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sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Grief, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, and War
Minor: Kidnapping, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
nightjar656's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.25
Read this if you like:
- Ride or die sibling relationships
- Dragons
- Worldbuilding that deals with colonization
- Rlly cute hate-to-love romance side plots
- ‘What would happen after that middle grade series?’ Is answered
- Magic with gods and ancestors
- Morally grey characters (I know that’s thrown around a lot when a book just has some murder without consequences but. A main theme in this book is what’s good for the majority v what’s good for those you care about. It’s in the tagline just trust me ok?) & complex characters in general
- Good young adult fantasy
Seriously I loved this I recommend it so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is the second book I’ve read in a row that was all tell no show with a much stronger concept than execution.
All of the elements are excellent here. This book is exploring some really compelling ideas: what does it mean to be a former chosen one or the sibling of a chosen one? What is good, what is evil, and what is the relationship between religion and morality? How do you rebuild your nation after a revolution? How do you find new relationships with your former colonial oppressors? Should you?
The characters are set up in really compelling ways. The dragons are fun. The world is queernormative and both main characters are queer (one is demisexual, one is a lesbian). The plot is good overall. It was just way too fast and completely lacking in any subtlety whatsoever. I felt extremely spoon-fed the entire time. I also felt like the book was rushing through instead of taking its time with the characters and concepts. I wonder if it was the author’s choice to make this one extremely rushed book instead of two slower, more thoughtful ones.
If there’s a sequel I will read it because I’m invested, but I was definitely slightly disappointed.
All of the elements are excellent here. This book is exploring some really compelling ideas: what does it mean to be a former chosen one or the sibling of a chosen one? What is good, what is evil, and what is the relationship between religion and morality? How do you rebuild your nation after a revolution? How do you find new relationships with your former colonial oppressors? Should you?
The characters are set up in really compelling ways. The dragons are fun. The world is queernormative and both main characters are queer (one is demisexual, one is a lesbian). The plot is good overall. It was just way too fast and completely lacking in any subtlety whatsoever. I felt extremely spoon-fed the entire time. I also felt like the book was rushing through instead of taking its time with the characters and concepts. I wonder if it was the author’s choice to make this one extremely rushed book instead of two slower, more thoughtful ones.
If there’s a sequel I will read it because I’m invested, but I was definitely slightly disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Violence, Animal death, and Death
chainingbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Violence
Moderate: War
Minor: Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, and Slavery
lettuce_read's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
💬:“Being forced to learn the language of your oppressors is an oppression of the mind. They rewrite your history when you’re too young to know what you’re giving away, and before you know it, it’s too late to reclaim what you’ve lost, she said.”
Cole, Kamilah. So Let Them Burn (The Divine Traitors Book 1) (p. 82). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Kindle Edition.
📖Genres: fiction, fantasy, young adult, dragons, LGBT, queer, mythology
📚Page Count: 392
🎧Audiobook Length: 11hrs 24mins
👩🏾🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ - 2.75/5
TW -blood, child abuse, colonization, cursing, death, fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail, murder, racism, violence, war
So Let Them Burn is a Jamaican inspired fantasy about two sisters who get separated from each other against their will, it's book one in the Divine Traitors series. Elara and her younger sister Faron live in a country that was just at war, although the countries are currently vying for peace, there's still conflict behind the scenes.
The setting and backstory are really fleshed out and I liked the dragons and I enjoyed the fighting and action scenes. The end of the book was really exciting.
The author created a sense of urgency within the premise of the book and then the entire first and second half of the book fell flat because nothing happened. 40% of the way through Faron asksthe gods for help and they say no, then 60% of the way through she goes back and asks them for help again. Like the first time, they decline to help. At this point 20% of the book has gone by and almost nothing has happened.
I really didn't enjoy most of this book, the pacing was too off. Most of the beginning and middle of the book was just exposition, and it was frustration. The author would tell you something, not show you and that's not quite as exciting as it could be. It also felt like the author was writing in mundane scenes (even though she created that sense of urgency) just to fill the space so she can make the end of the story lead up to a sequel.
Here are a few other things I didn't like about the book. The character relationships had little development butboth Faron and Elara find love with their respective companions that they each used to hate. The action scenes were really entertaining, it's unfortunate that they weren't spread out more. Most of the action scenes were at the end of the book. The end of the book was very info dumpy with "surprises" she revealed.
I didn't enjoy this book for the most part, I only enjoyed the ending. Due to that I'm going to give this 2.75 out of 5 stars
⭐️⭐️ - 2.75/5
I listened to this audiobook on [Spotify.com]
Cole, Kamilah. So Let Them Burn (The Divine Traitors Book 1) (p. 82). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Kindle Edition.
