4.5
Jamaican inspired YA fantasy telling a story of the immense power hood of sisterhood and friendship. Features divine magic, sentient dragons, soul bonded dragon riders and a wonderfully unique matriarchal society. This book was stunning! It did take a little while to get into. The pacing lagged a bit and a number of times I found paragraphs being repeated) but once I hit the halfway mark I was obsessed and couldn’t put it down. This richly imagined world truly reminded me so much of post-colonial Philippines and really hammered in the fact that across the world those who have and continue to experience oppression and colonization experience so many similarities. My heart ached beautifully reading Cole’s Powerful words. I loved the characters and their growths. Falling in love with Aveline’s character was a lovely surprise. And reading into Faron’s queerness was incredibly beautiful as well. The romance in this book was EVERYTHING. I can’t wait for the next! Fellow readers, just a heads up this ends in a cliffy.
(+) sapphic romance, demisexual MC, sapphic and achillean side characters, Jamaican-born author

If you’re looking for a YA fantasy stories with strong sisterhood as well as an epic world building that comes with dragons and magic then I suggest picking this one up!

Told in dual POVs, Elara and Faron are both sisters that lives in a post-war world where Faron as the child Empyrean saves her country but the peace didn’t last long when Elara was found bonded to a dragon from an enemy kingdom.

This story has an interesting magic system between summoning gods powers and also bonding with the dragons. Having both POVs really work out great here so we could see how each powers work differently.

There’s also a slight romance blooming throughout the story for both Elara and Faron, but I’m more interested in Faron’s love interest though especially after that ending.
I can’t wait to know what will happen to them both in the next book!

Overall, this is a great start for a series.
I’m looking forward to read the sequel cause I would like to explore more about the world building and know more about the dragons!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Violence, war, colonization, death, blood, racism, brief mention of slavery and panic attacks

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions are my own.

This started off really good but I found as I got further into it I wasn't loving the style of writing. It didn't flow very well and it made it hard to read.

This book was flawless. The representation was amazing, the POVs were great and fun to be in, the sisterly bond was clear and the conflict felt true. This was a page turner and I sat and blew through it in one sitting. I couldn't stop.

To start this review I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC. I received it in exchange for an honest opinion and review.

Now, let’s jump in.

I loved this book. This is a Jamaican-inspired fantasy with dragons and ancestor magic and I adored it. The writing was great, the worldbuilding was fantastic and it sucked me in from the beginning.

We follow two point of view characters, Faron and Elara. Elara is the older sister. Both of them fought in the war that won their home, San Irie, its independence from the colonizing Langley Empire. The Langley Empire used dragons to subdue San Irie and the destruction that was left in their wake was immense.

Here’s the thing, Faron and Elara were literal children when they fought in the way because it’s been over for 5 years. They’re like 17 and 18 years old. 12 and 13 fighting for their country. Even their queen is a teenager. She’s 19.

Faron can channel the magic of the gods. She is the Child Empyrean and is essentially worshipped by the people of San Irie. Only now she has all this power and ability but there’s no fight.

Elara wants to make a name for herself without being the Child Empyrean’s sister.

And then there’s Reeve Warwick. The son of the leaders of the Langley Empire. He defected, turned traitor to his own people because what they were doing was wrong. He went to the people of San Irie to help and now that the war is over, he is hated. A walking, living reminder of the suffering the people have endured.

These characters are complicated and complex. The relationships between them all is something I really enjoyed reading and experiencing. They were written so well.

I love the complicated nature of how everyone feels on the island. The fear, anger, exhaustion and hurt. The way they don’t know what to do with it now that they’re free. Because when a war ends, there is no just moving forward. When people have crushed others under their thumb, they can’t just go on as business as usual.

There are wounds to heal, to the people and the land. And the people that have been thrown off never sit back quietly afterward. Sometimes there’s lasting peace held together by treaties and the facade of respect.

