Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mature, bloody trilogy meets an absorbing, satisfying end.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In BRIGHT WE BURN, Lada has taken control of Wallachia and does everything to secure her land and make her stand against the sultan, her childhood friend and sometimes lover Mehmed. When Mehmed sends representatives to secure her allegiance to the Ottoman Empire, she hammers nails in their heads until they die and sends the men home to Constantinople in a box. Mehmed is not amused. To avoid all-out war, Mehmed and Lada's brother, Radu, hatch a plan to kidnap Lada and put a cousin in place as prince of Wallachia. Lada is always steps ahead of them, out with her army demolishing the closest Ottoman soldier outposts and gathering the dead as a nasty surprise for the inevitable invasion to come.
Is It Any Good?
This blood-soaked trilogy stays absorbing and satisfying through a finale that brings out the worst and best in its two complex central characters. Lada as prince is brutal, ruthless, and clever, earning her nickname as the Impaler in a scene no reader wants to truly visualize. She's the tragic character you can see headed to her immediate end without the help of her brother, Radu. Though Radu and Lada are far apart for most of the book, they are always connected. Author Kiersten White, known for charming, lighter fare before And I Darken (Chaos of Stars, Illusions of Fate), goes deep in these characters, exploring the differences between Radu and Lada and the choices they make, often in response to the actions of the other. Radu's connection to his chosen family and his Islamic faith, his acceptance of himself as a gay man, and his reluctance to be a leader make him the perfect counter to Lada. Lada knows she needs her brother; he knows he can't escape her in the end.
All that family drama does not take away from the pace of Bright We Burn -- at least not until the very end where the wrap-up is a little long. The action is just as absorbing. Lada's forces are outnumbered but constantly outmaneuvering the Ottomans. Readers will feel conflicted about just who to root for. Radu is the "good" choice, but Lada is cunning and relentless. It's both shocking and fascinating to see what strategies she employs in her brutal campaign. The whole series fascinates, and it's hard to see it end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different paths of Lada and Radu in Bright We Burn. How do they interpret their role in the world differently? What is Radu's relationship to Wallachia? And Lada's?
How do the four LGBTQ characters navigate their world? How does Radu find self-acceptance?
What did you learn about the time period of the Ottoman Empire? Where can you find out more?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Press
- Publication date : July 10, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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