So Let Them Burn Quiz: 20 Questions on Plot, Characters & Themes

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Let's see if you're a true Childe Empyrean—or a Maiden one.

Plot & Sequence Questions (1–8)

How does Faron win the footrace against Jordan Simmons in Chapter One?

A) She trips Jordan at the finish line.
B) She summons the sun goddess Irie and channels her power.
C) She uses a hidden drake to fly across the finish line.
D) She convinces Jordan to forfeit.

Why does Elara sneak out of her house in Chapter Four?

A) To meet her ex-girlfriend Cherry for a secret date.
B) To travel to Highfort and enlist in the Sky Battalion as a drake pilot.
C) To steal a dragon relic from the palace.
D) To visit her grandfather Winston for advice.

What happens when Elara touches Zephyra's hide in the Victory Garden?

A) She immediately understands all languages.
B) She is burned and falls unconscious.
C) She experiences a painful surge of fire and foreign memories, and the bond takes hold.
D) She gains the ability to summon the gods.

What secret mission does Queen Aveline give Elara before she leaves for Langley?

A) To assassinate Commander Warwick.
B) To spy on the Langlish and report any signs of an impending war.
C) To steal the Gray Saint's relic.
D) To convince Signey to defect to San Irie.

What does Faron discover about the fossilized dragon egg in Deadegg's town square?

A) It is a monument to the war's end.
B) It is the entrance to the Empty, and shattering it releases the First Dragon.
C) It contains a hidden cache of weapons.
D) It is a fake used for propaganda.

What happens to Elara's bond with Zephyra when Faron frees the First Dragon?

A) The bond strengthens, giving Elara more power.
B) The bond breaks, so Elara can no longer understand Zephyra.
C) The bond transfers to Signey.
D) The bond remains, but Zephyra becomes hostile.

Who becomes the Maiden Empyrean at the Port Sol Temple?

A) Faron
B) Signey
C) Elara
D) Queen Aveline

What does Faron do at the very end of the book?

A) She kills Iya and Lightbringer.
B) She chooses to go with Iya on Lightbringer to find a weakness and save Reeve and Gael.
C) She returns to Deadegg to live a quiet life.
D) She becomes the new queen of San Irie.

Character Motivation Questions (9–13)

Why does Faron lie to her teacher, her sister, and about not using summoning in the race at the start of the book?

(Short answer)

Why does Elara decide to enlist in the Sky Battalion despite her family's war losses?

A) She wants to follow in her sister's footsteps.
B) She wants to prove herself and find her own path outside Faron's shadow.
C) She is forced by Queen Aveline.
D) She wants to escape an arranged marriage.

Why does Queen Aveline assign Elara to spy on the Langlish?

A) She wants Elara to assassinate the commander.
B) She suspects the Langlish are planning another war and needs intelligence.
C) She wants Elara to steal dragon relics.
D) She wants Elara to break her bond with Zephyra.

Why does Faron refuse the gods' demand to eradicate all dragons?

A) She believes dragons are innocent.
B) She knows it would kill Elara, her sister.
C) She wants to keep the dragons for herself.
D) She fears the gods' power.

Why does Faron agree to go with Iya at the end of the book?

(Short answer)

Theme & Symbol Questions (14–17)

What does the fossilized dragon egg in Deadegg symbolize?

A) The triumph of San Irie over Langley.
B) The lingering presence of dragons and the hidden threat of the First Dragon.
C) The unity of the Iryan people.
D) The loss of divine power.

What does the Fury represent thematically?

A) The natural rage of dragons.
B) The destructive cycle of rage and trauma, and the manipulation of dragons by Lightbringer.
C) The punishment for breaking a bond.
D) The cost of using summoning magic.

What does the bond between Elara and Zephyra symbolize?

A) The superiority of Langlish magic.
B) Cross-cultural connection and the possibility of unity beyond borders.
C) The danger of trusting foreigners.
D) The inevitability of war.

What does the Gray Saint (Gael Soto) represent?

