An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Pub: 4/28/15
Pgs: 464
ARC received from Edelweiss

In An Ember in the Ashes, the Martial Empire, which is modeled after Rome, rules with an iron fist.  Those that do not comply with the law will suffer death.  Being a scholar doesn't mean much in the Empire, and Laia lives with her grandparents and brother, after her family met a tragic betrayal fighting against the Empire.  One night Laia loses the only family she has left during a raid, when soldiers known as Masks, come to her home.  Desperate to find the only living relative left, Laia decides she's going to find her brother Darin, who was imprisoned during the raid.  That's her plan, and then she runs into rebels, who are planning something big against the Empire.

Elias is the perfect Mask in training.  He is one of the best soldiers to come up in training since his mother, but he has never wanted this life, instead he wants to run away.  Before the trials begin, that will decide who will become the next Emperor, Elias has a plan to run away, but secrets and circumstances make him stay.  Soon Elias realizes that there is more to his mother, there is more to the Empire, and there is more to his best friend Helene, a fellow soldier.

Laia and Elias' paths will cross and the Empire will rue the day it began it's rule of iron will.  Destiny has a plan for these two and it has just begun.
4.5 stars out of 5.  Thanks Edelweiss.