From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes, #3)

Sabaa Tahir

Start date: June 1, 2023

Finish date: June 30, 2023

Discussion: Book of the Month

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 3 topics — 644 comments total

Book of the Month

This topic has been closed to new comments.

* Previous BOTMs
By Felicia · 11 posts · 732 views

last updated Dec 27, 2024 06:25AM

* BOTM Polls!
By Alaina · 23 posts · 213 views

last updated Aug 21, 2025 09:47AM

showing 10 of 33 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jun 19, 2020 Jenn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star-reads, books-i-own, read-in-2020, young-adult, fantasy, signed-copies, do-you-believe-in-magic

"First you will be unmade."

Holy crap what even just happened in this book!

A Reaper at the Gates just takes off from the beginning and doesn't let go. More secrets are revealed, more plot twists, and definitely more peril for our heroes as we make our way toward the finale.

In the third installment, we get to finally delve deeper into the magic of this world. We learn more about the Soul Catcher, the Nightbringer, the history of the jinn. We also get more background into our characters, most ...more

21 likes · Like · see review

Aug 12, 2018 Dr. Andy rated it really liked it

Shelves: changed-my-life, read-2018

4.5/5

If I thought ATATN destroyed my soul, well I have met my true match and it was this book right here. So many things were explained that blew my mind and also made other pieces click into place. Let's start with the Nightbringer. We finally learn his backstory and it made me question EVERYTHING about the jinn. I still am. But I think he's still evil so he probably needs to go. The other person who needs to fucking go is Keris Veturia. God I hate her so much. She's an evil bitch and I want to 4.5/5

If I thought ATATN destroyed my soul, well I have met my true match and it was this book right here. So many things were explained that blew my mind and also made other pieces click into place. Let's start with the Nightbringer. We finally learn his backstory and it made me question EVERYTHING about the jinn. I still am. But I think he's still evil so he probably needs to go. The other person who needs to fucking go is Keris Veturia. God I hate her so much. She's an evil bitch and I want to step on her and grind her into the ground.

Let's try to move on to something happier. Elias is off training as the Soul Catcher. Scratch that, this is not happy either. But I did enjoy seeing Elias learn what his job entailed. Let me say he definitely got the crappy end of the stick. I was kind of annoyed with him in the beginning because he wouldn't fucking listen to Shaeva, but he's only like 18?? I'll cut him a break. I also did get a little fed up with Laia and Elias since they were prioritizing their relationship during a time they really shouldn't be. Besides that I still love my boy Elias and I expect a happy ending for him dammit!

Laia was different in this book. She has become so much more confident and outspoken. At times, she was slightly irritating. She kept going on and on about how the jinn and Nightbringer had to stopped but she wouldn't listen to anyone else's counsel. Girl, you don't know everything. Take a step back, breathe and listen. She really aggravated me when she screamed at poor Darin, he didn't deserve that. Laia learns something shocking about her family and my head is still spinning from that revelation.

Okay the time is here, we need to talk about Helene. She is a fucking superstar in this book. Honestly, this is her book. I fucking love the Blood Shrike so much and she has gone through such a transformation from who she was in AEITA. Like it is inconceivable to try and compare her to who she was in book one. But jesus I love my girl so much. I love her determination, her cunning and her love for her country. She isn't afraid to admit she is wrong at times and she does learn from her mistakes. I finally got a taste of her cunning and subterfuge skills. I LOVED IT AND I NEED MORE ASAP!! Helene is going to do great things, I can feel it in my bones. I can't fucking wait to see her conquer in book 4- MY QUEEN.

I won't lie, it was really hard for me to get through this book. It's not outrageously long, but this book is basically torture. It's a war on three fronts to my soul. There's so much despair in this book, it was really hard to find the hope. BUt through crafty story telling and letting something go right every like 1/6th of the time, Sabaa managed to keep my wandering attention. (plus HELENE did I mention I LOVE HER!?!) So many things have finally clicked into place and I'm sure the next installation is going to be ridiculously amazing, because things have been set up for some sweet action and revenge. I can't wait for April 2019. Please come swiftly.
____________________________________________________________
I HAVE A LOT TO SCREAM ABOUT BUT MY BRAIN HURTS SO SLEEP FIRST! ALSO MY GIRL HELENE AQUILLA I LOVE HER AND SHE IS MY FAVORITE

HELENEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jun 20, 2018 Tammie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-hard-cover, series, series-completed, fantasy, favorites, owned-ebook, high-fantasy, young-adult, fantasy-buddy-reads

Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.

The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer.

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freed ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Dec 31, 2023 Shruti morethanmylupus rated it liked it

I enjoyed this series. It has some Palestine vibes overall, which was both sad to read right now and compelling, simultaneously. Does it particularly stand out in comparison to other fantasy series? Not really, but it was a good read.

Like · see review