Publishers Weekly
★ 10/23/2023
At 12, Faron Vincent was chosen to become the child host for the gods of her island nation San Irie, an event that successfully liberated her people from the colonizing, dragon-riding Langley Empire. Now, at 17, with no battles left to fight, she uses her abilities to win small-time bets and cause trouble for her family and the queen. Meanwhile, Faron’s older sister Elara, 18, stews in the shadow of Faron’s legacy. While the sisters are attending a peace summit, Elara soul bonds with one of the Empire’s dragons, embroiling the siblings in an urgent matter of international politics. Knowing that one wrong move could throw San Irie back into war with the Empire—a conflict that the queen fears they might not win—Faron and Elara work to break Elara’s bond, only for them to discover that her circumstances are a symptom of a much larger plot, one that expands beyond the gods’s reach. Via the sisters’ expertly balanced dual POVs, each imbued with a lushly wrought, moving, and action-packed narrative, Cole delivers a raucously enjoyable debut that provides an insightful look into the ways in which violence and colonization can affect a populace long after a war has ended. Characters cue as Black. Ages 12–up. Agent: Emily Forney, BookEnds Literary. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
So Let Them Burn is the best young-adult novel I’ve read in ages, and one of the best fantasy novels, full stop.—The Washington Post
Morally ambiguous and absolutely magical Black girls take the fate of their world into their own hands in this action-packed, cleverly crafted fantasy that will leave readers clamoring to know what happens next.—Booklist, starred
Via the sisters’ expertly balanced dual POVs, each imbued with a lushly wrought, moving, and action-packed narrative, Cole delivers a raucously enjoyable debut that provides an insightful look into the ways in which violence and colonization can affect a populace long after a war has ended.—Publishers Weekly, starred
Cole’s astute prose brings the world and its characters, who are predominantly Black, to life in refreshing and complex ways as it highlights themes of family, patriotism, war, identity, and sacrifice. An engaging new voice and a Caribbean-inspired fantasy to savor.—Kirkus
"Beautifully imagined and gorgeously written, SO LET THEM BURN is a thrilling epic fantasy that explores themes of colonialism, sacrifice, and love in a lush world of scheming gods and ancient dragons, brutal war and breathtaking magic. An impressive, captivating debut, sure to win over readers' hearts."—Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of FURYBORN
A spellbinding debut set in a rich, immersive world, So Let Them Burn is ultimately about love—romantic, platonic, and familial. At the same time, though, it’s a story with teeth. Cole weaves a powerful narrative full of captivating lore, meddling gods, and young women willing to do whatever it takes. A heart-pounding delight.—M.K. Lobb, author of Seven Faceless Saints
Clever and utterly fresh. So Let Them Burn takes the fantasy genre and soars into brilliant new heights, subverting expectations and hitting every mark. Kamilah Cole is a wordsmith through and through.—Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights
Tender, witty, and with a plot that will keep you glued to the page, SO LET THEM BURN is a beautiful exploration of what happens after becoming the chosen one—and how even when the legend ends, the story doesn’t.—Hannah F. Whitten, author of THE WILDERWOOD DUOLOGY
A riveting adventure, a deft exploration of colonialism, and a deeply moving tale of a fierce and complex sisterly bond. So Let Them Burn will keep you up all night reading, and then linger with you for long after the final page.—Ava Reid, award-winning and internationally bestselling author of The Wolf and the Woodsman, Juniper & Thorn, and A Study in Drowning
What happens after the chosen one wins the war? So Let Them Burn explores the aftermath of victory, contending with the responsibility and impossible pressure of power. Kamilah Cole’s sweeping, heart-pounding debut is a book about bonds: between warrior and country, rider and dragon, chosen one and the gods, and, perhaps most importantly, the complicated yet impenetrable bond between sisters. With characters who will grip you by the throat, a skillful commentary on colonialism, and an immersive world filled with dragons, danger, and deception, So Let Them Burn is a remarkable addition to the fantasy canon, establishing Cole as a powerful new voice in the genre.—Adrienne Tooley, author of Sweet & Bitter Magic, Sofi and the Bone Song, and The Third Daughter
Gods, dragons and mechanoids all war against each other in a deeply imaginative and fantastical twist on colonization and island history. With fierce protagonists and compelling conflicts, SO LET THEM BURN is a YA fantasy to root for!—Namina Forna, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Ones trilogy
