Enna Burning

Enna, a forest-dweller in the kingdom of Bayern, discovers the dangerous art of fire-speaking after her brother finds an ancient vellum scroll. As war threatens Bayern's borders, she must decide whether to use this volatile power to defend her homeland. The story builds on characters introduced in Shannon Hale's "The Goose Girl," expanding the world of Bayern while focusing on Enna's personal journey. Her struggle with fire-speaking tests her relationships, particularly her friendship with Isi, Bayern's queen and the protagonist of the previous book. This young adult fantasy novel explores the balance between power and control, and the price of protecting what one loves. The themes of friendship and sacrifice emerge through Enna's choices as she navigates her newfound abilities in a time of war.

Readers consider this sequel darker and more intense than The Goose Girl, with many noting it explores themes of addiction and power. The book maintains a 3.9/5 rating on Goodreads from 33,000+ ratings. Readers appreciated: - Complex moral dilemmas - Character development of both Enna and Isi - The exploration of friendship - Bayern world expansion Common criticisms: - Too dark compared to The Goose Girl - Repetitive internal struggles - Slow middle section - Romance feels rushed Amazon reviewers (4.6/5 from 200+ ratings) note the book requires more maturity than The Goose Girl. Several readers mention struggling with Enna's choices but finding the resolution satisfying. One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "The constant battle between good and evil within oneself makes this a compelling read." Another noted: "The fire-speaking scenes felt too prolonged and began to drag." Barnes & Noble reviews average 4.3/5 from 90+ ratings.

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🔥 Shannon Hale wrote this novel during her first pregnancy, which influenced her exploration of themes about controlling powerful forces within oneself. 🌳 The character of Enna first appeared as a supporting character in "The Goose Girl" (2003), where she befriended the protagonist Princess Ani. 📚 "Enna Burning" is the second book in the Books of Bayern series, which consists of four novels inspired by lesser-known Grimm fairy tales. 🗺️ The world of Bayern is loosely based on medieval Germanic kingdoms, with the author drawing inspiration from historical European folklore and customs. 🏆 The novel received multiple accolades, including being named an ALA Young Adult Top Ten book and winning the Utah Children's Book Award in 2004.