Other times, the oppressor wants what they think is their. Wants it badly because “how dare they?” And that is the Langley Empire. They may come to the peace summit but it’s all for show. They have no respect for the people of San Irie or the queen.

There’s also queer characters. And for all the awful things that the characters go through, queerphobia isn’t one of them. It was so beautiful to see it just accepted. Letting the characters just be who they were.

It was so good. It was beautifully told and I can’t wait for the next book in the series because I was hooked until the last word.

It gets 4/5 from me just because there were some things I didn’t quite like but the pacing was fantastic. I was never bored. I truly think everyone should read this book. And now that it’s out, do yourself the favor and buy it.

4/5 Stars

Thank you to TBR & Beyond book tours and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the arc.

After hearing amazing things I was so excited for this book and I am so happy I picked it up. This is a beautiful YA debut set in a Jamaican inspired world that combats colonization and is just beautifully diverse and a stunning world. This is one of the best if not the best YA debut I have read in years. I don’t pick up YA fantasy much anymore but when I saw the authors that had given blurbs for this I knew it would be amazing.

Faron Vincent is able to channel the power of the gods. Five years prior she used her powers to liberate her island from its oppressors, the dragon riding Langley Empire. But now at seventeen Faron is stuck with amazing powers and no war to fight, instead she has to show off just enough to show they are a powerful nation but not too much that they are a threat. When she and her sister are forced to attend the international peace summit, neither of them ever expected Elara, her sister, to be bonded to a dragon. When Faron attempts to find a way to free her sister from the Langley Empire she has to make choices that she never wanted to make. She has to learn what it is like to be a legend on her island after the war is finished.

We see so many books with the chosen one plot line across all age ranges and all genres but this is one of the best I've seen. It shows what it is like after the Chosen one completes their task, and it isn’t all happily ever after. Faron and her sister Elara face a lot of real struggles still even though the war is technically over. Faron was only 12 when she was granted these powers and is still learning what it means to have them. Elara wants to make something for herself outside of her sister’s shadow but when she becomes a dragon rider everything changes.

I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to continue the series and see where Kamilah Cole goes in the future as I know it will be amazing.

This is such a solid read! It has queer representation, but it is not the focal point of the story; just a casual part of it. That is very refreshing. I really enjoyed this.

It follows a pair of sisters. Faron, blessed by the gods; the Childe Empyrean. The other, Elara, simply wants to be a soldier and protect her country. However, fate had a different path for Elara.

There are so many twists in this book. I didn't want to put it down! It has such great world building, an interesting magic-esque system (not all magic is created equally- not everyone can do everything. It's all based on who you are, your ancestors, and your culture), and a very cohesive plot.

A friend recommended this to me a few months back because it had both aspec representation and dragons, and if there are two things that immediately have my attention in a book, those are them. I am so happy to say that this didn't disappoint both in regards to the rep and the dragons, or in any other way. So Let Them Burn is a shining debut novel from Kamilah Cole that will win over readers and is sure to be a favorite of 2024.

Faron Vincent is the Childe Empyrean. Five years ago, that meant that she was the thirteen-year old savior of San Irie, the only one able to summon down the three gods of the islands and use their powers to liberate her people from the dragon-riding Langley Empire. Nowadays, that just means that she's an annoyance to her classmates and a one-time hero. But when the queen demands her presence at an international peace summit, she's forced to attend, along with her older sister, Elara, and kind-of-enemy, Reeve, turncoat son of the Langley commander (and definitely a spy; she's sure of it). There, Elara forms a shocking bond with a Langlish dragon, putting their tenuous peace in danger and reawakening old magics that even Faron's Empyrean abilities haven't prepared her for.

