Being the year of the Dragon, its only right to read more Dragon themed books. So when i received So Let Them Burn I was excited to delve into the world that was filled with them. What i got was so much more than just Dragons. This Jamaican-inspired fantasy, explores the struggle of being the chosen one in War and the lifelong impact it has on people and those around you.
I really enjoyed that we got to see how Faron's PTSD effect her ever actions. To her relationships with the Gods, her family/friends, Authority figures, and Herself. Faron being the child chosen one (unwanting) from the Gods to lead her people in the war really lead this story in a direction that we don't normally get to see from children of War. We get to see how flawed the Gods were, inevitably causing for the two sisters to be placed in horrible positions to go against each other. This was explored beautiful because we really get to see Faron and Elara's amazing sisterly bond gets put to the test. They would literally go to battle for each other. Each willing to give up something they loved to ensure each other are safe from the destruction.
It also open the door for us to see how sometimes we can feel overshadowed by our love one accomplishments. It was painstaking to read about Elara's struggle to define herself from her sister's shadow. Especially when ever action she's ever made was for her sister even if it went against her wishes. Im excited in the next book for us to really see Elara come into her own identity, especially excited to see where her relationship with Signey goes.
The Dragons from the book was also another intriguing plot, as it reminds me similarly of Prority of Orange tree and Fourth Wing. We only got a small sipped of what the bonds between Dragon and Dragon riders can be so I can't wait for what's to come in the next book and action this will ensue.

I was really looking forward to this book but for some reason I could not get myself to read it.
I’m not sure if it was the writing style but I tried to read a bit for the period that it was available and I couldn’t. The writing style was very tell over show and felt very…short? Bland ? I’m not sure how to describe it.

I will definitely be trying again maybe as an audiobook or I might just borrow this book from the library after it releases.

This was so fun to read! The plot was great and the friendship/sisterhood was really interesting to follow. It was somewhat reminiscent of Elsa/Anna but more YA/fantasy, obviously. I do wish the pacing was a little bit more thought-on because it was hard to follow at times - but otherwise, this book was amazing.

Once this book got going I really liked it! It has the illusion of dropping you right into the middle of things because the main character has a lot of history with her magical powers, but it still did take some time to rev up. I enjoyed the story focusing most on sisterhood with romance only as a side bar and the magic system and political conflicts were interesting without being too confusing or unbelievable.

Overall my biggest reasons for only giving 4 stars is the fact that Faron was a pretty insufferable character for most of the book, and the fact that it ends on a big ol’ cliffhanger. I also found the way that Signey treated Elara once they got to school to be frustrating and not really in character with their first meeting. Anytime I come across a cliffhanger, though, I just really don’t want to continue on in the series when it comes out, because it feels cheap and like you are not getting a complete story. Really frustrating! Even still, I really enjoyed this book.

So let them burn is an enchanting story about what happens after the “chosen one” has saved her people. The story is steeped in Jamaican inspiration giving life to this fantasy world. It’s sapphic, diverse, and has gods and dragons. It follows two sisters in a post-revolution post-colonial world where the sisters couldn’t be more opposite but would burn the world for each other. It also beautifully handles the impact of war, and the life long implications of living through one.

This story had me from the first page. The premise and the plot had gripped me from the beginning and I absolutely adore the dynamic the two sisters had as well as the struggles that they went through during the events of the story. The concept of a chosen one saving the world already and what happens after as well as the reality of one of the sisters needing to die to break a curse was well executed. The themes of colonization as well as the very grounded-in-reality depiction of being the only POC person in a white environment added to the world-building of the story and made me feel very immersed. The magic system was also well thought out and I thought tied perfectly to the themes already present. I cannot wait for the next book of the series to be released.

