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A review by abookishlesbian
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
2.5 stars, DNF at 60%
I really really wanted to love this book. I gave this my best shot, but y'all I was struggling. I loved the concept of this book and I loved the message it sent, but I did not enjoy the execution.
While I do know that this book was inspired by Jamaican history, I am not Jamaican nor do I know much about Jamaican history so I'm not going to comment on that aspect of the book, however Ashley from bookishrealm does a great job explaining her experience reading this and her thoughts on it.
Overall, the plot and ideas were so interesting, but I felt like the world building was confusing, unfinished, and at times contradictory. There were times where the fantasy world felt futuristic with the drakes, but then suddenly characters were riding on horseback for transportation. Sometimes the clothing was described in ways that felt older and sometimes modern (one character was wearing what could be described as a tunic and suspenders and another with black lipstick and boots and it just didn't make sense to me, it seemed like they were in completely different time periods). I felt like the magic system and the way the astrals worked were poorly explained.
As far as the prose, I felt like the writing was decent and I was interested at first , but there were often chapters where I felt like the plot was told to me versus shown which is something that I don't tend to like in genre fiction especially. I want to feel like I'm in the experience and get to decide for myself how I perceive it. A lot of the character relationships and dynamics felt forced and weren't convincing. I didn't feel like faron was a fully fleshed out character and I only found myself ever interested in elaras story line.
I'm really sad I didn't end up enjoying this. The heart was there, but I just don't think this was as fleshed out as I expected. I don't know if I will continue with the series, but I don't think this will be the last time I read a book by this author, as I can see the potential and I could see myself liking books by her in the future. This just didn't feel ready.
I really really wanted to love this book. I gave this my best shot, but y'all I was struggling. I loved the concept of this book and I loved the message it sent, but I did not enjoy the execution.
While I do know that this book was inspired by Jamaican history, I am not Jamaican nor do I know much about Jamaican history so I'm not going to comment on that aspect of the book, however Ashley from bookishrealm does a great job explaining her experience reading this and her thoughts on it.
Overall, the plot and ideas were so interesting, but I felt like the world building was confusing, unfinished, and at times contradictory. There were times where the fantasy world felt futuristic with the drakes, but then suddenly characters were riding on horseback for transportation. Sometimes the clothing was described in ways that felt older and sometimes modern (one character was wearing what could be described as a tunic and suspenders and another with black lipstick and boots and it just didn't make sense to me, it seemed like they were in completely different time periods). I felt like the magic system and the way the astrals worked were poorly explained.
As far as the prose, I felt like the writing was decent and I was interested at first , but there were often chapters where I felt like the plot was told to me versus shown which is something that I don't tend to like in genre fiction especially. I want to feel like I'm in the experience and get to decide for myself how I perceive it. A lot of the character relationships and dynamics felt forced and weren't convincing. I didn't feel like faron was a fully fleshed out character and I only found myself ever interested in elaras story line.
I'm really sad I didn't end up enjoying this. The heart was there, but I just don't think this was as fleshed out as I expected. I don't know if I will continue with the series, but I don't think this will be the last time I read a book by this author, as I can see the potential and I could see myself liking books by her in the future. This just didn't feel ready.