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ofbooksandechos's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, and Torture
Moderate: Racism
ellisdex's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Very LGBTQ+ friendly - has a nonbinary protagonist and other nonbinary characters who are part of the world, non-hetero relationships are accepted, polyamorous relationships are accepted
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Grief
benediction's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Torture
lettuce_read's review
adventurous
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Torture
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Xenophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
samusc's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
The cover is stunning and has been imprinted in my mind since before the book was released.
The nonbinary and polyamorous representation is well done.
The concept of wiping out an opponent's culture by actively destroying their artwork and turning the remains into a weapon is so meaningful, wow </spoiler/> !
I love that Jebi is an artist and not a soldier. The whole situation plays to the idea that for a successful revolution, anyone can contribute regardless of skill set.
The romance aspect of this story and Vei as a character is so unique.
What I loved most about this book is the humor in the voice given to Arazi .
I’d recommend Phoenix Extravagant to any fantasy fan, but especially those that have read a lot of Young Adult and are looking to branch out into Adult Fantasy. Jebi is 27 and somewhat ignorant of the world around them at the beginning, yet rebellious in the best ways. The language is approachable, the twists exhilarating, and the few sex related scenes handled with care.
The conclusion sets us up well for a sequel that I can’t wait to read. This book was a lovely introduction for me to Yoon Ha Lee’s work and I’m looking forward to more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Confinement and Sexual content
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
thiscubed's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Murder and Sexual content
anigoose's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really loved this. I don't quite even know what I'd compare it to in order to recommend it, but I just...it was such a solidly good book. Pleasant to read, you know? It helped that the audiobook was narrated by Emily Woo Zeller who is amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Ableism, Blood, and Vomit
azrah786's review
2.5
**I was provided with an ARC through the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
CW: violence, interrogation/torture, death, themes of colonialism, cultural erasure
Inspired by the annexation of Korea by Japan, Phoenix Extravagan takes place in Hwaguk, a country colonised by the Empire of Razan. We follow Jebi an apolitical and unemployed artist who has been trying to do their best to get by, even if it involves appeasing to the Razanei mannerisms and way of life. However, a fall out with their sister – whose wife was killed in the war leading up to the occupation – gets them kicked out of the house. And so they don’t have much of choice when they’re cornered by a Razanei government minster and coerced into accepting the role of a Ministry of Armour artist.
The department is involved in animating the government’s automatons through magical pigments and glyphs – and Jebi’s position has them working with the Ministry’s giant dragon war machine. However, upon uncovering more and more of the ministry’s secrets along with the truth about what happened to their predecessor, Jebi finds that they can no longer remain uninvolved with the political situation around them.
As a lover of fantasy and world history, when the two come together in fiction I love that additional learning opportunity that arises. This is a story of rebellion and the various effects of colonialism however, this particular narrative is unique in that it puts a large focus on what this means when it comes to art.
The book has a slow start but I did get caught up in the intrigue. The magic system revolving around the animation of the automatons in equal parts fascinated and horrified me, Arazi the dragon in particular came along and stoles my heart. The protagonist isn’t your usual “hero type” or the most likable and though I sympathised with their situation - I feel like this is where I had problems with the book.
3 months later and I can’t pin point exactly what it was that meant I didn’t enjoy this one until the end but all I can say is there was a point in the book where Jebi started to feel like a side character. This made the narration and everything that was occurring feel very subdued and I started to get a little bored. I genuinely don’t even remember how the book ended now and I find it a shame because I really loved various other elements of this book.
So sadly this was not everything I expected my first Yoon Ha Lee read to be, though I am definitely interested in checking out his other work.
Final Rating – 2.5 Stars
CW: violence, interrogation/torture, death, themes of colonialism, cultural erasure
Inspired by the annexation of Korea by Japan, Phoenix Extravagan takes place in Hwaguk, a country colonised by the Empire of Razan. We follow Jebi an apolitical and unemployed artist who has been trying to do their best to get by, even if it involves appeasing to the Razanei mannerisms and way of life. However, a fall out with their sister – whose wife was killed in the war leading up to the occupation – gets them kicked out of the house. And so they don’t have much of choice when they’re cornered by a Razanei government minster and coerced into accepting the role of a Ministry of Armour artist.
The department is involved in animating the government’s automatons through magical pigments and glyphs – and Jebi’s position has them working with the Ministry’s giant dragon war machine. However, upon uncovering more and more of the ministry’s secrets along with the truth about what happened to their predecessor, Jebi finds that they can no longer remain uninvolved with the political situation around them.
As a lover of fantasy and world history, when the two come together in fiction I love that additional learning opportunity that arises. This is a story of rebellion and the various effects of colonialism however, this particular narrative is unique in that it puts a large focus on what this means when it comes to art.
The book has a slow start but I did get caught up in the intrigue. The magic system revolving around the animation of the automatons in equal parts fascinated and horrified me, Arazi the dragon in particular came along and stoles my heart. The protagonist isn’t your usual “hero type” or the most likable and though I sympathised with their situation - I feel like this is where I had problems with the book.
3 months later and I can’t pin point exactly what it was that meant I didn’t enjoy this one until the end but all I can say is there was a point in the book where Jebi started to feel like a side character. This made the narration and everything that was occurring feel very subdued and I started to get a little bored. I genuinely don’t even remember how the book ended now and I find it a shame because I really loved various other elements of this book.
So sadly this was not everything I expected my first Yoon Ha Lee read to be, though I am definitely interested in checking out his other work.
Final Rating – 2.5 Stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Torture, and Death
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