Didn't work for me.

I appreciate the opportunity to review. Sorry for the long delay in feedback. I'm working on clearing out my Netgalley backlog. I am DNF'ing all books that just don't work within the first 50-100 pages. Trying to find the joy in reading again by going through the hundreds of abandoned books here.

This was a dnf for me, It didn't grab me and pull me in from the start. I thought from the premise the book could be intriguing but I didn't like how the girl was turned into a bird right off. Might have been more interesting to me if the main characters ex turned into a bird and she had to go through these trials to get him back to normal. I might have to give this one another chance some day but for right now I have to say wasn't for me.

Lyra Adams has no idea that her job as a rare books dealer could be quite so challenging - well not so challenging that she is about to become a bird. Not just any bird but a rare magical bird that some would like to see dead and in pieces. She is about to become a Phoenix.

The only one who appears to be able to help her out of this situation is her ex-boyfriend who is not the most honest and trustworthy individual. But a phoenix has got to trust someone to turn her back to the woman she once was so it appears James is it.

This is a fast paced story that sets up a clear world where magic is somewhat dangerous and deadly. It did move so quickly that there were a couple of moments when I wasn't sure if I had missed a little bit of the background story and that I should know these characters better than I did. However, as the story progresses you do get quite attached to Lyra and hope that her situation will resolve with loss of life on her part. Even James becomes a character that you hope survives and learns a lesson or two along the way.

It does feel like there is more to come and hopefully, Jess Haines will have a chance to explore Lyra's world in a little more depth. A fun if slightly underdeveloped read.

This is a really hard review to write because I usually LOVE anything Jess Haines puts out into the world, but ASHES OF THE PHOENIX just didn't do it for me.

Although ASHES OF THE PHOENIX is full of action, I couldn't get into the characters or storyline enough to enjoy it. With the length of this novella, there wasn't enough time to really introduce and develop the characters of the story. I think I would have liked it more if it was longer and a little more in-depth. The storyline was interesting, but I just needed more out of it to get me excited.

The romance aspect of ASHES OF THE PHOENIX also fell flat for me. I mean, Lyra was a phoenix for most of the book, so it's not like any romance could happen anyways, but the love interest was the ex-boyfriend that tried to steal from her. He does do some redeeming things, so maybe I'm being too hard on him.

ASHES OF THE PHOENIX just needed more. More character development, more world building, more explanations and a little less action maybe to fit it all in.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I liked it! I would have liked more world building and backstory, as some things just didn't make sense to me, but I'll be watching for book two to see if she fills in some of the holes.

Ashes of the Phoenix is the first installment in author Jess Haines' Phoenix Rising trilogy. Protagonist Lyra Adams is the owner of Tidal Tomes Book Store & More in St. Augustine, Florida. She is a rare books dealer who happens to hold a magical tome that is desirous to some very powerful people. After one in particular refuses to take no for an answer, Lyra is turned into a mythical being known as the Phoenix. Now she has to face a whole new reality that she has become the hottest commodity for every magic user in town.

Lyra is forced to work with her ex-boyfriend James Pierce. The same James who is a lying, cheating, thieving, snake of a human being. However, he may be the only one to help her out of her predicament. That is if he doesn't betray her first.
If she can't find a way to break the curse on her, she will be stuck in Phoenix form forever. James brother Robert is one of the more curious characters in this book. One of the few who doesn't actually take advantage of the situation.

This is a pretty short book (novella length) at only 109 pages. The pace is pretty steady from start to finish. Hopefully the sequel will be a whole lot longer. I absolutely love the setting of St. Augustine. I love the city. I love the history, and Haines makes you feel as though you are flying through the city alongside Lyra and the cast.

Haines is also the author of the H&W Investigations series featuring Shiarra Waynest as a human who lives in an alternative, present-day New York filled with vampires, magi, and werewolves. I am hopeful that we will see book # 7 this year. In the meanwhile, Haines has listed this series as a trilogy on her web page. This is the order of the books to come.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed it. The magical aspect was fun and engaging as were the characters. The story progressed nicely and I found I couldn't stop reading once I started, I wanted to know what happened next too much.

Very happy to know that there will be more books to go along with it as I am eager to find out more about these characters and their lives.

Aw this was so cute. I loved the way the main character couldn't figure out how to fly. I would have liked a little bit more plot development though because the world is just so interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing where the tale goes from here.

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy

I've enjoyed a few of Jess' novels so I know I like her writing style, so was pleased to see a new book out.

I didn't realise it was so short, just 109 pages, and it feels like a novella prequel type read, where author sets out what's to come.
We've vampires (air, water, fire,earth, the good, the bad and the ugly - every version you can imagine, and weres' of all types, a few ghosts, zombies ( though I avoid them) but I can only rememeber reading one novel set around a phoenix. Seen them as secondary characters before but here Lyra is the lead, and she's also the phoenix. This is the tale of how she became that way. 

Its a fun read, kind of plot light, its really just an intro to characters we'll hopefully meet later. I can't find anything for definite but it feels like the opening to a sereis and I do hope I'm right. 

Stars: four, a good intro to a new world. 

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book from Weapenry Co-Op. via Netgalley for a fair and honest review. 

