Challenge Corner discussion

Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir's beloved New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?

Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off...

The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.

At his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.

Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory--or to an unimaginable doom.

And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life--and love--he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save--or destroy--all that he knows.

**This BOTM thread will be open until November 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

Part 1: (view spoiler)[This Rehmat that came out of Laia creeped me out although so far it doesn't look like he/she means to cause any harm but is rather guiding Laia in the fight against Nightbringer. I do feel some ounce of sympathy for Keenan ngl because he lost so much in the war with humans but Keris is a true power hungry monster. I hate watching Elias become a shell of who he used to be. This soul catching business has taken away all his light and I hope Laia is able to bring him back with her love. The unconventional friendship between her and Laia was surprising but delightful (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28: (view spoiler)[Elias is being so stubborn why can't he just listen to Laia for once. I hate seeing him so lost and without purpose. I hope Mauth releases him from his obligations and finds another soul catcher to guard The Waiting Place. the nightbringer is getting scarier and more powerful with passing time and I am curious to see how Elias, Laia and Helene defeat him. Helene has no interest in becoming an empress, i did not understand why would Livia even suggest the same. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 41: (view spoiler)[Woah Rehmat used to be Mehraya's wife? That betrayal is bound to hurt and I am afraid he will become even more vicious now. Stealing his scythe isn't going to be an easy feat and I am a bit annoyed that Laia is not even considering the dangers of approaching him without a proper plan of action in mind. I am glad Elias is with her to keep her in check. Helene and Harper getting together was due for a long time and I am so happy for the two of them, they deserve a few moments of peace (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 55: (view spoiler)[So much death and destruction is pulling me down, just when I think there won't be any more losses something disastrous happens, I am feeling so sad for Livia, she was a sweet girl first forced into marriage with cruel Marcus and now just when she was loving her life with her son, she was killed so brutally. I do not blame Helene for wanting to destroy all those who took away everything from her and rn Elias' high and mighty nature is getting on my nerves. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[I did not think it was possible for me to feel bad for Keris but voila - the author managed to dig around a bit of sympathy within me for the monster of the series. She had a traumatic childhood dealing with which made her what she was as a Commandment. Her deep hatred for the scholars rooted in the loss of her mother. Laia's mother being alive though was a complete shocker and I liked that she offered to take Elias' place as the soul catcher in order to unite him and Laia. I am pissed that Helene didn't get her happy ending though, she deserved it the most after losing literally everything she held dear (hide spoiler)]