An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir is set in an empire where defiance brings death. When Laia's brother is arrested for treason, her only hope of rescuing him is to become a slave to the head of the military academy and act as a spy for the rebels. Will the rebels honor their promises to her or are they just using her? What about the soldiers who are being trained in the academy, are there any rebels among them? This book will keep you reading from start to finish.
Another book that has me anxiously awaiting the next in the series is, The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. The people of Khorasan see their Caliph as a murderous monster. Each day he marries, and each night he murders. There is no explanation for his behavior, only heartache for the families of the young girls who are chosen. Then Shahrzad volunteers and survives the night. This is a story about how hate and revenge can become a cancer that destroys and it is only love and forgiveness that can restore. I highly recommend this book.