Description

In 1956 Sarah Dewhurst’s father shocks her by hiring a dragon to work the farm. The dragon is a smaller blue rather than the traditional larger reds, though even the reds are now scarce. When the blue dragon, Kazimir, unexpectedly saves Sarah and her friend Jason Inagawa from the attentions of the racist police deputy, Kelby, everything changes. Sarah is part of a prophecy and she must escape the clutches of Malcolm, an assassin from a Believer Cell, the dragon-worshiping cult. When Sarah, Malcolm and Kazimir eventually converge, they are thrown into another universe, where dragons seem never to have existed. Can they save this world and the one they left?

Publisher Review

Oh man. I loved it. Absolutely loved it... Technically, it shouldn't work because there is just... so, so much. But it does work. And I think that is Ness's greatest talent as a writer. He can keep countless plates spinning but never lose the quality - the themes, the ideas, and the lovely, special moments of sweet clarity and profundity. It's hard to speak about the themes without giving too much away but Burn talks about American racism, homophobia, international relations and arms races, religion, the possibility of multiverses, creation myths... and yes, see? I told you. It's a busy book! A fabulous busy book. Also: dragons. What more could a reader want?! * The Book Bag * With two Carnegie medals to his name, Patrick Ness is a literary giant in young adult fiction, and his books remain gloriously original and unpredictable... Mind-bending in the best possible way. -- Fiona Noble * The Observer (The New Review) * A summer blockbuster of a novel: exciting, clever and moving. Somehow, Ness just keeps getting better. * Juno Dawson * I'm completely gripped by this story of revenge, redemption and dragons from the double Carnegie Medal-winner. -- Fiona Noble * The Bookseller * Wonderful and mind-blowing and exhilarating and heart-stopping. What a storyteller! I loved it! * Russell T Davies *