I’m a little heartbroken at having to write this review. I really wanted to love this book but I have to DNF at 50%.

My main gripe was on the awkward and sometime forced dialogues, the too black and white story and characters, the world building is lacking and the side characters feels like NPC.

I don’t know if it’s a matter of right book wrong time, but I really struggled to connect with the characters, their relationship and the story in general.

The characters lacked nuances. Although the more nuanced approach could be seen further in the book, it looked like it could be going in that direction.

Also too many thing are just spelled out, including in dialogues, which makes them sometime awkward or forced. This contributed in pulling me out of the story. hopefully this will be fixed in the final edition.

I think the main reason I couldn’t get into this book is because of the portrayal of the older characters.
For a little context, the story happen 5 years after a terrible war against Langlish, the nation that colonize the island of our main characters: two sisters. The youngest was chosen by the gods at 12 or 11 and forced to participate in said war. Her sister (12 or 13 at the time) chose to follow her. Their parents, both alive, healthy and loving (which was refreshing), instead of going with them to try and protect them just stayed home and worried while their daughter went off to war, war which we are told seemed like a lost cause. We are given absolutely no reason why the parents did not followed them or do literally anything other then sitting on their ass. I just couldn’t get past it, it kept bothering me and made the whole story feel very two dimensional.

Overall, the author had a good idea; showing the aftermath of the fight against colonizer instead of the fight itself like we are usually shown in this genre. But she forgot to build the world around it. We don’t know how they dress, or what their architecture and landscape looks like, they have incredible technology and yet electricity is still a rarity, etc. In the end I just couldn’t picture the setting.

On the plus note:
* Black representation, from what I gathered it’s based on Jamaica. As such most of the cast is Black.
* It looks like there will be two main romance on F/F and the other F/M, but neither was really started prior to my DNF.
* Dragons!!
* The premise is interesting and refreshing.

I prefer book with nuanced and complexe characters and with extensive worldbuilding. For anyone for who those elements are less important I would say to give this a shot of the synopsis interest you. This book could also work well for a teenager/young adult audience who might not mind as much the adult portrayal as I did.

★ ★ ★ • 3

Jamaican inspired mythology with an interesting and diverse cast of characters. Fantastical world-building, that does take on some heavier topics but in a unique way.

The pacing itself was neither too slow or too fast, but I did personally struggle to read attentively for the beginning portion of the book. This isn’t necessarily any fault of the book or the author, the premise is great and the writing wasn’t bad by any means… I just had trouble keeping interest initially. But! Once I was about maybe 30% into the book I was fully hooked and don’t think I got up or did anything until I had read the book in its entirety.

I also became deeply invested in Faron and Elara the more I read. And I did especially appreciate the way Kamilah Cole explored Elara’s sexuality in a way where it could exist as part of her while also not being her most defining trait as a character.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for me to review!

When Faron Vincent was 12 she prayed to the Gods in desperation to help save her people. They listened and allowed her to channel their magic to liberate her island from colonization. Using the help of her new powers, the child queen and Faron’s sister Elara, they defeated the dragon-wielding Langley empire and claimed their independence. Now at 17, she’s been using her magic to win petty races and annoy her classmates. Growing more and more angsty as the queen continues to tout her around to impress potential political allies.

However, when Elara unexpectedly bonds to their mortal enemy’s greatest weapon Faron is forced to look within to save her sister. And when the Gods tell her that the only way to break the bond is to kill Elara Faron must decide what is more important to her. Will she choose to save her country's newfound freedom and lose Elara? Or will she trust the stranger who claims to be able to save her sister for a price and betray the Gods?

Wow, wow wow!!! A solid four-star read for me. This book is definitely on the longer side for a YA but is on par with fantasy. The dual-pov was the perfect choice. Seeing both Faron and Elara’s perspectives gave depth to the story and allowed me to empathize with both their struggles. Also learning about Jamaican culture and their Gods was incredibly interesting.

The themes of racism and colonization were very present and contrasted the white-washing that is common in fantasy books. The way that the different skin tones were described was a great example of how to properly use physical descriptors in a way that isn’t stereotypical or racist. There was no “white savior” storyline and the author never shied away from making light of how slavery and oppression affect a country and its people without sugarcoating. I think if a white author wants to write any characters of color they MUST read this book first, no exceptions.

The characters themselves were nuanced and extremely well-written. I found myself annoyed with Faron throughout much of the book which just showed me how real she felt. And I related to Elara as a sapphic older sister so freaking much. Her storyline resonated with me in all the right ways and I found myself wanting to skim Faron’s chapters a little bit just to get back to her. Not to mention one of the best enemies-to-lovers arcs I have read in a long time. Whew!

