Burn the Sea is a beautiful and burning fantasy debut. It’s a story that I have to recommend to fans of historical fantasy! Talk about a book with an inferno. Keep reading this book review of Burn the Sea for my full thoughts.
Summary
Abbakka Chowta never expected to be queen. The youngest of Ullal’s two rajkumaris, Abbakka has spent years in rigorous combat training to become her sister’s blade. But when the monstrous Porcugi attempt to lay claim to Ullal, Abbakka’s world―and fate―are upended.
The Porcugi―giant half-men, half-snakes who attack from the sea―haven’t been seen in Ullal since their failed invasion more than fifty years ago. But now, they’re back with vengeance and a choice: pay their tithes or suffer total devastation. Soon, Abbakka’s definitions of strength, subterfuge, and statecraft are put to the test. Will marriage to a neighboring king give her the resources she needs to protect her people . . . or will she watch her homeland be crushed beneath the waves of would-be colonizers?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Burn the Sea is this historical reimagining which will ignite. It’s about the deals we have to make for our safety. These trade offs, battles we lose in order to have a chance to win the war. It’s about alliances and bargains we make with the lesser evils. With fast chemistry and death, Burn the Sea is stunning. It’s about what our country needs versus what we want. As a ruler we don’t have the luxury of choosing. Full of political games and counter moves, Burn the Sea celebrates women who make power moves and fight for their country. To work our wiles and worm our way in.
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Abbakka is alone in a pit of vipers. She has to figure out what happens when we think we’ve lost. Burn the Sea is fascinating and reminds me a bit of The Poet Empress. It’s a phenomenal addition to the historical fantasy genre as it examines colonialism, power moves, and the unseen angles of history. Find Burn the Sea on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, & Blackwells.