Reviews

The Price of the Phoenix by Sondra Marshak, Myrna Culbreath

eggert's review

5.0

I heard a lot of people say this book was really good, so I checked it out and wow. Wow. 
The writing was amazing and catching, the characterization was also great which is refreshing to see. There were some parts that lightly talked about Spock Kirk and Bones' friendship that was really sweet. 
I feel like only talking about how gay Spock and Kirk are in the book takes away everything everything else that makes it good, so my only comment about that is WOW I can't believe it got published with how Kirk and Spock were in this book. 

rayofmcfreakinsunshine's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

caitlin_leach's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Everything I wanted when going into this classic Star Trek novel. Not for everyone, but absolutely for me. 

peterparker's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I mean Omne telling Spock to wake up Kirk with a kiss (in so many words) was the highlight of the book for me. 

kmsmith2425's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

acejolras's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was recommended to me for the Spirk and torture vibes, and it was great for that. It was off the charts gay and lovely, especially for when it was written and traditionally published! Bones has a small role but was really great when he did appear. 

The writing was a little much sometimes, especially the dialogue. I often had to infer what characters meant from context and logic when it should’ve been easier to read. It is B-grade sci-fi, it should be straightforward.

an_actual_floof's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I was originally drawn to this book through a post online, outlining an intensely romantic passage between Kirk and Spock, and I have to say that the rest of the book certainly did not disappoint. I was immensely baffled reading this book, just shocked at how profound each scenario was, between McCoy and Spock at the beginning and later Kirk as well. I’ve read fan fiction significantly less romantic than this novel; between the grief Spock feels for Kirk and the unrestrained joy at his rebirth, their interactions left me flushed more than once. I regret that I found myself confused at some parts of the plot, the underground lair of Omne left even me disoriented in trying to picture it

and the existence of two Kirks by the end left me questioning the effects of having two of him in the world. Does the replica feel just as strongly about Spock as the original? Does Spock feel the same? Or is he ok at the prospect of him leaving because he still has his own Jim with him? Are they mourning the severed tie between them? Do the differences between them make them distinctly two different people once they’ve gone their separate ways? Spock instinctively called him James when their minds met, could he have known? Does he still experience that depth with the original Kirk now that he knows he’s alive?

The plot has left me with many questions, and some dialogue heavy parts closer to the end became a bit difficult to follow, personally. At the heart of it, though, this book is about love and devotion, about the chaotic need these two have to sacrifice themselves for each other, and for that, this will remain a favourite Star Trek book of mine for years to come.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Slavery

lostz's review

adventurous mysterious

4.5

kwebster's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I know this is considered to be a classic Spirk story, it is extremely gay, it just wasn't very good. I found it confusing and endlessly violent in a way that just didn't feel like Star Trek. The story was not helped by all the alpha and beta male talk, which might be more of a modern sensibility thing than a fault of the book. 
Credit where credit is due, I read the whole book despite my dislike of much of it. I was curious enough to see it through to the end. And the final twist gave me the lack of resolution that I've come to appreciate from The Twilight Zone and the various Star Trek TV series'.

renaissancetwnk's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0