The Ones We Burn

“The Ones We Burn” written by Rebecca Mix and narrated by Roisin Rankin is a great bk to read for fans of fantasy, magic, and YA adventures. Most of the story is centered around Ranka, a blood witch, who is tasked with carrying out a task of high importance to her witch coven. As time goes by at the prince’s court, she starts having doubts about her mission and through her journey makes discoveries that threaten to shutter her world completely!

I loved listening to every minute this audiobook and I highly recommend it as a candidate for a one-sitting reading / listening session!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton Audio, Hodder & Stoughton, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

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Combined with dramatic moments and gorgeous writing, the narration of this book is both beautiful and gripping.

Dark at times but handles important topics like abuse and mental health.

I really enjoyed the side characters and I hope we get a spinoff where we get to see Percy and Galen's adventures!

Also, I loved the inclusion of therapy in a fantasy novel.

I am excited to see what this author does next

A thrilling tale of magic, betrayal, and monsters with wonderful narration that kept me glued to the story. I felt so deeply for poor Ranka and enjoyed that wasn't the typical beautiful, clever YA heroine. I am excited to see what both this author and this narrator do next!

audio as part of an advanced reader group in return for a honest review.

I was at frist drawn into the cover art. It was soo eye catching the powerful Great axe and around it the furry of fire.

The words just above the title
" I am the Weapon. Use me "

Together it was like a sirens call. I needed to know who or what they burned .Who was this weapon that was spoken of?

It turned out the ones they burned were witches. Children born with magic in their veins.
.

One such child was Ranka . Her magic was different from that of others it demanded sacrifice , it demanded a life. Ranka was a blood witch.

After her magic destroyed her life with her sister , she was found by the leader of Skra.

The old witch took her, claimed her for the coven and told her she would be strong and she would be powerful.
Her adoptive family the Skra coven took her and taught her to use her magic for the good of the coven.

Then she was named Bloodwinn. The plan was simple she would go to the Prince as part of the treaty between the Witches and non magic peoples and when her blood magic built within her she would kill the prince and her adoptive people as well as others would cease power and reclaim their lands . No more burning.

It seemed simple.

As a debut novel this is breath taking and utterly sensational. It was slightly slow to start but once it did...I couldn't put it down I had to know what was going to happen next. I had to know if Ranka survived.

Pure epic story telling. I expect we will be seeing great things from this talented wordsmith.

Firstly apologies if I have spelt names incorrectly. I listened to the audiobook but *think* I have them right!

Ranka, a blood witch whose magic compels her to kill, infiltrates the home of Prince Galen due to being promised in marriage and fully intending not to like him, his sister Aramis or his friends. Her mission is to end them.

But the problem is she does like them and wants to help them in their mission to cure a plague. Ranka begins to question what she's always been told and battles with herself about what is right.

This was a good fantasy read with a little bit of romance, found family trope and some jaw dropping revelations. My only complaint is that it dragged in places and I found myself becoming a bit disinterested so was a stop and start book for me but the writing was beautiful.

I would say that this book could be classed as older YA but it is quite dark and gory so prepare!