sbloss92 's review for:

The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma

5.0

adventurous challenging 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

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This is a departure from what I normally read. I loved the fire bending element the author described in her socials promoting the book; it is a homage to the Avatar The Last Airbender series. Her blend of that element along with Indian culture created vivid imagery as I read. To borrow Verma's words, this is a blend of Dune and Game of Thrones, not exactly knowing whose angle is what with the various political machinations involved.

While most books I am used to reading are dual POVs, we are afforded a third POV through the lens of Elena's father and current ruler, Leo. What I really loved about this character and his development throughout the story was that we can't really categorize him as "villain" or "hero"; he is a conflicted ruler who knows what is at stake when he lets his daughter take over as ruler, yet is determined to ensure the mistakes he made as ruler do not befall his own daughter. The moment I came across this kind of humanity in him was

when Leo came up upon Elena dancing and for a moment, just a moment, we saw his guard lowered just a little so we can see he is still just a man, and a father at that, that is trying to keep his daughter safe

. Inversely, him doing whatever it took to save his empire and his daughter,

to the point of burning a young girl alive due to the prophecy

we are reminded that things are not simply black and white.

I really can't wait to read the sequel, The Burning Queen, to see if Elena will, like her father, do whatever it took to keep her empire safe and become whatever it is that is needed to ensure her, and her people, endure.