This was such a refreshing fantasy, The themes on the cost of war, the relationship between two sisters… I really enjoyed this book. The character development as the plot went on was great - can’t wait to see what happens next. The world building was confusing at first, but really set the stage as the story developed and the pace picked up like 40% in.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Thank you for the opportunity to read So Let Them Burn early as an e-arc. I was so looking forward to this new release and I'm so happy that it didn't disappoint. The world and character building, the pacing, the dragons. Everything made it just perfect.

Usually the books I'm interested in are not available to read now on Netgalley. I was therefore very positively surprised when I saw on X (Twitter!) that a limited amount of copies of this book was available to read now via Netgalley. I mean, an epic YA fantasy with dragons. What can go wrong? Especially because it also promised loads of politics and a tale of two sisters. I grabbed my copy and last weekend it was finally time to start reading.

We're absolutely thrown into the middle of a story and even though it's confusing for a few pages, I might have checked if this really was the first book in a series, it's also a great way to explore the world and get to know the characters. They have history, they have become who they are because of challenges they have overcome and after a few throwaway lines about their roles in the last war it's also easy to understand what has happened.

Plotwise the book does start a little slow. For a very long time I was really wondering where this was going and what journey the sister's actually were on. But the closer we got to the finale and the more information both our heroines gathered, the more I started to realize that this book was the start of something huge and big. The finale proved my point. There is probably quite a lot coming in future installments and I can't wait to read it!

Even though the plot takes a while to start going, the characters totally make up for it. Not only both heroines, although they're both amazing and unique and have an interesting journey, but also the side characters. The author did an amazing job making sure that every character feels real, fleshed out and flawed. And therefore, once you get to the finale, you really care about what's happening to them. And not all of them end this book in a good place.

5.0 / 5.0

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole is a beautiful story. This is the best debut I have read this year (2024).

The magic is intensely interesting and so easy to understand. If you like the magic from Naomi Novik books, you’ll enjoy this. The world that these characters live in is well done. It felt a little overload-info-dump in the first chapter but then the second chapter smoothed it all out and you realize it’s the character’s personality coming through. These characters are so well written, so dynamic and detailed, that their personalities come off the page and infect you.

This plot is incredible and I wish I could read this again for the first time. By the end of chapter two I knew it was going to be one of the best books I have ever read and I cannot wait to see what this author has in store for us all.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this ARC. It is fantastic.

Until Next Time,
MC

Any other Eragon girlies out there? Check out So Let Them Burn, a Jamaican-inspired F/F young adult fantasy that delivered from beginning to end! This moving and action-packed debut has made me a Kamilah Cole fangirl and I can’t wait for the second book in the duology!

Here are the vibes:

👯‍♀️Sisterhood: Faron and Elara Vincent couldn’t be more different. Faron can channel the power of the gods, which made her the secret weapon of her country's revolution against the dragon-riding Langley Empire. Faron is fiery, mischievous, and unwilling to play the part of wise and composed chosen-one. Elara is calm, diplomatic, and has felt like she’s been both living in her sister’s shadow while also being charged with ‘managing’ her hot-head emotions.

🐉Dragons: At what was supposed to be an international peace summit, Elara ends up bonding with a Langley Empire dragon and the dragon’s other rider Signey. Elara must then go to the dragon riding academy on enemy ground, both as a spy for her country and to try to figure out if there’s a way to reverse the bond so she can return home to sister.

🌈Sapphic Love: Among battles of gods and dragons, bubbling rage (against colonizers, the gods, the situation), and impossible choices, Elara and Signey find themselves falling for each other. Two badass dragon riders discovering enemy secrets, plotting revenge, and falling in love?! Yes please.

🫶Deep Friendships: In addition to this wonderful romance plot line, I loved that the friendships in this book were treated as equally important relationships. One of my favorites is Elara’s deeply honest and vulnerable friendship with Reed. The relationship is refreshingly never romantic while being so important to both of them.

With two sisters ready to burn it all down for each other, where could you go wrong? So Let Them Burn has a core of sisterhood, love, and unraveling secrets. Coming from their victory, the balance of their island is fragile. The balance between the remnants of what is left of their island, those who are still reeling from the battle losses and are presented with wondering how they move forward. In So Let Them Burn both Elara and Faron realize they might not know as much about their sister as they thought.

I don't know how to express how much I loved this book! The world building was so rich, yet not too complicated like some fantasy books. The bond that the sisters had was so pure and a huge driving factor of decisions that were made within the book. I instantly like Farron and Elara and my love for them only grows throughout the book as you discover who our lead characters are as people as the story progresses. The delightful LGBTQ+ representation was so lovely to see especially in a teen novel. I am so excited to see where Kamilah Cole takes this story in the next one!

Pitched as Queer Jamaican Joan of Arc with dragons, So Let Them Burn might just be the YA fantasy of the year (and it’s only January). It’s a sparkling debut with relatable characters, immersive and thoughtful world-building, and an ending that will probably haunt me until book 2’s release.

