Sabaa Tahir

Laia and Elias fight for their lives in the Martial Empire. (Ages 14 to 17)

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BOOK THREE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • An Entertainment Weekly Summer Reads pick! "The perfect summer read." --The Washington Post The beloved and bestselling fantasy series that “glows, burns, and smolders.” (Huffington Post). Beyond the Martial Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger. Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, is desperate to protect her sister's life and the lives of everyone in the Empire. But she knows that danger lurks on all sides: Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable and violent, while Keris Veturia, the ruthless Commandant, capitalizes on the Emperor's volatility to grow her own power--regardless of the carnage she leaves in her path. 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. But in the hunt to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would help her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she'd have to fight. And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that demands his complete surrender--even if that means abandoning the woman he loves.

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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. As Helene searches for a way to hold back the approaching darkness, her sister’s life and the lives of all those in the Empire hang in the balance. 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. But while hunting for a way to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would aid her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she’d have to fight. And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that will stop at nothing to ensure Elias’s devotion–even at the cost of his humanity.

Laia and Elias fight for their lives in the Martial Empire. (Ages 14 to 17)

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BOOK FOUR IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES The beloved and bestselling fantasy series that “glows, burns, and smolders.” (Huffington Post). 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. By 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.

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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.

An orphan. An outcast. A prince. And a ruthless killer who will bring an empire to its knees. Growing up in the brutal Kegari slums, Aiz is fueled by an old tragedy and a desperate need for vengeance. But when a hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, the embers of her wrath finally ignite. Meanwhile, Sirsha is a destitute, banished tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Hired to hunt down a murderer targeting children across the Martial Empire, she expects a simple job—until an unexpected attraction complicates everything. At the same time, Quil, the crown prince of the Empire, dreads taking the throne. As the son of a reviled emperor, he knows better than anyone how deeply power corrupts. But when a vicious new enemy threatens their survival, Quil must decide if he can rise above his tragic lineage. Interweaving three powerful voices, this epic fantasy explores treachery, love, and the devastating cost of unchecked greed.

Growing up as outcasts in the small desert town of Juniper, California, Salahudin and Noor are much more than just best friends. They are family, understanding each other in a way that nobody else ever could. But their unbreakable bond is shattered by a devastating fight that explodes with the fury of a dying star. Now, the two teens are walking their own harrowing paths. Sal is desperately scrambling to run his family's failing motel as his mother's health rapidly declines and his grieving father loses himself to alcoholism. Meanwhile, Noor is walking a dangerous tightrope, working at her wrathful uncle's liquor store while secretly applying to college so she can escape him forever. When Sal's desperate attempts to save the motel spiral completely out of control, he and Noor are forced back together. They must ask themselves what their friendship is truly worth, and figure out exactly what it takes to defeat the dark monsters hiding in their pasts. This breathtaking, heart wrenching story is a powerful exploration of young love, old regrets, and the fierce tenderness of forgiveness.

In the Martial Empire, Laia meets the academy’s finest, though unwilling, soldier. (Ages 14 to 17)

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BOOK ONE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy and 100 Best YA Books of All Time • People's Choice Award winner • Bustle's Best Young Adult Book “This novel is a harrowing, haunting reminder of what it means to be human—and how hope might be kindled in the midst of oppression and fear.” — The Washington Post The beloved and bestselling fantasy series that “glows, burns, and smolders.” (Huffington Post). 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. ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR FROM The Wall Street Journal • Buzzfeed • LA Weekly • Bustle • Paste Magazine • Indigo • Suspense Magazine • The New York Public Library • Popsugar • Hypable

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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 two in the New York Times bestselling series • One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time • A USA Today bestseller “Fresh and exciting...Tahir has shown a remarkable talent for penning complex villains.”—A.V. Club The beloved and bestselling fantasy series that “glows, burns, and smolders.” (Huffington Post). 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.

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This time it takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts. In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead.

A girl battles a malignant evil passed down through generations. A warrior defies the destiny written for her. A peri fights to reclaim stolen powers. Step into a collection of South Asian folklore and legends completely reimagined for the modern world. You will encounter chudails, jinn, and goddesses in this lush anthology of fantasy and science fiction. Fourteen acclaimed writers from the South Asian diaspora bring you tales of star-crossed lovers and ancient magic, blending myth with contemporary struggles. These stories transport you across boundaries and realms, proving that the power of myth is universal. Dive into a rich tapestry of adventure, heartbreak, and triumph where every page reveals a new world and magic truly has no borders.