First of all, a big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cole's writing is beautiful and immersive. San Irie felt like a real place. I could not get enough of the world-building. The depiction of sibling relationships in this book was wonderfully done. The magic mechanics were also fascinating. This book felt quite tense from start to end and I am eager to see how events will unfold in the next book.

Cole also did something unique with the Chosen One trope in that Faron wasn't necessarily destined for the power she wielded, but she asked and they answered. The idea that you don't just stop being the Chosen One when you have fulfilled your purpose was also theme within this book.

This book explored the impacts of war on children, and how it affects those that fought in that war long after. I loved reading about how San Irie rebuilt after they had liberated themselves.

Faron was both lovable and frustrating. She was so naive at times, but then so fierce, strong and independent. Gael threw a spanner in the works, but I loved the contrast in her interactions with him to those she had with Reeve.

Elara, Faron's sister, was also a very well developed character. How she coped with being torn from what she knew, and the friendships she made. Her sexuality was blended into her character and that allowed it to not be the defining aspect of the character.

I would really recommend giving this book a read if you like dragons, sapphic fantasy, and swords.

4.75 Stars!

Synopsis: Faron, the Child Empyrean, can wield the power of all the Gods. But the war is over, her island is liberated, and all that’s left are remnants of a fate she didn’t choose. When forced to attend a peace summit, her sister, Elara’s, fate changes drastically, and Faron will do whatever she can to save her. But both Faron and Elara find that the cost of some choices may be too much to bare.

CW/TW (according to author):
-explicit language/ depictions of PTSD (nightmares, unwanted memories/flashbacks, dissociation, anxiety, mistrust, hypervigilance, self-destructive behaviour)/depictions/descriptions/mentions of war, blood, and corpses/grief (expressed in healthy and unhealthy ways)/racism (challenged)/minor character deaths/a near-fatal beating/stolen body/mind autonomy

Rep: POC MC and Cast| Jamaican Inspired | Queer normative world | Lesbian POV character | LGBTQ+ Side characters

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole is a triumph of a fantasy! It is gorgeous, captivating and compelling from start to finish.

Let’s start with the prose and narration. Firstly, Cole’s writing is downright gorgeous. She manages to create stunning and immersive scenes and settings while maintaining a descriptive but easy to read prose. The writing makes it easy to slip into the world Cole has created and fly through the book quicker than the dragons in a sky trial. This prose adds to the richness and intricacy of the world while maintaining a wonderful pace and flow.

The narrations is equally wonderful! We get two main POV’s, Faron and Elara – which I thought was intriguing and unique given that Faron is the ‘chosen one’ and Elara is not. The dual pov works spectacularly with the story and gives us wonderful insight into both of the sisters lives, motivations, and ambitions. It works well to balance the pacing of the story and show us both sides to the mystery while maintaining the secrecy for some fiery twists and turns that had me fully invested. The sisters similarities and differences make the pov’s interesting in their own rights, and their own journey’s are much more powerful given the dual pov. Finally, the bond of sisterhood is really at the core of this and the dual pov helps to really show you that – it roots the story in this relationship.

The plot is refreshing and phenomenal. From the different magic systems of the Gods and their astral forms, to the dragons and the bond they make with their riders, the whole world and system felt so rich and intricately built. The twists and turns, the stakes, the ambitions and desires of the characters, and the desperation of who to trust, all comes together to create a story that is truly wonderful and gripping. AND THAT ENDING! Oh my oh my, I cannot wait for book two! The characters and the plot work well together. Faron is fiery, act first think later character but her heart is true to a fault for those she loves. Elara is much more of a thinker, but her heart is much the same. The two drive this story beautifully.

I don’t want to spoil any of the plot so i’ll leave it at magic, dragons, sisters, and wars not quite over. Everything about this book was beautifully executed and the story makes you so excited for the next book. This was truly a gorgeous and compelling read.

Overall, So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole is a gorgeously written fantasy that is refreshing and rich. It is a stunning book that deserves a lot of love.

*Many thanks to Netgalley and Orbit books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!*

Five years ago, Faron Vincent was chosen by the gods to wield their power and defend her country from the Langley Empire’s dragon riders. Now, she leads a pretty normal life of a seventeen-year-old, dealing with homework and school rivalry. When she and her sister Elara are summoned to the capital to attend an international peace summit that includes a Langley delegation, she does not expect to see a dragon again. Moreover, Elara, who had always dreamt of joining the army, unexpectedly bonds with the dragon and its rider. She is taken to Langley to be trained, and Faron promises to break the bond and bring her sister back, even at the cost of her country’s safety...