I finished most of the book in one sitting this morning. While the story’s latter two-thirds are incredibly quick, I did struggle to get through the first ~70 pages. In part because I’ve been in just about the worst YA fantasy slump of my life, and partly because there’s just a lot of world-building to consume in those first several chapters. Everything from the drakes to the dragons to the Empyrean to the magic system is incredibly fleshed out at the expense of the story’s pace. I’m not complaining though, because I think the author did an excellent job of laying things out and building on them without confusing the reader by throwing too much at us all at once. And once I hit part II, I was hooked. I didn’t set the book down again until it was over (and it felt like it was over in the blink of an eye).

The characters were phenomenally written. I usually struggle with multiple POVs in a book because there’s always that one character I just don’t vibe with, but that wasn’t the case here. I adored Elara and Faron equally, though for vastly different reasons. I identified very strongly with Elara, I think because she was the eldest daughter, and I felt so much of her story very deeply. With Faron, I think I related to her undying loyalty to and love for her sister, as well as her determination to protect her. This was the sister story my heart needed.

The side characters were also fleshed out and fun to follow. Reeve was my favorite for a multitude of reasons. He was a much-needed diversion from the toxic alpha male love interests who’ve been dominating YA fantasy lately. I love to see positive masculinity and I think the author nailed it with Reeve’s story and arc.

To me, this book felt like a mashup of all the best fantasy books. It reminded me of Iron Widow but with the romance and sister aspect of Caraval and the dragons and expansive world-building of The Priory of the Orange Tree. I think fans of any one of these books will probably enjoy So Let Them Burn.

Overall, I highly recommend this one.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! All views reflected are my own.

'So Let Them Burn' perfectly compiles all of my favourite aspects of YA fantasy and somehow makes them bigger, and better, and brighter.

Having a black demisexual main character and a sapphic main character and watching the two sisters storylines interweave was such a joy.

I love dragon books, I loved the world building in this, I loved the romance and I LOVED the sibling dynamics!! It was truly wonderful - and, for the first time in a long time I read the last 300 pages of this book in one day which for me says a LOT.

I don't know when the sequel to this one is releasing - all I know is that I need it sooner.

Some issues I did have though and they're not really issues just observations: I was really excited about Faron's demisexuality but unless I completely missed it there's maybe 3 lines about it at most and all of those are very vague - I was hoping, as a demisexual person, it would've been spoken about a bit more. A conversation had rather than an author just saying the character was Demi but also having it not be spoken about as much and it just Be is cool in itself so I don't know! I'll take my rep wherever I can get it.

I'm so excited to see where this series leads - what a great start!

First book of 2024 and it was a banger. Read this if you love: Iron Widow, dragons, sapphic love stories (YA), awesome worldbuilding, Jamaican inspired mythology, magic.

I need the second book to this immediately. I am obsessed with this book. Kamilah wrote a STORY that's fun, exciting, a little sad, adventurous. I don't want to say anything so I won't spoil but this is ultimately a story of sister's and what you would do to save your sister's life. There are complex relationships, strong side characters, a mystery with twists and turns. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for letting me an ARC of So Let Them Burn in exchange for my honest review.

This one hurts, it really does but I coudln't finish So Let Them Burn.

I read over 100 pages waiting for the moment the plot connected with me and unfortunately it never did. The biggest issue I had was since the story takes place five years after a war, much of the back story was info dumped onto us. It felt like the plot was being told to us, instead of letting us explore. The dialogue felt clunky at times and I never really connected with the characters. I think I just went in with super high expectations because of all the amazing reviews i've seen online.

This could be a case of me reading it at the wrong time, but I just couldn't get myself motivated to read it. i will probably revisit the book once the series progresses, but for now I am putting it down.

I really enjoyed this. I thought that the discussion about colonization was really well done and the effects of war were really realistic even through a fantasy lens. I was blown away by the characters, even the villains were so well realized. I thought that the world-building and the plot were both well-paced and really effective in their scope. The idea of following a "chosen one" post war was such a unique story idea, and it was done so well! I absolutely cannot wait for more from this author.

So Let them Burn ❤️‍🔥 masterfully explores the struggle for freedom, effects of war, and being the chosen one.

This book hooked me from the very first sentence. The way it explores the effects of colonization on the colonized is very nuanced. Everything in this book was, it's characters, it's themes, it's villains, just everything. That's why I loved it so much.

There's also dragons!

This was a great book to start my year with. It's been a few days since I finished it and I can't stop thinking about it. It's so smart and elegant in it's approach that I'm just in awe of it. The magic system was great, the world building too. I really enjoyed that the story explored what happens to the chosen one once the war is over. It's not a perspective we get often and it was so interesting to read.

Faron and Elara's journey's were equally engaging. Their sisterly bond warmed my heart. I fell in love with both of them and I really hope there's a sequel.

So Let Them Burn is an intriguing Jamaican inspired fantasy following two sisters and their different paths after war.