📖Genres: fiction, fantasy, young adult, dragons, LGBT, queer, mythology
📚Page Count: 392
🎧Audiobook Length: 11hrs 24mins
👩🏾🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ - 2.75/5
TW -
So Let Them Burn is a Jamaican inspired fantasy about two sisters who get separated from each other against their will, it's book one in the Divine Traitors series. Elara and her younger sister Faron live in a country that was just at war, although the countries are currently vying for peace, there's still conflict behind the scenes.
The setting and backstory are really fleshed out and I liked the dragons and I enjoyed the fighting and action scenes. The end of the book was really exciting.
The author created a sense of urgency within the premise of the book and then the entire first and second half of the book fell flat because nothing happened. 40% of the way through Faron asks
I really didn't enjoy most of this book, the pacing was too off. Most of the beginning and middle of the book was just exposition, and it was frustration. The author would tell you something, not show you and that's not quite as exciting as it could be. It also felt like the author was writing in mundane scenes (even though she created that sense of urgency) just to fill the space so she can make the end of the story lead up to a sequel.
Here are a few other things I didn't like about the book. The character relationships had little development but
I didn't enjoy this book for the most part, I only enjoyed the ending. Due to that I'm going to give this 2.75 out of 5 stars
⭐️⭐️ - 2.75/5
I listened to this audiobook on [Spotify.com]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Murder, and Death
lady_valhella's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Genocide
Moderate: Bullying
metaphorsandmisc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Colonisation, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Violence, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
jennireadsmaybe's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? No
First of all, So Let Them Burn is a freaking amazing debut!!! A book about sisterhood is always my weakness and getting to have both Faron and Elara's POV made the book that much more emotional for this oldest sister. Their opposing stories and character growth did so much justice as they both want the same thing and have to navigate that desire in opposing ways.
This is the perfect example for what a queer-normative world should look like. We immediately know that Elara is a lesbian and her romance with Signey (her freaking dragon riding partner y'all!!!) is everything to me!!! When it is later revealed that Faron is demisexual, it was like a warm hug. She knows who she is and it's just wonderful.
Because of the differences in each countries magical abilities, the world building was super interesting too. San Irie's magic is very much based on an ancestral style of magic where they receive it by calling upon their ancestors. Whereas, LangIey is centered around the bond they share with their dragons. It made the idea of their previous battles and current outlook on political relations feel that much more recognizable. I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention the dragons. That's right dragons!!! It was so much fun to see how Kamilah Cole built a world around dragons where each country had a different experience and view point on dragons.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking to be in the dragon moment while supporting BIPOC authors and stories.
This is the perfect example for what a queer-normative world should look like. We immediately know that Elara is a lesbian and her romance with Signey (her freaking dragon riding partner y'all!!!) is everything to me!!! When it is later revealed that Faron is demisexual, it was like a warm hug. She knows who she is and it's just wonderful.
Because of the differences in each countries magical abilities, the world building was super interesting too. San Irie's magic is very much based on an ancestral style of magic where they receive it by calling upon their ancestors. Whereas, LangIey is centered around the bond they share with their dragons. It made the idea of their previous battles and current outlook on political relations feel that much more recognizable. I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention the dragons. That's right dragons!!! It was so much fun to see how Kamilah Cole built a world around dragons where each country had a different experience and view point on dragons.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking to be in the dragon moment while supporting BIPOC authors and stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Slavery and Panic attacks/disorders
cryosphinx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
What a unique spin in the YA fantasy genre, I loved the magic system and it being ancestor based. It covers tough topics such as colonialism with grace and it's clear that Cole wrote about her background with such passion but incorporated it into magic so well. I loved the sisters and their dynamic and loved the take on"I will burn the world for her" being for a sibling.
A few things I was anticipating but didn't get was background if the previous war (touched upon but not in heavy detail of what exactly Faron did), the dragons (I wanted more, MORE dragon dialogue and more than one dragon talking).
It does end on a cliffhanger and it's such a cliff hanger I very much pulled a Zuni "That's it? Where's the rest of it?!" I want the next book yesterday.
A few things I was anticipating but didn't get was background if the previous war (touched upon but not in heavy detail of what exactly Faron did), the dragons (I wanted more, MORE dragon dialogue and more than one dragon talking).
It does end on a cliffhanger and it's such a cliff hanger I very much pulled a Zuni "That's it? Where's the rest of it?!" I want the next book yesterday.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Cursing and Fire/Fire injury