Probably the best book JLA has written. Her writing has come a long way. I’ve read a few of her older things and honestly ASITE is by far the best thing she’s come up with. Even if I compare this one to the FBAA books, this one doesn’t make me want to stab my eyes out the way FBAA & Poppy do. I won’t usually read prequels because they tend to drag but I’m anticipating book two from the Flesh and Fire series a lot more than I’m anticipating TWOTQ. As much as I like Poppy and Casteel, I think there’s not much more their story can appease me. There’s no anticipation left of their relationship for me to truly want the next book in my hands right now. The only annoying thing about A Shadow in the Ember is that we see a contrast leaking from the B&A series, which is the stabby/violent woman jokes. They got old when they were about Poppy, they got old even quicker with Sera. I do love Sera a lot more for some reason which is odd to me since Poppy and Sera are basically the same. A lot of the same tropes are recycled and for some reason I still enjoyed this so much more than the original series. It’s weird how we already know certain info about what happens many, MANY years later (referencing Nyktos and his Consort) but the nerves from the cliffhanger still have me biting my nails and cuticles.