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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I totally understand the other reviews that I saw for this one, now. I thought it was a super meaningful, interesting, and engaging book about the impact of colonization and art's place in society, and I was really into it, and the last three pages threw everything into question. I really don't know how I feel about this book now, but it is thought-provoking, I'll give it that much.
There is something quite extraordinary about a book that not only entertains and educates, but also sends you diving into Wikipedia because of how much more you want to know about it. Set in a brilliant fantasy, semi-steampunk Korea during its occupation, Phoenix Extravagant manages to weave together so many different themes that one can almost become dizzy. The power of art, of personhood, colonisation and the struggle of occupation, Magic, and the big question: can a magical, mechanical dragon pass the Turing Test?
Added to this are fully realised, layered LGBT characters. Lee himself is a member of the LGBT community, and his characters, non-binary, trans, pan, bi, are some of the best written queer characters that I have met recently. There is no being shoved to the side, no being fridged. The protagonist Jebi is completely themself throughout. I want to adopt them, and feed them, and help them make good life choices!
Added to this are fully realised, layered LGBT characters. Lee himself is a member of the LGBT community, and his characters, non-binary, trans, pan, bi, are some of the best written queer characters that I have met recently. There is no being shoved to the side, no being fridged. The protagonist Jebi is completely themself throughout. I want to adopt them, and feed them, and help them make good life choices!
2 - 2.5 stars
So I don't want to say that this book was bad, because I don't believe that it was, but having finished Phoenix Extravagant affirmed for me that Yoon Ha Lee's writing just does not work for me.
A while ago I read The Dragon Pearl, I loved the concept and the world (mythology and folklore elements with a fairly unique magic system in the sci-fi setting) had a lot of potential, but I did not enjoy the characters and the writing didn't make me feel anything. I decided to give this one a try, since it's not a middle grade book this time, so I thought the approach Yoon Ha Lee took with Phoenix Extravagant may have been different + look at that cover, how gorgeous is that.
Once again, this time I loved the concept and world and the very unique magic system with the pigments extracted from artworks that can be used to create a sort of code to program automata. How cool does that sound?
The start was very rough for me, I fairly quickly realised that the writing was extremely dry and that's just not my thing. If the book had been longer, I might have ended up just not finishing it, but I was already a third in so I kept going. After the first third, the plot does pick up a lot, but not to the extent that I would say I had a great time. I had an okay time, I guess, but mostly because I was trying to project my own feelings into the story, since the writing itself didn't make me feel anything at all.
The characters weren't my favourite part either. I'm going to assume I'm not the only one that thinks Arazi is the best character in the book and I do have to say I liked the dragon. I think that's mostly because, as an automaton, the drier writing works with its personality a lot better, maybe? Vei I liked as well, but other than those two, I'm not sure.
I can appreciate the way Jebi (the MC) is kind of undecided on what side of this war they're on, since that's not a pov we often get. It's interesting to see them figuring out their stance on things throughout the story while remaining simultaneously fairly neutral and also extremely prejudiced against the invaders (this bothered me a lot, but I respect the choice to portray the MC this way).
Jebi's sister, Bongsunga, I did not enjoy at all as a character. She did not come across as a very consistent character to me, especially towards the end when we learn more about her. She completely betrays the only family member she still has, imprisoning them and forcing them to do things they don't want to do and then somehow a few chapters later it's important to her that Jebi is family?? I'm not sure how that happens. The argument that Jebi almost died and she realised in those moments that they're important to her does not sit well with me, because Jebi could've almost died several times way earlier in this book and Bongsunga didn't change her mind then either.
TL;DR: The concept and magic system are super cool and I wish the dry, impersonal writing worked for me, but it just did not. I couldn't connect to anyone or anything in the story and it made me feel nothing.
So I don't want to say that this book was bad, because I don't believe that it was, but having finished Phoenix Extravagant affirmed for me that Yoon Ha Lee's writing just does not work for me.
A while ago I read The Dragon Pearl, I loved the concept and the world (mythology and folklore elements with a fairly unique magic system in the sci-fi setting) had a lot of potential, but I did not enjoy the characters and the writing didn't make me feel anything. I decided to give this one a try, since it's not a middle grade book this time, so I thought the approach Yoon Ha Lee took with Phoenix Extravagant may have been different + look at that cover, how gorgeous is that.
