A Sky Beyond the Storm

An Ember in the Ashes, Book 4

By: Sabaa Tahir

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Katharine Lee McEwan, Steve West, Maxwell Caulfield, Nikki Massoud

Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir's beloved New York Times best-selling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?

Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off....

The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.

By his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.

Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory — or to an unimaginable doom.

And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life — and love — he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save — or destroy — all that he knows.

©2020 Sabaa Tahir (P)2020 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"A Sky Beyond the Storm is a masterclass example of how to wrap up a series." - The Nerd Daily

“Tahir’s exquisite storytelling doesn’t miss a beat… This series is an epic hero’s journey, with love, adventure, and magic woven throughout. Recommended for every young adult collection.” —School Library Journal

Excellent!

This book did not disappoint. I cried and laughed and loved it all the way through.

So glad I stuck through the series

There were times in the first two books where the sorrow was too heavy and I was tempted to stop reading. There were times where Laia’s temperament was so infuriatingly weak and depressing that I almost stopped reading. I am so glad I didn’t. The characters truly transform by the end of the story and all of the things that had bothered me about them in the early books somehow made for the better story in the end. Great narrators. Great story. Great lessons to be learned from it.

I love this series

from the very first opening words the first book to the very end of the story I have laughed I have cried I have been unable to turn the story off I have waited so long for the closing of the story thank you so very much for not disappointing at the end of this beautiful inspiring story I cannot wait to listen to it over and over again there are no words to express how amazing this story is

An incredible finale

What an amazing end... this whole series has been incredible, and the final installment is no different. Tahir is a master of making her readers feel every feeling imaginable, and of writing characters we root for, love, hate... sometimes all at the same time. Worth every minute. A fantastic performance by all narrators!

Heart-wrenchingly beautiful

I have never loved a fantasy series so much! The depth of characters is so carefully and intentionally woven together to create a world worth immersing yourself in. As a reader, you fall in love with the cultures the characters live in, get to draw lines between Easter eggs from the beginning to the end, and are continuously surprised. A must read!

Walking the border of love and grief

I really loved these woven stories within this 4 book series. “The poetry of its words” and the “melody of layered emotions” crafted together…I’m moved by how it even helped me to process or face my own grief through the different characters struggles and triumphs. I felt seen. Tis a great read/listen. Would definitely recommend hands down.

Loved it

Absolutely couldn’t get enough. I love the whole series. Kept me on the edge of seat the entire time.

Great narration & series conclusion

Like the first 3 books in this series, the voice actors did an excellent job. All the plot lines are tied up satisfactorily. Really enjoyed!

A Good Ending, Albeit Somewhat Unsatisfying

Considering how wonderfully paced and plotted the first two novels were, I felt like Reaper at the Gates and Sky Beyond the Storm were both rather rushed and fantastical comparatively. Whereas the first two novels were steeped in reality, despite the touches of magic, the final two books were so heavily mired in the fantastical elements that the rest of the story suffered. For example, the darkness in Laia is so quickly introduced and rarely revisited or explained that it seemed to be a bit of a deus ex machina. However, it is clear that the deeper root of it was present from the very first chapters of the very first book. Altogether I applaud Tahir for weaving the disparate threads and prophecies together, and while I am happy with the end, I'm not thoroughly satisfied by it.

A brilliant finish to a “beloved” series

It’s always a bit sad when a series you love comes to an end. But the story concluded beautifully and satisfyingly. The performances across the board were fantastic. There are some books that I enjoy audibles more than my own narration, and this is definitely one of them.