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A review by pewter
These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Although YA books are getting less and less relate-able as I grow older, I'm still a total sucker for the suspension of disbelief and quick plot that comes with the territory. These Witches Don't Burn is no exception; the world-building feels natural, the characters real, and the magic feels believable, even if not everything is fully explained. Not-always-reliable narrators always lead to some fun mystery, and this pretty large (and diverse!) cast of characters leaves a lot to consider.
These days it's impossible not to compare magical stories to the big HP, but TWDB also brings to mind vibes of Avatar: The Last Airbender, X-Men, and other YA fiction that I ate up in my youth. My queer heart soared the most during the very mundane arcs of the book: not the WLW kisses, but the everyday realities for LGBTQ folks (assuming someone was a lesbian when they were bi, having people treat someone differently after they've come out, etc.) truly felt as if they fell out of my life and onto the pages.
Those praises being said, I still have a few bones to pick with TWDB. The story tends towards a breakneck pace, to the point where I wonder how any real people could be keeping up. It felt like every moment of these folks lives were filled with danger, and it was a bit exhausting. Those mundane moments that this book nails are a complete relief, but almost always are cut short by another sudden disaster - and a lot of the supporting characters completely roll with it, making it even harder to swallow. Some of the characters start out strong, and fizzle a bit towards then end, and others are a bit of a caricature of what "rich jock" or "girl's bestie" would be. However, I can't really fault a YA book for being a YA book and hitting that core demographic which I've graduated. For the most part, these characters ring true, and the dialogue was very natural and well written.
All in all, this was a great magical YA story willed with a great deal of suspense and mystery, and I'd be foolish not to suggest it to my friends, queer or otherwise. Fun, well-written, and leaves me waiting for a sequel!
These days it's impossible not to compare magical stories to the big HP, but TWDB also brings to mind vibes of Avatar: The Last Airbender, X-Men, and other YA fiction that I ate up in my youth. My queer heart soared the most during the very mundane arcs of the book: not the WLW kisses, but the everyday realities for LGBTQ folks (assuming someone was a lesbian when they were bi, having people treat someone differently after they've come out, etc.) truly felt as if they fell out of my life and onto the pages.
Those praises being said, I still have a few bones to pick with TWDB. The story tends towards a breakneck pace, to the point where I wonder how any real people could be keeping up. It felt like every moment of these folks lives were filled with danger, and it was a bit exhausting. Those mundane moments that this book nails are a complete relief, but almost always are cut short by another sudden disaster - and a lot of the supporting characters completely roll with it, making it even harder to swallow. Some of the characters start out strong, and fizzle a bit towards then end, and others are a bit of a caricature of what "rich jock" or "girl's bestie" would be. However, I can't really fault a YA book for being a YA book and hitting that core demographic which I've graduated. For the most part, these characters ring true, and the dialogue was very natural and well written.
All in all, this was a great magical YA story willed with a great deal of suspense and mystery, and I'd be foolish not to suggest it to my friends, queer or otherwise. Fun, well-written, and leaves me waiting for a sequel!