The themes of sisterhood and family both warmed my heart and broke it honestly. I have never had a sister so I couldn’t necessarily relate on that level but I can only imagine the lengths I would go to to save my brother. Also found family, especially when queer, storylines always get me right in the heart. I did tear up quite a few times reading Elara’s POV regarding this.

I do have two gripes though, so to say, with this book. One is that I have to wait until 2025 to find out what happens!!! The cliffhanger had my mouth gaping and I am so angry I have to wait over a year to get my conclusion. Yes, I admit that isn’t a bad thing inherently but I am so impatient!! My actual only criticism is that it does get a little slow in the middle. This is 100% a personal opinion but I did find it dragging for about 50-70 pages. I completely understand why, it just took me a bit longer to finish than I anticipated because of this. But I mean that is such a small critique, and it just boils down to personal preference.

All in all, I highly recommend this book even if fantasy isn’t your usual go-to. It is not my favorite genre and YA is not my first pick. However, this book defies convention and surprises you at every turn. If you like sapphic stories, dragons, and badass Jamaican god-channeling women then you are in the right place. Happy reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for sending this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

CW: Anxiety, attempted murder, blood, bones, bullying, death, depression, fire, genocide (not on page but mentions of), misogyny, racism, slavery (not on page but mentions of), violence, and war.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for an advanced readers copy!

A small island nation has recently won their independence over the dragon rider colonizers over seas. Two sisters, one who harnesses the powers of Gods and another who wants out of her sister’s shadow. Elara bonds with an enemy dragon during a peace summit and must return to their land to learn their ways and how to be a dragon rider. Her younger sister Faron tries to find a way to break the bond between her sister and the dragon and bring her home.

So Let Them Burn is a captivating story that I couldn’t put down! Cole has a talent for writing dynamic characters and beautiful world building, I can’t wait to see what comes next.

This story had me hooked with the mention of dragons. I think the author established the world and magic system fairly early and it made for an easy read. The Jamaican inspired story teleported me into a adventure full of twists and on the edge of your seat moments.

5 out of 5 for this amazing fantasy YA! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I could not put this book down (once I got past the first few chapters). Colonialism clashes with magic in this stellar first installment. Two sisters have been put in impossible situation after impossible situation, but they remain steadfast in their convictions. Also... Ya know there are dragons and long ago curses to break and there is so much grey morality that it is so interesting to see what each character decides.

The lush and evocative world that Cole has built based on Jamaican island culture is just so rich. There is a lot of detail put into describing the surroundings and food and the music and ESPECIALLY the different skin tones. The latter especially is really nuanced and really makes you think about the world we live in now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an eARC copy of So Let Them Burn for an honest review. And that honest review is mostly that this book was incredibly hard to put down! It sucked me into the world that Kamilah Cole has so lovingly crafted from the moment that I started reading. Everything about this book, to me, reinvigorates the genre with new ideas and updates to old ideas to put together a thrilling story that comes down to family, belonging, and a love for your home in the face of oppression.

I particularly appreciate the way that Cole weaves the mythology of San Irie and Langley into the world itself, making that as much of a character as Faron and Elara. It feels very natural, and makes it easy to believe that this world has existed for a long time. On top of that, the characters themselves are written well, with some strong subverted expectations throughout the book. This is an incredible debut novel, so much so that I have already recommended it to a few people in my life! I am so excited for the follow up, and am so glad to see work like this popping up more and more.

Fantasy books are not my typical go to genre; I can count the number of fantasy books that I have read on one hand, and that is exactly why this is a 5 star rated book because SO LET THEM BURN has sparked my new found love and appreciation for fantasy! Kamilah Cole’ s prose and themes of identity, oppression, and sacrifice felt like poetry and her depiction of magic, dare I say, felt real!

By reading through lenses of a Children’s/YA Fantasy, you are not only able escape into another realm but also reflect on today’s society in a palatable way, as much of the plot resembles past historical events.

with poetic prose & a lush setting, kamilah's debut is a story that, above all else, is about sisterhood, hope, and love. faron, the chosen one, has already used her divine magic to save her island from an enemy empire — but with no wars left to fight she struggles to live a normal life. elara dreams of living outside faron's shadow, but she doesn't expect it to happen through her forming a bond with a dragon from the same empire her younger sister once defeated. nor does faron she doesn't expect the gods to give her an impossible task: to kill elara in order to break her bond with the dragon.

i’ve read more dual-POV novels than i can count, but never have i read one like this; faron & elara are not just sisters, but foils and mirrors of one another. their characters unearth the realities of colonialism, war, and trauma. SO LET THEM BURN is just as much about war as it is life in the wake of it—how nations rebuild after war, what the effects of colonialism are on a country, and trauma haunts survivors.

i’ve adored fantasy stories since i was a kid & ‘pacific rim’ has been one of my favorite movies since it came out in 2013 — but never did i think i’d see myself represented in the sci-fi or fantasy genres as a black queer girl. reading SO LET THEM BURN i not only saw myself represented as a black reader, but as a queer one too. faron is demisexual & elara is a lesbian, and over the course of they both fall in love. i truly can’t remember the last time i read a book with not one, but two slowburn romances i was rooting for.

