An Ember in the Ashes

Which storyline is more interesting? Laia or Elias?

I was trying to find the best way to make an argument about this book when I realized that the most obvious thing people will probably talk about is which storyline they like the most.  I know that eventually this probably won't matter because I'm sure they come together, but for now, I'm going to think about it.  To me, the most interesting storyline in this book is Elias'.  While both characters are in a position where their lives are at stake, Elias is putting himself in this position by choice.  Laia was forced into running for her life, which while interesting, is not quite as interesting as Elias because we get to slowly learn his reasons for leaving.  We have read three chapters from each character, and up to this point, there aren't too many characters around Laia.  She had a family, but they are all gone, and she just ran into the rebels at the end of our reading.  With Elias we get the slow leak of information about his mother, father, and about the weird religious stuff going on with the Masks.  Laia's positon is changing too frequently, and Elias' is developing over time.