This is the easiest 5 stars I have given in a while. I LOVED THIS BOOK!! I had the time of my life and I never wanted it to be over. If I could have stopped devouring it so that the reading experience could have lasted longer I would have. But I could not stop reading. The representation made my heart soar - Black main characters plus sapphic and enemies to lovers romances. This has the perfect mix of complex and layered characters, fast paced action, found family, political intrigue, high stakes, a messy sister bond, romantic moments, surprising twists, heartbreaking reveals, and more. I truly left my life behind while reading this and entered the world. I forgot that I was reading. This was such a delight and I was completely immersed. I can not wait to see where this story goes and I need the next book like yesterday. I’m so excited to find another book that I love so much!! Putting on my re-read list for sure!

WOW, that was good.

I could stop my review right there, but I won’t because I have so much to say about this wonderful Jamaican-inspired debut YA fantasy novel by Kamilah Cole centered around two sisters, both compelled to fight for the safety of their country and those they hold dear, one god-chosen and the other propelled by her own sheer determination.

It is honestly hard to decide whether I love the vivid setting, entertaining plot, or the character growth more as each part felt like a stand-out. The evolution and character growth of both Elara and Faron was compelling and relatable and you found yourself rooting for their individual wants as strongly as you did for the collective good.

The queer representation in this book was also fantastic! It felt very intentional and was a TRUE queer normative world with same-sex and opposite-sex couples spread throughout it’s main and supporting characters with Elara’s sapphic sexuality and Faron’s demisexuality integrated so naturally into their character arcs.

Gods and Magic. DRAGONS. Queer Rep. Slow Burn Romance. Found Family. Sisterly Bonds. Governmental Corruption. Diverse Characters. Strong Female MC’s. ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT IN A YA NOVEL. It was an incredibly easy read and the audiobook production was top notch. I will definitely be picking up book 2 in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for the opportunity to read and review So Let Them Burn as an advanced reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown, and Company, and Kamilah Cole for giving me an eARC of So Let Them Burn in exchange for my honest review.

So Let The Burn is a marvelous book. It tells the story of what life is like post-war when tensions are still high. Readers follow two sisters Faron, who has the power of the gods, and Elara, her sister, who ends up bonding with an enemy dragon. On a mission to save her sister, Faron ends up going down a path that many consider to be the wrong one. Throughout the book, I was captivated by Faron and Elara's story. There are so many layers to their characters and so much more I want to know about them. I truly cannot wait for the next book because there is so much more I want to know. I love when authors can create a cliffhanger where you cannot truly see which way the book is going to go. There are so many possibilities and I think I would be happy with any of the options that I can imagine. I would highly recommend this book to all lovers of young adult fantasy. Everyone should give this book a chance. I do not want to say much because part of the intrigue is not knowing very much about what the book is about but there are elements of the story for each kind of reader, whether it be plot or character development.

Now this is THE dragon book. So Let Them Burn was an incredible debut. It weaves a story about sisters, colonialism, magic, gods, dragons, and so much more into something so magical that it's hard to put down. I really loved how the story was written after the war instead of during and that it was dual pov between the two sisters. The queer representation is also great and helps add to the characters identities but doesn't define them. I would highly recommend to readers who want a unique and brilliant experience. I can't wait for book 2!

First off, I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this book!! I can’t wait for the sequel to come out, especially after reading that cliffhanger. Kamilah Cole gives us an entertaining Jamaican-inspired fantasy world with dragons that shows what life is like AFTER the war and the Chosen One has won, which I thought was really interesting! It did also leave me wanting to read what life was like for them during that time (would love to read a short story that takes place back then!), but I understand the point of this being after the war. We see San Irie liberated from the colonizers, but we also see the effects of colonization and war, as well as how Faron and Elara struggle after giving up their childhoods to play their roles in the war.
I also loved the different types of love shown throughout the book! I don’t want to spoil too much, but each sister has their own love interests, and I was invested in each one’s love story. We also got to see queer rep (Elara is a lesbian, and Faron is demisexual). But apart from the romances, Cole also made sure to show how special the platonic love between Elara and Reeve (her best friend) is, showing how important that is as well. Also, I love that the heart of the story is the love that Faron and Elara have for each other. They’re both so different but are willing to do anything for each other.
Faron is a messy protagonist, but I feel like it’s hard to expect anyone who has been through what she has, and especially at such a young age, to have it all together. And while she’s not perfect, she loves fiercely and will do anything to protect the people she loves.
As an older sibling, Elara felt very relatable at times, and I was so glad we got to read from her POV. We get a better understanding of how she feels like she’s in Faron’s shadow, as well as how everything that they have been through affects the choices she makes and who she has become. Also, her and Faron are very different, but they’re both incredibly loyal and protective of one another.
Right when I thought I had figured things out, another twist was thrown in, keeping me wanting to read what happens next.
Overall, I give this book 4.75 stars!!