Once again, this time I loved the concept and world and the very unique magic system with the pigments extracted from artworks that can be used to create a sort of code to program automata. How cool does that sound?
The start was very rough for me, I fairly quickly realised that the writing was extremely dry and that's just not my thing. If the book had been longer, I might have ended up just not finishing it, but I was already a third in so I kept going. After the first third, the plot does pick up a lot, but not to the extent that I would say I had a great time. I had an okay time, I guess, but mostly because I was trying to project my own feelings into the story, since the writing itself didn't make me feel anything at all.
The characters weren't my favourite part either. I'm going to assume I'm not the only one that thinks Arazi is the best character in the book and I do have to say I liked the dragon. I think that's mostly because, as an automaton, the drier writing works with its personality a lot better, maybe? Vei I liked as well, but other than those two, I'm not sure.
I can appreciate the way Jebi (the MC) is kind of undecided on what side of this war they're on, since that's not a pov we often get. It's interesting to see them figuring out their stance on things throughout the story while remaining simultaneously fairly neutral and also extremely prejudiced against the invaders (this bothered me a lot, but I respect the choice to portray the MC this way).
Jebi's sister, Bongsunga, I did not enjoy at all as a character. She did not come across as a very consistent character to me, especially towards the end when we learn more about her. She completely betrays the only family member she still has, imprisoning them and forcing them to do things they don't want to do and then somehow a few chapters later it's important to her that Jebi is family?? I'm not sure how that happens. The argument that Jebi almost died and she realised in those moments that they're important to her does not sit well with me, because Jebi could've almost died several times way earlier in this book and Bongsunga didn't change her mind then either.
TL;DR: The concept and magic system are super cool and I wish the dry, impersonal writing worked for me, but it just did not. I couldn't connect to anyone or anything in the story and it made me feel nothing.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A beautiful fantasy with an unexpected and new magic system. Loved the main character. Loved that whenever I thought I knew where the story was going it just - didn't.
Side-eyeing the end a little, but maybe you saw that coming if you paid actual attention?
My ace ass didn't get the romance. ¯\_(°ペ)_/¯
Side-eyeing the end a little, but maybe you saw that coming if you paid actual attention?
My ace ass didn't get the romance. ¯\_(°ペ)_/¯
Where can I even start with this book?
I decided to surprise myself and take on a whole new type of genre.
With so much hype surrounding this book, I was desperate to see what the fuss was about and whether or not this could possibly be a new author for me. Plus that cover - stunning!
I took this fantasy location as based upon Eastern civilisation under occupation by a foreign government.
We follow Jebi, a non-binary artist (the use of pro-nouns to describe the character was fantastic and very much inclusive) and I enjoyed the fact that this was an ordinary person who simply found that they’d jumped a little too deep and were in other their head - something we don’t see that often in fantasy as the MC is usually magical or sting.
I found Jebi hard to connect with and even coming to the end of the book, I still never had a huge connection with them.
There was an ugly side to the book in regards to oppression but that seems to be normal trend in today’s real world so I can fully understand why it was there. It really makes you stop and think, not about the fantasy in the book but about our own reality.
There wasn’t much in a way of building the magic system and I’d have loved to have spent more time getting to understand the sigils which could bring objects to life.
For the first third of the book, I was nervous as I didn’t know where the plot was going or if there even was much of a plot there. But hang in there - it does get better. I guess I’m just used to being thrown into the deep end.
I would put a trigger warning on the book though due to some very extreme scenes involving death, torture etc.
However, let’s get to the best part - the dragon!! It literally took over the whole book for me and I found it to be the saving grace of this book.
Overall, I found it to be ok.
Would I read Yoon Ha Lee again? Probably.
But this book just wasn’t for me and that’s ok. The world would be a boring place if we all liked the same books.
*Arc supplied thanks to Rebellion Publishing*
Please note that these are only my personal opinions and are not a reflection on the author or anyone who loves this book.
I decided to surprise myself and take on a whole new type of genre.
