Customer Reviews

Enna Burning (Books of Bayern)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In Enna Burning, Isi's closest friend Enna discovers the gift of fire-speaking, and the story follows her struggle to contain it and understand her newfound and complicated desires to burn. But the power to burn is not so lovely as it might seem, and Enna cannot control it so well as she might imagine. The power to burn continues to consume her as a slow-burning fire will consume a log, until the situation is dire and Enna can do nothing but fight against the fire in her.

Enna Burning is a totally different animal than The Goose Girl, admittedly. However, it's refreshing to see such a different slant on the characters in this companion to The Goose Girl. Now one will see characters (in a third-person manner) through Enna's eyes. No one is exactly the same as they are in Goose Girl, perhaps the most interesting of these being Isi and Finn. Now we see Isi as a queen and a friend, rather than a quiescent and unlikely heroine, and Finn as a strong and capable "friend". Enna is a complete opposite of Isi, headstrong and confident and... well, fiery. For some Goose Girl fans it may be difficult to adjust to this stark contrast, but for others it will be refreshing and complex.

Enna Burning is written so masterfully that one will find oneself agreeing with whatever Enna thinks at the time, no matter how obviously wrong she may be about a person or a situation. There is a sense of urgency and danger that does not exist in Goose Girl, as Enna constantly struggles against the tide of fire within her, and often nearly loses control. This desperation only adds to the passion of the story, and makes the turning of each page more and more necessary. Like in Goose Girl, you may have to reread Enna Burning to get everything, because you will be so eager to see what else happens that you might miss a good deal.

Ms Hale has outdone herself, going far beyond what would have made an interesting and worthwhile read. I cannot urge you enough to read this fantastic story.

In Enna Burning as well as The Goose Girl you see interesting pictures of girls growing into women. Both Isi and Enna are trying to find their place in the world. Enna is looking for some way to help others. She wants to understand and to grow as a person. She wants to help her friends, her brother, and her country. In this desire she puts herself at risk. Enna learns the dangers of meddling in things that you don't understand, and also the beauty of life and the horror of war.

Shannon Hale has an amazing way of making you care about the characters. You understand Enna and her wants and desires. You even understand why she does horrible things. You relate to her and you grow to love her. You want her to succeed.

This book is amazing. I have recommended Shannon Hale to countless friends and family members. If you are looking for two books, buy The Goose Girl and Enna Burning. You won't be sorry.

I can't fault Shannon Hale's marvelous writing. Once again, her characterization is amazing. It was the story itself that makes me give it three stars. This book is decidedly darker, as there is an attempted rape scene, mass-murder, and Enna deals with emotions that echo strongly of lust (which fire, her gift, has always been associated with). Also, I felt the end was wrapped up too quickly, almost like the author was eager to finish this book and start on another one. "Princess Academy" is still her best work.

Following the death of their mother, Enna and her brother Leifer are on their own. One night, Enna sees her brother secretly reading a piece of vellum. When she asks how he was able to get the cold hearth lit so quickly, Leifer is vague and doesn't mention the vellum.

Enna is concerned about the sudden change in Leifer's mood and his indifference to their country of Bayern. When she tries to reason with him, Leifer becomes angry and they argue. Later that day, Leifer is again moody and unpredictable. When a heated debate almost proves fatal, Enna wonders what has become of the brother she once knew.

Soon Enna is reunited with her dear friend Isi, who married Geric, the prince of Bayern. Isi appoints Enna as her personal maiden, and they oversee the first major battle between Bayern and the kingdom of Tira. The fighting is harsh and bloody, with many lives lost, including that of the king of Bayern. When Leifer use his firepower on the enemy, the results are both frightening and breathtaking. Geric and Isi are now the ruling monarchs of Bayern, and Enna must say good-bye to her brother, who has died in the blaze.

Wanting to know exactly what happened to Leifer, Enna reads the vellum. The words are almost a welcomed relief for her, but she vows never to fall prey to the fire as her brother did. She is convinced that she can use her new ability to fight Tira, but as the power of the fire grows stronger, Enna loses control. In her recklessness she is captured by the very enemy she's fighting against. As a prisoner Enna faces even greater challenges and must fight to save her friends, her country, and herself.

