Sabaa Tahir Books in Order (Updated August 7, 2026)

Sabaa Tahir is a Pakistani American author of young adult fantasy and contemporary fiction.

Her fantasy books are divided into two connected sequences. The original An Ember in the Ashes quartet follows Laia, Elias, and Helene during the fall and transformation of the Martial Empire. The Heir duology returns to the same world about twenty years later with a new generation.

All My Rage is a separate contemporary novel. It has no magical or continuity connection to the Martial Empire.

The simplest reading decision is to complete the four Ember novels before beginning Heir. The graphic novels are optional prequels and should be added only after the prose series has introduced their characters.

The Essential Order

Readers following the complete Martial Empire story should use this sequence:

1. An Ember in the Ashes (2015): Laia enters Blackcliff Military Academy as a spy to save her imprisoned brother, while elite soldier Elias searches for a way to escape the empire he was trained to serve.
2. A Torch Against the Night (2016): Laia and Elias flee toward Kauf Prison as the empire hunts them, while Helene is ordered to capture the people she once considered friends.
3. A Reaper at the Gates (2018): War spreads across the empire as Laia confronts the Nightbringer, Elias accepts a supernatural responsibility, and Helene fights to preserve a collapsing state.
4. A Sky Beyond the Storm (2020): The quartet’s wars, prophecies, betrayals, and supernatural conflicts converge in the final struggle for the future of the Martial Empire.
5. Heir (2024): Twenty years later, crown prince Quil, tracker Sirsha, and Kegari orphan Aiz become connected through murder, rebellion, magical danger, and the unresolved legacy of the earlier generation.
6. Empire (Scheduled for September 22, 2026): Quil, Sirsha, Cero, and the rulers of the Martial Empire face an ancient evil, an escalating war, and revelations capable of destroying both the empire and Kegar.

This is both the safest spoiler order and the clearest emotional progression.

Two Generations of the Martial Empire

The fantasy novels are not one six-book series with an unchanged cast.

The Ember Quartet

The first four books tell the principal story of Laia, Elias, and Helene.

They introduce the empire, Blackcliff, the Masks, the Scholars, the Augurs, the jinn, the Waiting Place, and the conflict involving the Nightbringer.

The Heir Duology

Heir and Empire take place roughly twenty years after A Sky Beyond the Storm.

They follow Quil, Sirsha, Aiz, Cero, and other members of a younger generation. Important figures from the quartet return, and the political world exists because of decisions made in the first four books.

Heir is therefore a new storyline, but not a clean starting point.

An Ember in the Ashes Books in Order

An Ember in the Ashes

1. An Ember in the Ashes (2015): Scholar girl Laia agrees to spy inside Blackcliff after imperial soldiers arrest her brother, placing her under the control of the academy’s brutal Commandant.

The second central viewpoint belongs to Elias Veturius, one of Blackcliff’s finest students and one of the few who secretly despises the empire’s cruelty.

The novel establishes the Martial Empire’s caste system, military academies, resistance movement, supernatural history, and central relationships.

A Torch Against the Night

2. A Torch Against the Night (2016): Laia and Elias race toward the empire’s most feared prison while soldiers, betrayal, and supernatural enemies close around them.

Helene Aquilla becomes a principal viewpoint character after receiving an order that places loyalty to the empire above loyalty to Elias.

The book begins immediately after the first novel. It should not be treated as a separate prison-break adventure because every major conflict grows from the Trials and escape from Blackcliff.

A Reaper at the Gates

3. A Reaper at the Gates (2018): Laia searches for a way to defeat the Nightbringer, Elias becomes bound to the Waiting Place, and Helene attempts to protect the empire from internal and external destruction.

The story expands beyond pursuit and rebellion into open warfare, supernatural history, and the political survival of entire peoples.

Each viewpoint character carries consequences from A Torch Against the Night, making this the least suitable point for a new reader to enter.

A Sky Beyond the Storm

4. A Sky Beyond the Storm (2020): Laia gathers allies for the final battle, Helene confronts impossible choices as Blood Shrike, and Elias struggles to recover the humanity lost through his supernatural role.

This is the fourth and concluding novel of the original series.

It resolves the principal conflict involving the Nightbringer, the jinn, the Martial Empire, and the central generation of characters.

The later Heir books continue the world, but they do not turn A Sky Beyond the Storm into an incomplete ending.

Is the Ember Quartet Complete?

Yes.

An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night, A Reaper at the Gates, and A Sky Beyond the Storm form a completed four-book arc.

