Why Together We Burn Didn’t Ignite My Love for Fantasy Romance
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In Isabel Ibañez’s Together We Burn, readers are thrust into a world where family legacy and fiery dragons collide. A fantasy-inspired tale set against the backdrop of medieval Spain. Together We Burn follows Zarela Zalvidar. A talented flamenco dancer who must save her family’s fortune after a tragedy at a dragon fight. Her father, a famous dragonador, faces his own challenges. Desperate to defend her father’s legacy and the dragon guild’s place in her world, Zarela turns to Arturo Díaz. A hardened dragon hunter, who reluctantly teaches her the brutal art of handling dragons.
Through the lens of family, love, and ambition, Ibañez crafts a passionate, high-stakes romance that dives into what it means to be a Zalvidar in a realm. Where dragons are as feared as they are revered. In this review, we’ll explore how Ibañez’s richly woven story brings the intensity of flamenco and the thrill of dragon fights to life in this luxe edition of fantasy romance.
Title: Together We Burn
Author: Isabel Ibañez
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: Romance, Dragons, YA Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: May 31, 2022
Pages: 368
Star Rating: 3 stars
Spice Rating: 1 chili pepper
Why Together We Burn Fell Short for Me
With the creation of a new cover comes the release of a new edition. I was graciously sent a copy by Wednesday Books to read and review. Together We Burn itself is an interesting concept promising feral dragons and dragon fighting, romance with a boy just out of reach, and history intertwined with the majestic feeling of fantasy. But while the story has some great points the execution of the story left something to be desired.
Together We Burn never quite drew me in. Initially reading it physically and then deciding to pair the audiobook. Available on Everand. Wanting to capture the nuances that I was missing while just reading with my eyes. The lack of connection I felt to the story could be because the story felt surface-level. Not digging deeper into the history of the Spanish-inspired roots of flamenco.
Leaving Together We Burn feeling predictable. Not in a foreshadowing done exquisitely sort of way. But in a way that adds to the disinterest of the narrative. What saved the anecdote from being a complete DNF was the mystery. Because even though you know how it is going to play out you want to grasp the way the author plays the rest of the story.
“Time is the worst kind of thief, sneaky and effective and gone before you realize what’s been taken.”
Accuring to this need for depth is the wonderous lack of world-building and complex characterization. While Isabel Ibañez introduces an intriguing setting inspired by medieval Spain, the world-building in Together We Burn felt somewhat thin. Many potentially fascinating aspects—like the dragon guild, the dragon fights, and the role of dragonadors—are left underdeveloped. I found myself craving more depth in how this society operates. Especially the political and cultural implications of dragon fighting and flamenco traditions. Instead of grounding the fantasy elements with rich, sensory details, the setting often felt more like a decorative backdrop than a fully immersive world.
Though Zarela Zalvidar is a fierce protagonist with a clear sense of purpose, her character often feels one-dimensional. While we see her ambition and determination, there’s little exploration of her deeper motivations, flaws, or internal conflicts. Similarly, Arturo Díaz, the dragon hunter, has an intriguing backstory. But his character development feels restrained, leaving his motivations and vulnerabilities somewhat vague. Together, the lack of layers in their personalities made it difficult to fully connect with them. Or feel the chemistry in their romance.
“If my despair were a place, it’d be the cold floor of an oubliette, where everyone I ever loved slowly forgot my name.”
There is a missed opportunity with the inspiration of Together We Burn. The incorporation of flamenco dancing and the medieval Spanish-inspired setting had such unique potential. But the story rarely delved beyond surface-level details. I kept waiting for a richer exploration of the cultural symbolism of flamenco. Or the social dynamics of the dragon guild and dragon fights. These elements could have elevated the narrative, giving readers a deeper sense of Zarela and Arturo’s world.
As I mentioned there is a new edition on the market. And with this new edition comes to added value of two chapters via Arturo’s point-of-view. These brief chapters were told in the third person while the rest of the book is told in the first. When you come across the first of Arturo’s chapters they feel out of place. Thrown in before we are ever introduced to him as a male main character. It would have been better suited proceeding Chapter 9, where Zarela officially meets him. As it stands I see no true point in even adding Arturo’s POV to the story at all. I don’t remember even what was within those chapters. Adding them just felt like a reason to rerelease the book in new packaging.
“She danced the way she loved; steadfast, gracious, wildly, and slightly aggressive.”
But just because it didn’t hit all the markers for me doesn’t mean that it won’t for you. Together We Burn is perfect for readers who crave adventure-driven fantasy romance with a unique cultural twist. Fans of fast-paced stories will appreciate the blend of romance, flamenco-inspired drama, and dragon-fueled action. Keeping them engaged without diving too deeply into heavy lore.
The book’s medieval Spain-inspired world offers a fresh setting for those who enjoy fantasy that nods to real-world cultures. Readers who gravitate toward bold, fiery heroines will likely root for Zarela. As her journey to become a dragon hunter to save her family’s legacy is both courageous and inspiring.
The slow-burn romance between Zarela and Arturo is packed with tension. Perfect for fans of reluctant partnerships that evolve into trust. Additionally, with its youthful protagonist and accessible world-building, Together We Burn makes a great choice for both YA readers looking to step into a more mature fantasy romance. And adult fans of lighter, romance-centered fantasy adventures.
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