So Let them Burn was a really entertaining YA read with amazing characters and queer rep.
It took me a few chapters to get into the book, it's a little to much info-dump in the beginning for me.
My favourite part of the book were the character-dynamics. I love the relationships between all of them. I am alwas a sucker for a good story about sisters, but in this case my favourite was the relationship between Faron and Reeve, they have great chemisty. (Plus I always love an aspec character).
The book was fast paced and easy to read but I found the worldbuolding to be a little surface level and unmemorable. I also found the tonal dissonance between the stakes and the school-setting of Elaras POV a little to harsh, the whole school-stuff felt out of place and wasn't that well developed.
The time period is also rather unclear. And what I don't like is when fantasy books that are supposed to have a historical setting is thm just circumventing the dificulties of yesteryears by making basically modern technology but 'magic'. Like the sisters just have phones here, just powered by summoning.
I will definetely read part two though, the ending really made me curious.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc !

Listen closely: this book is so freaking good. Im baffled at how good it is. THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE BOOKS ABOUT DRAGONS.
I need everyone to add this to their tbr immediately. I also need book 2 please and thank you.
Everything was so engaging and well crafted. Those two sisters love each other so much, I love how their bond was developed.
Damn I can’t believe I’m starting the year with such a strong and immaculate five stars read.
If you enjoy god like character, hostile politics, dragons, enemies to allies to 👀👀👀, sisterhood, teenagers doing their best despite the world asking them so many sacrifices: don’t walk, run towards this book

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the advance E-book in exchange for my honest opinion and views.

Well first things, Dragons 😀 second it's set in an Caribbean setting I was screaming when I read the description.
This book was a fun read and I did enjoy most of the storytelling but I just couldn't like the main character Farron, she was annoying and bratty I just couldn't relate to her selfishness.
It was an interesting take to have the main protagonist so self absorbed and not caring much about being the chosen one; but it became tiresome because she was always moaning.
The book was evenly paced and an interesting debut for Kamilah Cole, I will be looking out for more of her books.
I enjoyed the world building and characters and I will be reading book 2 in this duology.
Good start and well written reading black girls riding dragons was fun and I want more can't wait to see where Kamilah takes her writing after the duology, really good YA fantasy.
💜Beautiful settings
💜Dragons
💜Interesting Gods
Solid four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this book! It somehow managed to feel both nostalgic and comforting but also new and fresh and innovative? So impressive to be able to pull both those things off at once!

What particularly stood out for me was the set-up of this story. This takes place years after the hero has already liberated her country from the oppressors, she has had the 'you are the chosen one' moment, and her friend has had 'you are the secret ruler hidden in a quaint farm house' moment. That happened years ago and what we see now is the aftermath of that. I think this is what makes this book feel so fresh and exciting, this is not about a teenage girl discovering the horrors of war or the burden of duty for the first time, she has already experienced it and has aged beyond her years. This book demonstrates the after effects of that, how battles won (even involving dragons) don't just end neatly after the story is told, it deals with ptsd, finding your identity, and the effect of war on an entire population.

That sounds heavy, and it is, but this book is also hugely enjoyable. We have epic battles with dragons, dragon-school, gods being summoned and region-specific magical inheritance which is so much fun to read about. Also did I mention that it's GAY? Can't really go wrong with that combination.

Thanks for the author for sending me an early copy of this book! Kamilah Cole is a talent to watch for sure and I can't wait for the next instalment (especially with that ending!!)

So Let Them Burn is a story of sisterhood, mistakes, what identity means, and dragons. It’s actually about a LOT more, but the list is extensive, and mind-blowingly so. Kamilah Cole has crafted a sapphic masterpiece, that tugs your heartstrings, crafts chasms of disbelief and awe, and leaves you reeling. A beautiful, beautiful book. An utterly compelling read filled with enthralling storylines, complexity and dragons. Bravo Cole, bravo. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for honest review.

