Unfortunately I did not download this in time, so was unable to read it. Many thanks to the publisher for approving my request, and my apologies for being unable to provide a full review.

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

Crown of Feathers… This copy was kindle gifted to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (submitted on Instagram)

I have never before in my life skipped parts of a book and still finished.

This book was such a conundrum! The good parts were enjoyable, but I literally skipped some boring parts and didn't miss anything.

There were a lot of points of view in this novel. And I mean, like, the blurb doesn't even say that it's multiple points of view, which really annoys me.

We had Veronyka, Tristan, Sev, some diary entries from a long-dead queen, and historical accounts provided at the end of some chapters. Honestly, I really liked the historical accounts. I thought they were a really fun and interesting way to provide more solid worldbuilding that didn't rely on flashbacks or other infodumping. Some books with lots of different points of view can be overwhelming, and I'm not quite sure who I'm meant to be rooting for. In this book, at least things were consistent, even if it was told from third person point of view so that character voices weren't any different.

Veronyka was a fun character to be around. She'd had so much grief and loss in her life, and it was really great to watch her character growth and follow her on her adventures going after what she wanted. It was great watching her develop from this frightened, cowed, dominated girl to this strong, confident lass who grew into her ambition.

Tristan's POV was interesting because he had some really good hurdles to overcome and he wouldn't have been able to if it weren't for certain characters barging in and showing him better ways to do things.

Sev's POV was so boring I literally skipped parts and didn't miss anything. I was not into whatever romance he had going on with Kade. I did not care about his relationships with the other characters or his tragic backstory. I didn't care what he did until quite close to the climax, and even then, I still thought it was boring. I understand why Sev's point of view was there and I appreciate that the author probably tried to make it interesting with a romance and a backstory and everything but i just didn't care. i didn't care that he was an animage in hiding. I wanted to get back to the damn phoenixes.

The phoenixes themselves were quite interesting. They were giant birds, and quite intelligent, able to be bonded by those magically gifted to do so. In a lot of ways, they were very similar to Dragons of Pern, including bonding their bondmates together through sexual activity. I love the dragons of Pern, so it was very easy to adore the phoenixes too.

There were a couple of really big twists at the end of book, one of which I saw coming from a mile off but the other was like whaaaaaaaa. The obvious one was so obvious but I didn't expect two twists. Well, i expected something else. So I felt a bit blindsided by it which was pretty cool.

It was so weird reading this book and really enjoying Veronyka's point of view. She was by far the most interesting character. Tristan less so, but his parts were tolerable on account of his clear objectives and even more clear obstacles. Sev's POV, I just didn't enjoy. I literally skipped pages of it. I really am not in a place to be able to judge whether or what other readers might enjoy about it. I've rated it 3 stars for 'I liked it' because I've never skipped parts of a book and ended up finishing it, even though Veronyka's parts were very good.

I know there's a sequel out there, but because I found Sev's parts so boring, i'm not that interested in investing my time in reading it.

Crown of Feathers was fantastic, the characters are fully fleshed out and easy to imagine. I absolutely loved how action-packed this story was. The multiple POVs added an extra dimension to the story that made the reading experience super fun.
The descriptions are vivid and I felt immersed in the story for the entire book, cannot wait to read the next instalment.

An epic high fantasy with good representation and diverse characters, and also Phoenixes!

Crown of feathers has a great concept, a wild and immersive world albeit with a bit too much world-building exposition. Felt Game of Thrones meets Mulan with animals.

I'm definitely curious about the next book in the series.

A solid debut with a rich history and mythology and interesting characters that really made it come together and feel more real. There were a few aspects that didn't quite work for me but overall I quite enjoyed this.

This book wasn't one that was screaming out at me to pick it up but I'm glad I did. Not a fantasy book for the casual YA reader or someone looking for an easy read, Crown of Feathers is a dense, in-depth and well thought-out fantasy book focused on phoenixes and phoenix riders as well as those gifted with magic. I absolutely loved the beginning of the novel, it reached out, gripped me hard and yanked me right into the story like I had been plucked from real life and thrust into the novel. The world-building was great and the setting really made me feel like I was there with the characters. I knew I didn't like Val pretty much from the moment she said her first sentence and I wonder if this was the author's aim. I also realised that Veronyka was a kind and gentle soul straight away, mainly from the way she spoke and acted towards the owl that was her companion. I feared for the owl's life straight away and for any animal that would come across Val. I am a MASSIVE animal lover and tend to avoid books that have animals in them, for the soul reason that I am always on the lookout for the author to have the animals harmed and therefore rip out my heart. Sometimes I try and remind myself that animals in fantasy books are usual beings of fiction, but that doesn't tend to help. When authors want you to feel heartache, they tend to succeed. I feared that the fantastic writing would be a sign of an author who can play with reader's emotions at will. The fact this novel has 3 points of view and 2 of males, I quite enjoyed. I always love being able to dive into another character's mind, rather than just one, and I think it takes a talented author to pull this off well. I enjoyed Tristan's moreso, and will look forward to reading from his POV more. There could have been a bit more romance for me, although readers who like romance to be at the very back of any action and plot, will enjoy this aspect.

