Tonight, I Burn is the first book in the dark and romantic fantasy series Thorn Witch, the debut of Katharine J. Adams, published by Orbit Books. A character driven story about rebelling against the established powers and the prize paid for it, narrated with the really peculiar voice of the main character, Penny, and a really interesting world-building centered about witchery.

If I can define this book with one word, it would be intense. From the first moment, when Ella is stranded in the Death, to her first time burning, and onwards, we can see how Penny has a fire inside, a flame that will impulse her to take difficult decisions if needed; she risks her own if that means bringing hope to the others. In this novel, Penny shines with her own light, bringing many feelings with her actions, and sharing her own interior world with the reader.
While the secondary characters are relatively less important at the start, outside of Ella, who represents a big anchor for Penny, and will become the spark which ignites Penny's flame, they gain relevance in parallel with the plot, going from the small to the big, from the coven to a general revolution. Adams makes us care about them.

Outside of these aspects, Adams has created a deeply detailed world, centered around witchery, power and the different covens; a world whose hierarchy has grown until becoming oppressive, creating the necessity of a revolution that changes it. Following Penny's into the Death's realm is a weird and oniric experience, complementing the material side of the world-building.

I can totally recommend Tonight, I Burn if you want to read an intense fantasy debut, which ends letting all set for a second book that hopefully will be ready next year. In the search of also some queer fantasy with witchery? You have the answer here.