"But if we never risk ourselves, we lose so many chances of joy."4⭐️ I enjoyed this graphic novel, even more than the other one in the Ember world. It was interesting to get to know Darin in a way we didn't in the main series. Also, it was nice to see Laia again and the start of her journey into being courageous.

As good as the first book. I loved learning more of Laia and Darin’s back story and seing them again, with their family members felt so so comforting :( these characters have my entire heart (also seing Afya as gorgeous as she was made my day). These graphic novels are so good Sabaa truly never fails

Words cannot describe how much I love this series & these characters. I loved getting to see Zara for the first time, as well as Afya; I wasn’t expecting them in this book, so that was a pleasant surprise! Getting to see illustrations of all the people I’ve grown to love has been such a treat, I hope the 3rd graphic novel follows a bit of Helene’s backstory, or even an epilogue for all the characters!

3.5 starsThis is more about Darius then Laia but my girl is scenes steeler.

I really enjoyed this prequel novel, which is a welcome addition to the AN EMBER IN THE ASHES series. The story followed both Laia and Darin as they began the paths that led to EMBER. Laia was struggling with her anxieties for most of the story as she worked to become a successful healer. Darin's impulsiveness eventually led him to Spiro and the bond that began there. Both stories were interesting from different ways, yet I found Darin to be the more compelling of the two. The art style is fun a...

3.5Darin is lookin HOT. Laia is being a little noob but this was a cute look at their beginnings... they grew so much in the books dang i miss them.

I suspect the novel is much, much better. Appreciated the casual queerness and beautiful illustrations but this deserved way more time/space to breathe, which I suspect the novel gave it. Will for sure be checking out Tahir's straight fiction work in this universe! (realized much too late I was reading the second in a series, not the first, so did not ding for "didn't understand what the hell was going on with this world".)

I feel like the graphic novel was very short and didn't tell enough of a story. While I know it is part of a series, I felt like the graphic novel was not telling me a story and just giving background information.

This gave me so many feelings! I can’t believe that it’s been so long since I was in the ember world. Seeing Laia in her natural habitat with her Nan and Pop was just so sweet in the most bitter sweet way possible. Seeing Darin slowly starting to rebel against the system that he has been pushed down with was again hella bitter Sweet. I’ve always preferred the perspective of the scholars in this world and so seeing so much of that here was awesome. This perspective really helped to build up my an...

THIS IS A THING? Why didn't I know about it?

Damn it. Now I want to reread the series again 😩

I love this prequel series!!!

This was cute! There wasn't as much in the way of plot as I was expecting, but the art was very good and it was nice to see these characters and world on the page instead of just in my head. I thought this would be an exploration of Darin's apprenticeship with Spiro Teluman, but it was more just an introduction to his motivations for joining Teluman rather than the actual work they did together. It was also nice to see the story from Darin's perspective since we don't get his POV at all in the E...

I actually really enjoyed this one. A Thief in the Trees was a little flat for me but this one maybe dove into a story that felt fresh and deep. Lots of moments/lines that had me thinking/in my feelings.

Super excited to read about young Laia and Darin. February 2022 needs to speed up. 💜

Although "Spark" is better than the other graphic novel in this prequel series, it still just kind of fades away in the mind even as I'm reading it. I was reminded recently at a book event that Sabaa Tahir didn't write the dialogue herself; although she provided the general outline of events, she didn't write this, and honestly? It shows. It's just missing that Tahir pizzazz! The characters lack depth and vigor- I only connected to them at all because I've read (and adore) the Ember quartet and

I have a BookTube channel where I review books, give reading suggestions, and more! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/dragonarmybooks---Fear takes the joy out of living.A Spark Within the Forge is another prequel graphic novel, taking place well before the events that transpire in An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Previously, Sabaa had released A Thief Among the Trees, a fun prequel story about Elias and Helene. Here in Spark, we get to find out what Laia and her brother, Darin, wer...

I like the illustrations because it helps with the visualisations. I'm excited to reread the Wmber in the Ashes series and use these illustrations in my mind as I reread. It was interesting to learn more about Darin and Laia and what shaped the paths that they ended up on. I especially liked Darin's background because we got to see how he ended up becoming Spiro's apprentice.

I enjoyed the first one better. I did like getting more information about Darin and how he met and came to work for Teluman. Laia seemed weak in this prequel and not like the Laia I know and love. (I know she goes through changes, just saying). The cover of this is gorgeous!

This review is for the first two of three graphic novel prequels to the series, in that the action in each takes place when the characters of The Ember in the Ashes series are younger.In A Thief Among the Trees, Helene, Tavi, and Elias are military recruits sent on a dangerous mission to steal some vials of poison from the site of its manufacture (the reason for them stealing from other Martials is never explained). In A Spark Within the Forge, Laia and Darin live within the Scholar district and...