Book Review: Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

Title: Burn Bright
Author: Marianne de Pierres
Series: Night Creatures #1
Publisher: Random House Australia
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Number of Pages: 316

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Into a world of wild secrets and deadly pleasures comes a girl whose innocence may be her greatest strength.
In Ixion music and party are our only beliefs. Darkness is our comfort. We have few rules but they are absolute . . .
Retra doesn’t want to go to Ixion, the island of ever-night, ever-youth and never-sleep. Retra is a Seal – sealed minds, sealed community. She doesn’t crave parties and pleasure, experience and freedom.
But her brother Joel left for Ixion two years ago, and Retra is determined to find him. Braving the intense pain of her obedience strip to escape the only home she’s ever known, Retra stows away on the barge that will take her to her brother.
When she can’t find Joel, Retra finds herself drawn deeper into the intoxicating world of Ixion. Come to me, whispers a voice in her head. Who are the Ripers, the mysterious guardians of Ixion? What are the Night Creatures Retra can see in the shadows? And what happens to those who grow too old for Ixion?
Retra will find that Ixion has its pleasures, but its secrets are deadly. Will friendship, and the creation of an eternal bond with a Riper, be enough to save her from the darkness?
Listen well, baby bats. Burn bright, but do not stray from the paths. Remember, when you live in a place of darkness you also live with creatures of the dark.

MY REVIEW

Want a book that is unlike any other, Burn Bright is that book. Burn Bright takes the idea of going to a club, and takes that to into a completely new world. On Ixion, the sun never shines, but that is all right, because it is perfect for clubbing. That is all the teens on Ixion do, go from one club to another making life one big party. This all sounds amazing to the teens that seek to escape from their lives, and runaway to Ixion, but that is not Retra. Retra is a seal, a young woman to keep her emotions sealed and her face veiled. Retra does not want to party and have fun, she just want to find her brother who left for Ixion two years previous.

Leaving is not as easy as sneaking out to meet the ship, not for Retra. When Joel ran away, something that does not happen in Seal South, Retra’s family was punished. Retra was forced to have an obedience strip inserted into her leg. The closer she comes to the walls that seal in Seal South, the more intense the pain. Retra works for two years to manage her pain, to push herself closer to the gates of her city, and ignore the pain. After training her body, she is finally able to leave on the boat to Ixion.

Once at Ixion, Retra stands out because she is not like the others. She is not there to party, or to lose herself in all that is offered. This causes Retra to be noticed by the Rippers. The Rippers are the guardians of Ixion, and if you end up on their radar, you may just disappear. Ixion is not safe, never wonder off the paths, because the Night Creatures are waiting for you.

Retra is such a strong female lead, who helps other citizens of Ixion without second thought to her own safety. She does what she can to protect her new friends Suki, and Markes, the handsome musician. While she seeks to find Joel, Retra begins to uncover secrets, secrets that the Rippers would kill to protect.

Burn Bright is one of those amazing books, with characters you fall in love with and you root for no matter the situation. The thing I loved the most is the way Marianne de Pierres has with words. This is not a book that should be published only in Australia, it a book that should be available for everyone around the world to enjoy. The second book Angel Arias has already been released, and the third book in this series, Shine Light releases in September. If you can get a copy of Burn Bright, do yourself a favor and read it.

Just a note: There is drug use and sexual situations in the book so this is a book meant for older teens.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this as part of a tour, with big thanks to Dani @ Refracted Light Reviews**


This book is amazing!
Is there a book that is not available worldwide that you feel should be?


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