I was really excited by the beginning of this book, which led me to expect a slow burn character study of a girl with a magical bond to a phoenix, slowly learning to stand up to her abusive sister. Sadly, after the first 100 pages or so, the story takes a huge turn into generic YA fantasy - we have the heroine disguised as a boy, training montages, a budding romance, a large battle for no real reason, and of course, a whole thing with a princess/queen with a hidden identity. It's not a bad book, and fans of the tropes of YA fantasy will find much to love, but I was disappointed by the samey-ness of it when it initially looked like it was going to do something really different. 3.5 stars.

I intended to read The Crown of Feathers a year ago and it kept getting bumped down the list. The longer it went, the more fantastic reviews I read and the higher my expectations got.

Thankfully, it did not disappoint.

When I first started, I feared the plot would be predictable. In some ways, yes, it was. It follows a few tropes of the genre and there are elements you guess early on. But that doesn’t stop this being an amazing read I couldn’t put down: forbidden magic, bondmates, overwhelming odds, friendships that are far deeper than mere friends… It had everything I love in a fantasy book.

There were various times when the plot caught me by surprise. Characters turn up you aren’t expecting. Backstories link together in ways you don’t anticipate. Not to mention a complicated arc with phoenixes choosing to resurrect or not and what happens if that extends further than the birds themselves. Believing the story to be predictable made these surprises even sweeter.


This book is made by its characters. Veronyka dreams of being a Phoenix Rider, even going as far as disguising herself as a boy to gain access to their stronghold – currently forbidden to girls. She proves herself, but never looses sight of who she is and what she wants. Her magic is stronger than most and it puts her in a powerful position where no one can afford to ignore her.

Veronyka has a very satisfying character development. She goes from doubting herself after being controlled by her sister her entire life, to realising she can be something more. Perhaps most importantly, she also accepts the price of the life she wants – and whether she is willing to pay it or not.

Sev – a soldier with a hatred of soldiers – is also on a journey of self-discovery. He’s so used to surviving he’s forgotten what it means to live – and what it is like having a cause to fight for. I loved Sev’s development as old feelings are awakened in him and he starts to make his own decision.

“But we’re useful. That’s what it comes down to at the end of the day. Be useful, boy, and you’ll never want for a position in this world. Find what you’re best at and use it. If you’re sneaky, then sneak. If you’re a liar, then lie. If you’re wicked as the south wind and devious as a deathmaiden, then, well…”

Tristian was my favourite. As the commander’s son, there is a lot resting on his shoulders, not helped by a fear of fire when he rides a fire-bird. Tristian is strong and accomplished, but isn’t above humility and modesty, accepting when he is wrong and willing to learn from it. That made him my favourite – it broke away from the cliché character he could’ve become.

The phoenixes themselves were awe-inspiring, full of magic and character. I feel there’s a lot to still be explored about their powers – hopefully something to be explored in book two.

We go from wanderings to training to battles, swept up as the odds are stacked ever higher against the characters. You get emotionally invested in the characters and have your fingers crossed for the entire novel that they come out on top.

Definitely a recommendation from me. I’m looking forward for the second book being released shortly.

I was drawn to this book for the phoenix riders as you don't see them very often in fantasy, however, I found this book really hard to get into and it became an accidental dnf when I out it down and just never picked it back up again. Such a shame that this one wasn't for me

WOW! This book starts the new series with a bang. Nicki has created a truly unique and interesting new world, I can't wait to continue with the series!

Crown of Feathers is an exciting fantasy adventure in a turbulent land of warrior Queens and phoenix riders. The narrative is split into three main narrative strands; there’s Veronyka, an animage who is gifted with the ability to communicate with animals (including phoenixes) who longs to become a phoenix rider but is hindered by being a female as well as by her controlling sister Val. Then there’s Tristan, an apprentice phoenix rider and son of the commander. And finally there’s Sev, forced into becoming a soldier who must hide his animage gift. It takes a while to see how the three strands will combine but when their paths intertwine the story becomes very interesting.

The past is also an important part of the story. At first it was a bit confusing how it was relevant to the story but by the end I thought that the interweaving of the past and present was really clever.

I really liked the phoenixes in the story and how they shared bonds with their riders. This seemed very original to me as I’ve not read a story like this before. I liked the main characters and found their individual journeys interesting and felt empathy with them all when they were faced with danger. I thought the relationship between Veronyka and her sister Val was really interesting; Val does some unpleasant things but the bond between the sisters is strong and Veronyka can’t help but love her sister.

I thought the world-building was strong; it was quite simple and focused on one aspect of the land’s recent history and the different peoples affected, which gave a strong sense of place.

I am looking forward to the sequel, Heart of Flames, which is released in February 2020.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Young Adult fantasy full of amazing creatures, strong characters, and perilous adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ink Road for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Excellent world building and full of twists and turns. I liked all the different POVs and how they connected to each other. The sisterly bond seemed fraught but was unpicked as the story went on.
Essence of Tamora Pierce with the dressing as a boy to get past a rule.
A fast paced start to a trilogy.