What a delightful introduction! Convincing, charming, and exciting, it caught me immediately! I was dazzled by complex world structure, many-sided story, and tortured characters. The reminiscent composition, the clear portrayals, the fast pace and the presence of short chapters brought me through the pages, making me arrive at the end without nearly realizing it! Overall I really enjoyed it a lot!

I was intrigued by the Jamaican mythology-inspired world building and this story is about sisterhood, chosen ones, dragons, anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism, and the aftermath of war. It's about how far one would, and should, go to protect the people that one loves. It's inspired by my background as a Jamaican-American, and it features some of my favorite things: sapphics, evil gods, Black women being badass, and bad decisions.

Faron and Elara, protagonists with their respective third person povs, won me over! Faron and Elara are sisters, born and raised in a small town in San Irie and ended up in the war as teenagers. Faron is seventeen years old, the youngest sister and the Childe Empyrean, or the chosen one by the gods. Unlike all other San Irie summoners, who are able to draw on a limited number of ancestral spirits, she is able to summon the gods, speak to them and channel their infinite powers. She received the title during the war against the Langley Empire at the age of twelve, leading San Irie to victory. Faron is a symbol, a legend, adored and revered everywhere in San Irie, feared outside the island. A role filled with responsibility, with expectations, that is tremendously tight for her. She pretends to be perfect during official events, but in reality she is a stubborn, proud, impulsive, sarcastic and rebellious girl. And above all, a very good and incorrigible liar. I loved Faron, of the two sisters she is my favorite!

All in all, I found it an excellent debut and can't wait to read the sequel!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, give a round of applause for the cover. It’s 🔥 (pun intended). While I find it hard to keep up with some of the cities named throughout the book, it kept me engaged. The author does a great job of describing the characters features and characteristics that I can seem them so clearly. I’m really mad I have to wait for a part two to see what happens between the two sisters, Elara and Faron and can they save their island of San Irie.

YA Fantasy has been so hit or miss for me lately (especially with dragons) but I loved this book! It was a queer, fantastical thrill ride and I'm so glad I took the risk and decided to read. Faron is a Joan of Arc like figure--she was chosen by the gods to fight in a war she was too young to fully understand and now, at 17, she's beginning to question those responsibilities. This book deals with some darker themes: war, colonisation, and the pain of lost childhood, but it's not a dark story. In fact, it's quite heart-warming and hopeful, with some lovely romantic elements. This is what YA fantasy is supposed to be.

So Let Them Burn is a Jamaican-Inspired fantasy that follows two sisters, Faron and Elara, one who wields the power of the gods to save her island from a dragon-riding empire and one who unexpectedly forms a bond with an enemy dragon five years later.

Unlike other Young Adult fantasies that usually ends in a big, all-out battle, So Let Them Burn takes a different approach by starting at the end of a war. Through this lens, Cole explores what goes into rebuilding a country ravaged by war and the healing from trauma inflicted by the violent and destructive nature of war.

Not only does Cole explore the effects of war through the island itself, but through her characters as well. She interweaves these themes into her characters and their arcs effortlessly. Faron and Elara both fought in the war against the Langley empire, where they saw their country destroyed and lost members of their family. When they fought in the war, they were forced to witness violence at such a young age forever changing their view of the world. Despite dark and grim at times, Cole still manages to create heartwarming moments upholding an overall hopeful tone.

Faron, as the Childe Empyrean and younger sister, protects her country and becomes a symbol of hope but struggles with the burden of being the chosen one. Those expectations prevent Faron from having a normal childhood, which oftentimes lead her to make bad decisions. Elara, as the older sister, tries to define herself outside of her sister’s legacy while keeping Faron and her country safe. Despite their resentment of each other, Cole portrays an unbreakable sisterhood between the two who would do anything for one another.

One of the most crucial elements of the fantasy genre is worldbuilding. Without strong worldbuilding, fantasy novels can lack substance and creativity. Cole expertly crafts an intriguing, well-developed magic system, which include both ancestral summoning and dragon bonding, built upon connections to souls.

A remarkable debut from Kamilah Cole, So Let Them Burn is an immersive, high-stakes journey filled with well-developed characters, captivating magic systems, and a fierce sisterhood.

A brand new debut sapphic Jamaican inspired YA fantasy. There’s dragons and gods and it takes place in a post war fantasy world, we follow 2 main characters who are sisters. Faron who is chosen by the Gods and this gave her the ability to free her people from this dragon riding empire but a few years later, her sister Elara is suddenly chosen by those enemies of their Island; The dragons themselves and the gods proclaim that the only way to break this bond is to kill Elara. It was super action packed and kept me at the edge of my seat. Highly recommend this debut!

What a great world building and wonderful characters to fall in love with that have flaws! And of course dragons with people of color! This is what I’ve been waiting to read! Love the ending!!!

I was really interested in this book when I heard it had dragons and was based on Jamaican folk lore. It was a solid read but sadly not my favorite. I definitely think this is going to be a popular one it just wasn't for me.