My first experience with Grace Draven was with the book Master of Crows back in 2015, because it was a book mentioned during one of the Vaginal Fantasy Book Club hangouts. I enjoyed the book a lot, finding the characters and the writing to be interesting. And so I added Grace Draven to my list of authors to watch out for and to follow.

When I saw this book on NetGalley, I was intrigued and of course requested it. The book sounded interesting and I already knew I liked the author, but it still took me until a few months after the release date back in 2018 to finally sit down and read Phoenix Unbound.

I liked that Gilene was the repeated sacrificial tithe in her village, because of her magic. And I thought it was interesting to put her in a position where she is stuck with an enslaved gladiator.

The two do not get along initially. I do remember that much. Gilene continuously wanted to escape from being with Azarion, so she could return to her family and her village. They both have this sense of duty and responsibility. It really is an enemies-to-lovers type of romantic fantasy story.

I remember that there was some really good worldbuilding going on in this story, although since I read it over four years ago, I couldn’t even begin to give specifics. And I do remember that though the relationship and romance between Gilene and Azarion is a main aspect of the book, it isn’t the only main aspect, and there’s other plot and story happening.

And sure, the characters aren’t perfect, but they are real, and they do feel like young adults (and by that I mean adults who are still on the younger side, not young adult as in teenager–this is an adult fantasy romance story). They have a maturity and self-awareness to them that speaks of what they’ve been through.

I will say, that this book does deal with rape, especially in the beginning, so if this is something you are sensitive to or something that might trigger you, please exercise caution when jumping into this book.

Overall, I remember liking this book…and writing this review has reminded me that it has been a little while since I last read a Grace Draven book, and I should probably correct that sometime soon.

Someday I will actually read a Grace Draven, but the deadline here has long since passed. It’s not you, book, it’s me — it’s always me.

Yo look I'ma gonna need a Tamura novella. For reasons. That certainly have SOMETHING to do with archery and :shifty eyes: other stuff.

Anyhow.

CW warnings - violence, rape, mentions of other rape, some truly disturbing night time ghoulies that make me regret reading right before bed on a stormy, windy night...

Where to begin...

Ok so this is enemies to lovers straight down the line. There is literally, no reason under the sky, either of them should trust each other. None. Be it wariness because the Empire turned them into people they didn't recognize or an instinct that the other would upend their world, these two start out rough.

This was such a fantastic fantasy romance. The chemistry between the main characters was off the charts. I loved seeing their relationship progress and it was such a good slow burn romance. I also loved the world building and the magic system. All of the mythology with the fire goddesses was fascinating and I really want to know more about the different types of magic. I am now obsessed with Grave Draven books and can't wait for the next book in this series to come out.

I just have one regret--why didn't I read this sooner? PHOENIX UNBOUND is amazing and mesmerizing, the kind of fantasy romance I've been looking for all these years. I love this perfect mix of fantasy and romance, the plot fresh and original, the main characters sympathetic and relatable. The world building is fantastic, and I feel there's so much more to explore. One thing I have to mention are the fight scenes. They're the right length and described just right, with enough details that you can vividly see the action going on without being bored to death.

I highly recommend PHOENIX UNBOUND. Be sure to get it now, because the 2nd book, Dragon Unleashed, is coming out soon!

Phoenix Unbound was an intriguingly dark tale. Its characters were filled with feeling, fervency, and bravery while the unique and tyrannical world they lived in attempted to force them into submission. I adored this book due to the intricate characters, and the world the author created despite the dark subject matter discussed.

This enemies to lovers storie builds on themes that Grace Draven has explored in Raidence and takes her world building to an whole other level. Richly atmospheric, heart wrenchingly angsty, and firey chemistry. I really enjoyed watching these two characters succumb. Definitely reccomend this book for romantic fantasy fans, and cannot wait to see what happens next in this series!

Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven relays this story as a masterful storyteller. I loved the plot, the characters and the dialogue between each of the characters introduced. They all had their purpose and part that made the story come together. Great book and I recommend it.