Rounded up from 4.5 stars

I just finished this and all I can say is wow! This was a phenomenal book and I need the second one soon because I need to know what happens!!

The writing was so evocative and I often felt I was watching the story play it like in a movie rather than as words on a page.

I love the concept of having the story start after the chosen one has fulfilled their destiny. Seeing Faron have to live with all this power and status after being given it as a child and seeing how she copes with the expectations put on her, by her people and her gods, was so well done. It made her so much more than just your standard chosen one. It was also really interesting to see how her sister Elara copes with it, feeling like she is in her sister's shadow, as well as seeing how the both compare themselves to each other and come up feeling inadequate. They were both so human and such well rounded characters.

I think one of the most important and well done things in this book is that it doesn't shy away from the impact of colonisation and war. It highlights the lives lost, the consequences and impact the war had on the citizens of San Irie, and the impact these have on all the characters involved in the fight for San Irie's independence in the years after. They do not shy away from the blood on their hands and the consequences their actions had. The book also does not refrain from showing the realities of Elara being forced to move to the country that wanted to colonise her homeland. It talks frankly about her fear of losing her culture and the hate she faces from others there.

This is a really phenomenal book. I will be thinking about it for a long time.

This book surprised me and was actually better than I expected going into it. I was genuinely invested in all of the characters and the plot. The different magic systems and beliefs between the different areas of their world was very interesting to learn about and I can’t wait to find out more in depth in the future. Also that ending was evil and I need to read the sequel immediately please. I need to know what happens to Faron and Elara and Reeve and Signey!

Faron can channel the power of the gods. 5 years ago she saved her island from the dragon-riding Langley Empire. Today she is a legend, revered, envied, resented or used. She is forced to attend an international peace summit, to be paraded as a show of power by the queen. There, her older sister Elara forms a bond with an enemy dragon that can only be broken by death. Elara is forced to go to the enemy's land where she learns astonishing secrets while Faron tries to find a way to save her, leading her down a dark path. Both of them inevitable shape the fate of their world.

A to-the-point narrative that resonates with the soul-searching of the protagonists. We feel grounded in their reality. Wonderful mythology and worldbuilding that are conveyed beautifully and in a way that guides, though still lets the readers' imagination roam free. The descriptions have a little quirk to them and clever wordplay that complements the writing which is soft & cuts at the same time. Humor is the seasoning in this plot-yummy dish.

Each of the POVs are equally engaging. Faron is trouble and a smartmouth. Elara is the friendlier and responsible one. Both of them are brave. I enjoyed how it presented the sibling relationship, where they were thick as thieves and naturally protective of each other. As soon as Reeve appears you know you're going to love him. I though his and Faron's bickering was so smile-worthy. And let us not forget a certain, delightfully infuriating co-rider.

The buildup is done admirably, the pacing is good and our attention is 'imprisoned' the whole way through. I love dragons so I enjoyed experiencing the bond in this story and what it brought. And I love the irony that this is happening to Elara. Her situation is a seemingly unbearable one and I think depicted quite well.

Sometimes the mythology is confusing. Also the info, as the action seems to trip over itself. But you can tell how excited the author is to convey her vision and that excitement is contagious.

This book is about the burden of expectations. What people expect of us and what we expect from ourselves. Respect and trust, harder to find, easier to lose. About growing into your power and what fate actually means.

This Jamaican-inspired fantasy, exciting and twisty and utterly engrossing will have you clamoring for its sequel.

If I'm being honest I was attracted to the book because of the cover and a recent book I read with a similar style cover.

The plot seemed intriguing and the characters at first were diverse. The plot is a little predictable and there are clear similarities with other dragon books which was a shame as this one fell short of some of the others I've recently read.

The characters were a little frustrating and I suppose a little young. I get that it's Ya but often Ya feels older than this. Therefore as an adult I found the characters imature and childish at times as opposed to angsty and cobtraversial.

