Grace Draven writes the most spectacular, all-consuming fantasy romances, and PHOENIX UNBOUND was no different. It’s honestly quite a long book, and the pacing can get slow at times, but the romance and storyline stays true and thorough. Draven creates an atmospheric world of brutality and deception, where the villainous Empire holds gladiators captive as slaves to fight for their entertainment, and where women from villages are sacrificed to appease the bloodthirsty gods they worship. Amidst this violence and ruthlessness stand two heroes that are desperate to change their situations, and perhaps with it, the fate of the Empire itself.

PHOENIX UNBOUND goes between the POV’s of Azarion, a gladiator who fights daily for his life, and Gilene, a village woman who has mysterious powers that she uses every year to save her town. To do so, Gilene uses an illusion ability to change her appearance and fire abilities to leap out of the great flame that the Empire uses to sacrifice women for their gods. However, Azarion can somehow see past her illusion. And this year, he’s determined to undergo his plan of escaping the Empire’s clutches and gaining back his position in his clan. All with the help with, of course, Gilene.

“She returned to Kraelag every year to face the fires. A different face, a different body, the same dogged perseverance.”

And thus begins our enemies-to-lover adventure across the land from the Empire to a terrain called the Sky Below, where nomadic clans are safe from the Empire’s clutches due to their fire priestesses’ magic. Azarion is convinced that Gilene is such a priestess, while she herself does not believe in and god or goddess. The journey is long – veryyy long, and a large part of the book. But in lieu of a moving plot comes phenomenal world-building that explores unique cultures and customs that readers will find both endearing and heartwarming. There are also frightening ghosts that are featured, and the ruthless soldiers of the Empire itself. But throughout it all, a string of trust, hope, and respect ties Azarion and Gilene together.

“They were an odd pair, the Savatar Pit gladiator and the Beroe fire witch.”

The romance runs deep and true, but also a bit lighter than what I usually expect from Draven. I suppose that’s because there’s just so much going on in the main plot of the story, and the romantic progression came exceptionally slow to accommodate for other parts of the story. Even so, Azarion and Gilene’s relationship was super heartfelt and lovely to read. While Azarion is adamant and will stop at nothing to reclaim his title in his clan, Gilene just wants to go home to her village and finish the obligation she has towards her people. However, she just might find a home in the Sky Below.

I love how while both characters were stubborn in their own way, they also respect the other and leave boundaries. Azarion definitely has alpha qualities, but he’s also kind, thoughtful, and compassionate. Nothing gets me as excited as guys who listen to their significant others with thoughtfulness. Gilene has a misplaced loyalty towards her village people, as she sacrifices herself every year for them, but soon learns how unhealthy their manipulation is and how she can utilize her powers for other good. Both characters undergo awesome character growth, and I loved seeing their change in roles from victims of the Empire to fighters that hold their own.

While I don’t think PHOENIX UNBOUND is Draven’s strongest work (a lot of it has to do with the meandering pace), it has a refreshing premise and wonderful characters that still made me fall in love with the book. Like really, I’m now a huge fan of Gilene and Azarion and the world itself. I highly recommend this fantasy romance for both fans of Draven and newcomers who are ready to delve into a luscious setting that is both brutal and beautiful with the cunning of its people. The conclusion is rather resolute, but I’m still super excited for the next installments. Hopefully many mysteries regarding Azarion and Gilene’s abilities are explored more! In any case, this first book to a groundbreaking new series is romantic and breathtaking, lush and explosive.

Content/Trigger Warnings: slavery, sexual content, heavy violence, blood/gore, rape, war, torture, human sacrifice, physical/emotional/sexual abuse

Thank you so much Berkley and Netgalley for the review copy!

This has been one of the best, well written, engaging, heart wrenching stories I have ever had the privilege of reading. Grace Draven pulls you in from the beginning and doesn't let you go until well after the story is finished. Phoenix Unbound is one of the few that when it was over I was struck with a sense of loss. You get so engrossed with the characters you feel her fire and his determination. I loved It! Please tell me there is more to come!

2.5

I had read and enjoyed some of Draven's shorter pieces, so I was excited to pick up an advanced copy of PHOENIX from Netgalley. Unfortunately, I did not find it as engaging or as skillfully constructed as those previous works.

