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yvo_about_books's review against another edition
3.5
“Sometimes you just have to feel bad about a thing. Sometimes that's the only thing that makes you human.”
It's true that I don't read a lot of YA anymore, but I wasn't exactly mad when my TBR jar thought it was time I finally picked up Burn. It's been a couple of years since my last Patrick Ness book, and there is just something about his writing that always has me intrigued. Add the fact that I needed a book with dragons for the POPSUGAR challenge and the fact that the blurb sounded SO good, and I've actually been looking forward to this TBR jar pick. I can't deny that I somehow ended up having mixed thoughts though... It's not a bad read, but not my favorite among his books either. I think part of my issue is that there isn't enough worldbuilding for a book about dragons. In this case, Burn would have definitely benefitted from more instead of less pages; even just 50 pages of proper worldbuilding would have made such a difference in this story. The whole racism/homophobia/bigotry was also a bit too in-your-face, and I wasn't a fan of how it was incorporated into the plot. I understand that this story is set back in 1957 and things were different back then, but I don't think it adds any substantial to the story other than making you hate certain characters even more. I would have loved more focus on other elements instead... Like for example the dragons, the cult, the prophecy and the assassin. There is plently of action to be found along the way, and especially the second part is brutal. Definitely make sure to be ready for some extreme violence! As I've already become used to with Patrick Ness' books, Burn is another quirky and almost whimsical read, although the story is pretty brutal with heavy-hitting topics and violence at the same time. Not for everyone and it could have done with more development, but I'm personally still glad I finally read it.
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Infidelity, Animal death, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Genocide, Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Cursing, and Sexual assault
winterwolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Racism, Physical abuse, and Violence
anni_swanilda's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Blood, Genocide, Homophobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Child death, Racism, Sexual harassment, Animal death, and Racial slurs
Moderate: War
Minor: Sexual assault, Cancer, and Cannibalism
kassidyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, Death, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death of parent and Gun violence
Minor: Cancer
pompomegrantes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was a masterpiece. I loved every second.
Graphic: Police brutality, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Cancer
oliverreeds's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, Police brutality, Death, Racism, Hate crime, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Racial slurs, War, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Violence
vampire_burrito's review
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
desiderium_incarnate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
So, Patrick Ness reliably got me out of a reading slump once more, I really have to thank him someday for that. Even though I know this isn't my favorite of his works, it's good and tackles some important issues. For example police brutality, racism and grief are strong topics here. It's also the story of some places, where the cold war Suddenly got a little warmer and finally exploded. Thanks to a little (dragon) magic and science. I mean I bought this book because it has dragons in it and is written by Patrick Ness, I got a lot more than that out of it. The theory of parallel universes and all the potential it holds is currently one of the main surprises. It packed a lot of action and violence, it had also less relatable feelings for me, but that's besides the point. My main problem was, that the book, in the beginning felt a little bumpy. I stumbled over sentences and had to read paragraphs again. I have to admit, I wasn't entirely good at focusing while reading too, so I don't know what percentage of the problems I had where just my fault. Nevertheless I had some problems with it because all the input the author wanted to integrate into the story really influenced the pacing. Of course later in the book, he got right back to the wonderfully polished style I know from him, but still. I get that it's hard, to write about people and experiences you personally don't really have a connection to and I appreciate that he did it and quite well too, I think, I feel like there could have been more to it though. I just mean, that I know there are other forms of media out there that have portraied similar problems in a more touching way, so I know it's possible,if that was his intention. Maybe he didn't want it to be as emotional as other books he wrote, I don't know. It's just something I personally would have changed. Still liked the book and dragons rule! ^^
" 'I'm just a girl.'
'It is tragic, how well you have been taught to say that with sadness rather than triumph.'"
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
nyssbomb'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Police brutality, Death, Animal death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism, Child death, Cursing, Pregnancy, and Racism
Minor: Cancer and War
andrea_carroll123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Police brutality, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, and Death