So Let Them Burn is an amazing story with loads of action, secrets and political intrigues. From the very beginning, we see the depth of sisterly love, which is the driving force of the narrative. While Elara is the only person able to tame Faron’s personality, she is also determined to prove herself, excel at combat and step out of her sister’s shadow. Their dynamic was a pleasure to read. Also, the book presents the aftermath of war, the life of a chosen one after their task is completed and touches on the subjects of anti-imperialism and anti-colonialism.

Most of all, this novel is just a brilliant read, with a captivating storyline, vivid characters, dragons and some sapphic romance. It’s an excellent position for all fantasy lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

So Let Them Burn was a debut I've been excited about for months and I'm so happy that it lived up to my expectations.
The worldbuilding was great, colonialism was a central theme and I really liked that the story was set after the country had liberated itself from its colonizers. I don't think I've ever read a book with this setup, and I found it very interesting. I also liked that we had two settings and even a bit of a dragon rider college.
Speaking of which, dragons are always a big draw and I loved how riders and dragons were bonded, but also the long and twisted history of dragons. I truly can't wait to see how this gets resolved in the sequel.

I really enjoyed both FMCs; I don't think I could pick a favorite as they were quite different, but both were lovable in their own way. I liked that we had two sister FMCs and how their stories separated and then merged again.
The romances were great, too; I love that we got both sapphic and demisexual rep. The romance isn't a big focus, but it was just nice to have a bit in there.

The plot was very engaging, and I found myself entertained and sucked in from start to finish. The last 20% definitely took it all up a notch and left me longing for book 2.

There were some minor things I didn't love, which is why my rating is technically a 4.5, but I decided to round up because I think it is an incredible book for YA readers (as well as adult readers!).

Overall, I highly recommend this book and hope it gets the hype it deserves!

15% into the book and I found myself constantly checking how much I’d read - which isn’t a good sign.

I’m certain this book will be popular but for me there is too much going on and I don’t feel like I know what is happening, where it’s happening or who the characters are. Maybe I’ll return to it one day but for now it’s not for me.

4.5 stars
Let Them Burn," written by Kamilah Cole, is about siblings who cherished one another and would stop at nothing to keep one another alive. The story started a little slow, but the pace picked up around halfway through. There's a lot of action to keep you engrossed.

Kamilah did a great job balancing the drama that families experience with sibling love. The world building is great, and I look forward to seeing more of this world in future installments. The idea of Empyreans facing off against the Dragon Rider is imaginative. Who doesn't adore dragons? Although things work out well for the sisters, I adore the conflict that occurs when one must be a dragon rider.

Faron, the rebellious sister who was extremely loving to her family, Elena is the wiser sister. God interfering and leading them down a route they may not wish to take makes their lives not their own.

Since this is, I think, Kamilah's first book to be published, we may anticipate some incredible thoughts from the writer. I think Kamilah is going to develop incredibly complex universes that are well worth exploring. Anyone who enjoys stories about dragons, politics, sapphism, anti-colonisation, anti-capitalists, and magic should definitely read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I am giving my honest review and hoping the best for the author in the next installment.

4.5/5 stars! First off, this cover is EVERYTHING! Eep! It is so pretty. I don't know if I've ever read a Jamaican-inspired fantasy before, so cross off reading more diverse stories for my 2024 bingo card. This story had such a cool premise and it held my attention from the very first page. This was a powerful entry into the YA genre and I will be keeping an eye out for future entries by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