Gilene is a fire witch, the only one in her village. She also has some ability in illusion-crafting. These two skills lead her village to send her each year to be their "Rite of Spring," a tribute from each town to the ruling Empire. Women sent to play the roles of each town's "Rite of Spring" are first given to victorious slave gladiators for sex, then burned in a group pyre as a sacrifice to the gods. For five years, Gilene has used her skills to "burn" in the pyre then escape (although she's not been able to help any of the other women escape their grisly fates). This year, though, she's given to the Gladius Prime, the highest-ranking gladiator, who for some unknown reason can see beyond her illusions and recognizes that she's been here before. He threatens to reveal her unless she returns to help him escape. She does so, but before she can leave him and return to her village, the gladiator, Azarion, kidnaps her and forces her to accompany him back to his homeland, so that her fire witchiness, which is revered in his culture, can help him regain his stolen birthright.

I really do not like stories in which a woman is forced against her will by a man to do things, especially when those things are only for him. I would have far preferred it if the two had made some sort of difficult bargain to help one another, rather than have the sacrificing be all on Gilene's side.

I'm also not a fan of fantasies in which the world-building is lacking. Draven doesn't seem much interested in the culture of the "Empire," which functions primarily as a simple big bad. She does depict the material culture of Azarion'snomadic horse people, the Savatar (echoes of Eurasian steppe cultures) in detail, although does not delve at all into their cultural or belief systems. We get little about folklore or religion, beyond a simple explanation that fire witches are linked to the goddess Agna. A fantasy without much commitment to exploring its fantasy world falls rather flat.

The romance here also comes across rather flatly. Draven tells us that the feelings of both Azarion and Gilene gradually change, from hate to admiration to love, but she gives readers very little reason for why their feelings change. Too much telling and not enough showing here to make a reader feel the romance. Additionally, I'm not generally a fan of "falling in love with your kidnapper" storylines, because of the power imbalances and yuck factor (not very feminist, in my opinion). And this one did not make me warm to the trope.

Finally, the story's climax: if Gilene always had the ability to do what she does in the final chapters, it's a bit sickening to think about why she didn't do the same during one of her earlier five trips to the capital city as a "Rite of Spring." Her lack of action then makes her come across as a weak, passive character. And the battle waged against the Empire by Azarion and his people is also won far too easily. This section of the novel feels rushed and not very well thought out.

All in all, a disappointment, both on the fantasy and on the romance fronts.

Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven

Gilene has a rare, powerful magic. And she is compelled to exercise it annually to save the inhabitants of her village from the Empire’s cruel, living tithe. But this year, the unexpected will happen. When the Empire’s most famous gladiator, Azarion, sees through her illusions Gilene is forced not only to help him escape but reclaim his birthright. Will Gilene embrace her destiny or return to the Empire to burn once more?
The best thing about a Grace Draven novel is the richness – of setting, of character and of plot. The world of the Krael Empire is a harsh cruel place. And while the Empire is not examined in exhaustive detail, that is just fine because the real stars of this novel are the main characters. Gilene and Azarion are well drawn and compelling as they grapple with the choices they must make. They are each committed to their goals and watching them struggle on their journey is captivating. Their relationship grew slowly and realistically and was very believable. The trauma of the journey was nicely offset by the Gilene’s exploration and discovery of the Sky Below.
While I might have wished for more details on the spiritual aspects of the magic system and an ending that felt a little less rushed, the story and the characters were immensely satisfying. While I hope for a sequel, the conclusion was complete and I can envision a lovely HEA. Highly recommend. 5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has one of my favorite tropes and dang it was handled well. I was afraid in parts that the enemies to lovers would feel forced. Instead, it felt natural like something that had to happen. This was certainly a book I just couldn't put down. The world was cleverly built feeling new even if some of the cultures are ones we have seen in books before. There were parts that I could have lived without, but still, I was intrigued enough to push through to finish. And damn that was a good plan because the book took off towards the middle. For being the first in a series I expected more of that cliffhanger ending, but I was happy that everything was wrapped up. I wanted that happy ending even if it seemed a little rushed towards the end. This is certainly a book I would recommend to people.

