This book will feel like a quick read, but you’re going to be on an intense ride the entire time. Before we get too far into the review of this book, I do want to acknowledge that Ember of Night isn’t for everyone. If you’re easily triggered by parental abuse, this book has intense descriptions that might not be for every reader. Despite its dark theme, this was a story that I was fascinated by from beginning to end. It’s been a really long time since I’ve read a book about angels, demons, and the end times…and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The ending definitely had me reeling and I’m looking forward to what will come next.
Harley is a young woman who’s carrying the world on her shoulders. She’s unloved and abused by her alcoholic father, goes unnoticed by her peers in school, and unnoticed by everyone else. However, for her sister Ray, she’d do damn near anything to ensure her happiness. Her hopes are pinned on her eighteenth birthday, when she can finally leave and fight for her and her sister’s happiness, except now there’s a brooding stranger telling her she’s the key to win some war between heaven and hell. But Draven is hiding behind a wall of secrets and lies, and she’ll have to trust him to figure out what he wants, and what the hell everyone else will want from her too. She might just be the key to save everything, or destroy it all in one fell swoop.
Make no mistake about it, this book starts off dark and only increases the intensity as it continues. Harley is a hardened young woman certainly with so much depth to her character. At first she seems to come off one dimensional as she hides behind a mask of anger at the world, but quickly you find out that these are skills and weapons she’s had to hone in order to protect herself and her sister from the horrors of the world. Her relationship with her sister is sweet and allows readers to see Harley’s vulnerability and strength. Harley is a character that you get to know in glimpses, and I really enjoyed reading the book from her perspective.
I had a harder time liking Draven, mostly because he kept giving me Edward Cullen vibes. His brooding and enigmatic personality of course make him the perfect love interest material, but what interested me more was the story behind his interest in Harley. No spoilers, but I really want to know where this particular story bit might go in the next book. I do think that Harley outshines any of the other characters, but Molly does write pretty memorable side characters.
My favourite aspect of this book was the power dynamics of heaven and hell. It’s been a while since I read a book about angels and demons, but I appreciated that it wasn’t taken down an intense biblical route. I love the speculation of a creator that isn’t good or evil, but just is. It creates a lot of questions around what is good vs. evil and other things. What’s not as well explained is Harley’s power, as well as the powers of some of the other beings in the book. I have a feeling they’ll be more defined in the next book, as there are some interesting shenanigans at play, but for now, I’m all about the mystery.
The book itself is pretty fast-paced despite almost being 400 pages long, I started and finished it in the span of an afternoon. Of course, I found myself longing for more at the end, because Molly does kind of leave readers on a bit of a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next because I want to imagine that things can only get better, but let’s face it, authors certainly know how to dig in that feelings knife and twist it.
Now, while I enjoyed the book immensely, I do feel like the ending might get a bit confusing as it seems to jump pretty quickly from one scene to another. Everything else however, I really enjoyed. I can’t wait to see what Molly will hit us with next, and again, if you’re triggered by child abuse this might be one you approach with big caution as it does play a big role in the story, but add it to your TBR if you’re looking for something darker in your next YA read.
Ember of Night is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
I am a weed.
Unloved by my abusive, alcoholic dad. Unwanted by my classmates. Unnoticed by everyone else.
But I’d suffer anything to give my kid sister a better life—the minute I turn eighteen, I’m getting us the hell out of here. And some hot stranger telling me I am the key to stopping a war between Heaven and Hell isn’t going to change that.
Let the world crumble and burn, for all I care.
Draven is relentless, though. And very much a liar. Every time his sexy lips are moving, I can see it—in the dip of his head, the grit of his jaw—even if my heart begs me to ignore the signs.
So what does he want?
I need to figure it out fast, because now everyone is gunning for me. And damn if I don’t want to show them what happens when you let weeds thrive in the cracks of the pavement…
We can grow powerful enough to shatter the whole foundation.