I am MAD that I have to DNF this. I’m 30% in and I just don’t like it. The ideas were great, I liked what the author was trying to say and the overall world/concept was so promising. What’s making me DNF this is 1) the info dump, exposition paragraphs at the very start. A prologue and one or two nightmares would’ve made that avoidable and more digestible (in the vein of shadow and bone for example). 2) The magic system in itself was fine but I just couldn’t figure out how the drakes fitted into all this. The world remained very vague and I can’t help but feel that while the ideas were there, the execution felt very clumsy. 3) the whole Warwick thing was strange. How do people immediately know who he is? I get that his schoolmates do but that random street seller appeared to be very much aware as well before Elara stupidly mentioned his last name. In this vein, the queen was a little stupid, what do you mean you invite your ex-colonizers who have dragons and forget to mention they can’t bring said dragons?! 4) It’s nice to see loving and very much alive parents in YA but those were borderline neglectful. Why didn’t they accompany their 12 AND 13 YEAR OLD daughters to WAR???? I get giving your kids independence but a 12 YEAR OLD TO WAR WITH ONLY HER SISTER?? Maybe it’s a cultural difference, which in that case fair, but it didn’t sit right with me.
Those were my qualms and I won’t be finishing this series but when the author comes out with something new, I’ll check it out because they have some good ideas, just need to work on their delivery (and reminder that this is a debut novel, not necessarily bad, just not really for me, a very picky and demanding reader so it’s also a me problem). I didn’t get to see the full character or plot development so I can’t really comment on it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Trigger warnings (provided by the author): PTSD depictions, explicit language, war, blood, corpses (depictions, descriptions and mentions), grief, racism (challenged), minor character death, near-fatal beating, stolen body/mind autonomy.

Holy moly. I went into this book with high expectations after hearing friends say it was amazing and I was not disappointed. I even put off making chicken nuggets to finish this, and if you know me, you know I LOVE chicken nuggets. So for a book to delay me from making one of my favourite foods, it's saying something.

So Let Them Burn is a Jamaican-inspired fantasy with kickass characters and dragons. We follow the POVs of sisters Faron and Elara Vincent. Faron can channel the power of the gods, five years before the start of the story, Faron used her magic to free her island from their enemies, the Langely Empire. Now, at seventeen, Faron still has her powers but no wars to fight. She may be a legend to her people, but to her neighbours, she’s a nuisance. When her sister, Elara, forms a bond with an enemy dragon, the gods tell Faron that the only way to break the bond is to kill her sister. After discovering secrets about the Langley empire, Elara makes difficult decisions, as well as Faron that will not only shape each other's lives but also the fate of their world.

Going into this book, I had high expectations and it is safe to say, they were exceeded. I loved the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters - whilst Faron is demisexual, Elara is a lesbian. There was also the inclusion of PTSD representation. We see a lot of books depicting how PTSD and war affect adults, but rarely how they affect children and young people.

I loved Faron’s character, she takes no bullshit and is such an icon. Her backstory was well-written and developed. Elara is the older sister and her bond with Faron is strong. I have younger sisters and like Elara, I would do anything to protect them and keep them safe. Their respective companions, Reeve and Signey are also icons. I love Signey’s attitude, she’s sassy and strong-willed. Like Elara, Signey is a lesbian and is bonded to Zephyra, who is also an icon. Reeve is Elara’s best friend, Faron doesn’t like him, or does she? He’s a bookish boy from Langley and played a pivotal role in freeing San Ire from the colonists. All of the characters in the book are so well-rounded and developed, that I fell in love with our main cast almost instantly.

The magic system, the world and the plot were all epic and interesting. Kamilah writes in a unique way that will keep you captivated from the very start. So Let Them Burn is set in a world that normalises queer people which is one of many, many reasons why I loved this book.

If you love books with dragons, queer characters and “The Chosen One” trope, definitely pick this book up. You won’t regret it! Now excuse me whilst I go cry in the corner because I don't have the next book.

This is my first book which had dragons. And I say I liked it to my surprise. Well crafted fantasy with wonderful characters and story backdrop. The author really penned the characters in such a wonderful way. I enjoyed the book from start to finish.

I enjoyed reading this book and found it to be a promising start to a series. The story is narrated from two different points of view - Faron, who can communicate with the gods, and Elara, Faron's elder sister who can summon their ancestors' powers to assist her. The two siblings had helped their country win a war against the colonising dragon-riding country when they were just 12 and 13 years old. Now, five years later, war seems to be on the horizon again, and the sisters must decide between serving their country or each other. Both characters are well-crafted, with distinct personalities. You also never have a situation where you dread reading either of their perspectives.

The book features excellent representation on multiple fronts. There is racial diversity in the story, with the sisters both being black (I believe the country they are from is based on Jamaica, while the colonising country appears to be America/England). The book also depicts different sexual orientations, with one character being demisexual (per the author) and another being in a sapphic relationship.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this story, and I found the magic systems in the book to be unique and well-defined. The dragon elements of the story were very interesting too. Although I found some parts of the plot to be predictable, it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.

