Paula Weston, Burn (Rephaim #4), Text Publishing, 24 June 2015, 432 pp., $19.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781925240078
Burn is an excellent conclusion to the Rephaim series. It’s not often a series runs to four books, but Weston knew early on she wanted this unusual number. Hearing her at the launch of Burn at Riverbend Books in Brisbane provided more insight into both the specifics of the new book, as well the series as whole. Weston claims she started Shadows as ‘a bit of fun’ after receiving another rejection letter from a publisher for an earlier series. She is particularly grateful to Text, the publishers who took a chance with her books, which are now published in the US/Canada and the UK and Turkey.
The Rephaim series centres on a version of the Angels mythology. Weston has made an Australian coastal town (imagine Byron Bay) a major setting, and this familiarity of landscape set alongside the wonders of the paranormal world has ensured its success with Australian teenagers. It’s not only that it’s an original idea, it’s an original idea done well.
If you haven’t read the other books, this review won’t mean much to you. And there may be spoilers for previous books, so be warned. But if you are looking for a series that balances action and romance really well, you should consider this series. It is definitely for your upper secondary students, mostly because the characters talk like teenagers (that is, they swear).
Burn does right by its readers. All plots are brought together well. They are tied up beautifully, with emotion and affection. Rafa doesn’t lose his sardonic smart wit. Gabe/Gaby learns about her past, but holds onto what’s best about her when she was (or thought she was) human. Mick and the boys are a rough bunch, but prove to be loyal, stubborn buggers, and karma is handed out to those who deserve it.
The structure is clever and strong. For the first half of the book, we flashback to Gaby’s missing years, and the story unfolds in natural time. People might want that part to be shorter, but I loved that we got so much detail about what transpired to break up Jude and Gabe a decade ago, and the role Rafa played. Then the second half sets up for the big battle, the issue of the split with the Rephaim and the Outcasts, and who’s loyal to who, with lots of accusations thrown, tempers flaring, and fists flying. But the quiet moments are there too: between Jude and Gabe, Rafa and Gabe, and Dani and Gabe.
The last several chapters don’t rush the inevitable resolutions, but treat the reader with respect and give lots of the happy to counter all the darkness and violence. Weston told people at the launch that while she doesn’t think there will be any more full-length novels, she won’t discount the possibility of a short story (or two) in which she shows more glimpses of the characters she can’t quite get out of her head. I’d be all for that!
reviewed by Trisha Buckley