Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for this opportunity to read rage and review this arc which will be available Aug 29,2023!

Holy mother of Pearl but I need more of this book! I devoured it. I love it!

You want a powerful fantasy story with a strong Desi woman as the main character then this book is it! It has magic, a wee bit of romance, a plot forward well plotted out fantasy world that sucks you in! I honestly hope others pick up this book and support South Asian stories that aren’t mainstream.

The Phoenix King is a debut Indian-inspired sci-fi adult fantasy told in three POVs. The <u>assassin</u> is trying to vie for his freedom. The <u>king</u> is trying to keep his kingdom together while also keeping his daughter, the next queen, safe and well supported when she ascends the throne. The <u>heir</u> is trying to find her place among her father’s kingdom and make it her own. They take us on their journeys while navigating from the brink of an inevitable war.

I think this book definitely had a lot of promise, but unfortunately it fell flat for me.

The characters felt underdeveloped— the most developed being Yassen (the assassin) and FERMA, MY FERMA— which is probably why they were my favorite. Elena is a badass for sure, since she was trained to be a warrior princess. But she seemed naive and reckless and it was hard to get behind her. Leo (the king) is so stuck in the past that he felt one dimensional. (Prevalent side characters) Samson and the priestess were interesting, but seemed to only popped up to push the plot. And I think because I felt disconnected from the characters, I didn’t really understand the romance. It seemed rushed and forced and the whole enemies-to-lovers trope felt falsely advertised.

Though the <i>morally grey characters</i> part: very on point.

It was written well and the world building was beautiful. However, there was just <i>too much</i> that made the pacing extremely slow. There were also some chapters that were so long and some just a few pages that made it not flow well. Finally at the 70% mark, it was full speed ahead! It was non-stop action. But then the last 20% of the book, a new plot emerged? And it seemed like we were just supposed to accept everything that happened leading up to that point and move on? I think the whole plot in general kind of bounced all over the place which made the book feel longer than it actually was. Also, <i><b>the ending was so out of the blue</b></i>! I’m all for a plot twist and misleading clues but there didn’t seem to be any foreshadowing at all to that last revelation. It was dissatisfying.

All in all, I think this was a good set-up/introductory book since the series will be a trilogy. I’m curious to see where the characters go from here and maybe get some explanations on big questions that come up. <b>Cliffhanger for sure!</b>

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.

First, I want to say that this was a very strong debut book by Aparna Verma. I think the series does have promise and that I would be interested in reading any sequels. This book ticks off some good boxes: mature characters in their mid-twenties, true morally grey characters, strong female lead, enemies to lovers, and an intriguing fantasy world.

I think the pacing of this book was the biggest issue. There was a *ton* of setup for about 2/3 of the book filled with a lot of political intrigue and filler scenes and reading this part of the book took sooooo long. Though there was a lot of world-building, I still felt like the author kept the world confined to just a small collection of characters and thus it didn't feel fully fleshed out. It didn't feel high stakes and I felt apathetic toward the plight of the people. Yassen was the most interesting character to me and I enjoyed his POV chapters a lot. I mostly skimmed through Leo's. The pacing picked up a ton during the last third or so of the book and I was like "yes! this is what I've been waiting for!"

The romance also felt lackluster and I felt like Yassen and Elena lacked chemistry. There were a lot of instances where it could have been built up earlier in the book but there were only just the smallest morsels of it. I honestly felt like Samson and Elena had much more chemistry. There is spice but it was brief and underwhelming.

"The Phoenix King" by Aparna Verma, formerly known as "The Boy with Fire," is a riveting fantasy novel that enthralls readers with its intricate world-building, political intrigue, and a beautifully portrayed progression between the two main characters, Yessen and Elena.

One of the most remarkable aspects of "The Phoenix King" is undoubtedly its vividly crafted world. Verma's attention to detail and imagination shine through, creating a rich and immersive setting that is both familiar and unique in interesting ways. On both a macro and micro scale, every location comes alive with vibrant descriptions, allowing readers to feel fully transported into this captivating realm.

