Honors & Reviews
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
An Amazon Editor's Pick for Best Middle Grade Book of the Year
An Association of Booksellers For Children "Best Book" in the science fiction & fantasy category
Ranked the best fantasy sequel by the News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
AML 2004 Young Adult Fiction Award
A Sonderbooks Standout 2004
Shannon's husband's personal favorite (and he has very discriminating taste)
Reviews
"Powerful and romantic."
Kirkus Reviews
"With a richly detailed setting, eloquent descriptions, a complex plot, a large cast of characters, and romance, this high fantasy will be welcomed both by fans of The Goose Girl and those who have yet to discover it."
School Library Journal
"[T]his novel's pulsing heart lies in rich writing and sharply drawn characters, elements that will be devoured by genre fans just like kindling beneath flames."
Booklist
"The new book is as charming as was the first…Hale has a deft touch with her prose and characterization. The story is fast-paced and satisfying. These books are marketed as YA, but they’re as much YA as the work of Patricia McKillip or Diana Wynne Jones when it’s marketed in the same way. The bottom line is that they’re simply good books."
Charles de Lint, Fantasy & Science Fiction
"Enna Burning is an original, thought-provoking fantasy complete with adventure, romance, realism and strong female characters who don't shirk from danger - or love. We'd expect no less from this talented writer."
Linda Johns, Authorlink.com
"A poignant exploration of dependency, abuse, and recovery but also a finely crafted fantasy, this novel will be appreciated as much for its reflection of the real world as for its development of a complex imaginary realm."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"[M]esmerizing, page-turning...Great action, exquisite writing, excellent character development, and a wonderful ending."
Bill's Best Books, ALAN
"[A] powerful novel, rich in magic and wonder. Highly recommended."
Terri Windling, Endicott Studio
"Hale’s lyrical language creates a vivid fairy-tale world complete with details that allow the reader to experience the harsh land of Bayern, the strange beauty of fire, the frightening final battle and the bond of friendship between the girls. This story goes far beyond the usual magical props to tell a story of heart and depth."
Washington Parent
"Capture, drugs, deception, escape, death, and final victory for good, all take readers on a fast-paced ride into metaphorical questions that are as contemporary as tomorrow's news. Enna's story is a compelling moral tale that teens, classroom teachers, and parents will find memorable and hopeful."
Children's Literature
"The fantasy world created by Hale is rich indeed...There are horses, battles, romance, and mysticism—a combination that appeals to YA readers."
KLIATT
"As she did so well in "The Goose Girl," Hale has created natural, interesting dialogue that leads to keen understanding and culminates in a strong moral. [I]n her second [book], she proves she can create the fairy tale itself, one that has enough interest to become, over time, a classic."
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
A "novel not to be missed at the upper end of the age range."
The Economist.com
"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."
teenreads.com
"An edgy and spellbinding epic novel. With a large cast of carefully crafted characters, a believably detailed setting and a satisfying balance of adventure and romance, Hale's second novel will appeal to her existing fans and new readers alike."
South China Morning Post
"Hale is one of those writers who can make her readers believe anything, and Enna Burning is a seductive and compelling read that grips and thrills until it reaches a final blaze.
South China Morning Post (2nd review)