This book is beautiful. It's hard to even summarize how deftly Cole handles so many difficult topics, from the trauma of children in war, to the scars that are left behind even after winning (and being the hero). Each of the leads are traumatized in their own way, from Faron who had to be the hero that no one else could be, forced to lead an entire country to freedom and change the entire course of history, to her older sister, Elara, who followed her willingly into battle and has to fight constantly to be seen as more. There's Reeve, living with the guilt of so many deaths of his homeland on his head while wondering if he truly did the right thing half a decade ago and surrounded by people who distrust him for his heritage, and Signey, Elara's new partner in dragon-riding who has her own traumatic past and is just trying to do right by her own family and conscious. It's the story of a country trying to find its footing after decades of colonization, and figuring out what exactly that means.

And the rep, y'all. Dual BIPOC lead narrators, one of whom is demi and the other is sapphic, using magic through their gods and their ancestors and riding dragons. It's beautiful.

And the relationships! The family - and found family - come first in this book. The bond between Faron and Elara is remarkable from the first pages to the very last; they are the embodiment of letting the world burn to save each other and I love to see that in a sibling relationship. There is Elara's friendship with Reeve, arguably the only ones who see each other for who they really are from day one and support each other wholeheartedly.
But, of course, there is romance. The slowburn is so good in both pairings.

I cannot wait for everyone to get their on this book, and to get it into the hands of my students. It's sure to be a favorite this year, and I'm excited to see how Kamilah Cole follows it up!

I’ll be honest, it took me a good quarter of the book at least to get into the story. Something about the pacing just wasn’t doing it for me. I’m glad I pushed through though!

Faron and Elara’s bond was so beautifully written and made me wish I was closer with my own sister. The way they fought for each other always and did whatever it took to keep the other safe.

I loved the inherent queerness and how it wasn’t portrayed as a big deal to any of the characters. Sapphics and demisexuals unite!

That cliffhanger though! I can’t believe I have to wait god knows how long to learn what happens next. I’ll be eagerly anticipating the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

You can tell it's Kamilah Cole's debut - the story rushes past you in 400 that doesn't leave much time to actually explore this incredibly cool, Jamaica-inspired world she created. We are only five years past a war that devastated San Erie (not that we see that much in our two protagonists) and the political situation is equally unstable. The dialogue is stilted as the readers are filled in as to what has happened and what our two sisters need to do.
But no time to rest, because then we get to the dragons!

But while the book blunders its pacing, it shines with its two POVs: sisters Elara and Faron.

Elara takes on the classic role of being thrust into enemy territory when she bonds with one of their dragons and also pulls a very lesbian move: crushing on an ill-advised target. She does accept her new fate a bit too quickly for me (that she is now bonded to the same dragons that destroyed her islands is not a problem) but she also allows us to see more of the world.

But Faron was my favourite! As gods-blessed, there is a certain arrogance and high-and-mighty attitude to her that is unusual in hero archetypes. Her propensity to lie quickly puts her in hot water. With her abilities and strong convictions, her plot takes predictable but interesting turns as she navigates politics and history to figure out a way to save everything she loves. (She is also the demisexual character - it's a small part but it goes well with Elara's more overt attraction to show her identity.)

.

The book is strongest when it centers the sibling relationship and shines a light on the anti-colonial themes; it's weakest when building the mythology of the Langley empire and fast-tracking the romances.

The plot is a fun time otherwise even if it was all very convenient in terms of how it unfolded and how the puzzle pieces fit together. Yet I am excited to see how this ends.

