Fans of Sabaa Tahir’s best-selling fantasy series An Ember in the Ashes are in for a treat next summer: according to The Hollywood Reporter, BOOM! Studios has announced the release of a prequel graphic novel from Tahir, writer Nicole Andelfinger (“Lumberjanes”), and artist Sonia Liao. “A Thief Among the Trees: An Ember in the Ashes Graphic Novel” is set to be the first of a trilogy of graphic novels exploring the pasts of the characters of Tahir’s series.
The new graphic novel is set to delve into the backstory of two of the trilogy’s primary characters, Blackcliff Military Academy assassins-in-training Elias Veturius and Helene Aquila. Set in the same brutal, Rome-like Martial Empire as An Ember in the Ashes, “A Thief Among the Trees” follows Elias and Helene on a mission to steal a poison from Isle South — only to discover that, amongst those standing in their way, are some unlikely enemies, including fellow Blackcliff students.
Tahir’s New York Times-bestselling novel An Ember in the Ashes first debuted in 2015. Two sequels — A Torch Against the Night in 2017 and A Reaper at the Gates in 2018 — have since been released.
“I’ve loved graphic novels and comics since I was a kid thieving ‘The Sandman‘ from my older brother,” said Tahir. “It’s an absolute joy to use this medium to explore the life-altering events that helped shape Ember characters like Elias and Helene. And working with Nicole Andelfinger, Sonia Liao and the team at BOOM! Studios to bring these characters to life has been an inspiring and joyful collaboration. I’m so excited for readers to discover this new piece of the Ember world.”
“A Thief Among the Trees: An Ember in the Ashes Graphic Novel” is set for a July 2020 release.