The Heir duology is a sequel sequence rather than an extension needed to make the original quartet understandable.

The Heir Books in Order

Heir

1. Heir (2024): Crown prince Quil Farrar, outcast tracker Sirsha Westering, and Kegari orphan Aiz follow separate paths that gradually reveal a new threat to the Martial Empire.

Quil is connected directly to the rulers and survivors of the original quartet. He fears inheriting the cruelty associated with his family and position.

Sirsha possesses magical tracking abilities but has been cast out by her own people. Aiz seeks vengeance and liberation for Kegar, though the forces shaping her mission are not always what they appear to be.

The novel reveals the postwar fate of several earlier characters, so it should be read after A Sky Beyond the Storm.

Empire

2. Empire (Scheduled for September 22, 2026): The Martial Empire loses ground to Kegari forces while Quil searches for Sirsha, Sirsha struggles against the ancient entity Div, and Cero begins opposing Aiz’s increasingly destructive rule.

Empire is the announced conclusion to the Heir duology.

It remains forthcoming as of August 7, 2026 and should not yet be described as a published book.

Readers should complete Heir immediately before it because the second novel continues unresolved relationships, warfare, magical possession, and political revelations from the first.

Can Heir Be Read Without the Ember Quartet?

The immediate plot introduces its three main characters clearly, so a reader could follow much of the new conflict.

It is still not recommended.

Heir reveals who survived the original series, who rules the Martial Empire, how the government changed, and what happened to several central relationships. Returning figures also carry emotional histories that the sequel does not explain from the beginning.

The better route is all four Ember novels, followed by Heir and Empire.

The Graphic Novel Prequels

The Ember graphic novels explore the earlier lives of characters from the prose series.

They were developed as official prequels from a story by Sabaa Tahir, with scripts by Nicole Andelfinger and artwork by Sonia Liao.

Two volumes have been published.

A Thief Among the Trees

1. A Thief Among the Trees (2020): Elias, Helene, and fellow Blackcliff students take part in a dangerous training mission that sends them into territory controlled by resistance fighters.

The story occurs before An Ember in the Ashes.

It shows a younger Elias and Helene before the Trials and before their loyalties are tested by Laia’s arrival.

Despite its early chronology, read it after An Ember in the Ashes. The prose novel provides a stronger introduction to Blackcliff, Masks, Scholars, and the two cadets’ relationship.

A Spark Within the Forge

2. A Spark Within the Forge (2022): Laia and Darin’s childhood comes into focus as their family faces danger, secrecy, and the imperial violence that later shapes both siblings.

This is another prequel rather than a continuation beyond A Sky Beyond the Storm.

It adds emotional context to Laia’s determination to save Darin and to the history their parents concealed.

Read it after An Ember in the Ashes, or after the complete quartet when revisiting the characters’ earlier lives.

Is There a Third Ember Graphic Novel?

The graphic novel project was announced as a three-volume series.

Only A Thief Among the Trees and A Spark Within the Forge had been published as of August 7, 2026.

No third volume had a confirmed title and publication date. It should not be numbered as an available book until formally announced.

The Best Graphic Novel Placement

A smooth order is:

1. An Ember in the Ashes (2015): Meet Laia, Elias, Helene, Darin, and the Martial Empire through the main story.
2. A Thief Among the Trees (2020): Return to Elias and Helene’s Blackcliff training years.
3. A Spark Within the Forge (2022): Explore Laia and Darin’s family life before the imperial raid.
4. A Torch Against the Night (2016): Continue the main prose sequence.
5. A Reaper at the Gates (2018): Follow the widening war and supernatural crisis.
6. A Sky Beyond the Storm (2020): Complete the original quartet.
7. Heir (2024): Move into the next generation.
8. Empire (Scheduled for 2026): Complete the Heir duology after publication.

Readers who dislike interrupting the novels can save both graphic novels until after A Sky Beyond the Storm.

Chronological Order of the Martial Empire Stories

Strict chronology begins with the graphic prequels:

1. A Thief Among the Trees (2020): Elias and Helene participate in an early Blackcliff mission.
2. A Spark Within the Forge (2022): Laia and Darin’s younger years reveal their family’s hidden dangers.
3. An Ember in the Ashes (2015): Laia enters Blackcliff and Elias takes part in the Trials.
4. A Torch Against the Night (2016): The escape from Blackcliff becomes a race toward Kauf.
5. A Reaper at the Gates (2018): War and supernatural conflict divide the principal characters.
6. A Sky Beyond the Storm (2020): The original generation’s story reaches its conclusion.
7. Heir (2024): A new generation faces the consequences of the earlier war.
8. Empire (Scheduled for 2026): The sequel duology moves toward its final conflict.

