basically read this and thought, "Oh. Okay." which is a HUGE difference from the other "Ember" books I read where I finished and was either a) sobbing, or b) finding myself spiraling into an existential crisis because the book was THAT GOOD.
I'm a diehard Tahir fan, and will read anything she puts out...but maybe in the future I'll just skip these graphic novels and stick to the work she's been fully involved in.
March 5, 2022
As good as the first book. I loved learning more of Laia and Darin’s back story and seing them again, with their family members felt so so comforting :( these characters have my entire heart (also seing Afya as gorgeous as she was made my day). These graphic novels are so good Sabaa truly never fails
December 31, 2023
Overall Rating : B
March 12, 2022
Damn it. Now I want to reread the series again 😩
February 6, 2023
I really need to reread An Ember in the Ashes but this was a good short little prequel
July 14, 2024
"Fear takes the joy out of living. You've been joyless for too long, little sister."
Laia looked nothing at all like her pictures on the front of The Ember in the Ashes books and I couldn't get past that (or the fact that she kept touching her arm without the amulet on it). Interesting but not as good as the series.
Laia looked nothing at all like her pictures on the front of The Ember in the Ashes books and I couldn't get past that (or the fact that she kept touching her arm without the amulet on it). Interesting but not as good as the series.
September 21, 2024
I decided to go for a quick read and chose Sabaa Tahir's A Spark Within the Forge! I had almost forgotten about the prequel series Sabaa wrote for her An Ember in the Ashes quartet! It's been so long since I read the original series I can't quite remember all the details, so bits of the prequel story are starting to get a bit lost for me, but I still enjoyed it anyway. I remember vague details about things, but I am enjoying it all the same!
Sonia Liao's illustrations in this one were stunning! I always love the different styles graphic novels take on! I am not a seasoned graphic novel reader but I've read a handful and the different styles in art always delight me! I love the choice of colors too and noting the different tones based on the scenes and what's happening!
Nicole Andelfinger helped to adapt the story and I must confess, I am deeply curious about what a story adapter does! I mean I get the general concept of it all, but yes, this role fascinates me as a reader!
Onto the actual story, this time around we are with Laia and her brother, Darin before the events of the series at large take place! I remember the first graphic novel focused on Elias, Helene, and Tavi. So jumping over to Laia's past was an interesting take. We get bits of both Lai and Darin in this one and kind of seeing how they got onto their starting paths of the main series. It was definitely intriguing!
Darin has been shirking his healing duties lately, taking more to sketching and basically staying out past the citywide curfew and dodging the Martials all the while. Whereas Laia has to take on some of Darin's healer duties and helping her grandfather tend to the sick.
Laia has an intense fear of the Martials and it kind of keeps her from living life. Her best friend is sad that Laia won't take a risk and come out past curfew to party with her and their other friends. Then Darin is questioning his life choices and what he actually wants to do with his life as we know things in their world are not well. There's a great dissent among the Martials, the unnamed Commandant, and the citizens who are subject to their whims.
All in all, I found this to be a great read! It's a fast one too as I just finished my last book and read this one in a handful of minutes! I forget how quick graphic novels go but yet I enjoyed it all the same! I did see on Goodreads that this was supposed to be a prequel trilogy and I am starting to think it's going to remain unfinished as there were two years between the first two books and here we are two years later with nothing on this unnamed third. So here I am again, falling in love with an amazing series that got canceled. This happened with the Vampire Academy graphic novels too but that one ended with Shadow's Kiss and we all remember (possibly, maybe) how that one ended! It's a tragedy all the same with this one as well as now I will always wonder...what was meant to happen next? It would probably have ended with sadness as well since the quartet had yet to begin and all the chaos that Laia and her soon-to-be friends would endure had yet to begin.
A Spark Within the Forge was still a fun and delightful read! There's always something magical about reading a graphic novel that's based off a book series I've read! Yes, sometimes we're lucky and get movies or TV series of our favorite shows, but then we sometimes we get graphic novels and that's a whole other kind of magic entirely!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
Sonia Liao's illustrations in this one were stunning! I always love the different styles graphic novels take on! I am not a seasoned graphic novel reader but I've read a handful and the different styles in art always delight me! I love the choice of colors too and noting the different tones based on the scenes and what's happening!
Nicole Andelfinger helped to adapt the story and I must confess, I am deeply curious about what a story adapter does! I mean I get the general concept of it all, but yes, this role fascinates me as a reader!
Onto the actual story, this time around we are with Laia and her brother, Darin before the events of the series at large take place! I remember the first graphic novel focused on Elias, Helene, and Tavi. So jumping over to Laia's past was an interesting take. We get bits of both Lai and Darin in this one and kind of seeing how they got onto their starting paths of the main series. It was definitely intriguing!
Darin has been shirking his healing duties lately, taking more to sketching and basically staying out past the citywide curfew and dodging the Martials all the while. Whereas Laia has to take on some of Darin's healer duties and helping her grandfather tend to the sick.
Laia has an intense fear of the Martials and it kind of keeps her from living life. Her best friend is sad that Laia won't take a risk and come out past curfew to party with her and their other friends. Then Darin is questioning his life choices and what he actually wants to do with his life as we know things in their world are not well. There's a great dissent among the Martials, the unnamed Commandant, and the citizens who are subject to their whims.
