Young Adult Book Review: Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez

Posted May 17, 2022 by jrsbookr in Fantasy / 0 Comments

by Isabel Ibanez
Young Adult Book Review: Together We Burn by Isabel IbañezTogether We Burn Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on May 31, 2022
Source: Review copy
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Diversity & Multicultural, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Historical, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Pages: 368
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Format: ARC
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Isabel Ibañez's Together We Burn is a lush, enchanting standalone fantasy inspired by medieval Spain, filled with romance, adventure and just the right amount of danger.

An ancient city plagued by dragons

Eighteen-year-old Zarela Zalvidar is a talented flamenco dancer and daughter of the most famous Dragonador in Hispalia. People come for miles to see him fight in their arena, which will one day be hers. But disaster strikes during one celebratory show, and in the carnage, Zarela’s life changes in an instant.

A flamenco dancer who must become a dragon hunter to save her family legacy

With the Dragon Guild trying to wrest control of her inheritance from her, Zarela has no choice but to train to become a Dragonador. But when the most talented dragon hunter left in the land -- the infuriatingly handsome Arturo Díaz de Montserrat -- withholds his help, Zarela cannot take no for an answer. Without him, her world will burn.

Review:

Together we burn weaves the famous ancestry of bullfighting and mix it with dragon-fighting and Hispanic dancing. The cultural ties in this book are rich. They are easy to imagine as you read the story of Zarela, who is willing to do anything to save her family legacy, including learning to fight in the arena. Flamenco dancing, fighting dragons to the death, this story never comes off as dull. Each time Zarela chooses to save her family arena, you can feel her determination and grit, especially the part where she refuses to leave tell she convinces the dragon tamer to help her. The solution to the bloodshed was unexpected but the perfect way to change the dragons’ future and the rest of the arena’s history.

About Isabel Ibanez

Isabel Ibañez is the author of Woven in Moonlight (Page Street), which is a finalist for the William C. Morris Award, and is listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time. She was born in Boca Raton, Florida, and is the proud daughter of two Bolivian immigrants. Isabel has a profound appreciation for history and traveling and loves hosting family and friends around the dinner table. She currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, their adorable dog, and a serious collection of books