I loved the slow burn of this novel . It builds momentum quickly as stakes are high for Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator. He has been a slave for 10 years and has finally found a way to escape. This involves manipulating a young woman, Gilene, who sacrifices herself every year --her fate is to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. Gilene can weird fire magic and is able to escape each year and returns to save other women in her village from having to go.
The world building is really great, I know it will be a fantastic series with so many different views and cultures embedded in the story. And while we have two people who are very much enemies in the beginning, a burgeoning trust emerges and the romance that ensues is swoon worthy.

**Content and Trigger Warnings** (rape, assault, slavery, murder, torture, gore, and violence)

The threat of rape, and then the actual torture and rape, at the beginning of this book - of both the main characters - really put me off. It took me a long time to get past it enough to actually continue reading. I'm not sure why it hit me so hard here, in this book. So many books use it. So many books use it and then forget it was ever a problem. It's exhausting. As if being burned alive, or being a slave gladiator isn't bad enough....there's rape on top of it.

Once I got past that, it was much easier to get into and enjoy the story. The world is fascinating. Though there is an evil Empire to fight, the main battles are much more personal and close to the characters. This really drew me into their story.

We first meet Gilene as she's being taken from her village to become a Flower of Spring. The capital city burns many women each year as tribute.What the Empire doesn't know is that Gilene has power over fire, and that she's been her village's tribute for the last several years. Every year she goes under illusion of someone else, so that no one in her village has to die. She's as much a prisoner of her village as she is a victim of the Empire. She can go to be raped and burned year after year, or they can kill her family.

Despite these pretty horrific facts of her life, Gilene is both loyal to her family, kind to those she can be, and smart. When everything changes for her she doesn't bemoan her fate, she figures the odds, calculates the best path, and chooses. This is what happens when she meets the Gladiator Prime.

Azarion has been a gladiator in the city, a slave, for the last 10 years. He is the best they have. His skill at killing has captivated this blood-thirsty city, and their blood-thirsty Empress. Azarion's torture occurs in the pit and in the Empress' bed. But Azarion doesn't give up, doesn't forget that he has a people to go back to. And when he sees a Flower of Spring, the women to be burned on the pyre that he's sure he's seen in years past, he knows this is the time to act.

I thought I would have issues with the power-imbalance between Azarion and Gilene. He threatens her family, her village, and herself to get her to cooperate with his plan. He takes her prisoner and orders her to do many things. In his mind he's doing what needs to be done to get back to his family and to avenge the wrongs done to him. He knows he'll never truly hurt her, knows that he's bluffing. But she doesn't.

What I enjoyed a lot is that Gilene doesn't just bow under the pressure Azarion presents. She challenges him and the status-quo consistently. She never lets him forget that she's not there willingly. That she has no reason to trust him. And though it takes him a while to understand this, when he does it's beautiful.

Regardless of this power imbalance, there is a consistent emphasis in this book on consent. Sometimes it's more subtle than others, but it's always there.

When I finished the book and began to think of what I would write in my review, examining Gilene and Azarion's relationship specifically, I began to think about Stockholm Syndrome. I think that someone else could probably better argue why this is or isn't that, but I'll say that it never felt squicky or wrong to me. The development of their romance was organic. Occurring only when the power imbalance had been resolved.

I appreciated so much that Azarion came to see her as something more because of her inner strength, her choices, and who she was as a person. It all made her more beautiful to him. Inside and out.

Gilene developed so much, but never beyond who she was. She gained the strength to become - on the outside - who she always was on the inside.

A lot of time is spent on Azaraion's and Gilene's separate but intertwined journeys. Their romance is a slow burn that captivated my romantic heart . I couldn't get back to them quickly enough when they were separated in the last third of the book. That part of the story dragged a bit for me.

Despite a rocky start - because of my own personal triggers - I really enjoyed this book. Grace Draven is definitely becoming one of my go-to authors for fantasy romance.

