Review: A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir

I liked book three in this series even more than I liked the first two, which is to say I liked it an awful lot. I am sure this is the first in the series that made me cry, which is surprising, but I also think it is true. This book hurt all of my feelings.

As this is the third book in a series, I will direct anyone new to a review of An Ember in the Ashes, however much I gushed about that know the series gets even better. And by better, I mean faster, darker, more interconnected, and more emotionally impactful. Also, Sabaa Tahir can keep your attention on the page like your life depends on it.

I don't think I had anything I didn't like about book three, so I can't have a section where I outline anything I didn't enjoy. So I am going to start with my biggest surprise, how I felt about Helene. I gave book two 5-stars; clearly, I liked the Helene sections in the past as well, but she was my least favorite of the three perspectives. Now she was my most anticipated. I still am kind of of the opinion that she is too comfortable with being an oppressor, but Tahir has made her such a deeply interesting and layered character. She is masterfully written; you understand her choices so well. I am so interested to see where that final book in the series goes now that Helene's alliances have been shaken up. I am clearly still trying to avoid spoilers for anyone who happens across this that has read book two but not three. Might be a pointless action on my part.

I really loved the Helene chapters, but I also was deeply invested in Laia and Elias' points of view. Laia's was an excellent journey of fully harnessing her strength and proving over and over that she is strong and intelligent. Elias' was watching something terrible happen too far away from you while sprinting full force to try to stop it. I need the bok four resolution for Elias. Need it.

I am so interested to see where book four goes. The plot was completely breakneck, it was full to bursting of drama and tension, and the reveals we got were excellent. I did call the one about Cook like 12 seconds after we met her. But I was exceedingly happy that we aired a lot of the secrets.

Speaking of Cook, I did really like what happened with her character in this book. Tahir makes such strong choices, and I really truly was enthralled with all the backstory that was revealed. I was also not expecting what happened with the Augurs and am really interested in seeing that story wrapped up in the last book.

I am sure the series resolution will break my heart into pieces. But I am really anticipating that pain. I want to know how this story ends way more than I want to be spared that emotional turmoil.

I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.