This wasn't a bad book but it certainly didn't really hold my attention fir long periods of time.

I will probably read the next installment but I won't be rushing out to buy it.

Literally nothing but good things to say about Let Them Burn. I adored Faron & Elara, even if Faron was constantly stressing me out (how oldest sister of me).

The world building and character development was so incredible, really drawing me in to the story and their lives. The magic / god system was so interesting and the ties to the ancestors was so cool and something very new to me.

The bond of the sisters was so brilliant, but seeing them grapple with everything they had been brought up with - the powers of the gods, the colonial history and the fact that maybe not everyone in Langley was what they expected - alongside the weight of the responsibilities they had gained at such a young age and the grief/ptsd of war.

Reeve and Signey were equally brilliant, and I loved how they helped the sisters along their journey. I have to admit that Elara was definitely a fav of mine and it was her moments which really got to me. I want to keep this review spoiler free - but the plot was so well woven and the last third was literally unputdownable. And of course the cliff hanger ending, which already has me longing for a sequel before the first book is even published!

Thank you to Little Brown Book & Kamilah Cole for this ARC via NetGalley

Where do I begin? Well, So Let Them Burn is absolutely phenomenal. When this book arrived on my doorstep, I had an overwhelming desire to pick it up and start reading. I haven’t felt that way in a long time. For some reason I was drawn to this book. My soul knew it needed a gorgeously written queer fantasy and recognised that So Let Them Burn would serve up the goods.

The atmosphere and world-building were so rich. This Jamaican-inspired fantasy tackles the aftermath of war, anti-colonialism, and anti-imperialism. I loved how this book starts at the end of a war instead of the beginning. The fact that I’m itching to read a prequel is a testament to Cole’s world-building. The characterisation and storylines were so engaging. So Let Them Burn contains one of the best depictions of PTSD I’ve ever read. I loved the exploration of how war impacts children, and the lifelong implications of fighting in one.

So Let Them Burn is such a perfect title. It brilliantly describes the personality attributed to my favourite character – Faron. Ferocious and utterly brilliant, Faron wields her God-given power for the sake of her country, becoming their saviour and a symbol of hope. While she didn’t always make the best decisions, I loved her personality and how much she didn’t care what other people thought of her. Faron was motivated by the love she felt for her sister and a desire to keep her people from the clutches of the Langley Empire. Faron was forced to question the lengths she would go to protect the people she loves, even if it meant potentially undoing the freedom she had won for her country. Faron really had to remind people several times why she was the baddest Childe Empyrean, and I approve of her actions! I really appreciated Faron’s demisexual identity, which felt fully developed. Another element I adored was the backstory behind Faron’s rise as the Chosen One. Cole managed to carve a unique interpretation of the popular trope. I loved that Faron wasn’t necessarily destined to be the Chosen One. Faron asked for it, claimed it, and was perhaps in the right – or wrong – place at the right time.

The magic system was so intriguing. One of Faron’s powers reminded me of Katara from Avatar the Last Airbender, which is one of my favourite TV shows of all time. I was constantly reminded of my favourite elements of fantasy whilst reading. This book fully pulled me by the throat out of my reading slump. It was so wonderful to read a book set in a gorgeously built world with such a marvellous plot. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back to reading books set in fantasy worlds that do not normalise queerness. Elara’s sexuality was seamlessly woven into her identity – allowed to flourish whilst not being the defining element of her characterisation. The key to excellent queer representation is building characters that are well-rounded, complex individuals, whose queerness thrives alongside their unique personality, which Cole achieves in So Let Them Burn. The romances were wonderful, and I loved how they developed differently. The mysterious Gael came to ruin Faron’s life, damn.

