Book Details
Title: So Let Them Burn
Author: Kamilah Cole
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Publication Date: January 16, 2024
Genre(s): Young Adult, LGBT, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 400
Bookshop Purchase Link: https://bookshop.org/a/67041/9780316534635
Title: So Let Them Burn
Author: Kamilah Cole
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Publication Date: January 16, 2024
Genre(s): Young Adult, LGBT, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 400
Bookshop Purchase Link: https://bookshop.org/a/67041/9780316534635
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Reading Details
Finish Date: December 2023
Format: Physical
Representation: Sapphic, Demisexual
Trigger/Content Warnings: Explicit language, PTSD, War, Grief, Racism, Colonialism, Death
Finish Date: December 2023
Format: Physical
Representation: Sapphic, Demisexual
Trigger/Content Warnings: Explicit language, PTSD, War, Grief, Racism, Colonialism, Death
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Rating: 5
Favorite Quote/Scene:
"It was a country like any otjer, where the people in power devoured others whole just to gain more of it, while the people underneath lived and worked and laughed and loved."
Review:
I’ve been on a fantasy kick recently so I was looking forward to reading this book whenever I could get my hands on it. I am beyond happy that I was able to.
Kamilah Cole has knocked it out of the park with her debut novel. It’s full of gorgeous prose and beautifully written action scenes. The characters are amazingly in-depth and the worldbuilding was layered and enticing. Kamilah did a wonderful job of writing a book that had me on the edge of my seat and constantly waiting for the next scene to happen. I never wanted to put the book down. I applaud Kamilah’s writing style because it has a way of dragging people into the story and keeping them there. A blend of intriguing plotlines, engaging worldbuilding, and likeable characters created a gorgeous story.
This story has two main characters and a couple of other secondary characters. The sisters, Faron and Elara, are the main stars of the show.
Personally I found Elara to be a very likeable character. I immediately loved her and wanted the best from her. She is so determined to not be buried in her sister’s shadow and to be of use. It’s heartbreaking but it also makes sense. Elara is thrust into a new country and surrounded by new people that she used to consider her enemies. It’s a difficult experience for her but she grows and learns while there. It’s a beautiful thing to witness and I loved it! One of my favorite scenes in this entire book (which I will not include because of spoilers) is tied to Elara. It had me giddy for days.
Faron was a more complicated character for me to like. I didn’t dislike her by any means, but between the two characters she was the one who had to make some very difficult choices. And maybe she didn’t always make the best choice. But she was desperate and she had already been through so much that it made sense. The decisions made it hard for me to love her, because I couldn’t back all of her choices. She also got rightfully called out for some of her behaviors during the book though, so it made it easier for me to see her as a character that I didn’t have to completely love. I could like her with her flaws.
I am absolutely obsessed with the world in this book. I want more information about everything involved in it. More information about the Iryan and their summoning magic, about the Langlish and their dragons. Information about Faron and her past as the Child Emperor. There was so much history hinted at and briefly described in this book and I just want it all. If Kamilah released a history book on this world, I would read every page of it.
I think my favorite quote, mentioned above, illustrates what I really enjoyed about this book. This book did not shy away from the brutal reality of war and desperation and what people are willing to do for power. It doesn’t shy away from discussing the effects of one country taking over many and practically eradicating their cultures. But it also has moments where one character in particular realizes that even though the rulers are bad, the people may not be. The country is vast and the people have varied opinions on what their leaders are doing.
This book was a beautiful read. Kamilah Cole absolutely knocked it out of the park with this book. I wish I could read the sequel right now, but I’m willing to wait for it. I have high hopes for it!
Favorite Quote/Scene:
"It was a country like any otjer, where the people in power devoured others whole just to gain more of it, while the people underneath lived and worked and laughed and loved."
Review:
I’ve been on a fantasy kick recently so I was looking forward to reading this book whenever I could get my hands on it. I am beyond happy that I was able to.
Kamilah Cole has knocked it out of the park with her debut novel. It’s full of gorgeous prose and beautifully written action scenes. The characters are amazingly in-depth and the worldbuilding was layered and enticing. Kamilah did a wonderful job of writing a book that had me on the edge of my seat and constantly waiting for the next scene to happen. I never wanted to put the book down. I applaud Kamilah’s writing style because it has a way of dragging people into the story and keeping them there. A blend of intriguing plotlines, engaging worldbuilding, and likeable characters created a gorgeous story.
This story has two main characters and a couple of other secondary characters. The sisters, Faron and Elara, are the main stars of the show.
Personally I found Elara to be a very likeable character. I immediately loved her and wanted the best from her. She is so determined to not be buried in her sister’s shadow and to be of use. It’s heartbreaking but it also makes sense. Elara is thrust into a new country and surrounded by new people that she used to consider her enemies. It’s a difficult experience for her but she grows and learns while there. It’s a beautiful thing to witness and I loved it! One of my favorite scenes in this entire book (which I will not include because of spoilers) is tied to Elara. It had me giddy for days.
Faron was a more complicated character for me to like. I didn’t dislike her by any means, but between the two characters she was the one who had to make some very difficult choices. And maybe she didn’t always make the best choice. But she was desperate and she had already been through so much that it made sense. The decisions made it hard for me to love her, because I couldn’t back all of her choices. She also got rightfully called out for some of her behaviors during the book though, so it made it easier for me to see her as a character that I didn’t have to completely love. I could like her with her flaws.
I am absolutely obsessed with the world in this book. I want more information about everything involved in it. More information about the Iryan and their summoning magic, about the Langlish and their dragons. Information about Faron and her past as the Child Emperor. There was so much history hinted at and briefly described in this book and I just want it all. If Kamilah released a history book on this world, I would read every page of it.
I think my favorite quote, mentioned above, illustrates what I really enjoyed about this book. This book did not shy away from the brutal reality of war and desperation and what people are willing to do for power. It doesn’t shy away from discussing the effects of one country taking over many and practically eradicating their cultures. But it also has moments where one character in particular realizes that even though the rulers are bad, the people may not be. The country is vast and the people have varied opinions on what their leaders are doing.
This book was a beautiful read. Kamilah Cole absolutely knocked it out of the park with this book. I wish I could read the sequel right now, but I’m willing to wait for it. I have high hopes for it!
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