The Ember in the Winter

The Ember in the Winter is about finding where you really belong, as well as finding the people you belong with. It follows nineteen-year-old Ezra Chandler in the human-occupied country of Marudas, where he has an unlikely encounter with the infamous assassin of Zemira, Morana Altair. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, he's pulled over into Zemira, despite being human, which, because of some previous conflicts, is practically a death sentence waiting to happen. But, to his very own surprise, he finds himself settling into the elven customs rather easily. 

TEITW is rather tame compared to the rest of the series, which is why it's recommended for those 14 years and older. The age rating gets higher as the series goes on due to an escalating number of sensitive topics that are added into each of the books. By the end of the series, it's recommended for those 16 and older, but it depends on your maturity level.

TEITW focuses specifically on found family, the beginnings of political intrigue and war, magic, Irish and Scottish cultural and lingual elements, heavy world-building, mental health representation including PTSD, depression, anxiety (of all kinds), and just regular insecurities about yourself and the way you may act towards others.