All in all, I found this to be a great read! It's a fast one too as I just finished my last book and read this one in a handful of minutes! I forget how quick graphic novels go but yet I enjoyed it all the same! I did see on Goodreads that this was supposed to be a prequel trilogy and I am starting to think it's going to remain unfinished as there were two years between the first two books and here we are two years later with nothing on this unnamed third. So here I am again, falling in love with an amazing series that got canceled. This happened with the Vampire Academy graphic novels too but that one ended with Shadow's Kiss and we all remember (possibly, maybe) how that one ended! It's a tragedy all the same with this one as well as now I will always wonder...what was meant to happen next? It would probably have ended with sadness as well since the quartet had yet to begin and all the chaos that Laia and her soon-to-be friends would endure had yet to begin.
A Spark Within the Forge was still a fun and delightful read! There's always something magical about reading a graphic novel that's based off a book series I've read! Yes, sometimes we're lucky and get movies or TV series of our favorite shows, but then we sometimes we get graphic novels and that's a whole other kind of magic entirely!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
January 7, 2023
I mean the pure talent!!!! This was spectacular and I loved it to bits.
Compared to book one A Thief Among the Trees, I was already familiar with the storytelling style so I wasn't confused. I didn't realise this was about Laia but you bet I was far too excited. I LOVED getting to learn about Laia's family and what they do. The art style was just as great, the colours are more red and yellow and I loved. Darin has a really interesting story which I loved learning the origins of. And my girl Laia. Same as the first book, she had a really interesting journey and is so different to the girl I know in the novels, which is makes for such an great dichomoty and shows her character development.
Sabaa Tahir is an absolute mastermind and I,,,, am not prepared to be destroyed #prayforruby
Compared to book one A Thief Among the Trees, I was already familiar with the storytelling style so I wasn't confused. I didn't realise this was about Laia but you bet I was far too excited. I LOVED getting to learn about Laia's family and what they do. The art style was just as great, the colours are more red and yellow and I loved. Darin has a really interesting story which I loved learning the origins of. And my girl Laia. Same as the first book, she had a really interesting journey and is so different to the girl I know in the novels, which is makes for such an great dichomoty and shows her character development.
Sabaa Tahir is an absolute mastermind and I,,,, am not prepared to be destroyed #prayforruby
June 23, 2024
Me ha gustado más la historia de este volumen que la del primer tomo de esta miniserie de cómics-precuelas de “Una llama entre cenizas”. Ambos volúmenes son autoconclusivos con historias diferentes y por tanto pueden leerse en cualquier orden. Eso sí, con este sí he tenido la sensación de que la aparición de algunos personajes está pensada para lograr la sonrisa de quienes han leído los libros originales, cosa que en el otro no sucedía en absoluto. Pero vamos, que muy recomendable y ambos me han convencido para ponerme con “Una llama entre cenizas” cuanto antes.
June 6, 2022
I’ll read all these graphic novels set in the Ember world 😂 this one follows a younger Lia & Darrin and I loved seeing more of Spiro Tuleman as well. The graphics are beautiful and I enjoyed this one.
I think these are more suited for fans of the series than casual graphic novel connoisseurs.
Lgbtq note: A side character references a crush in a F/F dynamic but the relationship is completely off page
I think these are more suited for fans of the series than casual graphic novel connoisseurs.
Lgbtq note: A side character references a crush in a F/F dynamic but the relationship is completely off page
August 18, 2022
More than a year ago I finished the book series and felt really nostalgic every time thinking about it. Reading the graphic novel really made me happy, being back in the world of Laia and Darin. The illustration is 10/10. It is wonderfully made and it is exactly how I imagined how Serra looks like. It was an interesting background story and it brought back so many memories.
March 7, 2022
I really enjoyed this prequel novel, which is a welcome addition to the AN EMBER IN THE ASHES series. The story followed both Laia and Darin as they began the paths that led to EMBER.
Laia was struggling with her anxieties for most of the story as she worked to become a successful healer. Darin's impulsiveness eventually led him to Spiro and the bond that began there. Both stories were interesting from different ways, yet I found Darin to be the more compelling of the two.
The art style is fun and the colors really pop on the page. The dialogue is good and like most graphic novels, it's a fairly quick read.
Definitely recommended for fans of the EMBER series who are looking for familiar faces and a little extra adventure.
Laia was struggling with her anxieties for most of the story as she worked to become a successful healer. Darin's impulsiveness eventually led him to Spiro and the bond that began there. Both stories were interesting from different ways, yet I found Darin to be the more compelling of the two.
The art style is fun and the colors really pop on the page. The dialogue is good and like most graphic novels, it's a fairly quick read.
Definitely recommended for fans of the EMBER series who are looking for familiar faces and a little extra adventure.
June 20, 2022
Really loving these Ember comics since seeing this world is helping me better understand it. I liked this volume more than the first since it felt more relevant to the series and expanded on who Darin is.
October 20, 2022
This wasn’t BAD but it’s just forgettable. I really enjoy the artwork and being back in the Ember world, but I feel like these prequels don’t add much to the characters or story, and I’d much prefer if these were adventures taking place after the series.
Laia’s high pony slayed tho
Laia’s high pony slayed tho
March 6, 2023
I vibed with the art in this a lot. The message of you can't let fear overtake your life when it doesn't change your circumstances was loud and clear, even though I think the brother was deadass reckless.
March 5, 2024
While I like revisiting the characters I feel as if this wasn’t really needed. Everything in the book was at least discussed in the novels. You learn nothing new and nothing is added to the worldbuilding/characters or story.
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