Chronological order is not the recommended first-reading order. The graphic novels assume readers already recognize the importance of their characters and institutions.

All My Rage

All My Rage (2022): Best friends Noor and Salahudin face grief, addiction, racism, family pressure, and the possible loss of the desert motel that has shaped both their lives.

The novel moves between present-day California and an earlier story involving Salahudin’s parents in Pakistan.

It is contemporary fiction without magic, jinn, Masks, or a fictional empire.

All My Rage is completely separate from the Ember world and can be read at any point.

Is All My Rage Part of a Series?

No.

It is a standalone novel with a complete story.

Readers can begin with it even if they have never read Tahir’s fantasy work. Its themes of family, injustice, friendship, faith, anger, and survival may echo concerns from her other novels, but there is no shared continuity.

Sabaa Tahir Anthology Contributions

Tahir has contributed shorter fiction to several multi-author books.

These anthologies are optional and should not be confused with solo novels or required Ember installments.

From a Certain Point of View

From a Certain Point of View (2017): This Star Wars anthology retells events surrounding A New Hope through supporting, background, and previously unseen characters, including a contribution by Sabaa Tahir.

The collection belongs to Star Wars rather than the Martial Empire.

It can be read independently of An Ember in the Ashes, though familiarity with A New Hope provides the intended context.

Three Sides of a Heart

Three Sides of a Heart: Stories About Love Triangles (2017): This anthology gathers young adult stories that examine romantic triangles from different genres and perspectives, including a contribution from Tahir.

It is not an Ember collection.

The stories come from multiple authors and do not form one continuous narrative.

Magic Has No Borders

Magic Has No Borders (2023): This anthology brings together young adult fantasy inspired by South Asian mythology, folklore, legends, and supernatural traditions, including a story by Tahir.

The collection is separate from the Martial Empire.

Readers can approach its stories in any order because each contributor uses an independent setting and cast.

Short Fiction and Essays

Tahir has also published individual short works in newspapers, magazines, and special projects.

These pieces do not form a numbered series and should not be inserted into the Ember novel sequence unless a future collection formally identifies them as part of that world.

A bibliographic article should distinguish between a book-length publication carrying Tahir’s name and a single contribution inside a multi-author volume.

Sabaa Tahir Books in Publication Order

This order shows how Tahir moved from the original fantasy quartet into contemporary fiction and then returned to the Martial Empire.

1. An Ember in the Ashes (2015): Laia spies at Blackcliff while Elias attempts to escape the role the empire chose for him.
2. A Torch Against the Night (2016): Laia and Elias flee toward Kauf as Helene is ordered to hunt them.
3. From a Certain Point of View (2017): Tahir contributes to a multi-author Star Wars anthology centered on A New Hope.
4. Three Sides of a Heart (2017): Tahir contributes to an anthology about romantic triangles.
5. A Reaper at the Gates (2018): The Martial Empire moves toward war while supernatural threats intensify.
6. A Thief Among the Trees (2020): The first graphic prequel follows younger versions of Elias and Helene.
7. A Sky Beyond the Storm (2020): The original Ember quartet reaches its conclusion.
8. All My Rage (2022): Noor and Salahudin confront grief, family crisis, and the possible loss of their desert home.
9. A Spark Within the Forge (2022): The second graphic prequel explores Laia and Darin’s earlier family life.
10. Magic Has No Borders (2023): Tahir contributes to a South Asian fantasy anthology.
11. Heir (2024): The Martial Empire returns through Quil, Sirsha, and Aiz twenty years after the quartet.
12. Empire (Scheduled for September 22, 2026): The Heir duology is set to conclude with war, ancient magic, and the struggle over the empire’s future.

Anthologies are included here for bibliographic completeness, but they are not part of Tahir’s solo novel count.

How Many Sabaa Tahir Novels Are There?

As of August 7, 2026, Tahir had six published prose novels:

1. An Ember in the Ashes
2. A Torch Against the Night
3. A Reaper at the Gates
4. A Sky Beyond the Storm
5. All My Rage
6. Heir

Empire is scheduled to become her seventh published prose novel on September 22, 2026.

The two graphic novels are separate book-length works, but they were scripted and illustrated collaboratively. Anthologies containing one Tahir story should not be counted as solo novels.