With so much hype surrounding this book, I was desperate to see what the fuss was about and whether or not this could possibly be a new author for me. Plus that cover - stunning!
I took this fantasy location as based upon Eastern civilisation under occupation by a foreign government.
We follow Jebi, a non-binary artist (the use of pro-nouns to describe the character was fantastic and very much inclusive) and I enjoyed the fact that this was an ordinary person who simply found that they’d jumped a little too deep and were in other their head - something we don’t see that often in fantasy as the MC is usually magical or sting.
I found Jebi hard to connect with and even coming to the end of the book, I still never had a huge connection with them.
There was an ugly side to the book in regards to oppression but that seems to be normal trend in today’s real world so I can fully understand why it was there. It really makes you stop and think, not about the fantasy in the book but about our own reality.
There wasn’t much in a way of building the magic system and I’d have loved to have spent more time getting to understand the sigils which could bring objects to life.
For the first third of the book, I was nervous as I didn’t know where the plot was going or if there even was much of a plot there. But hang in there - it does get better. I guess I’m just used to being thrown into the deep end.
I would put a trigger warning on the book though due to some very extreme scenes involving death, torture etc.
However, let’s get to the best part - the dragon!! It literally took over the whole book for me and I found it to be the saving grace of this book.
Overall, I found it to be ok.
Would I read Yoon Ha Lee again? Probably.
But this book just wasn’t for me and that’s ok. The world would be a boring place if we all liked the same books.
*Arc supplied thanks to Rebellion Publishing*
Please note that these are only my personal opinions and are not a reflection on the author or anyone who loves this book.
So a while back I tried reading Yoon Ha Lee's much-praised sci-fi novel, Ninefox Gambit. I'll admit the worldbuilding was unique, and I could tell that Yoon Ha Lee had a fascinating voice - and a good writer, but all the heady mathematical concepts that comprised the universe of that story were just not for me. It felt all too overwhelming. And I couldn't connect with the characters.
So I picked up Phoenix Extravagant with some hesitation. The premise intrigued me (artists, mechanical dragons, war-check) but would I be able to go along for the ride? Turns out that Phoenix Extravagant is the type of work I love: it's full of fascinating worldbuilding with characters you care about. And it reads like an adult version of a Miyazaki film.
Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee is a story that instantly caught my attention. It didn't take me too long to let go of my hesitation. It's set in a fantasy land inspired by Korea under Japanese occupation, containing a mixture of magic and technology, and with a giant sentient mechanical dragon. I mean, what’s not exciting about that?
The story follows Jebi, a non-binary artist who lives in Hwaguk, a country that is living under the occupation of Razanei, a neighboring nation that defeated their forces a decade before. Jebi has been living with their older sister, trying to find steady work as an artist, but failing despite their skills. Jebi isn’t a prodigy by any means, but still competent enough that they feel they can make a living from their craft. When Jebi discovers that the Ministry of Armour is looking for artists they find themselves recruited to help the forces occupying their nation. Jebi thinks they are helping the Ministry of Armor to paint the mystical sigils that animate the occupying government’s automaton soldiers but little do they know about the depths of the Razanei government’s horrifying crimes—and the awful source of the magical pigments they use. So when Jebi finds out, they find they can no longer stay out of politics.
What they can do is give the automation a voice with a particular glyph, and steal Arazi, the ministry’s mighty dragon automaton, and find a way to fight…
What makes this story great is not only the worldbuilding but the characters. As a person who has dabbled in the arts (okay maybe more than dabbled, I went to art school), I instantly connected to Jebi. All they want to do is make art. They do not care about the war effort, unlike their militant sister. And if you love animal companion stories, well you'll love this book. My favorite character was Arazi, whom you see on the cover. Arazi is a mechanical dragon-shaped war machine outside, but a true pacifist dragon inside!
Phoenix Extravagant is truly a tale about many different kinds of love. Perhaps this is why I really connected with it. The love of Jebi for art, the love between Jebi and their sister, the inconvenient love that Jebi develops for a high-ranking Ministry member, and what might possibly be my favorite love between a person and a mechanical dragon.
Phoenix Extravagant is a quick read but is epic in its own right. There are more betrayals, surprises, and blurry lines between good and evil than GOT. It is a story about love, war, colonialism, cultural erasure, & art. It managed to be violent and gentle all at the same time. And it has one of the best and impressionistic endings of any fantasy book I've ever read.