WOW.

this is my first book by this author and WOW. OMG. I NEED MORE.

i own 2 of her other books - the wraith king ones, i think the series is called? i just noticed there is a 3rd coming out so i might try and wait till it's finished before reading because ugh i cannot handle waiting!!

i ADORED this. so hard. i need to put my words together but i'm struggling.

enemies to lovers = SOLD. i love a good enemies to lovers but hate when it's not developed properly - i don't want them to fall in love overnight or suddenly be besties and then lovers. no. i want it to be gradual, i want to feel the change, watch their relationship develop and mature. i want to understand both sides and want to smoosh them together. this book hit all the nails on all the heads and there was much smooshing wanted. and granted. GAH. so much love.

the world building was fantastic - sufficiently confusing at first but made sense quickly without treating the reader like an idjit. everything seems so realistic and you can tell the author did her research on little things. the cultures, the different groups of people - i felt like i was there. i understood why gilene wanted to do what she wanted to do, even though i didn't necessarily agree. in the end, i loved how it all played out and who came to visit/help her. i totally got teary. it was beautiful in all the ways.

i was SO into this book, these characters, i was so cranky that i had to go to stupid sleep instead of continuing. but as soon as i woke up, i dove right back in and it was everything. i am so so in love with this characters, this world, this story.

so yeah, five - ten! - stars, need the next one, absolutely amazing and wonderful, i hope her other books are this fantastic because even though i'm telling myself i will hold off, i know i won't be able to resist. i can also see myself rereading this one before the next one comes out.

I've loved other books by Draven and I started out loving this book as well. However, I just could not finish this one. It wasn't that it was a bad book or bad writing- it was just that I could not get connected to the characters. I may try and finish it at a later date but as of now I'm shelving it.

I think that Phoenix Unbound is my favorite Grave Draven novel to date! I generally like her work, but this book was so vivid and captivating. I couldn't put it down! I appreciated that this wasn't a story of insta-lust and the characters had their own duties, responsibilities, and goals independent of one another. I also loved both of the main characters--what a perfect pair! I can't wait for book 2!!

What I liked: well-written; creative world-building; realistic dialogue; well-developed, strong main characters. What I didn't like: the sadism expressed in this book was over the top and was a real turn-off, so to speak. Descriptions of sexual arousal due to violence do not equate to a positive reading experience for me, personally. I'm afraid I just couldn't read it after the first scene with the Empress. Not my cup of tea.

The Empire is brutal with gladiator games and a ritual burning of women every spring. Gilene's secret magic allows her to survive the fire and her village has sent her for the past 5 years despite the pain and consequences. However, Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion and demands her help for his silence.

Why I started this book: Netgalley provided an ARC and I was eager to read Draven's new book.

Why I finished it: The character development and arch of the story make this a great story, from enemies to reluctant allies. And the world building is great with a faint echo of Rome and Mongolia. I can't wait for the next book of the series... in the mean time, I'll just reread this one.

Straight of the bat, I am going to be honest. I didn't love this one and I didn't hate it either, it is legit some where in the between.

This story called Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven was a highly anticipated release for me, as always the world building was amazing, and yes ill be reading them all. I adore the cover, man do I ever!

Azarian and Gilene didn't capture my love as Brishen and Ildiko, it almost felt as if it was Silhara and Martise but smooched together. If you were hoping to go in this with anticipation of a start to finish action and romance you wont be finding that here. I found this story to be very slow, possibly to slow. The story its self has been told before, but I found with myself I couldn't DNF it because I was already invested to see what happened all the way to the end.

My favourite parts were when they ended back where Azarian was born, watching them fall in love and how Gilene finally stood up for herself believed in what was really happening. I hated her family, I felt they were so selfish. I am really looking forward to the next one, I think it will be fantastic, especially how this one ended.

I loved the Az, so much more then Gil, but then I loved the magic and what she could do. I thought wow, Grace can really create such an amazing and interesting worlds where you want to know more about, and the how's and whys!

I think Grace had won my over with Radiance, so coming into this one I had very, very high expectations.

This was a real enemies to lovers story, I think that what I didn't love as much as I was as I was hoping. But you guys I have to say it again and again, the world creating was so damn good. Phoenix Unbound is defiantly one to check out, the author has done a lot of work and research into this one, you can tell buy the way she writes about certain things. It is beautifully written and as I have said I would read more, and let everyone know to check it out, with a small warning that it is very slow moving.

