When the audience meets Aren in the story he is the ideal boy who just never goes against the rules of the land. Obeying rules is the most important thing for him and he takes it as a service to the throne. Despite this entire obedience Aren’s father still gets arrested for treason and without any delay, the man is killed too by the forces of the king.
Aren also does not get a better fate as he too is arrested and thrown into a prison mine where he has to dig for his life. He can only stop when his body runs cold and become lifeless. Along with his friend Cade, he continues in that pattern for a while, and then he is rescued by one of the rebels. The group of rebels thinks of him as a messiah and is sure that he is the one who will lead them out of their miserable life.
Aren for the first time in his life starts observing life differently and realizes that the rules he has been following in the past were all lies. Now he must lead the group of rebels towards freedom and first of all he has to reach the Ember Blade. Author Chris Wooding describes Ember Blade as a powerful sword that stands as a symbol of power in the land. The one who has Ember Blade in hand can get the favor of the people of the land.
Simon Bubb gives a courageous voice to Aren to show that he is the true hero which the world needs. The Ace of Skulls and Velocity were good stories but they were different. While concentrating on this series it is better not to indulge in other books of different series however once you finish this then you can select them later on.
