If you spent any time in the YA book community around 2016, you probably remember the absolute chokehold Sabaa Tahir had on everyone. Honestly, the hype was massive. When An Ember in the Ashes dropped, it felt like a reset button for the genre. But then came the second book. Torch Against the Night had a lot of weight on its shoulders. It wasn't just a sequel; it was the moment we realized this series wasn't going to be a light, fluffy "chosen one" story. It was going to be brutal.
Writing a middle book is hard. Like, notoriously hard. Authors usually fall into the "bridge" trap where nothing actually happens until the last fifty pages. Tahir didn't do that. Instead, she blew up the status quo and sent her characters on a desperate, dusty road trip through a literal empire of death.
What Really Happens in Torch Against the Night
The story picks up exactly where the first one left off. No time jumps. No breathing room. Elias and Laia are fugitives. They're fleeing the city of Serra, headed toward the Kauf Prison to break out Laia’s brother, Darin.
It's a suicide mission.
Basically, the Empire is a terrifying place modeled loosely on ancient Rome but with a supernatural, grimdark twist. You've got the Commandants—specifically Keris Veturia, who is arguably one of the most terrifying villains in modern fiction—hunting them down. While Laia and Elias are trying to survive the desert, Helene Aquilla is stuck back at the capital. She’s been named the Blood Shrike, which sounds cool until you realize it means she's the Emperor’s personal executioner and has to hunt down her best friend, Elias.
The stakes are high. People die. Not just "background characters" or "red shirts," but people you actually care about. Tahir doesn't pull her punches.
The Problem With Helene (And Why She’s Actually the Best Part)
Most readers come for Laia and Elias. I get it. They’re the core. But A Torch Against the Night is secretly Helene’s book.
In the first novel, she was the "other girl," the loyal soldier. In this one, we see the absolute agony of being a "good person" inside a fascist system. She’s forced to do things that make your stomach turn. The complexity here is what makes the book stand out from the typical "rebellion" tropes. Helene isn't a rebel. She’s a patriot serving a monster, and watching her soul slowly fracture is some of the best character work in the series.
Many fans actually found her chapters more compelling than the main quest. It’s a polarizing take, but honestly, the moral ambiguity she faces is way more interesting than just running away from guards in the desert.
The World-Building Expansion
One thing A Torch Against the Night does exceptionally well is expanding the mythos. We get introduced to the Soul Catcher and the Waiting Place.
This is where the story shifts from a political thriller into high fantasy. The Waiting Place is this eerie forest where ghosts linger before moving on. It introduces a supernatural layer that redefines what Elias is. He’s not just a soldier; he’s someone being pulled toward a destiny he never asked for.
Sabaa Tahir has often talked about how her background as a journalist covering international news influenced the series. You can feel it in the way she writes about refugees, the cost of war, and the trauma of displacement. It’s not just "fantasy flavor." It feels heavy because it’s rooted in real human experiences of conflict.
Why This Book Ranks So High for Readers
- Pacing: It’s a relentless chase. There are very few "sitting around the campfire" moments that don't end in a bloodbath.
- The Villains: The Commandant isn't just evil; she's calculated. Her cruelty feels personal.
- The Consequences: In most YA, characters get out of tight spots with a lucky break. Here, every victory costs a limb or a life.
Common Misconceptions About the Series
Some people think you can skip this one and jump to A Reaper at the Gates. Bad idea. You'll be totally lost.
Others argue that Laia’s character development stalls. I disagree. She starts the book terrified and ends it as someone who can command a room of rebels. It’s a subtle shift, but it’s there. She stops waiting for Elias to save her and starts figuring out how to save herself and her people.
Also, can we talk about the Nightbringer? This character goes from a mysterious shadow to a full-blown tragic antagonist. He’s not just a "dark lord." He has a backstory involving the Jinn that makes you almost—almost—sympathize with his desire to burn the world down.
Technical Details and Influence
When you look at the sales figures and the "Best of" lists from 2016-2017, this book was everywhere. It hit the New York Times Bestseller list immediately. It solidified the "Ember Quartet" as a pillar of the genre, sitting alongside things like Six of Crows or Throne of Glass.
The influence of A Torch Against the Night can be seen in the recent wave of "Adult" crossover fantasy. It pushed the boundaries of what was "allowed" in YA in terms of violence and emotional darkness. It didn't treat its teenage audience like children. It treated them like people who could handle the truth about how power works.
Actionable Takeaways for Readers and Writers
If you're picking this up for the first time or revisiting it, there are a few things to keep in mind.
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First, pay attention to the subtext. This isn't just a story about magic; it’s a story about how institutions break individuals. If you’re a writer, study how Tahir handles the "Dual POV" (and later Triple POV). She gives each character a distinct voice and a distinct set of stakes. They aren't all working toward the same goal in the same way, which creates natural friction.
Second, don't rush through the Helene chapters. They might feel slower at first because they're more political than action-oriented, but they pay off massively in the final two books.
Steps to get the most out of the series:
- Read An Ember in the Ashes first. Seriously.
- Keep a tissue box nearby for the third act of Torch.
- Watch for the subtle clues about the Jinn and the stars; Tahir plants seeds early that don't bloom until the very last page of the fourth book.
- If you're an audiobook fan, the narration for this series is top-tier. The different voice actors for Elias, Laia, and Helene really help distinguish the shifting perspectives.
The legacy of this book is its refusal to offer easy answers. It shows that even a small light—a "torch against the night"—is enough to start a fire, even if that light is flickering and the wind is blowing hard against it. It's a grueling read, but it's one that stays with you long after the dust settles on the page.