Scan barcode
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy moly the politics and mixed POVs we get in this book! The slow pace of the book really allowed us to connect with each character during their POV and how their decisions affect everyone else around them as well as their goals and their struggles. The world we learn is beautiful and vibrant keeping you want to learn more about what is happening around you and how everything can to be where we started at the book.
I cannot wait to see how this trilogy goes and when the next book comes out I will definitely be getting it.
I cannot wait to see how this trilogy goes and when the next book comes out I will definitely be getting it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Blood, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
drmblu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
najmanasir's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall, 4.5 stars! One thing I really enjoyed was how Aparna described scenes in her book. They were always so detailed and descriptive that I could envision everything happening. I tend to play scenes in my head, and her writing style completely supports that. I also admired the complexity of each character, appreciating how multi-dimensional they were. No character was purely "good," as their moral compasses were constantly challenged. For example, we have Leo Ravence, a father and the King of Ravence, who must balance his decisions between protecting his kingdom and his daughter Elena. We watch as he makes irreversible mistakes throughout his reign, but also moments where he shows his care as a father. There is also Yassen Knight, a man of Ravani and Jantari descent and an assassin for the Arohassin. Struggling against the rejection from both sides of his heritage due to having the blood of the opposing lineage in his veins, Yassen also bears the weight of being labeled a traitor and criminal for his allegiance to the Arohassin. Between balancing the desire to belong and the necessity of survival, Yassen questions where his loyalties lie, ultimately faced with decisions on whom to betray and serve. As the story unfolds, their individual narratives and arcs add depth, revealing perspectives that make each character captivating and prompting my sympathy towards them.
Another aspect I wanted to mention was the romance in the book. I appreciated that the romance was a subplot in the book, focusing mainly on the political issues and specific challenges each character had to face in the story. The romance between Elena and Yassen was a slow burn, matching the pace of their relationship development. While initially, the romance felt abrupt and kind of flat, it became more natural as the plot expanded and they found a deep understanding of one another.
Furthermore, the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter (which were snippets from various documents and books within the story's world), were such a creative addition to the narrative. While it may have been a small detail, it added another layer to the story, which deeply tied into the plot, world-building, and connections to specific characters. Honestly, I wished we had full-length documents of these excerpts. Some of my favorite quotes came from them, showcasing Aparna's attention to detail to vividly bring the world to life.
However, one thing I wish had been explored more was Elena's feelings, especially her rage. We do see her rage towards the middle/end of the book, but I wish it was scattered throughout the story. There were many moments when I felt like Elena was too calm, but I can understand that with her predicaments, she had to suppress her emotions more than she would've liked. However, the shift in her personality and morals towards the end of the book leaves a lot to explore in book two. Elena has so much potential and room for growth, and I can't wait to see her character development in the next two books.
Overall, this was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The bonus chapter at the end emotionally wrecked me, making a particular bond so much more powerful. I will now be counting the days until the release of book 2, anticipating the impending chaos that has yet to unfold.
Another aspect I wanted to mention was the romance in the book. I appreciated that the romance was a subplot in the book, focusing mainly on the political issues and specific challenges each character had to face in the story. The romance between Elena and Yassen was a slow burn, matching the pace of their relationship development. While initially, the romance felt abrupt and kind of flat, it became more natural as the plot expanded and they found a deep understanding of one another.
Furthermore, the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter (which were snippets from various documents and books within the story's world), were such a creative addition to the narrative. While it may have been a small detail, it added another layer to the story, which deeply tied into the plot, world-building, and connections to specific characters. Honestly, I wished we had full-length documents of these excerpts. Some of my favorite quotes came from them, showcasing Aparna's attention to detail to vividly bring the world to life.
However, one thing I wish had been explored more was Elena's feelings, especially her rage. We do see her rage towards the middle/end of the book, but I wish it was scattered throughout the story. There were many moments when I felt like Elena was too calm, but I can understand that with her predicaments, she had to suppress her emotions more than she would've liked. However, the shift in her personality and morals towards the end of the book leaves a lot to explore in book two. Elena has so much potential and room for growth, and I can't wait to see her character development in the next two books.
Overall, this was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The bonus chapter at the end emotionally wrecked me, making a particular bond so much more powerful. I will now be counting the days until the release of book 2, anticipating the impending chaos that has yet to unfold.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, War, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gun violence
teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved getting into this world that is fuelled both by fantasy and science fiction elements and has
fire at its core.
Loved the introduction of the three main characters, Elena, the heir apparent to the thrown, Yassen, hired assassin now body guard, and Leo, the current Phoenix King and Elena's father. We experience the unfolding story through Elena's, Yassen's and Leo's point of view.
And then we also meet Elena's soon to be husband Samson, who comes with an army of his own, the Black Scales.
It becomes clear fairly quickly that all is not well in the Kingdom of Ravence, and rebellion maybe even a revolution maybe well on its way.
As events escalate Elena finds herself thrown into a series of events that change her, as she has to make choices as to where her alliances and her trust lies, assuming, that there is anyone she can trust.
Underlying the whole novel is the magic of the phoenix and its outward symbol of fire. It is beautifully woven into the narrative as we get glimpses of the phoenix through what each of the main characters believes about the phoenix and his powers. And yet, the true magic of the phoenix still has to be revealed.
There, too, is an immersion into colours and flavours/scents that I have not yet encountered in a fantasy novel. I absolutely loved this sensual layer, that brought colour & spice into the story & to me as a reader.
The book ends on a cliffhanger of some magnitude.
And now we wait and see where the story takes us from there.
