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A review by emilyusuallyreading
Burning Kingdoms by Lauren DeStefano
5.0
What I Liked
Lauren DeStefano is an incredible author. There were a few times I read to my friend from her pages, just so she could hear the lyrical writing and the beauty DeStefano can put into words.
What also intrigues me about this series is that the second book had just as much potential (and did well) at being strong. It's not a "second book" that is done exploring a unique new world, because it begins with the experience of a different world from the first book, and it's just as - or at least almost as - interesting.
DeStefano is a creator of characters. Pen will always be my favorite secondary character now. She's nuanced and likable and unlikable all at the same time, just as a human should be. I love Nimble, Basil, Thomas, and Birdie - and while I was baffled by the existence of Celeste at all in Perfect Ruin, I grew to like her character too in Burning Kingdoms.
The world developments are also interesting in contrast with each other. Medically and socially, the ground is leagues ahead - but in terms of technology, Internment is far more advanced. I enjoyed reading about the kingdoms' different religions, different terminology, and even their different diets. DeStefano has put so much work into creating two very realistic worlds that are much different than this one, and I love reading about them. I want her to create hundreds of books about Internment and the ground.
What I Didn't Like
This book has a slower start than ending. In this regard, it's backwards from the first in the series. The first mesmerized me from page one and became a little slower and nonsensical around the last third. This book had a first half paced pretty slowly - and with a literal explosion, everything changed and left me captivated.
At times, Morgan seems a little too perfect. Everything she does is reasoned and sympathetic - and while some things she does seem dumb, it's still because she has empathy and compassion and selfless love. Sometimes I want to see her crack up a little bit and do something for herself. Truly, selfishly for herself.
Lauren DeStefano is an incredible author. There were a few times I read to my friend from her pages, just so she could hear the lyrical writing and the beauty DeStefano can put into words.
What also intrigues me about this series is that the second book had just as much potential (and did well) at being strong. It's not a "second book" that is done exploring a unique new world, because it begins with the experience of a different world from the first book, and it's just as - or at least almost as - interesting.
DeStefano is a creator of characters. Pen will always be my favorite secondary character now. She's nuanced and likable and unlikable all at the same time, just as a human should be. I love Nimble, Basil, Thomas, and Birdie - and while I was baffled by the existence of Celeste at all in Perfect Ruin, I grew to like her character too in Burning Kingdoms.
The world developments are also interesting in contrast with each other. Medically and socially, the ground is leagues ahead - but in terms of technology, Internment is far more advanced. I enjoyed reading about the kingdoms' different religions, different terminology, and even their different diets. DeStefano has put so much work into creating two very realistic worlds that are much different than this one, and I love reading about them. I want her to create hundreds of books about Internment and the ground.
What I Didn't Like
This book has a slower start than ending. In this regard, it's backwards from the first in the series. The first mesmerized me from page one and became a little slower and nonsensical around the last third. This book had a first half paced pretty slowly - and with a literal explosion, everything changed and left me captivated.
At times, Morgan seems a little too perfect. Everything she does is reasoned and sympathetic - and while some things she does seem dumb, it's still because she has empathy and compassion and selfless love. Sometimes I want to see her crack up a little bit and do something for herself. Truly, selfishly for herself.