A phenomenal debut steeped in magic and Jamaican folklore, SO LET THEM BURN is a story of sisterhood, fighting against oppression, and desire to choose your own destiny. There are some heavy themes that are included in this story including colonialism, war, death, and the associated trauma caused by all of the above, and I loved how brilliantly those themes were woven into this book. Pretty much the whole story is that of an island nation who, after decades of war, have broken free from the colonizers, yet the threat of war and even more bloodshed is still very much in the present despite the war being over. ⁣
⁣
I adored the characters so much, and how different the sisters were. Despite their differences and their often tumultuous relationship, they would do anything for one another. I loved how much this book broke my heart and mended it several times over, and I love the powerful bond between the sisters. I wasn’t expecting so much emotion packed into this book, and I loved how much it made me *feel*. Did I mention there’s dragons? This is a perfect book for anyone still riding the Fourth Wing high and wanting all the dragon books. ⁣
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All told, this beauty is going on my list of 2024 favorites. 5 stars. Definitely pick this one up if you like:⁣
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⁣⁣⁣➽ Immersive, intricate worlds ⁣
⁣⁣⁣➽ Important themes that mirror the real world ⁣
⁣⁣⁣➽ Strong family/sibling bonds ⁣
⁣⁣⁣➽ Magic⁣
⁣⁣⁣➽ Dragons⁣
⁣⁣⁣➽ Cinnamon roll boys⁣
⁣⁣⁣➽ Girl power⁣
⁣⁣⁣➽ Chosen One⁣
⁣⁣⁣➽ Living up to expectations or choosing your own path

Dragons! Sisters! Cool different types of magic! I love this book! I am so excited for Book 2. This book had an awesome magic system and really got me invested in the characters.

I was really excited to dive into this book when I received my digital copy because the premise of this book sounded really awesome. Dragons. Sisterly love. Diversity. Sign me up! I love anything fantasy.

But right away, I noticed that one of the main characters, Faron, was not going to be my favorite. She reads as far more immature than her age suggests (17?), picking fights with classmates just because, sneaking out, lying, and abusing her abilities to summon the spirits of gods for every little trifle… I found this character super grating and hard to relate to due to her actions. I get that she is flawed, but it felt over the top. Especially, when she is so famous and respected after winning the war.

She was thrust into a position of power by becoming the Empyrean at age 12. And since then she has been a symbol of peace and prosperity and protection for her people. Five years she's been a person of status, but she just acts more like a five year old than a seasoned religious icon. Everything she does is selfish and she just rubbed me the wrong way. It's like she's suffering from arrested development instead of only PTSD.

In contrast, Elara is awesome. She's a classic strong female character which has to deal with her own set of failures and challenges. She's everything Faron is not, which made her easier to connect with and more interesting to read. Where Faron stays in Iryan, Elara’s circumstances take her out of her comfort zone. She reveals the history of the war, and their enemies. Her chapters felt way more mapped out, developed, and interesting. Her POV actually moves the plot along, which I appreciated. I looked forward to all her chapters, finding they passed too quickly where Faron's sometimes dragged.

I tried to determine why Faron's side of the story dragged so much for me and I think it comes down to dialogue and characters. Sometimes the dialogue in her POV felt tedious to read. It seems forced and clunky at times, rehashing her guilt and boredom. Reeves was cool, but was flat. He's kind, bookish, and empathetic, which is dreamy… but he remains stagnant throughout. I also don't understand their attraction to each other when Faron is constantly awful to him.

The Queen also is extremely flat. And adults in this book are basically non-existent. The parents are mentioned but are so removed I wondered why. Like if they died in the war five years ago, that would have made more of an impact than them being alive since they are not utilized at all.

With all that being said, I think the author does build an interesting world that I want to learn more about. The bonds with dragons were fascinating. I wish that magic was explored more. I want to know about the other realm which seems to be the source of magic in this universe. Why does only one person (G. Soto) wield this magic? Why has it been covered up instead of liberated? And now that it is, what will happen? The bonds with dragons and what magic abilities overwrite other abilities has potential for diving deeper.

I like the idea of the gods being unreliable narrators. It was frustrating, but so different from other books with higher power entities. Usually they are black or white, gold or evil, but in this book some of them are gray. It was an interesting change.

I appreciated that most of the characters were of color, but color wasn't the focal point or the most interesting thing about the character. Also, queerness is represented quietly as well. It's not a book about Black, Queer characters, it is about characters who happen to be Black and happen to be Queer. I think this is hard to do, and the author nails this by not drawing all the attention to one underrepresented character trait. She doesn't tokenize, and I'm grateful for this being a minority myself.

