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queergoth_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
I received a copy of this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher but all thoughts are my own.
I just finished this and all I can say is wow! This was a phenomenal book and I need the second one soon because I need to know what happens!!
The writing was so evocative and I often felt I was watching the story play it like in a movie rather than as words on a page.
I love the concept of having the story start after the chosen one has fulfilled their destiny. Seeing Faron have to live with all this power and status after being given it as a child and seeing how she copes with the expectations put on her, by her people and her gods, was so well done. It made her so much more than just your standard chosen one. It was also really interesting to see how her sister Elara copes with it, feeling like she is in her sister's shadow, as well as seeing how the both compare themselves to each other and come up feeling inadequate. They were both so human and such well rounded characters.
I think one of the most important and well done things in this book is that it doesn't shy away from the impact of colonisation and war. It highlights the lives lost, the consequences and impact the war had on the citizens of San Irie, and the impact these have on all the characters involved in the fight for San Irie's independence in the years after. They do not shy away from the blood on their hands and the consequences their actions had. The book also does not refrain from showing the realities of Elara being forced to move to the country that wanted to colonise her homeland. It talks frankly about her fear of losing her culture and the hate she faces from others there.
This is a really phenomenal book. I will be thinking about it for a long time.
I just finished this and all I can say is wow! This was a phenomenal book and I need the second one soon because I need to know what happens!!
The writing was so evocative and I often felt I was watching the story play it like in a movie rather than as words on a page.
I love the concept of having the story start after the chosen one has fulfilled their destiny. Seeing Faron have to live with all this power and status after being given it as a child and seeing how she copes with the expectations put on her, by her people and her gods, was so well done. It made her so much more than just your standard chosen one. It was also really interesting to see how her sister Elara copes with it, feeling like she is in her sister's shadow, as well as seeing how the both compare themselves to each other and come up feeling inadequate. They were both so human and such well rounded characters.
I think one of the most important and well done things in this book is that it doesn't shy away from the impact of colonisation and war. It highlights the lives lost, the consequences and impact the war had on the citizens of San Irie, and the impact these have on all the characters involved in the fight for San Irie's independence in the years after. They do not shy away from the blood on their hands and the consequences their actions had. The book also does not refrain from showing the realities of Elara being forced to move to the country that wanted to colonise her homeland. It talks frankly about her fear of losing her culture and the hate she faces from others there.
This is a really phenomenal book. I will be thinking about it for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, War, and Racism
Moderate: Death and Fire/Fire injury
caseythereader's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Thanks to Little Brown Young Readers for the free copy of this book.
- Y’all! SO LET THEM BURN is so good! Dragons! Queerness! Jamaican history and gods! Life or death stakes! Love!
- I loved Faron and Elara and crew. I love a prickly girl protagonist, and SO LET THEM BURN delivers that and shows us exactly why they feel that way.
- This book blends the joy of fantasy with a close look at the destructive effects of colonization. The plot is fast and engaging, the world is detailed, and the issues it explores are real and important.
- Y’all! SO LET THEM BURN is so good! Dragons! Queerness! Jamaican history and gods! Life or death stakes! Love!
- I loved Faron and Elara and crew. I love a prickly girl protagonist, and SO LET THEM BURN delivers that and shows us exactly why they feel that way.
- This book blends the joy of fantasy with a close look at the destructive effects of colonization. The plot is fast and engaging, the world is detailed, and the issues it explores are real and important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Grief, Racism, Violence, and Bullying
Moderate: Slavery and War
bookstarbri's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
I fear I will never know peace. Kamilah Cole, you evil genius!
This won't be a long review because I feel like the less you know about this book, the better. All that's necessary to know before going in is that it's about two sisters and the lengths they will go to protect each other and their home. This aforementioned home has recently been liberated from the imperialist Languish empire that occupied San Irie for a time before San Iris fought and won their freedom. This book is incredibly timely, I think. It's easy to be distracted by the dragons and the magic and the gods, but this book's themes are rooted in issues that we are actively facing in our real world. These themes are evident in the narrative, but so carefully woven into the story, and I just think it was beautiful how Cole told this story and made it into what it was.
The characters were amazing. The sisters, Faron and Elara, were soooo good and I loved having them as our narrators. I really liked their respective love interests as well. Plus, there's one character in particular who I'm not sure if I was supposed to fall in love with, but I did! This book is also queer (featuring asexual and sapphic rep), and I loved that these identities were discussed a little as well.
Overall, I really adored reading this. I could honestly write so much more, but like I said, it's best to go in this with little info and just be surprised by the twists and turns this story takes. I LOVED this book and already cannot wait for book 2, which I know will be phenomenal. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Little Brown for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This won't be a long review because I feel like the less you know about this book, the better. All that's necessary to know before going in is that it's about two sisters and the lengths they will go to protect each other and their home. This aforementioned home has recently been liberated from the imperialist Languish empire that occupied San Irie for a time before San Iris fought and won their freedom. This book is incredibly timely, I think. It's easy to be distracted by the dragons and the magic and the gods, but this book's themes are rooted in issues that we are actively facing in our real world. These themes are evident in the narrative, but so carefully woven into the story, and I just think it was beautiful how Cole told this story and made it into what it was.
The characters were amazing. The sisters, Faron and Elara, were soooo good and I loved having them as our narrators. I really liked their respective love interests as well. Plus, there's one character in particular who I'm not sure if I was supposed to fall in love with, but I did! This book is also queer (featuring asexual and sapphic rep), and I loved that these identities were discussed a little as well.
