Rating: 4 stars
Cover synopsis: The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she's sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever.
This was a fun and quick read with an interesting premise. The only reason it didn't earn 5 stars is that it is what it is. I kept hoping there would be an underlying theme or some richer layers to the story (a la Harry Potter), but I never found any. I also wished the author would have given us more character development beyond the main two characters.
Still, it was a fast-paced engrossing book, and I enjoyed it a lot. Can't wait to read the sequel.
