Burn~ Patrick Ness

Expected UK Publication Date: 7th May 2020

Patrick Ness is probably, at the moment, my favourite author. When he announced that a new novel was coming out and about dragons, I was admittedly, very excited. The more that was revealed about the plot, the more I couldn’t wait to read it. Dragons, in 1950s America? Sign me up! 

In 1957 Frome, Washington, Sarah Dewhurst and her father hire a blue dragon to work on their farm. The dragon arrives, knowing something that Sarah doesn’t, she’s at the centre of a prophecy that involves an assassin, a cult of dragon worshippers and two FBI agents. 

Like other novels that Patrick Ness has written, Burn takes many elements that don’t seem to fit together and weaves a wonderful story out of them. Unfortunately, I think the plot, combined with the different narratives was slightly too complex for the length of the book. It has been a little while since I’ve read anything with more than just a singular narrative and so, suddenly finding myself reading one that started with three separate narratives, meant that it took a little while to adjust. The different narratives also meant that it felt quite slow going at the beginning but they linked quicker than I was expecting them too.

The novel is split into two parts and the second part introduces more characters which are then followed by a narrative. There are at least five characters that the narrative follows and whilst it is not quite as slow going as the first few chapters because you know who they are, it does get a little much when you can sit and devour the book. However, I did enjoy the story. It may have me taken far longer than any other Patrick Ness books to actually get through it, but I did want to know what was going to happen. 

Ness always writes fantasy with the truth sprinkled in and this time was no different. Race, homophobia and the tensions of the cold war were just as much a theme as the dragons. There is an elegance to the way Ness addresses these issues and unlike some authors, it feels natural in the world he has created.

Unfortunately, the narrative structure is not one I’m that fond of and it really impacted how much I liked this novel. Patrick Ness still remains one of my favourite authors, but I have to give this book and its dragons, three stars. Burn hits UK shelves on the 7th May 2020.

C🌙