Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Rating Explanation

Language: “bastard” and name calling

Violence: There are gory battle scenes in which many die. A one-on-one sword fight to the death. People are shot with arrows, beaten up, and burned. Enna and her brother have the ability to set things on fire at will. They both burn the opposing army during separate battles.

Sexual Content: A couple of innocent kisses. Enna has bathed and is wrapped in a blanket while her clothes are drying, a leering soldier comes in and pulls her blanket off. Luckily someone else enters the tent before he can harm her.

Adult Themes: This ability Enna has is overpowering. She feels an incredibly strong desire to burn things, and is sometimes unable to control herself. She tries to set her best friend on fire, but her friend is able to stop her. I think it is disturbing that this young girl could have such a terrible and destructive power inside of her. She tries to use it for good, to aid her own army, but in the end it almost kills her.

Synopsis

Enna Burning is a companion novel to Goose Girl and focuses on the life of Enna, Princess Isi’s best friend. Although this book can stand alone, it is useful to have read Goose Girl for background information.

Following the death of her mother, Enna and her brother Liefer live alone in the forest. Liefer discovers an ancient vellum that contains the secret to a great power. With this instruction, Liefer learns to start fires without help from wood or flint. In a heroic effort he burns an invading army in battle, but the fire consumes him as well. After his death, Enna seeks out this same gift and develops it. She also uses it to save Bayern from an opposing army, but finds that it is harder to control than she could have ever imagined. In an effort to survive, she and Isi travel to a far away kingdom where fire-worshippers live. Together they learn to control their separate gifts and balance the elements.

I read Goose Girl about a year ago with my kids and absolutely loved it. This book I liked much less. It seems heavy and sad most of the time as Enna battles with herself. There is romance and betrayal and rich characters, but for me, not one of my favorites.

©2009 The Literate Mother