The ending was wild and chaotic. I’m completely ready for the drama that’s bound to go down in book two. I loved how the ending positioned the sisters on opposite sides of an emerging war. I’m excited to read more books set in this gorgeous world, and I’m certainly reading any other books published by Kamilah Cole in the future. I cannot recommend this book enough, especially to readers who adore brilliantly written queer fantasy. If I inspire you to read one book in 2024, I hope it’s this one! So Let Them Burn publishes on the 16th of January 2024, so make sure you add it to your TBRs!

Thank you to the lovely team at Atom Books for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

So Let Them Burn was everything I love in a YA. Complicated morally grey characters, top notch world building, Jamaican inspired world, Dragons and some truly epic fight scenes. It's so beautifully written and at the same time filled with so much rage, making it a story I simply couldn't put down.

The story is told from the alternating POV's of Faron and Elara, sisters who went to war as children to save their Island and it's people. Faron is the Childe Empyrean, someone who has the ability to chanel the God's. Chosen at only 12 years old, she was pivotal in liberating her Island from the dragon-riding Langley Empire. Five years later and she finds herself calling on the God's for trivial things such as winning races. She is someone who carries around an enormous amount of anger. Anger at her people, anger at the Gods, anger at the fact that the entire weight of the Island was laid on her shoulders at such a young age. Elara may only be a year older than Faron, but that didn't stop her from following her little sister into a war she was in no way prepared for. She longs to be seen as more than Faron's sister, longs to be someone in her own right, she just didn't expect that to come in the form of her bonding with an enemy dragon. These two couldn't be more different, Faron failing under the weight of a title she never wanted, resenting the pressure and the expectations, and Elara wanting to be something more than she is, but they both carry a deep love for each other and the Island that raised them and they will do whatever it takes to save it & each other.

Alongside our two MC's, Cole graces us with an exceptionally well built cast of side characters. Aveline, the child Queen. She resents Faron for bringing her into this life, but also respects her power & knows that they need her if any future battles arise. Reed, the son of the Langlish general who waged war on Faron & Elara's island. He switched sides in the war, allowing Aveline to defeat his home kingdom, and is now seen as the enemy and a traitor by both kingdoms. Signey & Zephyra, the Langlish Dragon rider & Dragon that Elara finds herself bonded too. These characters are all so well built in their own right, but also add pivotal tension and character growth to both Faron and Elara.

The world building was so incredibly well done and intricately woven through the story. There's no info dumps, no dreaded long paragraphs explaining the history, instead it's naturally fed to us throughout the book making it seem effortless. The story is set within a post war Jamaican inspired world. San Erie is five years out from the clutches of the Langlish, but they are still recovering from the war. Being only a small island, they rely heavily on trade, and this is what brings the Langlish back onto their soil after so long. Setting this post war was a really unique take, and something I truly enjoyed. It shows just how hard it is for people to go back to normal after a war, the hard work and resilience it takes to start building again, and working through the trauma that comes along with that.

That being said, there are still plenty of battles waged in this book, so don't think you're in for a slow ride. The story, thanks to Cole's propulsive and vivid writing style, is incredibly hard to put down, and she has that skill of ending chapters on a cliff hanger making you desperate to get back to that POV. But the war's aren't all battles and fights, some of them are fought internally. We see Faron so desperate to live up to her title, but also so angry that it was given to her, a 12 year old child, in the first place. And Elara, caught between two worlds, her home she loves, and the Dragon and rider she is bonded with who she comes to care for. Cole does a great job of showing not just how colonialism, war and genocide can have, not just a negative effect on the country itself, but on it's people. It's a story filled with rage, rage against colonizers, rage against the God's and rage against the people themselves.

But as well as rage, there are also some softer moments. There's a F/F romance which I adored, it was basically two idiots in love and it took waaayyy too long before anything actually happened... but boy was the ride worth it. And there is also an incredibly slow burn, almost enemies to lovers M/F romance. I loved the romance, I did, I loved seeing these couples overcome their obstacles and finally realise their feelings. But it was the friendships, the familial relationships that made this book so special. Seeing the love between Faron & Elara, the depths these two would go to save one another. The friendship between Elara and Reed, as well as those she makes when she becomes a rider. They are all so special and add an emotional depth to the story making certain scenes hit that much harder.

