Books Like An Ember in the Ashes: 6 to Read Next
Crave more brutal empires, dual-POV tension, and forbidden romance after An Ember in the Ashes? These six fantasy novels deliver the same high-stakes thrill — with where to start.
An Ember in the Ashes earned its devoted following with relentless tension. Sabaa Tahir built a merciless, Rome-inspired empire, then told the story through two characters on opposite sides — a soldier and a rebel spy — whose fates collide. Nobody feels safe, the romance is forbidden, and the stakes are life and death from the first chapter. So the books that satisfy Ember fans share that combination: a brutal regime, dual perspectives in conflict, and a slow-burn romance under constant threat.
Here are six novels that deliver, each with what it does best. If you’ve finished the quartet, this is where to go next.
Throne of Glass — Sarah J. Maas (the closest YA match)
Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass shares Ember’s core DNA: a lethal heroine, an oppressive regime, court intrigue, and a romance that smoulders across a sprawling series. It’s bigger and more romance-forward, perfect if you want to commit to a long, addictive saga with a fierce protagonist at its centre.
Best for: a deadly heroine and an epic, romance-rich series.
Six of Crows — Leigh Bardugo (the morally grey tension)
Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows matches Ember’s high tension with a crew of morally grey misfits pulling off an impossible heist. The multiple viewpoints, the danger, and the found-family bonds will feel familiar, with banter sharp enough to cut. One of the best in all of YA fantasy.
Best for: multiple POVs, high stakes, and an unforgettable crew.
Children of Blood and Bone — Tomi Adeyemi (the rebellion)
Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone shares Ember’s oppression and rebellion, with a fierce heroine fighting to restore magic in a vivid West African–inspired world. The dual perspectives and brutal stakes echo Tahir’s, with a fresh and powerful mythology of its own.
Best for: the rebellion stakes and a fresh, rich world.
The Cruel Prince — Holly Black (the dangerous court)
Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince trades the empire for a treacherous faerie court, but keeps the political danger and barbed romance. A mortal girl claws for power among cruel immortals, scheming and surviving with the nerve Ember fans love.
Best for: court intrigue and a sharp-edged romance.
Shadow and Bone — Leigh Bardugo (the magic and slow burn)
If you want the same smouldering romance in a richly built magical world, Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone delivers — a heroine discovering dangerous power, intrigue, and a slow-burn romance, all in a Tsarist-Russia-inspired setting that leads into the Six of Crows duology.
Best for: immersive magic and a slow-burn romance.
Red Rising — Pierce Brown (the brutal empire, aged up)
For Ember’s brutal empire and rebellion turned darker and more adult, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising is the pick. A low-caste hero infiltrates the deadly academy of his oppressors in a sci-fi world every bit as merciless as Tahir’s empire. Violent, political, and epic.
Best for: the brutal stakes and rebellion, in an adult sci-fi key.
How to choose your next read
Pick by what gripped you most. The closest YA match? Throne of Glass. The morally grey crew? Six of Crows. The rebellion? Children of Blood and Bone. The dangerous court? The Cruel Prince. Immersive magic and slow burn? Shadow and Bone. The brutal empire, aged up? Red Rising.
For more, browse our fantasy and young adult collections, and start with whichever piece of An Ember in the Ashes you miss most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after An Ember in the Ashes?
Finish Sabaa Tahir's quartet first, then move to Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass and Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone for the same brutal stakes and fierce heroines. For the morally grey, high-tension feel, Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows is a must.
What book is most like An Ember in the Ashes?
Throne of Glass is the closest YA match — a deadly heroine, an oppressive regime, court intrigue, and a slow-burn romance across a long series. For the same dark empire and rebellion in an adult, sci-fi register, Pierce Brown's Red Rising hits hard.
What makes a book similar to An Ember in the Ashes?
Three things define it: a brutal, often Rome-inspired empire; alternating points of view from characters on opposite sides; and a forbidden romance amid genuine, life-or-death stakes. The books here each capture at least two.
