I will never get tired of books set in Paris. Well, I can’t make that promise, BUT for the foreseeable future I won’t. Everything That Burns is the political sequel to All That Glitters. It asks us questions about rebellion and sacrifice. Identity and acceptance. Keep reading the full book review below!
Summary
Magic. Betrayal. Sacrifice
Camille Durbonne gambled everything she had to keep her and her sister safe, and now the Vicomtesse de Seguin seeks a new life in Paris. But revolution roils the bloody streets and “aristocrat” is a dangerous word. Safety may no longer be possible.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Camille prints revolutionary pamphlets, sharing the stories of girls.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Everything That Burns is an explosive sequel to All That Glitters. Taking the reins from the first, this sequel lies amidst a tinderbox of kindling ready to catch fire. A single spark could be enough to burn it all down. As the book progresses, I began to wonder if they will be consumed in the flames of the revolution. Everything That Burns examines the discontent of the lower classes, the privilege of the elite, and the potential danger of the magicians. It’s a world that mixes money, power, and magic in a heady mixture.
Everything That Burns asks how we can fight for the future – what sacrifices will be considered necessary and just. The past blows freezing breezes into our nighttime wanderings, still haunts our steps and creaks in the stairs. While I enjoyed the political discussion, especially as Trelease introduces the treatment and fear of magicians, towards the ending I felt that there wasn’t enough resolution in these larger issues. It asked questions about who should inherit the power and what compromises we should make in the pursuit of freedom. But by the end, I just wanted a bit more resolution in that area.
I appreciated reading about how Camille has to come to terms with her magic. She’s ashamed of who she is, letting people change the image of herself. But throughout the course of Everything That Burns Camille witnesses a world where magicians are judged for their potential. For the disastrous and manipulative ways they could use their power. We should never be judged for what we could do, what the worst of us have done. And while everything might not be as straightforward, not accepting pieces of ourselves will never give us peace.
Find Everything That Burns on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.