Sixteen years ago, a war led to the two heirs to the throne, two sisters, dying and the Phoenix Riders being wiped out.
Veronyka and her sister Val don't have a home - they are unregistered animages whose magic allows them to communicate with animals. They keep a low profile to avoid being enslaved by the empire.
Veronyka dreams of finding a phoenix egg and becoming a Phoenix Rider.
Val can be cruel and controlling, and one day she goes too far. Veronyka goes off on her own, intending to find any surviving Phoenix Riders. But there's one problem - when Veronyka does find the Riders she learns that only boys are allowed to become Riders, so Veronyka disguises herself as a boy.
Just when things are starting to work out for Veronyka, things are thrown into chaos.
Will her secret be discovered?

The concept of Phoenix Riders was what drew me to Crown of Feathers, and it has to be my favourite aspect of the book. The idea of giant phoenixes large enough to ride was really cool, and I wanted my own phoenix so badly as I was reading this.
I also liked the concept of animages, and that there was a history of fierce, powerful queens.
Crown of Feathers has three perspectives - Veronyka, Sev and Tristan. Veronyka's chapters were my favourite, but it was also interesting to see things from Sev (a reluctant empire soldier hiding his animage abilities) and Tristan's (a trainee Phoenix Rider) points of view.
I also liked that there were letters between the two warring sisters, Avalkyra and Pheronia, in between the chapters. I felt these added to the world-building and history.
The plot was interesting and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped. There were some things that I saw coming and others that surprised me.
The writing style was easy to follow and I would definitely consider reading more from the author.
While I didn't enjoy Crown of Feathers as much as I hoped I would, it was still an enjoyable, unique read.

Overall this was an enjoyable read.

Let's start off with being honest, shall we? The first thing I fell in love with was the cover - guilty! And then I read the synopsis and was sold on Phoenix Riders! I mean, just look at that cover with the fiery Phoenix in all its glory. Every time I look at it I get stunned all over again.



This book follows 3 POV's, Veronyka, Sev and Tristan. All animages but all in very different circumstances. Veronyka is a war child who has been with sister Val, hiding from the new Empire and hiding their magic and other skills. And on the search for Phoenix eggs so together they can become Phoenix Riders, just like in the stories told by their Maiora (grandmother). Veronyka and Val are complete opposites, Nyka is caring and treats animals as equals whereas Val treats them as things to command and to control! In her own twisted way, Val does what she does to protect Nyka - but things go a little too far.



Sev is an animage hiding as a soldier of the Empire, hiding in plain sight, hiding his magic from enemies and his own people who are in chains. I mean, what's a boy to do after losing his famed Rider parents to the War? Tristan is an animage, bonded to his Phoenix living with people just like him. The best animage apprentice training to become a Phoenix Rider and scout for the Commander, his father and their cause. What will happen when world collide?



I really liked Veronyka, she is strong willed from the start, feels all emotions and doesn't just bottle them away, she learns to stand up for herself and follow her dreams to ride with other Phoenix Riders, whatever it takes. Sevs' character growth was amazing, for someone who only looked out for himself to become part of a cause his parents believed in. Through Veronyka's POV we learn a lot of her peoples history, more importantly the Blood War - a war between the Ashfire sisters for the crown. We learn a lot, and it is slow to start off with - but it picks up half way through and is a total rollercoaster rider at the end.



The ending was insane, truly this book is worth reading start to finish. Everything makes sense at the end - one thing Nicki has truly captured are the emotions - sadness, anger, frustration etc I felt it all through each character. Romance isn't really a main aspect but there's angst and I'm intrigued as to what happens next.

This is an amazing first book, a tad info dumping and slow but still managed to keep me hooked and on the edge of my seat! A battle lost 16 years ago, a war still to come. Who will win and sit on the throne with a Crown of Feathers?

I really enjoyed this book and the concept was something I hadn’t seen before. There was a lot of great world building that drew me in, although sometimes it seemed like infodumping in the beginning so if you’re not into that, just be aware. For me, I love hearing the history of characters and settings to bring the story to life.

For the most part the pacing was really good and there was quite a bit of action in places. I like the different POVs in the book and how they all came together later on. There were some plot twists that I wasn’t expecting (especially the ending) and it’s left me wanting to know more!! A solid 4 stars for me.

A stunning fantasy that left me breathless for more and practically gagging for the sequel. Great well rounded characters who you fall for instantly. Phoenixes. Action and intrigue. Phoenixes... Danger. Did I mention phoenixes? I loved it and cannot wait for book 2!

This is the first book in a duology about phoenixes and phoenix riders - as you can see from the cover! - and while it suffered a bit from info-dump at the start, the story soon redeemed itself. It was, however, a very densely-written book which did make it quite hard to read. As a bit of a fantasy novice, I had to really concentrate in order to get through the book, but I enjoyed the characters and the worldbuilding!

I found this book hard to get into I end up reading another book then coming back to its. A times it's was a bit of slog. I liked the idea of it's but it's didn't live up to its. I received this book from Netgallery in exchange for a honest review.