However, I did have a small issue with the age of the characters. It felt odd for 12 and 13-year-olds to be involved in the war at such a young age, and then being only 17 and 18 during the events of this story. Additionally, the queen of their country was only 17 years old when she took the throne 5 years ago, making her just 22 in this story. It does lead to some discussions about the worthiness of her being in charge, but it made me wonder if there was no one older to take on these responsibilities.

Despite this, I would still recommend this book to others and look forward to reading the sequel.

So Let Them Burn is a powerhouse of a book. Kamilah Cole burns the world down and then some in this incendiary debut, full of dragons, danger, and deceit.

This is exceptionally good YA fantasy, with brilliant characterisation, tension, and twists. It has stabby sapphics, dragons, and terrific worldbuilding—what more could you ask for?

As a character driven reader, I was delighted to follow the stories of Faron and Elara—two sisters who follow distinctly different paths but still hold their love for one another and their country deeply within their hearts. Faron embodies the fascinating of what does The Chosen One do once their duty is over? This is such a thought-provoking take on the trope and ties into the central questions around legacy and fate. She is weighed down by the expectations resulting from a role she never really chose to take on, shouldering the title and really being a traumatised teenager driven to desperate measures. On the other hand, Elara inadvertently links herself to the Langley Empire when she unexpectedly bonds with one of their dragons. This creates a brilliant plot line around the masking of evil and the way colonial powers seek to define everything around themselves. It’s a pervasive and insidious forcible theft of culture, recentring themselves above all others. Both sisters have difficult journeys to undertake and Cole allows for some nuanced, three-dimensional and highly believable character development to occur. Everything at its core is about these two sisters and how they shoulder the fates thrust upon them, particularly in defence of their country and people.

Cole’s pacing is immaculate—keeping you hooked to every page while also allowing breathing room for character development to occur and a few fledging relationships to spark up. The dynamics are ever-changing and there is a tense undercurrent beneath it all. The atmosphere is one of survival, with a constant need to look over your shoulder. That fear contaminates everything. Cole also creates some expansive and rich world-building that promises to widen even more in the next book. I really enjoyed the grandiose mythology of it all, which also highlighted the disparity between the power of the gods and the humans as their mere pawns in a complex game we cannot fully understand. They embody the weight of legacy, but there are also some incredible surprises in store, which caught me completely off guard. It all culminates in a fantastic, explosive and twisty conclusion that had me gasping for breath and demanding the next book immediately.

This book deals with the emergence of a people from colonisation, with grief and trauma permeating everything and colonisers still seek to belittle and oppress them. You can constantly see the lingering effects of war and trauma upon all of the characters, especially when the former colonial power still holds so much over them. There has been a hard fought freedom, but it is still incredibly fraught. The pages of this are full of power plays, in a giant and twisty game of chess. For me, this added so much tension as every action had real ramifications that could affect much more than just the characters I had fallen in love with. Also, Cole is deeply concerned with questions of legacy and fate. Those are inextricably enmeshed with the idea of duty and that colonial legacy still influencing everything. All I can say is that you should drop everything to read this.

So Let Them Burn is a smouldering ember of a book that slowly stokes its rageful fire until it bursts out and leaves smoke in its wake. This is not a book you want to miss.

This is an excellent debut. It's a beautiful story of love, sisterhood, magic, and identity, There's a lot going on in this book, it is absolutely packed with plot and storylines but somehow it all works and comes together nicely. I liked both POVs, though I preferred Elara's slightly and loved her perspective and storyline.

I enjoyed that this story was set 'after' a big life-changing event that would usually be the novel's start. The big war has already happened; the sisters went to war and have already become heroes, which is the aftermath. It was a little jarring in places because so much was already set in stone but it was easy enough to adapt. It was very well written and succinct. The world building is extensive and diverse and it's clearly very well developed.

The cover is beautiful and I liked this way of tackling 'dragons' in the story. It was unique and made for a nice change. The characters were strong and complemented the main two.

Overall I really liked this one and will definitely read more from this author in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

Tl;dr: outstanding. One of the best fantasy debuts I’ve read in a long while.

Only a few pages in, I knew this was going to be a good one. Cole builds her world with skill, layering details in a smooth and natural way that makes it spring to life without info dumping. The writing is crisp and vivid, the characters compelling, and the magic system is both intricate and deftly explained.