However, I don't know a lot about Jamaican culture or folklore, but I sort of wish its influences were slightly more obvious in the prose because readers may not see it at all. It's understated, which may be overlooked by YA audiences, and even some adult readers. Since Reeves was such a history buff, I feel like this could have easily been weaved into the prose a bit more.

One more thing, I love the sister love. I have a younger sister, and I think anyone with a sister will relate to their bond. I like that they put their love before all else, it's very Elsa and Anna in that way.

I think this book sets up a world that makes readers curious. The ending definitely had me wanting more information and closure. I am excited to see what happens in the future for these sisters! I hope Iryan survives what comes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This was such an amazing debut! The world-building was done so well. The world that Kamilah created has such a rich history and culture. I also liked how the magic system worked. I loved the sisterly bond between Faron and Elara. The two of them were willing to do whatever they needed to keep each other safe no matter the consequences. I really liked all of the characters. They all felt complex and had their own burdens they were carrying. It was interesting to see how they were all coping after having to fight in a war when they were all still children and the effect it's had on them in the years since. This book was so good and I can't wait for the sequel.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-arc!
I was unbelievably excited when I got this arc to check out this fantastic story and support this author! This book has so many things that I absolutely love; diverse characters, unique fantasy, and dragons! These things all drew me into the book, but the writing style and the story make this book unbelievably memorable. One of the things I really loved most about reading the story was not only about the magic but also about learning more about Faron and Elara. Learning how both of them have struggled and reflected on each other was so captivating to me.

DEBUT FROM KAMILAH COLE!!
Thank you so much Netgalley for an e-arc !

LGBTQIA?
DRAGONS?

This was a masterpiece! Coles debut novel features an an amazing FMC that enraptures you from the beginning. Its a Black YA sapphic fantasy that was inspired by Jamaician mythology and culture. It involved two sisters, one whose destiny is set is stone and one whose been awakened! This story was everything from Black Girl Magic, to magic and culture. It was vividly and beautifully written!!

A triumph of a debut novel by Kamilah Cole!

Thank you to Netgalley for this e-arc for my honest review.

This book I could not read fast enough! I loved everything about it from the world building of being a Jamaican inspired fantasy of the San Irie island and feeling like I could hear the ocean from the beaches and taste the fresh mango being sold at the markets. Then to the characters and their development throughout the story following these two remarkable sisters with such a refreshing sisterly bond.

Readers who loved "Priory of the Orange Tree", "Blood Scion", and "Iron Widow" will want to read this book.

Dragons!
LGBTQIA+! (Sapphic mostly)
Ancestral Magic!
Enemies to Friends, to possible lovers!
Political Intrigue!

Love the strong female characters and the gods and dragons.
So much political intrigue and maneuverings between colonized countries and those trying to be diplomatic. But there is another fight broiling below the surface with the dragons.
Loved the forbidden romance for both sisters.. They were both trying to find the truth apart from each other but both were led in similar directions.
Very entertaining debut ya fantasy and can't wait for the next book!

Thank you littlebrown

"But myths were lies by nature, transforming humans into symbols."

Faron, chosen by gods as a child to be their connection to the world. Chosen to use their power to save her people. And when she needed their help the most, they couldn't give her the answer she wanted.

Elara, sister to the chosen. She wants to be helpful and useful in her own way. Dreamt of pairing with a drake in the military and ended up on a completely different path.

So Let Them Burn is a wonderful story about love and trust and sacrifice against the backdrop of avoiding a war an the rise of an ancient power. Cole's writing beautifully describes the settings on San Irie, the bonds between the sisters, and their relationships to others so vividly I could feel them. My only complaint is that it ended too soon and now I have to wait for the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The concept of gods, war, and dragons was really interesting to read about, but I think since the past war was brought up so much, the past events would have been more interesting to read than the present. I feel like I was missing key information because of it. I would have liked the war to be the plot, or maybe had more going on in the present than there actually was. I feel like if this was adult it could’ve been more.