Good news for fans of ‘An Ember in the Ashes’

Razorbill, a young adult imprint at Penguin, announced on Monday that it will publish a sequel to its YA bestseller, An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir.

A debut novel, An Ember in the Ashes was released at the end of last month and immediately hit #2 on The New York Times young adult (YA) best-seller list. Paramount Pictures has already optioned film rights in a seven-figure deal, according to Publishers Marketplace. The book’s success and potential are being compared to those of the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games.

“An Ember in the Ashes” centers on two young people living under the merciless rule of the Martial Empire. Laia is a scholar; Elias is a soldier
who is considering deserting. Before he can do so, he’s ordered to participate in “a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.” Laia’s brother is arrested for treason and Laia (with the help of rebel Scholars) goes undercover as a slave at the Empire’s most prestigious military academy to save him from execution. (See sabaatahir.com).

The sequel, which will be published in 2016, will continue their story as they attempt to evade the Empire’s army and free Laia’s brother.

On her website, Ms. Tahir describes herself as a “YA Author, Musichead, and Book Junkie.” She says that, as a child, she wanted to be a pirate or a bear. Now, “if I could be anything, I’d be a space explorer, but a cool one, like Jean-Luc Picard.”

Tahir has “worked as a Motel clerk, gas station attendant, office manager, tutor, hand masseuse (don’t ask), editor and writer.” She was international editor for The Washington Post before leaving to write An Ember in the Ashes.