A Reaper at the Gates is a book for teenagers that includes fantasy and romance. It was written by Sabaa Tahir, an author from Pakistan and the United States. The book was published on June 12, 2018, by Razorbill, a part of Penguin Random House. It is the third book in the An Ember in the Ashes series. The first two books are A Torch Against the Night, and the next book is A Sky Beyond the Storm. The story follows Laia, a Scholar girl trying to stop the Nightbringer. Elias is the Soul Catcher who is learning his new duties. Helene is the Blood Shrike fighting the Empire's enemies. The story is told from the perspectives of Laia, Elias, and Helene, switching between their viewpoints.

Plot

The third book in the Ember Quartet continues the story from the second book. Laia has come to understand that to save her people, the Scholars, she must stop the Nightbringer, a powerful and vengeful Jinn who wants to destroy them. However, the Jinn is very clever and old, and Laia must use her intelligence and bravery to trick him.

In the forest known as The Waiting Place, Elias is forced to spend his life guiding ghosts to the next world. However, his connection to the living world, especially his feelings for Laia, is making it harder for him to complete his task. This could cause serious problems for the balance of the world.

At the same time, in the capital city of Antium, Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, is trying to protect her younger sister, Livia, from harm caused by her new husband, Emperor Marcus. To do this, she must create a clever plan that will lead to the downfall of both Emperor Marcus and Commandant Keris Veturia, his lieutenant. However, Keris is becoming more powerful and determined to defeat Helene.

The main characters in this book are Laia of Serra, Elias Veturius, Helene Aquilla, and the Nightbringer.

Laia is a Scholar, a once-great group that was defeated by the Martials. She is working to stop the Nightbringer’s plan.

Elias is the Soul Catcher, a role that requires him to move the souls of the dead from The Waiting Place.

Helene Aquilla is the Blood Shrike, a position that makes her responsible for carrying out the emperor’s orders.

Commandant Keris Veturia is the head of the military academy, Blackcliff, and the mother of Elias. She is considered one of the most powerful people in the Empire.

Emperor Marcus is a cruel man and a former classmate of Helene and Elias. He is married to Livia, Helene’s younger sister.

The Nightbringer is an ancient king of the Jinn.

Avitas Harper is the second Blood Shrike and Elias’s half-brother. He has a romantic interest in Helene.

Musa is the Beekeeper, a person with the ability to control lesser fey creatures. He is also the prince consort of Princess Nikla of Marinn.