The Ashes of the Phoenix follows Lyra Adams a bookshop owner who happens to be human dealing in magical books. Problems arise when she ends up in position of a powerful book that wizards, sorcerer and magi want. Trying to stop the book being stolen Lyra is hit with a powerful spell, now Lyra has to get her book back and get her human body back. Will she burn or will she be reborn from the ashes like the legend of the Phoenix.

The book is great if you haven't got a lot of time to read. All the action happens within one day meaning the book is fast paced. I didn't expect the twist at the end which always a plus for me.

Plus side of the book for me:

1: Lyra has my dream job of working in a bookshop dealing in magic.

2: Best magically creature aka the Phoenix.

3: Strong female character.

4: hint of Romance

5: Fight scenes

6: Hidden magically world in Florida

I liked that I could read it in one reading session but it's a good story so you want it to last longer.

My only issue is that I would rather have Lyra with Robert than James but I understand for story wise,  James is more interesting.

I found Jess Haines from her H + W Investigations series where again she has created a wonderful world where magic lives secretly.

I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

4.5 out of 5

I love Jess Haines and looked forward to reading this book. However, this was a bust for me. There was no real world building/introduction, and we were immediately thrust into the heroine, Lyra being changed into a Phoenix. No real explanation--did he bungle a spell in this mysterious spellbook? Or is Lyra more than she seems. The ex-boyfriend is a mess-no real explanation for why he became such a screw up except for 'poor choices'. Somehow, i don't like the idea of a down on his luck/financially struggling hero. I wasn't impressed. And then in the final battle, she seems to become an all-powerful deity of sorts and she all of a sudden discovers a great love for this ex-boyfriend. I was annoyed all through this book and was glad is was so short. I can't see myself reading any more books in this series. (But I am looking forward to Candle & Horn!)

This was a really short, quick, supernatural read that gives a teeny tiny taste of this uniquely magical world.

Lyra is essentially a guardian of magical books. She’s got no magical power to speak of, but she knows her artifacts. She’s also super determined to keep a certain book away from her thieving ex-boyfriend. She might have been a little too blinded by that goal, because she ends up getting duped by an even more evil fellow and turned into a mythical being. Unfortunately the only person she knows who can try to help her also happens to be said thieving ex.

There’s mystery, mayhem, and maybe a little romance thrown into this short story. It is certainly an introduction to this world but felt pretty rushed. I wanted to know more about Lyra, her relationship with her ex, and even more about the magical world that they seem to be a part of.

Lyra is a normal person that has half a foot in the door of the paranormal/magical world due to her purchase of a bookstore. Stepping into ownership of a book store that caters to magical folk has made her life and relationships interesting, but one book in particular has been the bane of her existence. First her pseudo ex-boyfriend tries to steal it, then this crazy guy tries. Only he is most successful at it since he also turned her into a phoenix when she tried to give chase.

Now, she's trying to figure out how to get turned back into herself, while navigating the magical world where phoenix parts are coveted for magical spells. She needs the help of her ex-boyfriend to get out of her current dilemma but little does she know that he's in it up to his eyeballs.

Lyra and James make in interesting couple. They have a deep history and little trust. It was fun to read about this magical community even though there's only a small introduction to it. The phoenix aspect of it was the best and I really loved the wrap up.

Ashes of the Phoenix by Jess Haines is a short but terrific start to a wonderful new series. Bookseller Lyra Adams starts the story as human but is soon transformed into a Phoenix. This story tells of her transformation and start to her new life as a legendary being. I can’t say much without giving spoilers but I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to more.

Loved it! Reminded me of Descended from Dragons but better, as I could actually get excited to read the next one! Just sad it's a HEA.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review

Lyra has valuable spell books in her book store. One book has caught the eye of a wizard and her ex, James. Trying to stop the wizard from taking the book, she is brought down by a powerful spell that turns her in to a phoenix. James vows to get the spell to change her back. Very good storyline arc. Protagonist is engaging, villains are evil worthy, we get a HEA of sorts. The only problem with the book, is that it is short, and not worth the price. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

Three and a half
If you enjoy urban fantasy then you've probably already read something by this author but this is a new series with such an intriguing beginning. There's an immediacy to this story as the action starts right from page one as Lyra has to fight off a Mage determined to get a rare book from her anyway he can! Lyra is already annoyed that her boyfriend tried to sneak off with it so no way is she going down without a fight but would you believe it some weird spell is cast turning Lyra into a small red bird! To add insult to injury the thief stole her book and now her conniving boyfriend turns up too. Just what is a girl to do?
I did like that this started with a bang as it threw me right into the action. Now I'm not sure but this feels very much like young adult story so please don't go expecting anything too explicit but certainly it's setting up what could be a very interesting series. Lyra might have been an ordinary human with friends with magical abilities but as this story progresses all manner of things come to light including a very angry Warlock who is left with an awful gripe against Lyra but with so much in the air I'm left wondering just what trouble Lyra will get into next! Quite a lot shorter than I'd hoped but easy to read in an afternoon

This was my first Jess Haines novel(la), but it won't be my last! I think this was a great start to a series and look forward to the next installment. I hope Edward gets what's coming to him! LOL