There is so much to love about So Let Them Burn -- particularly the different magic systems and politics. However, I was disappointed by how predictable the story beats were for such a unique premise and world. It's easy to guess how the relationships and plot would play out from the very first chapter. That being said, I'd still recommend this to book. It may not have blown me away but I still couldn't put it down.

I already had this book on pre-order, so I was super happy to get an ARC from Netgalley. Can't wait for it to be released.

I think that my favorite thing about this book is the unique world building - a lot of fantasy books tend to have the same vibe, and it was refreshing to have something a bit different. It was apparent in the descriptors and small details throughout the book (the type of foods they eat, for instance). The story does take some time to pick up, but the twists at the end are worth it! Both main characters are great in their own ways, but have a lot of room to grow in the next book as they transition into their true callings. Aveline was also a pleasant surprise at the end. Ultimately, this story was a much needed addition in the fantasy space.

What an amazing debut. Thank you so much Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me early access to such a wonderful fantasy read!

What a fantastic debut! The story starts off after the war - which is something I loved and felt really unique about the story. The war hero, Faron, who has been blessed by the gods, is living a relatively normal life now, though her people still worship her. Her older sister, Elara, is trying to find her own way, outside of her sister's shadow. However, when the Queen requests the sisters presence at a Peace Summit and everything goes wrong, Elara finds herself whisked into a new world in the enemy Empire and Faron is left behind to sort out how to save everyone without sacrificing her sister.

There was so, so much that I loved about this book. First of all, I instantly felt drawn and connected to the characters and I loved the unwavering bond and love that Faron and Elara have for one another. The world building was top notch, rich with details be easy to understand, and the magic system was very cool. Overall, it felt like a very fresh take on YA Fantasy, and I for one can't wait to continue this series.

Thank you so much Netgalley for a free e-copy of this book in exchange to an honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
So Let Them Burn makes a strong first impression. With dragons being all the rage again, my interest was piqued, and while there are some elements here that evoke some popular titles you may have read, Kamilah Cole also makes the archetype very much her own. The Jamaican-inspired world is well drawn, and I loved the way the legacy of colonialism, in the wake of recently gained independence, was depicted. And given how much fantasy centers war and resistance, I liked that Cole did something a little different by exploring the aftermath of the fighting, with the characters working to rebuild and recover from what they’ve experienced.
With that in mind, it really hits hard how young Faron and Elara were when the war began, and still are, given how much they’ve experienced. I really appreciated the way their sisterly bond persisted in the midst of all this, even with their own respective struggles. Faron is Gods-blessed with power that she’s expected to use to serve her country, and I admired the way this immense responsibility was depicted, while also allowing her to be flawed and make mistakes. She’s a great twist on the common “Chosen One” archetype. Elara was equally interesting, being the older, more responsible sister, struggling with living in Faron’s shadow and finding her own place in the world.
The plot itself is engaging, and the book is fairly evenly paced throughout. While it’s not super high action, there is a lot of intrigue and still fairly high stakes.
I really enjoyed this book, and am excited for what’s to come. If you’re interested in a YA fantasy with dragons, sisterhood, and an immersive non-European setting, I’d recommend checking this out!

so let them burn is one of the most phenomenal books i've read this year. the writing is utterly brilliant and keeps you hooked from the first page. the world building is incredible—teeming with history, culture, mythology, and magic system of San Irie and the Langlish Empire, the world inside bursts alive from the pages. a vivid and emotionally touching exploration of imperialism, family, and sacrifice.

the plot was so addictive—this book has invaded my mind for the past three days. i cannot think of anything else at all. incredibly well done, and the cliffhanger has me already asking about the sequel.

as for the characters, i don't think i've been this invested in anyone to this extent since reading a dark and drowning tide almost a month ago, and the poppy war way back in october. elara and faron, i love you so, so much. the sisters have distinct, but equally endearing personalities, and even if or when they make certain not well thought out choices, they will still have you rooting for them. each sister's perspective is relevant to the story, and there wasn't a moment where i was bored with either, which rarely happens in a multipov book. the sisters are easily distinguishable from one another, with unique motivations and identities, and have fully fleshed out individual personalities. their relationship together was also well thought out. the side characters and the antagonists had no less colorful personalities. this is a book where every character comes alive within its pages. the ones you're supposed to hate, you'll really, really love hating. nothing short of stunning writing.