With elements of fantasy, drama, adventure, and a little romance, ENNA BURNING is a good, fast-paced book that I would recommend to anyone, even if they haven't read its praised companion THE GOOSE GIRL. The description of the fiery events is exactly the way fire is supposed to be --- a combination of darkness and light. The book conveys to readers that sometimes even the smallest decisions can have major consequences.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle (SdarksideG@aol.com)

I love Shannon Hale's writting because she writes fairy tales and does not try to hide it. Its a straight forward lyrical style that I love. Not only would I suggest reading Enna Burning, but also read the Goose Girl (you may want to read this first as it introduces the main characters) and the Princess Academy. All are lovely books that I really enjoyed through the course of an afternoon.

I loved Goose Girl and River Secrets. Enna Burning is equally masterful. Hats off to Shannon Hale! However, this story is very dark. We begin the story already liking Enna who was such a good friend to Isi in Goose Girl. Here, Enna is captivating and lovable. Therefore, her inability to control this horrible destructive power of fire is deeply disturbing. How do young readers feel about her setting fire to hundreds of humans? Are they supposed to just shrug it off, because "Those people were strangers, anyway," or "It was okay, because it was war"? Really, it's not okay. This book would be a great prompt for older teens' discussions of moral dilemmas, but it's certainly not fare for an eleven-year-old at home alone.
Preteen readers feeling the need to get back to the real world after this frightening fantasy might enjoy Danger, Long Division, where Becca solves her problems through hard work and persistence without any uncontrollable magical powers.

I was so excited when I found out that the Goose Girl was the first book in a trilogy. "Enna Burning" is every bit as good as the first. Enna's brother discovers a vellum w/ instructions on how to burn. He uses it against Tiran, the country that Bayern is waging war against. The "gift" leads to his destruction, and Enna discovers the secret and uses it against Tiran. But the fire also begins to destroy her. Ani, the princess, Geric, the prince, Finn, and Razo are just a few of the other familiar characters. Ani is feeling the consequences of her own gift of wind-speaking, while helping her husband in the fight against Tiran. This is an awesome book w/ a happy ending. I can't wait until the next book comes out!

Having read and enjoyed "The Goose Girl" and "Princess Academy" with my daughters, it was only natural that we follow the citizens of Bayern in the next companion novel, "Enna Burning". It was well written and worth reading, BUT I wouldn't have wanted my children to read it without being able to discuss addiction and frankly, skip over the gruesomeness and extent of the main character's cruelty. Burning is such a horrible way to suffer and die. Yet the author accurately illuminates the problem of addiction. In the book, Enna's addiction costs her nearly everything. We used this book to talk about the process and impact of addiction on the lives of people, but without that discussion, I am afraid that it just might desensitize young people to the suffering of others and be read as a rather morbid fairy tale.

Once again, as in its companion novel, The Goose Girl (2003), Shannon Hale proves she is more than capable of making a reader laugh, cry, smile, gasp, and even make his/her heart beat faster with the intensity of all the beautifully played out scenes in this book. The story is wholly original, although it succeeds an already exhisting tale, The Goose Girl, which was originally translated into the visual world by the Brothers Grimm. Hale proves that she can write a stellar sequel to her spectacular debut novel. In Enna Burning, she paints a more detailed picture of Enna, who was but a minor character in The Goose Girl. Enna learns to weild fire, and she also discovers the price that comes along with power.
Unlike The Goose Girl, Enna Burning is more focused on the culture of Bayern, Enna's country, and on the consequences of greed and power. The novel also deals with war and corruption, which is a sensitive subject for some. Also, there are so scenes that can be read into as sexual situations, which could also be a sensitive subject for some readers. However, if the aformentioned tends to bother you, this reviewer strongly advises that you read past the intensity and allow the raw beauty and overwhelmingly descriptive, visual intensity haunt you until you are compelled to read it over and over again, each time, becoming amazed anew at the soaring prose and divine talents of Shannon Hale.

I loved this book! it has it all. enna is a well developed character who is just the same as all of us. she is not some high and mighty queen she gets mad, depressed, and tricked just like all of us! it is wonderfuly written, and is one of the best of it class, Wonderful!