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kristrauma's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The time I spent reading Burn Red Skies was some of the best I had all month. I chose this self-published novel as my first read of the year, and I could be happier.
Burn Red Skies seems to have it all: war, magic, dragons, airships...
But where it really shines is in its characters. From Dove, the mute protagonist hiding from a terrible genocide, to Valerya, the author of said genocide, Burn Red Skies covers an incredible variety of POVs. Each one as compelling as the last.
The world is living and ever changing, the lore is deep, and the magic system is elemental and based on one's strength and mastery (which I love). The dragons are the most unique I've ever seen in fantasy, being more like elemental beings that need to be summoned rather than simply terrestrial beings.
There are political intrigues, factions, and secret societies to boot!
Does it sound like I'm rambling? Because I am. This book is just so good. Just...read it, ok?
Burn Red Skies seems to have it all: war, magic, dragons, airships...
But where it really shines is in its characters. From Dove, the mute protagonist hiding from a terrible genocide, to Valerya, the author of said genocide, Burn Red Skies covers an incredible variety of POVs. Each one as compelling as the last.
The world is living and ever changing, the lore is deep, and the magic system is elemental and based on one's strength and mastery (which I love). The dragons are the most unique I've ever seen in fantasy, being more like elemental beings that need to be summoned rather than simply terrestrial beings.
There are political intrigues, factions, and secret societies to boot!
Does it sound like I'm rambling? Because I am. This book is just so good. Just...read it, ok?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Death
Minor: Ableism, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
As far as ableism is concerned, the main character is mute, which is seen by some cultures in this world as something similar to a curse.