Overall, I really adored reading this. I could honestly write so much more, but like I said, it's best to go in this with little info and just be surprised by the twists and turns this story takes. I LOVED this book and already cannot wait for book 2, which I know will be phenomenal. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Little Brown for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Colonisation
Moderate: Racism and Physical abuse
Minor: Slavery
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
A gorgeously immersive, fantasy debut that captured my heart just as much as it did my imagination! The writing was phenomenally lush and the complicated but heartfelt bond between sisters (and Dual POV characters) Faron and Elara had me emotionally invested from the very start. Did I also mention, it has DRAGONS?!!!
Set within a post-war, Jamaican inspired world, where the newly independent island (San Erie) is still recovering from the war with their former oppressors—and the colonial legacy left in their wake.
I LOVED every second of this and was blown away by the level of emotion that Kamilah Cole manages to imbue. Both through her detailed and emotionally nuanced characters but also the in-depth world-building and vivid, sensory descriptions that I literally couldn’t get enough of.
Like the descriptions of Deadegg, and its fossilised dragon egg, serving as a constant reminder to Faron of the cruelty and suffering inflicted by Langley (via Faron’s incredibly evocative and emotional flashbacks.) Or The Victory Garden and its lush, verdant greenery serving as a sign of a brighter future; in a Palace that had once been a barren, death shrouded ruin.
Given how intrinsically linked the themes of anti-colonialism, genocide, war and trauma are to the narrative —it’s hard not to find similarities in current real-world events. Making for a deeply emotional and highly relevant read, so do be sure to check trigger warnings.
However, unlike most fantasy novels (which end after the big battle), I loved that Cole starts hers at the end of one. Giving us a front row seat to the resilience and hard-work that goes into not only rebuilding a country destroyed by war, but also in working through the trauma that comes from experiencing such violence and destruction.
It still boggles my mind that our protagonists were only just hitting their teens when they first headed into battle—Faron being just thirteen when she took on the mantle of The Childe Empyrean, (and her sister Elara not much older.) It’s a very real aspect of war (especially in terms of the psychological impact for survivors) and one that was explored in such a nuanced and sensitive manner—I was soo emotionally invested in both of their journeys.
Though, I do admit that Elara’s arc did resonate with me the most (especially as someone with two older sisters.) And I loved that, despite feeling like she’s living in the shadow of Faron’s (already vast) legacy, she doesn’t let it affect the love she has for her. Honestly it’s one of the most realistic (and relatable) sibling relationships I think I’ve ever read!
Overall, an emotionally powerful and action packed debut that anyone who loves epic fantasy, dragons, or books exploring complex sisterly bonds should definitely consider picking up, it’s AMAZING!
Also, a huge thank you to Katya over at Little, Brown UK for the proof
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Genocide, Death of parent, Body horror, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, and War
zoepagereader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I was obsessed with dragons when I was in elementary school, so this book really scratched an itch for me there. It had everything third-grade me would want. I did feel that Faron’s story sort of dragged and I was sort of just rolling my eyes at her decisions the entire time. I did like Elara’s story a lot more and was excited to read her side.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Body horror, Blood, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Violence, and War
butterbrioche's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
I wish I could give this book 6 stars.
I am so thankful that I was able to receive an arc of this. When I say this, I’m not being hyperbolic: I really do believe that this will become a very popular book in 2024. It deserves to be. From the writing to the storytelling to the character work, all of it is lush and immersive. Cole has such a talent for showing! She isn’t just telling us when she’s writing and that’s why what she writes also feels so visceral.
I love, love, love a man vs. god conflict. It always gets me every single time because despite us being mere mortals we will always crave the ability to control or disrupt the ways that the strings of fate are strummed. To have so many characters included and for them to all have their unique personalities in tact is a feat.
The world-building here is amazing. The way Cole maneuvers between giving us just enough information and then having us see it. It never feels like there’s an info dump, even though I don’t always mind those.
I also think watching Faron honestly grapple with what she’s felt surrounding being the child emperyean, the trauma around it and more was very good.
I think there’s something so special about this book. A Jamaican inspired Joan of arc with dragons that addresses the cost of war, colonization, and revolution and what comes next to avoid that. How war stays deep in your bones. The choices that we make and have made in the past.
I truly believe this is one of the best books of 2024 and I cannot wait for everyone else to read it.
I am so thankful that I was able to receive an arc of this. When I say this, I’m not being hyperbolic: I really do believe that this will become a very popular book in 2024. It deserves to be. From the writing to the storytelling to the character work, all of it is lush and immersive. Cole has such a talent for showing! She isn’t just telling us when she’s writing and that’s why what she writes also feels so visceral.
I love, love, love a man vs. god conflict. It always gets me every single time because despite us being mere mortals we will always crave the ability to control or disrupt the ways that the strings of fate are strummed. To have so many characters included and for them to all have their unique personalities in tact is a feat.
The world-building here is amazing. The way Cole maneuvers between giving us just enough information and then having us see it. It never feels like there’s an info dump, even though I don’t always mind those.
I also think watching Faron honestly grapple with what she’s felt surrounding being the child emperyean, the trauma around it and more was very good.
I think there’s something so special about this book. A Jamaican inspired Joan of arc with dragons that addresses the cost of war, colonization, and revolution and what comes next to avoid that. How war stays deep in your bones. The choices that we make and have made in the past.
I truly believe this is one of the best books of 2024 and I cannot wait for everyone else to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War, Death, Blood, and Colonisation
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