Phoenix Extravagant is that rare fantasy book with fascinating worldbuilding and huge heart. Read it soon.
So I picked up Phoenix Extravagant with some hesitation. The premise intrigued me (artists, mechanical dragons, war-check) but would I be able to go along for the ride? Turns out that Phoenix Extravagant is the type of work I love: it's full of fascinating worldbuilding with characters you care about. And it reads like an adult version of a Miyazaki film.
Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee is a story that instantly caught my attention. It didn't take me too long to let go of my hesitation. It's set in a fantasy land inspired by Korea under Japanese occupation, containing a mixture of magic and technology, and with a giant sentient mechanical dragon. I mean, what’s not exciting about that?
The story follows Jebi, a non-binary artist who lives in Hwaguk, a country that is living under the occupation of Razanei, a neighboring nation that defeated their forces a decade before. Jebi has been living with their older sister, trying to find steady work as an artist, but failing despite their skills. Jebi isn’t a prodigy by any means, but still competent enough that they feel they can make a living from their craft. When Jebi discovers that the Ministry of Armour is looking for artists they find themselves recruited to help the forces occupying their nation. Jebi thinks they are helping the Ministry of Armor to paint the mystical sigils that animate the occupying government’s automaton soldiers but little do they know about the depths of the Razanei government’s horrifying crimes—and the awful source of the magical pigments they use. So when Jebi finds out, they find they can no longer stay out of politics.
What they can do is give the automation a voice with a particular glyph, and steal Arazi, the ministry’s mighty dragon automaton, and find a way to fight…
What makes this story great is not only the worldbuilding but the characters. As a person who has dabbled in the arts (okay maybe more than dabbled, I went to art school), I instantly connected to Jebi. All they want to do is make art. They do not care about the war effort, unlike their militant sister. And if you love animal companion stories, well you'll love this book. My favorite character was Arazi, whom you see on the cover. Arazi is a mechanical dragon-shaped war machine outside, but a true pacifist dragon inside!
Phoenix Extravagant is truly a tale about many different kinds of love. Perhaps this is why I really connected with it. The love of Jebi for art, the love between Jebi and their sister, the inconvenient love that Jebi develops for a high-ranking Ministry member, and what might possibly be my favorite love between a person and a mechanical dragon.
Phoenix Extravagant is a quick read but is epic in its own right. There are more betrayals, surprises, and blurry lines between good and evil than GOT. It is a story about love, war, colonialism, cultural erasure, & art. It managed to be violent and gentle all at the same time. And it has one of the best and impressionistic endings of any fantasy book I've ever read.
Phoenix Extravagant is that rare fantasy book with fascinating worldbuilding and huge heart. Read it soon.
adventurous
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
This was such a good, short read. The world building with magic pigments that bring automaton to life was fascinating, and I loved that this story in a world full of war, conquest, and colonization was told through the perspective of an artist, not a traditional fighter.
adventurous
emotional
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
This was simple and charming. Jebi is a meek but sweet and determined protagonist, and the parallels to Korea and Japan give the mythology a satisfying sense of having a lot of depth that we don’t get directly from the book. The overall effect is very fairy tales-ish, where the book flows as you’d expect and you get just enough of the magical rules to feel satisfied that there’s a consistent system, but it’s not a naive book and that’s also part of its charm. It’s a fairy tale, there are trials for the protagonist, and some things are unfair, and the ending feels like an ending even though we know there’s more to tell.
Jebi was torn between saying 'You are embarrassing me' and 'I am going to take up my brush and make a painting of you that they will talk about for the next 10,000 years.' They said neither.
Clearly, Yoon Ha Lee's writing style really works for me - this was strange and definitely more worldbuilding-focused than character-focused, but I really enjoyed it! (And even though the characters weren't always the most developed, I still loved Jebi, and Arazi)
Clearly, Yoon Ha Lee's writing style really works for me - this was strange and definitely more worldbuilding-focused than character-focused, but I really enjoyed it! (And even though the characters weren't always the most developed, I still loved Jebi, and Arazi)