I was gifted copy to read and review for honest feedback.

PNR Book Lover Reviews

Review excerpted from my blog post:

My Rating: 5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public libraries, either for Romance or Fantasy collections. If you are planning a Fantasy Romance display, I heartily recommend this one for inclusion.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will never reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.

Number of titles I have read by this author: 12

Love story speed: Slow burn

Relationship dynamics: Captor (H)/Captive (h)

Sexual content: Just a smidge. Sex between H/h is romantic, “onscreen,” and explicit (but not over-the-top explicit)

Triggers: Rape (male) onscreen (not between H/h); both H/h are rape survivors; Slavery (not between H/h)

Grammar/Editing: There are a few errors, but nothing that would hinder understanding. This is an ARC from a major publisher, so I expect that the errors I found will be gone from the final, published version.

Review: Grace Draven is a natural storyteller. Her writing tends to have a gentle, natural flow to it, and Phoenix Unbound does not disappoint on this score. The world building in this book is wonderful and done very skillfully. The action is expertly paced, with an excellent balance between relationship and conflict (both figurative and literal battles). Where other authors can seem heavy-handed and reliant on obvious tropes, Grace weaves everything together seamlessly and makes any tropes she does use (which she does sparingly) nearly invisible.

Gilene and Azarion are also very well-written, mature characters. They are relatable and believable, and the progression of their relationship feels just right (especially given their histories) – neither too slow, nor rushed too quickly. The supporting characters are also well developed, and several would be good candidates for main characters in the books that follow (although I have seen nothing to indicate that this is what Grace is planning). The ending of the book is one of those that inspires you to re-read it several times, gaze off into the distance, daydreaming, and then re-read it again. Which I may or may not have already done…

Purple Prose version: Reading Grace’s writing is like lying under the shade of a willow tree in the early days of summer with your gorgeous, ever-constant lover, enjoying the gentle breeze whispering through the trees.

Full disclosure: I have received a free advance review copy of Grace’s book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Another very enjoyable romantic fantasy from Grace Draven. Phoenix Unbound is undoubtedly her best yet. Impressive worldbuilding and strong-willed characters combine to make it a page-turner. Keeping my fingers crossed for more books within this world.

Phoenix Unbound has been a highly anticipated novel for me. I have enjoyed Grace Draven's past novels and I couldn't wait to read this first book in a new series.

I enjoyed getting into this new story. Phoenix Unbound opened up a wonderfully vibrant and detailed new world. The premise alone was fascinating. Engaging characters, and a slow burn romance kept me flipping the pages.

A gladiator and a witch just sounded too fascinating not to pick up.

And I'm glad I did.

Grace Draven knows how to tell a story. Layered, complex and captivating, Phoenix Unbound promises a new wonderful series that I can't wait to read more about it.

But I must admit, the novel wasn't perfect. At times the story dragged, and the chemistry between the characters was slow to develop. That could have been because it was the first book in a new series, or because it was only the first book about this couple. At this point I don't know if the second book will be about Gilene and Azarion again or not. I would certainly love for it to be about Gilene and Azarion. I want to know so much more about this couple, and they just started on their journey together.

But what I can say with certainty is that I'm hooked. I want to read more about this fascinating world, its people and the characters I met so far.

Full review to be published online in late September.

Lovely story, as always. I worried that Azarian and Gilene wouldn’t capture me as characters as did Brishen and Ildiko, or Silhara and Martise; and they didn’t…but they were close. If I you are looking for a flashy tale with start-to-finish action and intrigue, you won’t find that here. Phoenix Unbound is very much a character driven story, lushly drawn and with a slow building relationship; and as always, fantastic wordbuilding that will take your breath away.

The summary pretty much says it all, and the storyline doesn’t really break any new ground, for that matter; but in Draven’s hands even the familiar is miles above the rest. She breathes new life into everything she writes. She is quite simply the best of the best; and one of a handful of authors who always leave me satisfied. A beautiful fairy tale, a lovely couple to root for; written as well and captivating as you could ask for...balm for even this jaded soul...