Boxed Sets and Special Editions

An Ember in the Ashes Complete Series Box Set

An Ember in the Ashes Complete Series Box Set: This set contains An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night, A Reaper at the Gates, and A Sky Beyond the Storm in the correct order.

It contains the complete original quartet.

Heir and Empire are not part of this four-book set because they belong to the later duology.

Heir Deluxe Edition

Heir Deluxe Edition: This is a special physical edition of Heir with additional design features or bonus packaging rather than a separate story.

Readers need only one edition of Heir.

A deluxe edition does not create another position between Heir and Empire.

Latest Sabaa Tahir Book

As of August 7, 2026, Tahir’s latest published book is Heir.

Heir (2024): Quil, Sirsha, and Aiz become entangled in a new struggle involving murder, magical tracking, national resentment, rebellion, and the political legacy of the Martial Empire.

The next confirmed publication is Empire.

Empire (Scheduled for September 22, 2026): Quil seeks help for a failing empire, Sirsha fights the ancient evil bound to her, and Cero confronts the increasingly violent direction of Aiz’s campaign.

Because September 22, 2026 remained in the future on the date of this update, Empire is listed as forthcoming.

Current Series Status

An Ember in the Ashes

Complete quartet

A Sky Beyond the Storm concludes Laia, Elias, and Helene’s principal sequence.

Heir

One book published, finale scheduled

Heir is available. Empire is scheduled for September 22, 2026.

Graphic Novel Prequels

Two books published

A Thief Among the Trees and A Spark Within the Forge are available. A third announced volume has no confirmed publication details.

All My Rage

Standalone and complete

No sequel is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Sabaa Tahir book should I read first?

Begin with An Ember in the Ashes for fantasy.

Begin with All My Rage when you want contemporary fiction without magic.

Do the Ember books need to be read in order?

Yes.

The central war, relationships, supernatural rules, political leadership, and character transformations continue directly across all four novels.

Is An Ember in the Ashes a trilogy?

No.

It is a four-book series, commonly called the Ember Quartet.

Is A Sky Beyond the Storm the final Ember book?

It is the final book of the original quartet.

The same world continues twenty years later through Heir and Empire.

Is Heir book five of An Ember in the Ashes?

It is more accurate to call it book one of a sequel duology.

It takes place in the same continuity but follows a new generation and a new principal conflict.

Can I read Heir first?

It is possible to understand its immediate characters, but it is not recommended.

The book reveals the outcome of the Ember quartet and assumes readers understand the older generation’s history.

Is Empire published?

Not as of August 7, 2026.

Its confirmed publication date is September 22, 2026.

Is Empire the final book?

It is the announced second and final volume of the Heir duology.

It does not necessarily prevent Tahir from returning to the world in another future project.

Where do the graphic novels fit?

Both occur before An Ember in the Ashes.

Read them after the first prose novel or after completing the quartet.

Did Sabaa Tahir write the graphic novels alone?

No.

They were created from Tahir’s world and story material, with Nicole Andelfinger writing the graphic adaptation and Sonia Liao providing the artwork.

Is A Thief Among the Trees required?

No.

It provides background for Elias and Helene but does not replace any main novel.

Is A Spark Within the Forge required?

No.

It expands Laia and Darin’s childhood and family history without adding a mandatory step to the prose sequence.

Will there be a third graphic novel?

A three-volume project was announced.

Only two volumes had been published, and no third book had a confirmed title or date as of this update.

Is All My Rage connected to An Ember in the Ashes?

No.

It is a contemporary novel set partly in California and Pakistan.

Does All My Rage contain fantasy?

No.

Its conflicts involve family, friendship, addiction, grief, faith, racism, and survival in the real world.

Are the anthology books written entirely by Tahir?

No.

From a Certain Point of View, Three Sides of a Heart, and Magic Has No Borders contain work from several authors, including one contribution from Tahir.

How many solo Sabaa Tahir novels are published?

Six prose novels were published as of August 7, 2026.

Empire is scheduled to become the seventh.

The Order to Use

Begin with An Ember in the Ashes, then read A Torch Against the Night, A Reaper at the Gates, and A Sky Beyond the Storm without rearranging them.

Add A Thief Among the Trees and A Spark Within the Forge after meeting the principal characters in the prose books. They are background stories, not required opening volumes.

Continue into the next generation with Heir, then read Empire after its confirmed publication.

Keep All My Rage on a separate shelf. It is a complete contemporary novel and can be read before, during, or after Tahir’s fantasy books without affecting continuity.