A Torch Against the Night: An Ember in the Ashes, Book 2

An insurrection is quelled by all-out genocide, with the military killing oppressed civilians who weren't part of the rebellion but are the same cultural group. The Commandant kills innocent people, even children. A character is poisoned and dying slowly. People are tortured under interrogation, and prisoners are cruelly experimented on. Marcus kills nearly everyone in someone's family for leverage.

One consensual sexual encounter starts off with passionate kissing and advances quickly but is vaguely described. Afterward the female character takes an herbal potion to prevent pregnancy. Characters stare at one another longingly and share a kiss. Two characters develop a subtle romantic tension.

Insults and exclamations include"bastard," "plebeian," "burning hells," "hells," "idiots," "bleeding," "whore," "son of a whore," "filthy," "damn," "dung."

Someone is poisoned and must take a powerful fictional drug to slow the poison's progress. A character takes an herbal concoction as a form of birth control. Characters drink and toast in social situations.

Parents need to know that A Torch Against the Night is the sequel to Sabaa Tahir's best-selling debut fantasy, An Ember in the Ashes. The action mostly takes place with characters on the run, so there is more cat-and-mouse action, tons of violence, and some upsetting deaths and injuries. With more supernatural elements, this installment should appeal to fantasy fans. Strong language is mostly insults ("whore," "bastard," and "plebeian"), while the romance amps up and includes a fade-to-black sex scene and more potential love connections. Like in the original, this book tackles universal and relevant themes about whether it's better to be loyal and patriotic or to question and rebel, about the difference between oppressors and the oppressed, and about whether immoral laws should be followed. There are strong, diverse characters, most of whom are brave, selfless, and loving.