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dev921's review
dark
emotional
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? No
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Confinement, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Death, and Racial slurs
lucyatoz's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang is a book of historical fiction based around the time of the earthquake of San Francisco, which occurred on 18 April 1906. Four women, Alice, a world class botanist, Gemma, a Opera soprano who is part of the chorus of a tour company performing in the city, Nellie, a brilliant artist, and Suling, a talented seamstress, living with her third Uncle in Chinatown.
We read about how their lives come together and are then pulled apart again with the story centred around the Octagon House of Henry Thornton, millionaire philanthropist of the arts, who appreciates unique plants and the finer things in life, including having a Phoenix Crown, the prize in his collection.
I appreciated how Kate and Janie collaborated together on this book and really liked how they brought the story to a close in their authors' note.
I owned a copy of this book and listened to it on Audible. I read this for the April 2024 Readalong for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
We read about how their lives come together and are then pulled apart again with the story centred around the Octagon House of Henry Thornton, millionaire philanthropist of the arts, who appreciates unique plants and the finer things in life, including having a Phoenix Crown, the prize in his collection.
I appreciated how Kate and Janie collaborated together on this book and really liked how they brought the story to a close in their authors' note.
I owned a copy of this book and listened to it on Audible. I read this for the April 2024 Readalong for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Racism
sparklingpynk's review against another edition
Kate Quinn is one of my top fave authors and I really enjoy her writing style in the way she can weave together a story full of bad ass women in some point in time in history, romance, and a bit of action. This one had all that I typically enjoy from Kate Quinn but I did not fully love it like I do her other books. Janie Chang is a new author for me and I would like to read some of her other books to see what her writing style is like.
Overall I enjoyed the descriptions of the art and music in this one. I enjoyed getting to know each of the unique women and their stories intertwining.
Overall I enjoyed the descriptions of the art and music in this one. I enjoyed getting to know each of the unique women and their stories intertwining.
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
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