I have to admit that I am curious whereto the story will develop. Hopefully much more of the phoenix magic will become apparent. And me thinks, Elena, Yassen and Samson will be amazing in their new found powers.
fire at its core.
Loved the introduction of the three main characters, Elena, the heir apparent to the thrown, Yassen, hired assassin now body guard, and Leo, the current Phoenix King and Elena's father. We experience the unfolding story through Elena's, Yassen's and Leo's point of view.
And then we also meet Elena's soon to be husband Samson, who comes with an army of his own, the Black Scales.
It becomes clear fairly quickly that all is not well in the Kingdom of Ravence, and rebellion maybe even a revolution maybe well on its way.
As events escalate Elena finds herself thrown into a series of events that change her, as she has to make choices as to where her alliances and her trust lies, assuming, that there is anyone she can trust.
Underlying the whole novel is the magic of the phoenix and its outward symbol of fire. It is beautifully woven into the narrative as we get glimpses of the phoenix through what each of the main characters believes about the phoenix and his powers. And yet, the true magic of the phoenix still has to be revealed.
There, too, is an immersion into colours and flavours/scents that I have not yet encountered in a fantasy novel. I absolutely loved this sensual layer, that brought colour & spice into the story & to me as a reader.
The book ends on a cliffhanger of some magnitude.
And now we wait and see where the story takes us from there.
I have to admit that I am curious whereto the story will develop. Hopefully much more of the phoenix magic will become apparent. And me thinks, Elena, Yassen and Samson will be amazing in their new found powers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, and Death of parent
mirificmoxie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Murder and Death
bookkeeperdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Death
jennanaps's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Gaslighting, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, War, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and Blood
Minor: Pedophilia
mad_ds's review against another edition
3.5
overall i enjoyed this debut! the world building was enjoyable (a sci-fi fantasy? yes please!!) the political intrigue was, well, intriguing (haha) and i enjoyed seeing the to-be queen dynamic with elena and (king) leo’s perspective within those political dynamics. i think most of the characters were fine, yassen & ferma were definitely my favorites. of all the characters, i think yassen was the most fascinating. his background, his internal struggle/seeing his perspective and thoughts were interesting. that said, i also did like elena, our main protagonist! she was fierce, intelligent, determined, and stubborn in the very best way. i wish we had seen more interactions with leo, though i know that their lack of connection was intentional. samson!! samson… he was not interesting to me this book- but i am VERY interested to see how he develops and we see him play more into the next installment of the series! overall i think the plot was interesting and kept me engaged the whole way through :)
i do think the romance (which was marketed very enemies-to-lovers slow burn) did not fulfill my expectations. in my opinion, this was a very quick ‘enemies’ (more like tense & unfamiliar), quickly falling into romantic intrigue and later rivals/betrayers. all that to say it was a sweet & pleasant romance subplot and i did like it! it just was very much not what was advertised in my opinion:)
“I’ll go far enough,” she told the fire.
"You're killing me, Yassen," she said softly, "and at the same time, you're the one keeping me from death." Her eyes met his. "What am I supposed to do?"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual content
skienight's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, War, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
likeagilmoregirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Filled with political tension, a subtle slow-burn romance, and a well rounded magic system, the Phoenix King grabbed my attention from the beginning of chapter one and held on till the very last page.
Aparna Verma weaves a beautiful tale inspired by Indian mythology and politics through the voices of three main characters:
A princess nearing her coronation, searching for the magic that is her birthright. A king desperate to keep his daughter safe and maintain power. An assassin now pledging loyalty to the crown.
Each voice is distinct and powerful. Plot points and proper pacing allowed me to connect with the character as their internal dialogue and resulting actions transformed. And I became so attached to one character that a certain chapter had me absolutely screaming/sobbing. If you’ve read this, you know.
One of the cons for me throughout this book was the world building. Specifically the politics and government conflicts. It seems like a very well thought out system, but it was difficult at times to remember what groups were on whose sides and what was happening politically. There was also the occasional info dump surrounding the politics that could make it a bit dry and confusing in those moments. I would love to see this improve a bit in the next book.
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of the audiobook for review and I will gladly say that I loved this production! The narrators were fantastic and their styles fit the vibe and emotions of the characters perfectly. I especially loved the narrator voicing Elena
Overall, I give this a 4.5 stars!
*Huge thanks to Netgalley, Hachette Audio, Orbit and Aparna Verma for granting me access to the advanced copy of The Phoenix King audiobook for review*
Aparna Verma weaves a beautiful tale inspired by Indian mythology and politics through the voices of three main characters:
A princess nearing her coronation, searching for the magic that is her birthright. A king desperate to keep his daughter safe and maintain power. An assassin now pledging loyalty to the crown.
Each voice is distinct and powerful. Plot points and proper pacing allowed me to connect with the character as their internal dialogue and resulting actions transformed. And I became so attached to one character that a certain chapter had me absolutely screaming/sobbing. If you’ve read this, you know.
One of the cons for me throughout this book was the world building. Specifically the politics and government conflicts. It seems like a very well thought out system, but it was difficult at times to remember what groups were on whose sides and what was happening politically. There was also the occasional info dump surrounding the politics that could make it a bit dry and confusing in those moments. I would love to see this improve a bit in the next book.
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of the audiobook for review and I will gladly say that I loved this production! The narrators were fantastic and their styles fit the vibe and emotions of the characters perfectly. I especially loved the narrator voicing Elena
Overall, I give this a 4.5 stars!
*Huge thanks to Netgalley, Hachette Audio, Orbit and Aparna Verma for granting me access to the advanced copy of The Phoenix King audiobook for review*
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Fire/Fire injury