So Let Them Burn elevates the game, asking hard questions about the power and agency of a chosen one whose destiny has been seemingly fulfilled. By the time you see the claws, they're already around your throat.—Margaret Owen, New York Times bestselling author of Little Thieves and The Merciful Crow
By turns hopeful and devastating, So Let Them Burn is a masterful debut with a blazing heart. I was captivated from beginning to end by Cole’s sharp, clever prose and by her protagonists—two remarkable sisters with an unforgettable bond.—Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief
Kamilah Cole’s So Let Them Burn set my soul on fire in the best way possible! Cole weaves an enthralling tale by way of an authentic and complex sibling relationship that swallowed me whole from the first page. So Let Them Burn is a blazing debut from an impeccable storyteller.—Terry J. Benton-Walker, bestselling author of Blood Debts
Kamilah Cole has crafted a captivating story of sisterhood, defying fate, and the brutal effects of colonialism. With deft prose and stellar worldbuilding, this is an excellent new addition to YA fantasy.—Tara Sim, author of The City of Dusk
Dragons and gods, magic and power, So Let Them Burn is a thrilling epic about family, strength, and the real costs of war. Masterfully told, this exceptional debut is destined to be an instant classic for all adventure-filled fantasy fans. Truly DAZZLING, I am OBSESSED.—Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
School Library Journal
03/01/2024
Gr 8 Up—Cole introduces readers to the captivating world of San Irie, where 17-year-old Faron Vincent, known as the Childe Empyrean, wields the gods' infinite power to liberate her island from the dragon-riding Langley Empire. Cole mixes Jamaican culture and influence into the narrative, bringing the cast characters to life with refreshing complexity. As Faron navigates diplomatic challenges during an international peace summit, her responsible older sister Elara unexpectedly forms a bond with an enemy dragon, setting off a chain of events that intertwine the sisters in conflicts that transcend time. The dual perspectives of the sisters, rendered in astute prose, delve into themes of family, patriotism, war, identity, and sacrifice. With rich storytelling and lushly wrought narratives, Cole's debut is not only a raucously enjoyable fantasy but also an insightful exploration of the lingering effects of violence and colonization on a populace. The characters' choices, shaped by their past and present, resonate deeply, creating a narrative that is both moving and action-packed. Most characters are Black. VERDICT Highly recommended for high fantasy teen readers, especially in libraries looking to add more diverse fantasy novels.—Helen Prince
FEBRUARY 2024 - AudioFile
Two incendiary performances make this debut fantasy soar. Five years ago, Faron became the Child Empyrean, a conduit for the power of the gods to overthrow the Langley Empire's hold on her island home. At 17, she's chafing at the title. An angsty edge to narrator Kamali Minter's voice distinguishes Faron from her scrupulous older sister, Elara, voiced by Keylor Leigh with steely brightness. Elara's dream of being a drake pilot is quickly forgotten when a peace summit brings Langlish dragons to the doorstep of the palace. Bonds of family, culture, and politics are tested as both sisters forge strange new alliances and an ancient dark power looms. Both narrators rise to the challenge of the intense action and emotion that drive the story. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-10-21
Two sisters face near-impossible odds while trying to protect each other and their country.
Five years ago, 17-year-old Faron Vincent, from the island of San Irie, became the Childe Empyrean—the one chosen by the gods to liberate her country from the colonizing Langlish. Faron has access to the gods’ infinite power and is treated with reverence by her people, despite her often reckless and rebellious behavior. When San Irie hosts an international peace summit, Faron must be diplomatic toward predatory dignitaries from enemy nations. Unexpectedly, Elara, her mature, responsible 18-year-old sister, forms a bond with Zephyra, a forest green, golden-eyed dragon ridden to San Irie by a girl from the Langley Empire. When a phenomenon called the Fury turns dragons feral and deadly, the gods tell Faron that the only hope is destroying them—but doing so would also kill those bonded to them, Elara included. Faron is determined to save her sister, even if it risks betraying her country. The girls become entangled in conflicts reaching back before their time, and they’re desperate to emerge alive and in a free nation. This debut alternates between the sisters’ third-person perspectives and is infused with Jamaican cultural and historical influences. Cole’s astute prose brings the world and its characters, who are predominantly Black, to life in refreshing and complex ways as it highlights themes of family, patriotism, war, identity, and sacrifice.
An engaging new voice and a Caribbean-inspired fantasy to savor. (map) (Fantasy. 12-18)