Wow, the last 30% of this book was seriously unputdownable! I really enjoyed both characters and I loved seeing them work through their tortured pasts to find some sort of solace in each other. I had no idea how everything was going to wrap up, and the race to the finish was wild to say the least. I definitely don't think I'm the only one who cheered when a certain person got struck by an arrow toward the end of the book...very much deserved!

I've had Grace Draven's "Radiance" on my TBR for a while now, and after this, I'm bumping it up :) I want more!

(PS:I got this one from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

PHOENIX UNBOUND was such a rich and enjoyable story! It had such a great premise and incredible characters that I was hooked from the first page. Sometimes full fantasy worlds can take me a bit to get into due to all of the necessary world-building set up that can sometimes slow the early pacing. However, this was not the case in this book. There was no sacrifices made anywhere in this book, the pacing was executed flawlessly without sacrificing anything. The world, the plot, the characters, the conflict, all wrapped together perfectly making for one heck of an enjoyable read. I felt like I was experiencing things right alongside the characters.

Onto the romance: that it centered around my all time favorite trope of enemies to lovers, only sweetened the read for me. Azarion and Gilene start out as utter enemies in the truest of sense. Gilene couldn't possibly hate him as her captor any more than she does. And yet, slowly throughout the book she starts to see him in a new light. I know some would say Stockholm, but it didn't really have that vibe throughout. Yes he kidnapped her, and yes he's using her for his own gain, but it just worked for me. The progression of the romance is slow, but believable considering the circumstance, and I loved every minute of it.

After finishing this book, all I can say is that I'm so glad this is to be a series, because I can't wait to read more in this incredible world! PHOENIX UNBOUND is an incredibly enjoyable read that you won't want to miss!

I really wanted to read this and like it. There was just not enough for me in terms of the story being exciting. I wanted more but was unsuccessful in the endeavor.

A corrupt and cruel Empire rules most the continent. Every year the Empire rounds up the ‘Flowers of Spring’. They take women from towns and villages and then burn them alive as an offering to the gods. Gilene has been a Flower of Spring for the last five years. As a fire witch with powers of illusion, she is able to give the other women a merciful death and then come out of the fire unscathed, ready to repeat it next year. But someone has noticed. Slave and gladiator Azarion has watched the same woman walk away from the barbaric spring rites unharmed for 5 years. Unlike everyone else he can see through her illusions…and he starts to plan his escape. The woman will help him whether she wants to or not.

My feelings about this book are so mixed. Initially I was excited about reading Phoenix Unbound, I have read Grace Draven’s books before and loved them, so a new series felt like a treat. However, it didn’t quite meet my, admittedly high, expectations. Or at least not all the book did.

I really struggled with the first 50%-ish of this book. To put this in perspective it took me 2 weeks to read the first 50% and then a day to read the last 50%. The first 50% contained a lot of world building, something I usually don’t mind if the world is interesting and the characters are engaging. However, Gilene and Azarion were both so dour and humourless, which makes complete sense given their circumstances but it became a bit of drudge through misery. They had both lived through s horrific stuff and they were justifiably bitter and distrustful as well as a little cruel. It was understandable, realistic even unfortunately it wasn’t very endearing and it certainly wasn’t very interesting.

Then we hit 51% . Suddenly the story and the relationship was on light speed (in comparison). Azarion and Gilene have suddenly realised that they have bonded over their hard journey back to Azarion’s home. The romance starts slowly simmering between them giving a bit of life to the book. But it isn’t only the romance that starts becoming intriguing, the story also starts to take a far more interesting turn. I couldn’t put it down, especially last 20%…my hand was firmly glued to my kindle. If I could rate the book in sections I would put the first 50% as 2 stars, 51-80% as 3.5 stars and 81-100% as 4.5 stars. It was a very odd experience so I evened out the whole book as 3.5.

I now find myself in the strange circumstance of not being able to work if this book was a success for me or not. It was certainly a rocky start to the series. However, it did succeed in that by the end I was invested into the story and the character enough that I will be reading the next book that comes out.

