What to Read After An Ember in the Ashes
Sabaa Tahir's series set the bar for dual POV fantasy — empire politics seen from both sides of the divide, a slow burn that burns slow enough to hurt, and stakes that make every choice feel impossible. The eight books below deliver that same combination of rebellion, sacrifice, and romance with real consequences.
- 1
Six of Crows
by Leigh Bardugo
Six criminals plan an impossible heist from the most secure prison in the world. Bardugo's ensemble politics, vivid underworld setting, and slow-burn romance hit every note Ember fans will want.
- 2
The Poppy War
by R.F. Kuang
A war orphan aces the empire's entrance exam and enters a prestigious military academy — only to discover the dark magic that wins wars comes at a devastating price. Darker and more brutal than Ember, but the same empire politics and sacrifice.
- 3
Red Rising
by Pierce Brown
A miner from the lowest caste infiltrates the empire's ruling class to destroy it from within. Brown's precision plotting and class-system tension make this the most propulsive pick on the list.
- 4
Shadow and Bone
by Leigh Bardugo
A mapmaker discovers she has the power to stop the darkness splitting her country — and catches the attention of its most dangerous general. Grisha powers, empire politics, and a romance that complicates everything.
- 5
The Winner's Curse
by Marie Rutkoski
A general's daughter buys a slave at auction and triggers a chain of events that will unravel her empire. Rutkoski's slow-burn romance and political strategy hit the same notes as Ember's Laia and Elias dynamic.
- 6
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
by Sue Lynn Tan
A girl raised on a hidden moon embarks on a quest through celestial kingdoms to free her imprisoned mother. Lyrical, mythological, and driven by the same fierce loyalty that makes Ember so compelling.
- 7
The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
A human girl fights for a place in fae courts that want her dead. Holly Black's morally grey love interest and slow-burn political scheming will satisfy readers who loved Ember's impossible choices.
- 8
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
A mortal huntress is dragged into the fae world and discovers a curse threatening everyone she loves. The slow-burn, the world-building, and the eventual payoff echo everything that makes Ember a beloved series starter.