Review: A Reaper at the Gates

A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Most authors in the YA biz give us a new book in their signature series once a year, every year, like clockwork. Sabaa Tahir has always been an exception to that rule, going at least a year and a half between books each time so far, and it's become one of my biggest selling points as I present her books to customers at my work, because I really think it helps raise the quality of the Ember Quartet...along with so many other factors.

Namely, the pure uniqueness of the setting, still the definitive vision of YA sandalpunk - and of sandalpunk, period, as far as I'm concerned. Literally nowhere else will you find Roman and Pakistani cultural influences in the same place - if only the cultures could coalesce, especially in the face of an even greater enemy from worlds beyond. But nope, there's not much room for reconciliation, not when the Martial Empire, and Keris the bloodydamn Commandant in particular, are even more ten-hells-bent on conquest than ever. A lot of fantasy, especially in recent years, has centered on themes of anti-imperialism and analyzing the levels of system-breakage necessary to carry out such goals, and this universe, where the Martials certainly do not have the market completely cornered on historical atrocities, is no exception. It may get analytical, but there's still only one conclusion - the Commandant, for the good of all humanity, needs to get gone yesterday.

Meanwhile, Laia and Elias and their people are still reeling from the ending of A Torch Against the Night, with supernatural horrors creeping closer on the horizon with every page. Elias' chapters, in particular, run red with dread. Ironic, considering this is the book in the series with the green cover accents - I'm still convinced Elias resembles the Green Arrow with that hood. And while these two are no less shippable than ever, leave it to Tahir to turn even their love into a nightmare.

And between Laia and Elias, and Marcus and Keris, we have Helene. Note that her POV chapters are indicated not with her name, but her title of Blood Shrike - I'm thinking that was a deliberate choice on Tahir's part to indicate how little those in charge of the Empire really care about her and her humanity. It's a humanity that's stretched super thin with all the trauma she has to go through - and that includes witnessing all sorts of atrocities happening to her loved ones. For all the flack Helene gets from the fandom, I'm willing to bet her story arc in this book, for sure the most compelling after that of Elias, will help gain her a lot of sympathy. It sure gained mine.

I have no idea how long it'll be until we get the fourth and final book in the quartet, but it'll be another long wait. And a more agonizing one too. Because while the ending of Torch was seriously feels-abusing, this one manages to run even closer to the original maddening Aveyardian cliffhanger of Glass Sword. It even feels, to me, like the ending of Infinity War in a way or two - no, not how you're thinking, but more like just emulating one of those last shots of the movie.

But yeah, it's going to be a long time, waiting for Tahir to finish one of the most intelligent and gripping series in all of YA.

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