The plot twists in this story were so well executed and honestly, some of them absolutely slammed me emotionally. Cole writes these twists to intricately into her story you find yourself baffled how you didn't see them coming, and she certainly knows how and when to make a spectacular emotional impact... that ending!?! It's safe to say that I am desperate to get my hands on the second book because I need to find out what happens next & make sure all my faves are ok. The fact that this is a debut is bonkers, it's so incredibly well written and I cannot recommend it enough to anyone who likes characters who don't always make the best decisions, epic battles and diverse stories.

A book with dragons and diverse representation is a brilliant book indeed.

This book is filled with magic, gods who lord superiority over their worshippers, dragons with soul ties and political strife.

I really loved the low key romance dynamics thrown into this as well, it was a natural development for the characters and provided new potential for where the story might go.

I cant believe the ending, the twist & potential betrayal. The choices made at the end of this book set us up for pure heartbreak and chaos in book 2.

We have Faron who is gifted powers by the gods which she got as a child to assist in the war between langlish nation and the Iryan nation. Elara is her sister who seems to live in faron’s shadow but this doesnt cause her friction in their relationship, its more something she personally struggles with. Other core characters we have Reeve who lives in Iryan with the sisters but he is the son of the langlish commander, Reeve betrayed his nation to end the war but he’s hated from both sides despite his sacrifice and this has earned him a traitors reputation. Lastly there’s Signey an addition to the core characters near the beginning of the book, she’s a dragon rider for the langlish nation who we are introduced to at the peace summit between these nations and others.

The 4 core characters are really pulled into political situations that would bewilder you due to their age and how much they have already given to their nations. I really liked this and the way the characters were portrayed.

Faron can harness the power of the Gods; she’s been used in the recent wars as a weapon to save her people but now just wants peace like everyone else does.

Her sister Elara stood by her on the battlefield and harnesses the power of her relatives. She’s as ready for the peace conference the Queen has arranged as everyone else is.

But as peace conferences go, theirs is less than peaceful as Elara is bonded with an enemy dragon, leading the sisters on different paths to uncovering the dark history behind these dragons.

This is a story of true adventure, uncovering lost knowledge of our protagonists history and cultures and it’s been a delight to read. I love fantasies that have deep, deep history to them and I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in this one.

The story is told between sisters Elara and Faron and while they couldn’t be more different in personality, their bond and care for each other is beautiful. Pair them with the unlikely allies they find within the chaos and it makes for such an interesting tale.

I always think it’s special when you’re reading and there are characters that love to read and research too. I always feel like it’s a nod to the reader, we see you, you’re here. Love it.

We’ve got chosen one and destined one vibes, twists and turns galore, dragons and some serious action. What more could you want?

Rating - 3.5⭐️

This was actually such a fun, fast paced book! I read it one sitting, which I always love doing as you get such nice happy reader endorphins😂

The book itself centres around 2 sisters, the youngest Farron is a bit of a child prodigy and can harness/channel the power of gods! Her older sister, the more level headed Elara dreams of being a pilot and fighting for her home. Two very different characters but with a similar drive, they would do anything from one and other - and in the end they need to.

The plot overall well very interesting and kept me turning the page. For a debut book, it’s great! The author has done a great job!

My only one criticism, which is why I rated lower was I found the book a *little* too YA for my tastes (which I know it’s a YA book don’t come for me!) but there’s a level I’m okay with it, Farron is 17 but honestly is written so much younger as the immaturity is overwhelming. That being said I still very much liked her as a character!

Will certainly be picking up book 2 when it comes out because that THHHHAT ending?!

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

𝗦𝗢 𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠 𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡
—𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗲 | 𝟯.𝟳𝟱🌟

“𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.”