What’s it like to be the childhood chosen one - after the battle, living in the aftermath? What’s it like to be the sister of the chosen one? Or to be the young queen, trying to put your nation back together and forge a peace with the country that invaded you? What if you were the child of one of those invaders, choosing this nation to be yours?

And when something unexpected happens at a peace summit, the balance may be tipped forever. Taken into the heart of a once-enemy power, bonds will be forged and tested as the truth will out.

A vast and soaring scope with new concepts I loved. This author is one to watch: Cole’s craft is so well executed that it’s hard to fathom this is a debut.

- Dragon-mechas!
- Actual dragons! spirit bonds!
- Channeling gods!
- Sisterhood!
- Betrayal!
- Ancestral spirit magic!
- Dramatic and romantic tension!

Astonishingly accomplished. Cole is one to watch.

the world building in this book is nothing shy of perfect. the legends, magic, mythical creatures and gods are all so fascinating to learn about.

the characters were all interesting and very complex, which made each one of them better to read about. I loved the way the bond between the sisters was shown throughout and I also loved the romance intertwined that didn’t overpower the book.

the writer has done a really good job writing about the impact of war on the citizens. this book packed a punch of emotion and feeling. it is a really thought provoking read as well as being a great fantasy book.

putting this down in the last 150 pages was nearly impossible to do. The story, the characters, the imagery; it had a hold on me and I didn’t want it to end. There is no way there won’t be a sequel after that ending, right?

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.

So Let Them Burn is a beautiful magical fantasy. At its heart, it’s the story of sisters, loyalty, family and love. The world building and magic in this novel has been well done.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

So Let Them Burn is an incredibly powerful debut novel that beautifully navigates sisterhood, the burden of being the chosen one, and the aftermath of war. This is a must read if you love:

YA fantasy
Books about sisters
Queer representation
Sapphic romance (not the main focus of the plot)
Evil Gods
Dragons
Dual pov

"Faron Vincent had been a liar longer for longer than she'd been a saint.
Elara Vincent had been a survivor long before she'd gone to war."

So Let Them Burn follows sisters Faron and Elara. Faron is the chosen one, able to channel the power of the gods. Her magic helped liberate her dragon-riding island from their enemies, but now she has no use for her power. While attending a peace summit, the last thing Faron expects is for her sister, Elara, to form a bond with an enemy dragon. Faron faces impossible choices, and finds herself tempted by darker paths, as the gods claim the only way to break the bond is to kill her sister.

Intricate, immersive, world-building, great pacing (minus a bit in the middle, but the end more than made up for it), great magic system, and a beautifully crafted and exciting plot.

The last 100 pages had my heart leaping out of my chest! Each pov was distinctive, and I found myself incredibly attached to both Faron and Elara. The supporting characters were excellent, they all added so much to the narrative. The political aspects of the story were wonderfully crafted and wove well into the plot.

THE ENDING?!!! I am beyond excited to see where this series will go. This is a must-read for 2024. So Let Them Burn releases January 16. Thank you again to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group.

What a perfect debut novel! I absolutely loved this immersive, Jamaican-inspired fantasy tale that felt unlike anything I’d read before. The worldbuilding was so rich and detailed, giving me enough to keep myself grounded without it feeling overwhelming. I especially loved the descriptions of magic, which was just one of many unique elements in this book.

I really enjoyed reading the two POV characters, Faron and Elara, who are siblings and struggling with the aftermath of war and finding their place in the world. This is one of the rare occasions where I loved both POVs equally. Faron is fierce and determined, she’s fiery and protective of those she loves. She’s also not afraid to make mistakes. Elara is the softer of the two and was an excellent queer character who went on quite the journey. No spoilers here, you’ll have to read it to find out what happens but it’s very entertaining!

I’m still thinking about the ending, which was very hectic in all the right ways. I can’t believe I have to wait a year or more to find out what happens next to everyone, but I know it’ll be worth the wait.

Captivating and exciting are the first to words that come to mind when I think about So Let Them Burn. The vivid Jamaican inspired world-building feels fresh and unique within the genre. I loved the divine touched characters with their human flaws. The sisterly bond in particular is a delight to read. I also loved the dragons and the lore surrounding them. I didn’t feel there was any unnecessary information dumping, it is written beautifully and just flowed. This book is YA done perfectly, it’s immersive and action-packed with a side of romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.