Burn

By: Patrick Ness

Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt

On a cold Sunday evening in early 1957, Sarah Dewhurst waited with her father in the parking lot of the Chevron gas station for the dragon he’d hired to help on the farm....

Sarah Dewhurst and her father, outcasts in their little town of Frome, Washington, are forced to hire a dragon to work their farm, something to which only the poorest of the poor ever have to resort.

The dragon, Kazimir, has more to him than meets the eye, though. Sarah can’t help but be curious about him, an animal who supposedly doesn’t have a soul but who is seemingly intent on keeping her safe.

Because the dragon knows something she doesn’t. He has arrived at the farm with a prophecy on his mind. A prophecy that involves a deadly assassin, a cult of dragon worshippers, two FBI agents in hot pursuit - and somehow, Sarah Dewhurst herself.

©2020 Patrick Ness (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Slow start big finish

Chosen one with a hint of Eragon logic. Absolutely beautiful piece of work by Patrick Ness

YA????????

I have always enjoyed a well written YA story and wanted this to be one. We can show affection, find love, find our partner without probing intimate places. Just too much sex for a YA story. The reader was also flat. She does well with normal conversations but shows no emotion when the story becomes tense or exciting.

Good writing, perhaps more adult than YA

I enjoyed this story. The writing is good. Sophisticated ideas and presentation with complex characters. The plot was twisty and the story told well, stumbling only at the end. While there was no detailed sex, and no romance silliness, I wondered why this was in the category for teens/young adult. It seemed to promote an exploration of sexuality. But, times may have changed and I'm possibly stuck in some old-fashioned time warp. The dragon story didn't need the sexuality, but perhaps that's just something in this author's writings. I enjoyed this book but won't pursue any others by this author. The narrator made some obvious flubs that should have been caught by an editor or producer and re-recorded. But, she was very good other than those moments.

Loved the Narrator

My first time listening to a book narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt. She was fantastic. She reads with such beautiful emotions. Can’t wait to pick up more books narrated by her.

So good!!

This was such a good read!! Joniece did a fantastic job at changing her voice pitch just enough to tell a difference between all the different adult male characters. That really helped with the tension. The story was awesome too, not usually my type of thing but still very entertaining!

Excellent writing, interesting story.

As always, Patrick Ness comes through with a captivating & imaginative story that is so well-written you find yourself annoyed when someone interrupts your listening. I wouldn't say it was quite as incredible as The Knife of Never Letting Go series but this book did not disappoint.

recommended for ya readers

it hit all the important issues in society like religion racism lgbt however the story wrapping them all together to me was flimsy and weak..shallow magic world for my taste

Burns straight into your heart.

It doesn't take long for this book to capture your interest, and then your heart as you get to each character a root for all of them, even as they oppose one another.

What a disappointment!

Not ya at all, and heavy handedly preachy. Not up to his standard. The premise was so promising, but the execution was very bleak.

surprising

this has been a surprise. not the book I thought I was getting into, yet just the book I needed. well done!