The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix
Product details
Web ID: 15276232Vivid and amazing on all counts
This might be the best example of immersive, rich fantasy that I can think of. It was seriously that good. The cover is but a peak into the vivid world and story of this book and I'm telling you, if you don't read it, you're missing out!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Interesting!
Title: The Ones We Burn Author: Rebecca Mix Release Date: November 1st, 2022 Page Count: 478 Format: Hardcover/Audiobook Start Date: January 12th, 2023 Finish Date: January 14th, 2023 Rating: 5 Stars Review: I really enjoyed this book. I didn't think I would at first. It has a bit of a slow start. I wound up appreciating that in the end. I didn't really care for the cover. It's not all that appealing. The title doesn't really pop either. It kind of just blends into the background. This is an LGBTQ book of the sapphic variety. I'm going to be honest, I didn't think it would be. I didn't realize it until it smacked me in the face. That's on me though. I do my best to go into all the books I read blindly. If I remember correctly, I actually got the book from Fairyloot. The cover that I had personally is way different than the original one. It pops more. But I digress. Aside from my dislike of the actual cover and the start, I really enjoyed this book very much. I'm actually kind of sad this isn't a series. I'd love to keep reading about things that happen in this world!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Loved every second
The Ones We Burn I have looked forward to reading this book for quite awhile now. It is a long book but made for a quick read as I couldn’t put it down. While I have read there is controversy surrounding this book, my own careful reading has led me to believe that the controversy was unjust. Not a page of this book shows racism or anti Jewish sentiment. Not a page. In fact, from my reading, every character in this book seems to be a different shade of brown or tan. Even those labeled as “pale” seem to be just a lighter shade of tan. Race plays absolutely no part in this book. I’ve read every single page. I kept waiting for something to jump out and scream racism. It simply does not exist in this book. What this book does bring light to is that hatred causes war and death and fear. It shows us that even those we love and trust can betray us. Now for my review. In every generation or so, a witch is born with blood magic. Not the type of blood magic you read about in stories requiring blood as a magical ingredient, but the type that lives in the blood of the witch. In those cursed with this gift they will awaken to a feeling of starvation for death. They are seen as killers. Monsters. Ranka was one woman born a blood witch. The humans are terrified of all witches and seek to burn them alive. The witches are afraid of the humans and of being burned alive. While there are many types of witches, they all belong to their own covens and live apart from the humans. When a parent realizes their child has this gift, or curse, the covens will try to bring them in. If unsuccessful they are generally burned alive with their own families watching. Ranka was found by the Skra coven and taken in. Her blood magic awakened when she was back with her parents and she would come to be known as the Butcher of Belren for all of the people she slaughtered. Each generation a blood witch is chosen and named the Bloodwinn. She must travel to the seat of the monarchy in Isodal and marry the monarch. This is supposed to act as a truce between the covens and the humans. Unfortunately, witches are still slaughtered by the humans and the treaty is little more than a veiled attempt to maintain a peace that doesn’t exist. Ranka was chosen as the Bloodwinn. As she traveled to Isodal, intent on eventually killing the prince she was to marry, she came upon a very sick witch. It appeared a plague had begun to take root. Once in Isodal Ranka uncovers a nefarious plot to infect witches and kill them off. She also learns that the prince and his twin sister are not the witch killing monsters she has been told they were. A group called the Hands seek to destroy every witch that they find and it appears they have help from within. Ranka works to figure out how the plague is spreading and with the help of the princess, to find a cure. This will take her down a path of of twists, betrayal, love, loss, destiny, memory, facing her own demons…..all while trying to figure out who is manipulating who. Who is the villain? Is she the monster? Who can she trust? Read this book. It is a great one. On that note, read every book someone tells you not to read. Chances are that they didn’t even read it themselves. Don’t skip the epilogue.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Spectacular-Brutal-Romantic Debut
**Spoiler Free* *Review** This book is equal parts beautiful and equal parts brutal. The dedication in this book really hit me hard and so for everyone who has experienced some kind of childhood trauma, know that this book is for us, but please make sure you’re ready for it. Rebecca Mix delivers a stunning debut with vivid imagery, beautiful prose, and characters that will stick with you for a long time. If you love sapphic enemies to lovers romance with gritty and dazzling world building, this book is ten thousands times for you. Intimidating in size at first but with shorter chapters that each pack a punch. Surprisingly tender at moments with the kind of romantic tension that makes you squeal aloud and giggle in the best ways. I cannot stop telling everyone I know to read this book and cannot recommend it enough.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Brutal and Glorious Debut
I managed to finish the ARC in two days, and what a ride it was! Mix sticks to the "show don't tell" rule. You're immediately dropped into the middle of a living world with its own magic system, history, and politics. I liked a lot about this book, but the magic really took the cake for me. It's vividly gruesome in parts, and there is a real feeling of weight or consequence when it's used. Magic doesn't feel overpowered and feels more like a tool than an answer to problems. There's solid worldbuilding throughout the whole story, and the setting becomes more believable the deeper you get into the plot. You see history influence how the characters interract with each other and the world. This is definitely not a story of heroes. The characters make understandable, but poor choices and have to deal with the aftermath. A lot of the choices characters make are built on past trauma. Mix takes care to acknowledge the difficulties of prolonged abuse and what characters do to survive while still highlighting the responisibility the characters have to their future actions and how they choose to heal. There were a few shaky points where the plot had trouble connecting to something that happened earlier in the book or the characters felt like they had slightly "off" reactions, but, ARCs aren't written in stone. And, taking everything into account, the problems I had were far outweighed by the story. The stakes feel high, the twists keep coming, and you'll have trouble putting it down once you start. All in all, a great debut!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
The Story I Didn't Know I Needed
Becca has brought to life a beautiful cast of characters with twists and turns that had me at the edge of the seat while reading this story. I can’t wait to read it again and again.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com