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A review by chellyfish
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War
This was a fascinating and original book that is part alternate history (ie, if Jamaica had a successful revolution like Haiti) and part fantasy (but also there are dragons and a variety of magics). Faron's role as the Child Empyrean was an interesting way to explore how people carry the trauma and responsibility of earlier generations. Some folks seem to have a beef with Faron not being traumatized enough from the recent war (her main dislike for being the Child Empyrean seems to be the attention and expectations it brings). I don't share that critique and I don't wish trauma on a young Black girl. I feel similarly about the moment Reeve consciously admits he invaded the safe space of the night market - we can have some relief some times from constant depictions of racial trauma. There are much better reasons to critique the book than these moments.
For instance, I'll be curious to see how Elara's absorption into the society of their nation's colonizing force advances in the upcoming sequel: as it is, I am slightly worried that the friends she's forging in the Langley Empire is giving "good people on both sides." Which - sure, maybe there are "good" Langlians, but it'll be interesting to see that complexified.
Part of what I think is happening here is that the last 30-40% of the book felt immensely rushed. It likely would have been better as a trilogy than a duology. For instance, I love a sapphic moment but I see little appealing about Signey except that she's pretty.