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On Sale: Jan 16, 2024
Page Count: 400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316534840

An INSTANT National Bestseller!

Whip-smart and immersive, this Jamaican-inspired fantasy follows a gods-blessed heroine who’s forced to choose between saving her sister or protecting her homeland—perfect for fans of Iron Widow and The Priory of the Orange Tree.

Faron Vincent can channel the power of the gods. Five years ago, she used her divine magic to liberate her island from its enemies, the dragon-riding Langley Empire. But now, at seventeen, Faron is all powered up with no wars to fight. She’s a legend to her people and a nuisance to her neighbors.

When she’s forced to attend an international peace summit, Faron expects that she will perform tricks like a trained pet and then go home. She doesn’t expect her older sister, Elara, forming an unprecedented bond with an enemy dragon—or the gods claiming the only way to break that bond is to kill her sister.

As Faron’s desperation to find another solution takes her down a dark path, and Elara discovers the shocking secrets at the heart of the Langley Empire, both must make difficult choices that will shape each other’s lives, as well as the fate of their world.

"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

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The Divine Traitors

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

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About the Author

Kamilah Cole was a writer and entertainment editor at Bustle for four years, and her nonfiction work has also appeared in Marie Claire and Seventeen. A graduate of New York University, Kamilah lives on the East Coast, where she’s usually playing Kingdom Hearts for the hundredth time, quoting early SpongeBob SquarePants episodes, or crying her way through Zuko’s redemption arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Peek the Audiobook

Fan Behavior

What Type of Dragon Would You Bond With?

From NOVL Nation

“This book was badass… if you liked fourth wing and want some sapphic (and demisexual!!) rep I’d highly recommend this one.”

–Spiri, @pluvioreads

“This book. . .truly the best fantasy novel I have ever read. Like, I’m not even joking, my life will no longer be the same after reading this masterpiece. I am beyond obsessed and my reading slump is cured.”

– Gabriel, Try Reading Podcast

“This is an absolute masterpiece… Every character is so well written – Elara, the older sister, who’s caught between her loyalty to her country and a need to define herself. Reeve’s sense of being unmoored from his homeland and unable to settle in San Irie. Finally, Faron. I felt for her so much. You can really tell how tired she is, and how lost she was throughout this book. It’s an incredible twist on the ‘chosen one’ trope.”

–Lucy, @lucy.is.reading

“I cannot express how deeply I loved this book, but let me try! …Not only was the plot phenomenal but the way Cole writes made me pause a number of times just to appreciate the way things were written. From the first line where we meet Faron, I was sold. Lovers of YA fantasy should absolutely be picking this book up ASAP and I will be sitting here impatiently for the second book as I work to convince everyone I know to read this (did I mention the dragons? I should mention the dragons 🐉).”

–Megan, @eclectically.reading

“With two sisters ready to burn it all down for each other, where could you go wrong? Within a few chapters I was fully invested in So Let Them Burn. Whether it be the swoony tension – also with a demisexual MC so yay! – or the political situation and secrets, I was fully in.”

–Lili, Utopia State of Mind

“We’ve got chosen one and destined one vibes, twists and turns galore, dragons and some serious action. What more could you want?”

–Nikki, @thebookishmindset

“This audiobook was absolutely extraordinary… I am so excited to have started this series and cannot wait to keep going.”

–Mysia, @blackgirlbujos