This book hooked me with a few quotes early on and it did not stop. Faron and Elara are complex and their dual POV allows the readers to really get to know both of them. I absolutely LOVED that the book starts after a war and when Faron received her powers. Seeing her try to navigate civillian life with her family, relationships with her family, and continued duties demanded of her was fascinating and such a refreshing take on the chosen one trope. Seeing Elara’s fears and frustrations at not feeling she’s enough because she’s “just the sister” resonated with me.

The choices they both have to face throughout the novel are multifaceted, complex, and cover incredibly important themes such as decolonization, impact of war, how others perceive you, and facing the greater good vs. focusing on saving the ones you love. The depiction of PTSD felt very authentic to me and I felt that each of our sisters, side characters, and even the general populace in the book, had unique reactions to the trauma of war and it was handled with great care.

The pacing had me on the edge of my seat, the tension was strong, and the stakes were high and I was so worried for the fate of our characters. This book is absolutely a must read and I cannot wait for the sequel!

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole reminded me of why I adore YA Fantasy. The action, worldbuilding, characters, and prose are top-notch, and her centering of the plot on what happens to a Chosen One after 'happily ever after' is achieved is such a fun subversion of the usual fantasy tropes. I will be waiting for the next one with bated breath!

Absolutely yes to this book!

"So Let Them Burn" follows two sisters as they navigate the aftermath of war. Faron is the Childe Empyrean: a soldier chosen by the gods to channel their divine magic. Her older sister, Elara, accompanies her, and together they face the horrors of war. The story starts in the newly-independent island nation of San Irie, showing what happens to the child heroes after the war is won.

This was a completely immersive read for me. I could feel the humid air, hear the mosquitoes, and smell the jerk chicken. Elara and Faron are equally enjoyable narrators, and I love the magic, dragons, and twists this story has to offer. Definitely recommend.

Full review will be posted on Goodreads and idleinkbooks.com on 2/1/2024.

This is a really great entry into a YA fiction. We have the aftermath of a war, two sisters who are still young women having spent the last several years of their childhood fighting for their country. One is considered a saint to her people but is a rebel at heart. We have an enemy heir whose rebellion against his father and betrayal against his people sealed the victory. These three intertwined figures must navigate their impending adulthood. What THEY want instead of what their world has made of them. There is magic, intrigue and constant fear their enemy will return. It is a fast paced story with strong Afro-centric themes. It's beautifully written with a strong backstory and well defined world. Very good start to a series. I will enjoy reading the next book in this series. Thanks netgalley and the author for letting me read this book.

Beautiful and terrible, So Let Them Burn explores how a people can heal after colonialism and throwing off their oppressors. Cole's prose is so lush, I couldn't bear for it to end. Pick this up for the dragons--stay for the powerful story of devotion between sisters.

What an incredible debut! I loved pretty much everything about this one, with a special shoutout to the sister bond at its heart, and will be anxiously awaiting the sequel!

This book was UNBELIEVABLE. The drama, the action, the plot, the romance—so freaking good. Hands down one of the best dragon books out there. I feel so fortunate to have received an early copy.

Faron and Elara are two sisters who have barely recovered from a war they were too young to have been involved in. 5 years out from their victory, new challenges arise as they try to settle into life post-conflict. Faron, the god-channeling Childe Empyrean, is still connected to her godly powers with nowhere to focus them. Elara, the older sister, is a powerful channeled in her own right, but is seeking to find her own path out of her sister’s shadow. When the impossible happens, chaos ensues.