Phoenix Unbound is the first novel in Grace Draven’s Fallen Empire series. Draven is known for her immersive fantasy romances, including the fantastic Wraith Kings series.
Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire to be burned in a spectacle to entertain the masses. For several years, Gilene has been the same living tithe from her village. Her secret powers enable her to survive the ordeal, thus sparing the village’s other women.
This year is different. When Gilene reaches the capital, one of the gladiators sees through her illusion and recognizes her. As champion, Azarion gets to have one of the women for the evening, and he chooses Gilene. Alone later in his cell, he shocks her by saying he has seen her returning each year and wants her to help him escape his slavery to the Empire. He recognizes that Gilene can wield the power of fire and is immune to its danger. He forces her compliance by threatening to expose her deception, leaving her family and village open to deadly retaliation from the Empire.
Draven has created a brave and resourceful heroine in Gilene. She and Azarion draw closer as they come to rely on each other during their dangerous journey to his homeland. Once there, Gilene draws on the knowledge of the fire priestesses to learn how to wield her powers more effectively. Draven sets up a thrilling showdown as Gilene joins Azarion’s fight against the corrupt Empire.

Five stars: An epic, brutal and powerful book with an unforgettable romance.

Gilene utters a silent prayer, even though she doesn’t believe in the gods. She wants desperately for the gladius prime, Azarion, not to see her. Azarion stops before her and lifts her head. He not only sees her, but he sees beneath her glamour. He knows her secret. Gilene is a powerful fire witch. It is her burden in life to be sent each year to the Empire capital with hundreds of other women to be burned alive in the annual Rite of Spring. Gilene’s ability to wield fire is a well guarded secret. Once in the pit, she can provide the women a quick death before escaping unseen. Except one has seen her, Azarion the powerful gladiator who needs her to help him win back is birthright. Will Gilene help restore Azarion?
What I Liked:
*WOW! What a ride. To be perfectly honesty, I almost set this one aside after the first chapter because it was so dark, brutal and depressing. I am so glad I stuck with it because this turned out to be an amazing read. I loved the story, the characters and most of all the epic romance. This is a thrilling tale, not to be missed.
*I think one of my most favorite aspects, aside from the romance, with this one was the tremendous character growth. In the beginning, Gilene is miserable, sad and alone but she is resolute in her role as the fire witch, forced to burn each and every year to protect the other women in her village. She has given up on life. After she meets Azarion, she begins a slow transformation. It was such a joy to watch her find her place, her power and finally take a chance on her own happiness. She becomes a formidable force to be reckoned with, and I loved watching her succeed. I also loved her altruistic nature and her resolute determination to those she loved. Azarion was also fun to watch transform. In the beginning, he is a gladiator forced to serve the cruel demands of the Empress. He has been beaten, battered and sexually assaulted but he never lost his will to survive. After he meets Gilene, he begins to see things differently and he becomes more kind, more caring and considerate. It was a thrill to see him succeed!
*The romance is the best kind. It is one that takes a long time to grow. It starts under dire circumstances, and in fact, the two are enemies. Over time, a hesitant understanding is agreed upon, and then friendship, and then finally it becomes so much more. I was breathless with this one. It is beautiful and heartbreaking and everything you could want.
*The story is one that grabs a hold and digs in, it is reminiscent of the Roman Empire during the gladiator era. There is hardly a slow moment in this one to catch your breath. This one is brutal and terrifying, full of action and danger. I want so much to tell you all about it, but I can’t you need to experience it for yourself. There is magic, revenge, hard fought battles, victories, and heart pounding moments that will leave you on the edge of your seat. This was one heck of a ride. Loved it!
*The ending was absolute perfection. It was everything I hoped for and more. It was amazing!
*I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Katharine McEwan. I thought Ms. McEwan was outstanding. Her voices were excellent.
And The Not So Much:
*This one is not for the faint of heart. As I mentioned, it can be dark and brutal. The opening chapters are not the easiest to get through as there are mentions of rape, brutal violence, burnings and many other cruel behaviors. Nothing is too over the top or gory and the author spares the darkest details.
*I was perplexed by the whole thing with the gods and goddesses especially at the end. I want to know more about the goddess of the fire and her hand maidens. I am hopeful for more in the next book.
*I was most curious about Azarion’s sister, especially when it came to her romantic relationship, I wish this part of the story was expanded upon.