A) The heroic ideal of the first Rider.
B) The tragic cost of power and the corruption of good intentions.
C) The hope for peace between nations.
D) The wisdom of the gods.

Synthesis Questions (18–20)

How does Faron's relationship with Reeve evolve from distrust to trust over the course of the novel?

(Short answer)

Compare Faron's and Elara's paths to power. How do their journeys differ and what do they reveal about the book's themes?

(Short answer)

What is the significance of the title So Let Them Burn in relation to the ending?

(Short answer)

Answer Key

B – Faron summons Irie and channels her power to win the race, though Jordan protests that she cheated. (Chapter One)
B – Elara sneaks out to enlist in the Sky Battalion as a drake pilot, hoping to prove herself. (Chapter Four)
C – When Elara touches Zephyra, she experiences a painful surge of fire and foreign memories, and the bond takes hold, making her a co-Rider. (Chapter Eight)
B – Aveline assigns Elara to spy on the Langlish, suspecting they are planning another war. (Chapter Twelve)
B – Faron learns the egg is the entrance to the Empty; shattering it releases the First Dragon, Lightbringer. (Chapter Thirty-Two)
B – The bond breaks when Faron frees the First Dragon, so Elara can no longer understand Zephyra. (Chapter Thirty-Three)
C – Elara becomes the Maiden Empyrean after the gods grant her power at the Port Sol Temple. (Chapter Thirty-Nine)
B – Faron chooses to go with Iya on Lightbringer, hoping to find a weakness and save Reeve and Gael. (Chapter Forty)
Model answer: Faron lies to avoid consequences, maintain her rebellious image, and win the race without being seen as cheating. She also lies to protect her sense of self, as she resents being the Childe Empyrean and wants to be a normal teenager. (Chapter One)
B – Elara wants to prove herself and find her own path outside Faron's shadow, even though her family has suffered losses in the war. (Chapters Two and Four)
B – Aveline suspects the Langlish are planning another war and needs Elara to gather intelligence while she is at Hearthstone. (Chapter Twelve)
B – Faron refuses because eradicating all dragons would kill their Riders, including her sister Elara. (Chapter Fifteen)
Model answer: Faron goes with Iya to find Lightbringer's weakness, save Reeve and Gael, and redeem herself for the destruction she caused. She believes she can trick Iya and free both boys. (Chapter Forty)
B – The egg symbolizes the lingering presence of dragons and the hidden threat of the First Dragon, which is later revealed to be the entrance to the Empty. (Chapters One and Thirty-Two)
B – The Fury represents the destructive cycle of rage and trauma, and it is revealed that Lightbringer created and uses it to control dragons. (Chapters Ten and Thirty-Six)
B – The bond between Elara and Zephyra transcends national borders, symbolizing cross-cultural connection and the possibility of unity beyond colonial divisions. (Chapter Eight)
B – The Gray Saint (Gael Soto) represents the tragic cost of power and the corruption of good intentions, as he was once a hero but became a pawn of Lightbringer. (Chapters Seventeen and Twenty-Three)
Model answer: Faron and Reeve start as wary allies, with Faron suspecting him of being a spy. Over time, they reconcile after arguments, share a kiss, and work together to save Elara. By the end, Faron trusts Reeve enough to go with him (even though he's possessed by Iya) to try to save him. (Chapters Five, Thirteen, Twenty-Five, Twenty-Seven, Thirty-Two, Forty)
Model answer: Faron is born with divine power as the Childe Empyrean but loses her connection to the gods after freeing Lightbringer. Elara gains power through the dragon bond and later becomes the Maiden Empyrean. Both struggle with expectations and sacrifice, but Faron's journey is about learning to use power responsibly, while Elara's is about embracing a power she never asked for. (Chapters One, Eight, Thirty-Nine)
Model answer: The title reflects the characters' willingness to let the world burn rather than sacrifice loved ones. Faron refuses to kill Elara even when the gods demand it, and Elara refuses to trap Iya if it means losing Faron and Reeve. The ending emphasizes that family and love outweigh duty to the world, even if it means destruction. (Chapters Fifteen, Forty)