A review by sarah_reading_party
The Phoenix Crown by Janie Chang, Kate Quinn

adventurous emotional hopeful informative mysterious 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

4.25

What an amazing book! The Phoenix Crown is a story of friendship, of women standing up for themselves and others, and of love. I really enjoyed the strength of all of these women - Reggie, Gemma, Suling, and Alice - and the way they pursued justice, their careers/passions, and survival. The story revolves around the actions of one slimy man -  Henry Thornton - and the effects of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The setting was fabulous and very engaging. I really enjoyed learning about the city at the turn of the century, the Chinese community, and the experience of women during this era... especially women with career vocations and passions. Each of these women's stories are so well told, which is not always the case with books with multiple main characters. I liked how the stories intertwined and how the women worked together and for each other to survive. One aspect that I did not like about this book was how cleanly everything came together at the end. I'm used to historical fiction having loose and uncertain ends, and felt this ending was a bit too unrealistic... though I did like the epilogue quite a bit so I guess it can go both ways! 

This story is a must read! Thank you to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
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