Phoenix Unbound is a book that amazed me. This is a brilliantly written book with outstanding characters and an unforgettable romance. Beware though, this one is violent and dark at times, but well worth the journey. I couldn’t get enough. I am even more thrilled to learn that a sequel is coming. I can’t wait! Don’t miss this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

Phoenix Unbound (Fallen Empire #1) by Grace Draven
Ace Book, 2018
Fantasy; 400 pages
Source: E-Copy provided by publisher via NetGalley

Set in a time and world in which slavery and sacrifice are a way of life for many. Betrayed by one of his own clansmen, Azarion was sold into slavery where he has earned a reputation as the fiercest of gladiators. His patience and perseverance are about to pay off, however. Gilene has a gift for illusion--and for controlling fire. For years, her village has made her their annual sacrifice. The empire has no idea she is the same woman sacrificed by the village each year. She expects this year to be no different. Only, Azarion knows her secret. He is able to see beyond her disguise and plans to use her to gain his own freedom and reclaim the birthright of his clan.

This is my first novel by Grace Draven, and I was impressed with the detail of her world building and the depth of her characters. Both Gilene and Azarion are hardened by their life experiences, not trusting anyone, and bent on their own survival. I really felt for Gilene and her situation. She really was between a rock and a hard place. Wanting to protect her family, resentful of the position she's been put in by the villagers, and suddenly all that is threatened by Azarion. While I did not completely agree with Azarion's methods, it was easy to understand why he turned to blackmail to get what he wanted. He had been tortured for years by the Empress, forced to kill in fights, and betrayed by his own clansman. He longed to return to his family and right the wrongs done to him.

I was most taken by the two characters plight and their evolving relationship. I would be lying if I did not have a little problem with the growing love between them. Fortunately it was not something that burst forth from the first page. While Azarion realized his attraction to the young woman sooner in the book, it took a long while for Gilene to acknowledge her own growing feelings for him. Considering their positions--that Azarion was basically holding Gilene against her will--I wasn't sure how to feel about the two growing closer. I reminded myself of their situations and the type of world they lived in. And I appreciated that the author did not gloss over their circumstances and addressed it head on.

Grace Draven had me completely immersed in her characters and their plights. I wanted so much for both Gilene and Azarion to succeed in their goals and find the peace they deserved. Phoenix Unbound is a dark fantasy that left me wanting to know more about the world Draven has created. I was held in suspense, found myself tearing up at the end, and cannot wait for more. I hope future books will shed more light on Gilene's powers. I feel like her story is only beginning.

"When the struggle only pleased the torturer and made the torture worse, you stopped fighting and learned to endure. To endure was to survive."

I received an ARC from NetGalley and First to Read in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Phoenix Unbound was a lot darker than I was expecting, full of brutality, sacrifices, and death. Grace Draven spared no one, and Gilene and Azarion both suffered the Empire's cruelty. Gilene as a Flower of Spring, meant to burn at the stake for the Empire's enjoyment (disguised as a sacrifice to the gods), and Azarion as a gladiator and plaything for Herself. They were both repeatedly raped and used for the amusement of others. "As one of those unfortunate blooms, Gilene would whore for her village tonight and burn for it tomorrow."

Despite Azarion's circumstances, I disliked him at the beginning. He was in a horrible situation and used Gilene to get out of it. I can understand his desire for freedom and vengeance, but hated how he forced Gilene to help him achieve them. She went from being used by the empire, to being used by Azarion. She risked her life (and the lives of others) to save him, and he repaid her with betrayal and more captivity. However, he did grow on me over time. He had very good reasons for doing what he did, but I wish he had gone about them differently. Although, I'm not sure it would have worked any other way. I felt really conflicted about this! He did treat Gilene with respect and always made sure she was safe (for his sake as well as hers), but he also threatened her so she wouldn't reveal their secrets as they traveled. He promised her his protection and a way home afterwards, but it was obvious he would do whatever was necessary to achieve his goals, even kill innocent people.

