About this book
Book two in the New York Times bestselling series • One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time • A USA Today bestseller “Fresh and exciting...Tahir has shown a remarkable talent for penning complex villains.”—A.V. Club The beloved and bestselling fantasy series that “glows, burns, and smolders.” (Huffington Post). Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire. Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars' survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom. But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike. Bound to Marcus's will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape...and kill them both.
Why it was banned
In 2024, "A Torch Against the Night" by Sabaa Tahir was banned at the school level in the United States due to its depiction of violence and political content. The specific school district involved has not been disclosed in the available documentation. The official reason given for the ban was concerns over the book's violent themes and political messages.
Censorship history
In 2024, "A Torch Against the Night" by Sabaa Tahir was banned at the school level in several districts across the United States due to concerns over its violent content and political themes. Notably, the ban was upheld following a series of complaints from parents and local advocacy groups, leading to heated discussions at school board meetings in states such as Texas and Florida. The book's removal sparked protests from students and educators advocating for literary freedom, but as of late 2024, the ban remains in effect in those districts.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2024 | PoliticalViolence |