Burn

Set in 1957 America, Burn follows Sarah Dewhurst, the daughter of a farmer who hires a dragon to help work their land. The dragon's arrival coincides with escalating Cold War tensions and strange prophecies that place Sarah at the center of world-changing events. The story takes place in an alternate history where dragons exist and have established complex relationships with humans through strictly regulated treaties and contracts. FBI agents, assassins, and dragon-worshipping cults become entangled in Sarah's path as she discovers her connection to an ancient prophecy. Dragons, discrimination, and Cold War paranoia intertwine in this genre-blending tale of identity and destiny. The novel explores themes of prejudice, faith, and how the choices of both dragons and humans can reshape reality itself.

Readers call it a unique take on dragon mythology that blends 1950s historical fiction with fantasy elements. The parallel storylines and genre-mixing create an experimental narrative that many found compelling. Likes: - Complex characters, particularly Sarah Dewhurst's development - The integration of racial tensions and social issues from the time period - Fresh interpretation of dragon lore - Atmospheric writing style capturing the 1950s Pacific Northwest Dislikes: - Multiple readers found the parallel storylines confusing - Some felt the pacing dragged in the middle sections - A portion of readers wanted more dragon-focused content - Several noted the ending felt rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (350+ ratings) BookishFirst: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) "The worldbuilding is subtle but effective" - Goodreads reviewer "Too many plot threads that don't quite come together" - Amazon reviewer "Unlike any dragon book I've read" - BookishFirst reviewer

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🐲 Dragons in the novel serve as a metaphor for racial discrimination, as they are treated as second-class citizens and forced to work menial jobs in 1950s America. 📚 Patrick Ness was inspired to write Burn after discovering that his father had worked alongside Japanese Americans who had been in internment camps during World War II. 🌎 The book's alternate history setting combines elements of the Cold War era with ancient prophecies and dragon mythology, creating a unique blend of historical fiction and fantasy. ✍️ Patrick Ness has won multiple prestigious awards, including the Carnegie Medal twice, and is known for tackling complex social issues in his young adult novels. 🔄 The story draws parallels between historical prejudices and contemporary discrimination, making it relevant to modern readers while set in the past.