Reviews with content warning for War - So Let Them Burn

Reviews tagging 'War'

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

66 reviews

britreads's review against another edition

adventurous fast-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

3.0

This was an okay start to this YA series. I don't have any strong feelings now that I've finished it, hence the 3 star rating.

Things I liked:

I liked the dragons in here. I wished we got more with the dragons actually. There are several different types of dragons and they have their own traits based on their type. I hope in the future book (or books since I'm unsure how long this series will be), I hope we learn more about the dragons and the history of dragons in this world.
I liked the characters individually, but I didn't have strong feelings about the different romantic pairing. I related most to Elara and Aveline. Like with the dragons, I hope we get more of Aveline in future books.
I want more depth from the magic systems, but I like the introduction we got here. Astral summoning is really cool and I think there are opportunities for complexity that were missed. (Like how do the summoned spirits feel since they can't rest and serve as a tool even after death?)

Things I didn't care for:

I wanted more of the dragon-riding school. So much of what we learn about Heartstone is shared after the fact. We never see Elara in her classes or interacting with her peers outside of her den. We also get so much of San Irie and so little of life in the Langley Empire.
This novel deals with war, imperialism and colonialism, yet I felt like it was a surface level approach. There are child soldiers in here and no one seems phased by that. What does it say that a country fighting for independence relied on and continues to rely on children and just turned 18 adults to fill out their military? The faces of the Langley Empire are the Warwicks and it feels like if they're removed, Langley won't be so bad. But that's not how empire works. There is no deeper wrestling with the many different systems and organizations that prop up a violent, colonial power.
As much as I liked Aveline...she has GOT to get some advisors in between this book and the next one. Some of her decisions were TERRIBLE. In fact, a lot of characters make poor decisions.
For some reason, the characters felt so young. Elara and Faron are 18 and 17 respectively, but they felt like they were closer to 14 and 13.

I will probably read the second book when it is released. And I hope the sequel dives deeper into its overall themes.

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erintempleton's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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meg_thebrave's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

This is an excellent first book, and I cannot wait to read the second! I loved the fantasy world Cole built, and the relationships developed between characters.

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abookwormspov's review against another edition

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Made it to 35% but was just really bored. Hadn't fallen in love with any of the characters yet and nothing much plot wise had happened. As a disclaimer, very much a mood reader and this was not the mood recently. Maybe will give another try someday.

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kaynova's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful relaxing fast-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

3.5

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cadence99's review against another edition

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4.25

I really enjoyed this book, and, having not realized it was a series, am now deeply upset I have to wait for a resolution.
The beautiful strong relationships between characters really stood out for me. I felt the connections between them drive their actions in such a way that kept me invested in their success. I can’t wait to see where this journey leads.

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silver_violet's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.0

This was just a little too YA for me. The idea was good and there were some interesting parts, like the descriptions of the gods and the dragons, but it was still a little lacking for me. The first half wasn't too thrilling but the author seemed to find her rhythm toward the end.

There were some really good perspectives on colonization and war, which also make this a good read, but the YA aspect wasn't exactly my thing.

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danaburrreads's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

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sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

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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

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natraf_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

WOW. A debut novel from Cole and an exceptional one at that!
I loved the sister relationship between Elara and Faron. These sisters have had to face SO much so young.
The trauma from war has greatly affected these girls as they fought to save their country as actual children!!
Still incredibly young, our sisters now find themselves at the forefront of the nations newest disaster. I loved watching Elara grow and become more confident in a world way different from her own. I loved seeing Faron forced to grow up and acknowledge that she has been selfish her whole life, and that being the empyrean is a much bigger commitment than just the title.

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