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aklaux 's review for:
Bright We Burn
by Kiersten White
5 stars
This is one of those books where you blink and realize you’ve inhaled it in one sitting. I thought after the first two books of the series that I knew what I was in for. This finale surprised me in all the most pleasant ways, especially with the direction Kiersten White took each of the characters.
Lada. What a whiplash character. I loved her and hated her every other minute of this whole series. Every time I thought she was on the path to redemption, she takes one of those sneaky knives she keeps hidden and stabs me in the heart. She makes all other YA female “badass” protagonists seem like delicate butterflies. She is shards of glass scraping against an open wound ... but you kind of enjoy it.
Somehow I went from Radu being my least favorite character in the first novel, to him quickly rising to my favorite character. The family he finds for himself touches my heart. He was like aloe on sunburn after all the pain Lada caused me in this series. All I desired of the conclusion was that Radu would find peace and happiness.
I appreciated Mehmed fading from the story as the book wrapped up. It presented a lovely symmetry of focusing on Lada and Radu’s relationship at the series beginning and end. I never liked Mehmed anyway.
What’s also surprising is how much I adored all of the supporting characters… Cyprian, Nazira, Fatima, Bogdon, Stefan, Oana, Daciana… and the list goes on. As a reader, I generally struggle to invest much into side characters. I get laser focused on our protagonists and antagonists. This series made me acknowledge and appreciate the goodness and flaws of everyone present.
Finally, White really nailed the ending. Or should I say impaled the ending? I don’t even want to give away so much as the tone of the conclusion, but it was not at all what I was anticipating. Wholly satisfying. You can hang my impaled body with the others now.
TL;DR
▌5.0 —One of the best I've ever read. Will be burned into my brain. Couldn't care less about weaknesses (if any). Would recommend to everyone and their mother.
4.5 —Loved this read. Will remember it fondly. Few weaknesses. Would recommend to anyone.
4.0 —Enjoyed this read. Will remember it fondly. Minor weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.5 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Might be memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Not very memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —Neutral or Underwhelming read. Not very memorable. Significant weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —Underwhelming or unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Significant weaknesses. Might recommend to people who like similar books.
1.5 —Unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for bad reasons. Major weaknesses. Probably wouldn't recommend.
1.0 —Awful read. Memorable for bad reasons. No significantly redeeming qualities. Would never recommend.
0.5 —I wish I never wasted minutes of my life on this trash. I would go out of my way to convince others not to read it.
This is one of those books where you blink and realize you’ve inhaled it in one sitting. I thought after the first two books of the series that I knew what I was in for. This finale surprised me in all the most pleasant ways, especially with the direction Kiersten White took each of the characters.
Lada. What a whiplash character. I loved her and hated her every other minute of this whole series. Every time I thought she was on the path to redemption, she takes one of those sneaky knives she keeps hidden and stabs me in the heart. She makes all other YA female “badass” protagonists seem like delicate butterflies. She is shards of glass scraping against an open wound ... but you kind of enjoy it.
Somehow I went from Radu being my least favorite character in the first novel, to him quickly rising to my favorite character. The family he finds for himself touches my heart. He was like aloe on sunburn after all the pain Lada caused me in this series. All I desired of the conclusion was that Radu would find peace and happiness.
I appreciated Mehmed fading from the story as the book wrapped up. It presented a lovely symmetry of focusing on Lada and Radu’s relationship at the series beginning and end. I never liked Mehmed anyway.
What’s also surprising is how much I adored all of the supporting characters… Cyprian, Nazira, Fatima, Bogdon, Stefan, Oana, Daciana… and the list goes on. As a reader, I generally struggle to invest much into side characters. I get laser focused on our protagonists and antagonists. This series made me acknowledge and appreciate the goodness and flaws of everyone present.
Finally, White really nailed the ending. Or should I say impaled the ending? I don’t even want to give away so much as the tone of the conclusion, but it was not at all what I was anticipating. Wholly satisfying. You can hang my impaled body with the others now.
TL;DR
▌5.0 —One of the best I've ever read. Will be burned into my brain. Couldn't care less about weaknesses (if any). Would recommend to everyone and their mother.
4.5 —Loved this read. Will remember it fondly. Few weaknesses. Would recommend to anyone.
4.0 —Enjoyed this read. Will remember it fondly. Minor weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.5 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Might be memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Not very memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —Neutral or Underwhelming read. Not very memorable. Significant weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —Underwhelming or unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Significant weaknesses. Might recommend to people who like similar books.
1.5 —Unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for bad reasons. Major weaknesses. Probably wouldn't recommend.
1.0 —Awful read. Memorable for bad reasons. No significantly redeeming qualities. Would never recommend.
0.5 —I wish I never wasted minutes of my life on this trash. I would go out of my way to convince others not to read it.