finally, the queerness. the queerness represented within this book makes me so happy. there isn't necessarily a lot of romance or even exploration of queer identity. there's a little something towards the end, but a lot of buildup so we're definitely getting romance in the sequel. but romance is not what makes this book. i don't want to misrepresent that. moving on. the queerness of the cultures themselves? at least half the characters are in same-sex relationships, mentioned multiple times in the book. queer characters are there, and they're normal. they're not treated as something to explore—they're not treated any differently than the straight characters, and in fact there's no qualifiers or distinctions made at all between the two. of course, there's nothing wrong with books that delve into queer identities and what it means for us to be queer, but in this book, they're. just. like. everyone. else. and maybe i cried a little writing this. i like being delusional because i don't think i'll ever have this in my life or my family. and anyway. it just made me so happy. kamilah cole, i love you.

4.25 ★. thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. so let them burn is coming out in less than three weeks, btw, and i truly cannot wait for everyone to experience this.

So Let Them Burn is a Jamaican-inspired Young Adult fantasy that centers around two teen sisters, Faron and Elara. Five years prior to the story, Faron became her country’s Chosen One, ending the war and saving her people. Present-day, she is still trying to come to terms with everything she lost when she became gods-blessed. Elara is tired of living in her sister’s divine shadow and is ready to make a name for herself. Elara finds herself in a perilous situation when she bonds with a dragon belonging to her country’s enemy. Faron is desperate to save her sister as everything spirals out of control around them.

Though I did see some similarities between this book and other popular fantasy books, this was executed extremely well and I was intrigued from the very first page. I ended up reading this whole book in less than 12 hours. I really enjoyed the sibling dynamics between Elara and Faron, how their love for each other also had a sharper edge where sibling rivalry and jealously lives. This book had a lot of my favorite tropes such as Chosen One, slow burn, dislike to lovers, etc.

This was an easy, accessible read. Sometimes, fantasy debuts can be difficult to follow all the elaborate magic systems, world building, and politics. However, the author crafted a gorgeous, clever story while also making it easy for readers to follow along. The author also included thought provoking themes that we don’t often see in mainstream fantasies. While it had some storylines and plots we’ve seen before, it made up for it with diverse characters, queer representation, and a perfect balance between fast-paced plot and romance.

This is the perfect novel for fantasy readers who love dragons, intricate magic systems, and dual POV.

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

I really enjoyed this book and the only reason it wasn’t a five star read for me is because I thought the beginning was just a little slow.

I really enjoyed the 2 POVs from each sister, although I have to say that Elara’s POV was my favorite. I loved how her relationship with her dragon and with Signey developed. I enjoyed Faron’s POV slightly less. I thought she was very naive with the whole hiding her dealings with Gael. I did really enjoy watching her relationship with Reeve develop however.

Overall, a very solid debut and start to a duology. I’m excited to see where it goes.

Apparently I needed one more 5 star read to end this year. Perfection. Absolute perfection.

Kamilah Cole crafted a world ravaged by war, victorious, and still oh so broken yet with so much hope. We got a very real look at the "normal" citizens of a country that just recently won its war for independence while getting to see the after effects of this war on the children who were forced to be it's heroes, in several different ways.

I love a hero whose doing shit because someone has to and for very grounded reasons outside it, and that's exactly what we get from both Faron and Elara, though in different ways.

And the DRAGONS. I love dragons. Dragon riding. Dragon battles. This story has everything. High stakes, so much heart, so much love, political intrigue, and a very real feeling world whose magic system(s) and cultures make perfect sense. I can't wait to buy this to have for myself.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the e-arc!

Black people and dragons. What more can you ask for. Was giving very much house of the dragon and I loved every minute of it.

I feel like the less you know about this book, the better. All that's necessary to know before going in is that it's about two sisters and the lengths they will go to protect each other and their home. This aforementioned home has recently been liberated from the imperialist Languish empire that occupied San Irie for a time before San Iris fought and won their freedom. This book is incredibly timely, I think. It's easy to be distracted by the dragons and the magic and the gods, but this book's themes are rooted in issues that we are actively facing in our real world. These themes are evident in the narrative, but so carefully woven into the story, and I just think it was beautiful how Cole told this story and made it into what it was. The characters were amazing. The sisters, Faron and Elara, were soooo good and I loved having them as our narrators. I really liked their respective love interests as well. Plus, there's one character in particular who I'm not sure if I was supposed to fall in love with, but I did! This book is also queer (featuring asexual and sapphic rep), and I loved that these identities were discussed a little as well. Overall, I LOVED this book and already cannot wait for book 2, which I know will be phenomenal.