Trigger warnings: Homophobia, Racism, Police Violence

Read my full review at between-the-shelves.com!

Essentially, Burn is a re-imagining of how dragons might have affected the Cold War. Kazimir is a Russian dragon, something extremely rare. But he is key in this prophecy, one that foretells the end of the world. There are a lot of connections throughout to actual historical events in the United States, making the story all the more immersive. Even though there are dragons! Admittedly, the world would be way cooler if there really were dragons.

Ness also doesn't shy away from issues like racism and homophobia. Sarah is mixed race and her best friend/love interest (Jason) is Japanese. They not only have to deal with judgment from the town's population, but also racism from the police force. They're outcasts because they're different. And unfortunately, these are issues still highly prevalent today.

Malcolm and Nelson also experience homophobia first-hand, and some of the moments between them are so tender. Between Malcom, Nelson, Sarah, and Jason, there's a lot of discussion about not letting labels define what you're able to accomplish. As a dragon, Kazimir doesn't let labels define him, and he encourages Sarah to do the same. He encourages them to take control of their own story.

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Patrick Ness will forever be one of my favorites, and each book he writes just confirms that. This book hit on so many issues and had so many hard-hitting moments that I just want to go back and read it again. Stay tuned for a full review later this week!