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
✨Jamaican-inspired fantasy
✨Sapphic rep
✨Dragons
✨Sibling camraderie
✨Chose one trope

𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Five years ago, Faron used her god-given powers to liberate her island, Deadegg, from its attempted colonizers, the dragon-riding Langlish. At the first peace summit, Faron’s elder sister, Elara, bonds to one of those dragons who was destined to burn her island to the ground.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
It’s actually really difficult to sum up this book because it already feels like a sequel. It’s set post-war/post-revolution, and the inhabitants of Deadegg are living in the aftermath of war; grieving and rebuilding. So much happens before the story’s starting point and this isn’t a bad reflection on the book at all, because it shows how completely the two main characters (Faron and Elara) are defined by their actions in the war: a chosen one who ended it, and the sister who was irrelevant.

I would read my last sentence and think ‘wow, those sisters must resent each other’ when, in fact, the very opposite is true. The sisterly bond between Faron and Elara was warming and fierce and superseded any other interaction. Both characters were fighters, each formidable in their own way. I absolutely adored Elara, her character arc was my favourite whilst Faron—despite being the chosen one—faded into the background for me.

The echo of British colonization of Jamaica rang strong and true within the storyline of So Let Them Burn which teemed with allegory, adventure, and adversity.

𝗞𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 | 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆

First things first, the cover and title are stunning, the main reason I wanted to read this. However, the best way to describe So Let Them Burn would be an extremely typical YA fantasy. The world and magic system were interesting but not fleshed out enough, even though there was quite a lot of info dumping. I also thought the plot was pretty predictable but it was one of those books where I couldn't bring myself to care about the plot as it was very one-note.

For me, the highlight of the book was Zephyra and the other dragons, and sadly they didn't feature much at all - the separate plotlines meant neither was explored deeply enough, which was a shame because if there was a separate book about Elara and the dragon academy I would've eaten that up.

I really appreciated the queer representation especially demisexual representation, but where it didn't work for me was both romances being just ...not good. They were both obviously set up from the very start and the banter was extremely forced, and what annoyed me most was the potential in this as there were other characters that had infinitely better romantic chemistry. Hands down the best relationship in this book was Elara and Reese's friendship, but I felt we didn't see enough of that.

I also find it reduces the enjoyment a fraction when the main character is unlikeable, and in this case Faron was a pain to read because of how selfish and rude she was, another reason I didn't like the romance as I could not for the life of me understand how Reese would like her.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for providing a copy for review. All opinions are my own.

As soon as I heard the announcement of this book, I just knew I had to get a copy!

I did enjoy So Let Them Burn, as someone who is Jamaican, I loved the references and the authentic dialogue. However, I felt like the pacing let the book down for me. It took me a while to read this book because some parts dragged for me.

I would still recommend this book to anyone who is excited for its release in January.

Thank you Little, Brown Book Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say, this book gripped me in its talons and did not let go! The characters are complex and endearing, the world-building and lore are fascinating and steeped in very real issues of our own world, the magic system is refreshing, and who doesn't love dragons?? The ending had me salivating for more, I need book 2 asap! An outstanding debut.

So things I liked about this book:

1. The sisterly bond between Elara and Farouk’s being the main focus, with other relationships being secondary. So many fantasy novels almost show horn the romance in and it was a refreshing change of pace for other types of relationships to be at the forefront.

2. It was traditional fantasy with dragons, done well.

What I didn’t like:

1. This is just down to personal preference as an adult that reads YA occasionally, but this was definitely a book aimed at teens. To be fair, this is probably a plus because a lot of YA lately reads like it is intended for an older audience but the way the characters interacted, they felt like their ages. As a woman in her thirties, this book wasn’t intended for me and that’s fine, but I feel it’s worth noting for other adults that this reads young.

2. I don’t know what it was, but although this was very well written,there wasnt enough to distinguish it from other debuts I’ve read this year. It was good but not raving about it good.