Tonight I Burn

I must admit this is not my usual genre, and I was not looking forward to reviewing 'Tonight, I Burn'. Well, that soon changed as suddenly I couldn’t put the book down.

Katharine J. Adam's evocative prose creates a vivid and immersive world, filled with burning witches, a captive Spinner revealing secrets, and nightly journeys to the mysterious realm of Death. The novel explores creative world-building, intriguing mysteries, and dynamic relationship dynamics, making it a delightful dark romantic fantasy that captivates readers from the first page.

The story revolves around Penny Albright, a thorn witch in the oppressive city of Halstett, ruled by the immortal tyrant, the High Warden. The novel introduces a unique magical system with five forms of witchcraft: ember, ore, storm, tide, and thorn. The thorn witches, including Penny, are bound to Death, compelled to burn at the stake every night to patrol the veil between Life and Death. Failure to adhere to this ritual risks the balance of the veil and the safety of all witches.

At the core of the story is a strong theme of sisterhood, explored through the relationships between Penny and her sisters Ella and Mila, as well as among the covens forced into servitude. The novel highlights the challenges faced by witches living under the Warden's cruel rule, where self-preservation often leads to them turning on each other.

Penny's unsanctioned forays into Death draw unwanted attention, forcing her to navigate a dangerous path between evading the Warden's Gilded, placating the Resistance, and honouring a desperate bargain she made in Death.

The romantic arc is refreshing; Penny is unabashedly open about her sexuality with an attraction to both men and women, and at no point is this shown as problematic. The love interests, Malin and Alice, bring depth to the story, reflecting Penny's dilemma of being caught between Life and Death. The polyamorous relationship presented in the novel deviates from the typical love triangle, providing a unique and satisfying resolution.

As the first instalment in the Thorn Witch series, the novel leaves unanswered questions, promising an exciting continuation of this richly imagined world in subsequent books.