An Ember in the Ashes is a young adult fantasy romance novel written by American author Sabaa Tahir.

In a fantasy world inspired by Ancient Rome, the story follows a girl named Laia spying for rebels against the reigning empire in exchange for their help in rescuing her captive brother; and a boy named Elias struggling to free himself from being an enforcer of a tyrannical regime.

[10] A Scholar girl by the name of Laia lives in the Martial Empire with her grandparents and brother Darin in the city of Serra.

Laia seeks out the help of the anti-Empire group called the Resistance, and agrees to infiltrate an infamous military school for them if they help her break her brother free from prison.

Along with his best friend Helene Aquilla and his two rivals Marcus and Zak Farrar, he has been chosen to take the Trials, a series of tests that will decide who the next ruler of the Empire is.

Five hundred years ago, a warrior named Taius led the Martial clans to take over the Scholar Empire.

His legends live on in Blackcliff Academy, a school built to prepare and identify the future Emperor; now a training ground for the Empire’s deadliest soldiers—the silver-faced Masks.

Martial children destined for Maskhood are taken from their families at the age of 6, and trained at Blackcliff Military Academy for 14 years.

"[13] Darin – Laia's brother is older by two years, apprentice to Spiro Teluman, and designs his own weapons Elias – This character is described as "the finest soldier at Blackcliff Military Academy—but secretly, its most unwilling.

[13] Commandant – The cruel head of the military academy, Blackcliff, as well as the mother of Elias, and is considered "one of the most powerful people in the Empire.

[15] While working at The Washington Post, Tahir read an article about Kashmiri women whose male family members were kidnapped by the military and never returned.

[20] Its first installment, A Thief Among the Trees, co-written by Tahir and Nicole Andelfinger with art by Sonia Liao was released on July 14, 2020.

[30] Publishers Weekly starred review called Tahir's debut "deft and polished" and the story "brimming with political intrigue".