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kirstenf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Classism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death, Child death, Hate crime, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Genocide, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, War, Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Kidnapping and Medical content
linnea1801's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Violence, War, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Genocide, Hate crime, and Pandemic/Epidemic
oliverreeds's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
SPOILERS BELOW
now lets get onto the antisemitism which i consider the more blatant issue. so there is a character who is reptilian in nature — hidden actually as his reptilian self — who left his reptilian homeland because they were creating biological warfare inoculations against the lower class of witches… now. wow. thats already a lot to process. and to those of you who know things abt conspiracy theories, you know that they all basically end in antisemitism including the “secret reptilians are ruling the government” shabang. so. this subplot feels like a CRAZY blatant dog whistle to these conspiracy theories. now you might be saying well HE was a good character who changed for the better, and i would say yes. hes quite well-rounded but. the implication in this book is that he betrayed ALL of his people. that he is the ONLY one who realized what they were doing was wrong. which to me,,, again makes me think hmm. that seems a little coded.
SPOILERS ENDED
now lets say this wasnt all on purpose. how should we react? well, first off we need to hold the author accountable. say hey, this is kinda fucked will you make a statement my guy? but MORE importantly we need to call out the publishing firm for a) not hiring sensitivity readers or b) not hiring very good sensitivity readers.
aside from that crazy shit this book was a good debut. the characters were compelling, the plot was interesting, but the message was insanely heavy handed which was a little frustrating.
anyway, rating zero stars for racist shit and antisemitic nonsense that could have easily been avoided
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Antisemitism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, War, Abandonment, Bullying, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Gore, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
campisforever's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Terminal illness, Death, Medical content, Violence, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Physical abuse, Body horror, and Vomit
Minor: Death of parent
mjscooke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It is a testament of well crafted story telling when a novel is able to engage you even when you are going through a slump, a tough time, or are having a drain of focus. The Ones We Burn is one such novel. Rebecca Mix weaves a tale of a conflicted world where Ranka, a wild blood-witch from the north, is sent south to kill the prince she is destined to marry as part of a precarious treaty between witches and the humans who keep burning them. But when she heads south things are not as they seem and the people she is supposed to hate are helping to cure a magical plague that has been killing witches.
Throughout the novel questions of morality are posed and loyalties are tested. There is also a well handled undercurrent of the effects of childhood trauma, not to mention fantastic queer representation and some quippy dialogue. I particularly enjoyed the 3rd act but won't mention why because who wants spoilers right? I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys sapphic, witchy vibes, a dash of supernatural medical mystery and a good measure of violence for a reason.
Minor: Gore, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Death, Grief, Hate crime, and Injury/Injury detail