One sister heads down a dark path, while the other heads down a path of glory. At times, it’s anyone’s guess which is which. This is what makes this story so JUICY.

I loved the dynamic of the two sisters, and related to their struggles in different ways. Faron has that gifted kid burnout energy, not gonna lie. And despite being the older sibling, Elara has that younger sibling energy. I loved them both so much.

This story has the best characters, great romantic subplots, fantastic commentary on war and international relations, and so much more. Plus sapphic AND demisexual rep that both feel so natural? Ugh. Perfection.

I truly can’t wait for the next installment, I’m on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“She was their chosen champion. She was their connection to the mortal plane. She was the weapon they had pointed at the Langley Empire and their beasts of fire, and what had she ever gotten in return?”

Five years ago, Faron Vincent of Jamaica-inspired San Irie channeled the power of the gods to protect her country from the onslaught of the Langley Empire and their dragons in a brutal war. Her older sister, Elara, fought in the war as a simple ground soldier, but she wants more—her own mark on history. When Elara bonds with a Langlish dragon during an international peace summit, she gets way more than she asked. Aveline, the Iryan queen, asks Elara to spy on Langley under the guise of training as a dragon Rider. Meanwhile, the gods command Faron to kill her sister. Desperate for another solution, Faron barters with an imprisoned god, Elara uncovers shocking secrets within the Langley Empire, and both sisters make pivotal choices that will shape the fates of themselves and their country.

The fascinating premise for So Let Them Burn sent my expectations soaring but, unfortunately, this book was a huge disappointment. Let’s start with the good: Cole undoubtedly knows how to craft intricate descriptions that befit a fantasy novel, and her determination to tackle colonization and its lingering effects is admirable. However, I found the execution lacking, particularly the world-building and characterization. The author’s choice to set this book after a major historical event in this world, the first war between San Irie and Langley, kind of necessitates the book’s constant info-dumping, but it doesn’t make it less tedious. We’re only given glimpses of this war—which sounds much more interesting than the actual plot—through long, awkwardly thrown-in paragraphs.

The characters also suffer from poor writing choices. Elara went through (what should’ve been) emotional, world-shattering scenes, but they fell completely flat. For instance, she loses her hereditary Iryan magic of astral-calling when she bonds with the Langlish dragon, but she barely spares a paragraph’s worth of thought on it. Faron is continually angry at everyone’s perception of her as a childish brat, but she never does anything to disprove this notion. Her immense godly powers are wasted on her inability to critically think about the consequences of her actions. I wasn’t interested in the sisters as much as I was in Aveline, a child-queen forced to lead her people to victory in the first war and shoulder the weight of fraught diplomatic relations with a colonizing empire. I would’ve loved to see more of her. Additionally, the flat characterization of primordial beings such as gods and dragons is such a tragedy. Cole attempted to portray the Iryan gods as otherworldly and unfathomable, but they instead come across as boring, insipid, and painfully shallow. The characters revere the dragons as wise, inhumanely powerful beasts, but nothing in the book proves that sentiment. For all their supposed wisdom, the dragons still fight on behalf of colonizers. I have to assume that this is their choice, if apparently they are far mightier than humans and cannot be forced to work against their will.

Despite my disappointment with So Let Them Burn, Kamilah Cole has the potential to breathe novelty into the fantasy genre with her unique ideas, and I look forward to future works from her.

The war is over. Her home is free, but at what cost? Faron Vincent has the power to channel the Gods, but with the war won, she now must live as a legend when, in reality, she’s more a liar than a saint.

It can feel impossible to measure up when your younger sister has been chosen by the gods. Elara Vincent wants to be more than just the older sister of a saint, and maybe joining the military to keep her homeland free will help her find her place in the world.

Both sisters get called to an international peace summit where they must face old enemies and question the future of their homeland.

My thoughts:

I LOVED THIS BOOK. The writing style keeps you on your toes while also keeping a fast pace. The dual POV is well written, and the characters come off as real people with characteristics that allow the readers to empathize with them while also having understandable flaws. I will 100% be reading the next installment of this series when it comes out.