Azarion and Gilene never had many options, but I think they both made the best of their circumstances. She eventually came to understand him, and the two even became friends. They were able to be in each other's company without worrying what the other would do, and it was nice to see them working together instead of against each other. They made a great team when they wanted to! I enjoyed their conversations and their banter.

I think leaving with Azarion really helped Gilene in the end. She learned a lot about herself and her abilities, and it made her see things a little more clearly. She found love and acceptance, friendship and family, and was happy for probably the first time in her life. I wish she had made a different decision towards the end, but know her choice was necessary for the continuation of the story.

I thought this book had a wonderful hate-to-love romance, and one that was very authentic. At first Gilene never stopped trying to escape, and their shared fight for survival was believable and realistic. They needed each other to survive, but they were also wary of the other's intentions. It took a significant amount of time before they started to actually trust one another, and their goals were similarly aligned. I really enjoyed watching their relationship change over time, and I'm really happy with where things ended.

Phoenix Unbound was hard to read at times, but I think Draven showed a side of humanity that we don't see very often. There are people that enjoy the pain of others, and it's scary to think about what the world would look like if they were in charge. I hate that it took me so long to get through this one, because I really enjoyed it. I think the author created a beautifully dark world that shows what it's like for people to find hope and fight for it with everything they have.

I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series!

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on December 6, 2018.

This was a pretty good novel but it took quite some time for the plot to grab me. I liked the characters and the setting but found some parts to be dragged out strangely and a little bit illogical. But after about the first third, the meat of the story presented itself and the rest flew by so fast. The ending was PHENOMENAL and was surely the best ending for this couple!

Phoenix Unbound is the first book in Grace Draven’s Fallen Empire series and it follows a young woman named Gilene who was born with fire magic. Each year, the Empire demands a sacrifice from each village in the form of a young woman who will be burned to death for the entertainment of the masses and each year, Gilene has been the sacrifice for her small town. With her fire magic and illusion, Gilene has been able to trick the Empire into believing that her town sends a new sacrifice each year and each year, her small town makes her pay the price.
When Gilene comes across the Empire’s winningest gladiator, her life is forever changed because Azarion knows Gilene’s secret. He can see through her illusion and knows she’s been coming every year. He needs her help in escaping his enslavement because he needs to go back home and re-claim his title and his family. He also needs to make sure that those who sold him into slavery pay for their crimes.
I listened to the audiobook, and the first few chapters were pretty slow for me. I don’t know if it was because I was listening instead of reading, or just the book itself, but I struggled. By the halfway point (perhaps a bit sooner, I didn’t really pay attention to where I was at in the book) it picked up. Regardless, I ended up really loving it.
I really loved Gilene in this book. She was such a strong woman. I really identified with her determination to save her family, even if they didn’t necessarily deserve her sacrifice. I didn’t find Gilene insufferable, though I did find myself thinking she needed to relax a little. She spent her whole life being told she had to do this one thing, so I understood where her head was at. I understood why Azarion did what he did, too, though I didn’t fault Gilene for being angry at him over it. I also got why she needed to go back to her village. They definitely didn’t deserve her, but she couldn’t turn her back on them and I respected that.
I loved Azarion’s culture. It reminded me of the Dothraki from Game of Thrones. I really liked the time they spent with Azarion’s clan. His mom and sister were great, and I liked how Gilene proved herself. The scene you mentioned, definitely, plus her actions at the end. I loved how brave she was, and how willing she was to sacrifice it all for others.
The story was definitely interesting. The beginning was slow, but the second half more than made up for it. I loved Gilene’s strength of will, and her determination to do the right thing no matter what. I loved Azarion, and how protective he was of her and how determined to do the right thing with his clan. I’m really looking forward to the next book.

4 out of 5