The novel's political intrigue and examination of the complexity of religion adds an extra layer of depth to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed learning the foundations of faith in this community from both the side of the fervent and the skeptic. Verma skillfully weaves together complex alliances, betrayals, and power struggles, presenting a dynamic and unpredictable landscape. The author's ability to balance intricate politics with engaging storytelling ensures that readers are constantly engrossed and eager to uncover the next twist or turn.

Furthermore, the slow burn progression between Yessen and Elena, the central characters, was a masterful and realistic transition from enemies to lovers. Verma masterfully portrays their relationship, showcasing their inherent attraction despite philosophical differences and their development as the narrative unfolds. While the progression may be slow at times, it allows for a deeper exploration of their individual journeys which adds to the story of their overall connection.

Despite its strengths, I found the world building dense early on and hard for me to track. There were also some sections in the middle that were slower paced, which might not appeal to readers seeking a non-stop fast-paced adventure. However, this deliberate pacing provides an opportunity for readers to fully immerse themselves in the world and its characters, allowing for a more profound connection and understanding of the story's nuances.

In conclusion, "The Phoenix King" by Aparna Verma is a captivating tale of power, growth, and intricate relationships. With its exceptional world-building, political intrigue, and a slow-burn romantic subplot between Yessen and Elena, the novel is a true gem for fans of fantasy and character-driven narratives. While the pace might be considered slow by some, it ultimately enriches the overall reading experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader seeking an immersive and thought-provoking adventure.

An interesting plot and non-western setting somewhat spoiled by slow pacing and underdeveloped characters. Themes of immigration and religious fanaticism frame story and drive action but aren't touched on deeply enough to elevate this fantasy beyond some all-too-common tropes. Found the king the most interesting, fleshed-out character, and I suspect the book suffers most from too many (and the wrong) POVs.

The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma is a book I've seen plenty of times, and the praise it receives is very well due. Verma is an incredibly talented author, and I think one of the most impressive things about the Phoenix King is the incredibly strong start this book has. From that alone, it is easy for a reader to tell that this is a project the author cares deeply about and that this story holds an incredible amount of meaning to someone. It is beautiful, and while it carried throughout the story, I was surprised and delighted by how early on both me and the author felt invested in the character's motives.

Compared to many other novels of a similar vein, the setting The Phoenix King takes felt unique to me as a reader. The modern sensibilities mixed with the allure of Hindu mythology was fascinating. Verma was neither holding my hand or leaving the reader to sink or swim in her explanations of the world, and in such a rich setting, it was delightful.

I believe if I had to point to two things I disliked, Elena's characterization at times felt weak to me. I could point to a few key traits, but it felt like she was a background player to her own interactions and that her dialogue and actions were meant to service a plot rather than her pushing it forward. I experienced this similarly with some of the other main characters. Additionally, I felt the writing could be dense. In the middle of The Phoenix King, while the story itself was exciting, sometimes it felt like the writing dragged.

Overall, I'm interested in where the relationships and plot of this book will go, and it is a strong debut from an author who deserves the praise she has gotten. Thank you so much for the arc!

I was having trouble establishing an early connection between the Princess, the king and the assassin from the written text. I wasn’t feeling very high-stakes. I gave up at 7% into the book. The premise is really cool so I’d possibly consider going back to it when the sequel comes out. I didn’t feel like the POVs shined with individual voices, but instead were same-same. That said, it’s a debut… there’s a lot of room to grow as an author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC.

The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma
“Only a desert wind can withstand the desert heat”
~~~
Okay but a slow burn Indian based book mixed with firebending for the FMC, and male Assassin/bodyguard. I ate this up. It was rich, it was delicious, the details were beautiful. We also get Bollywood style and the scenes are futuristic desert types. It’s all just wow; I also loved the backstories of the characters and the sneaky secrets.
I won’t spoil it for y’all but this book has to be on your TBR, it will be a crime if it isn’t. Even if this doesn’t sound like something you normally read. Phoenix King is one you should try. Verma put so many twists and goodies in this.
I would also like to thank Aparna Verma, Orbit, and NetGalley for a eARC. The Phoenix King is out 8/29/23, go and preorder!

Thanks Orbit Books/Netgalley for the eARC!

My biggest issue with THE PHOENIX KING was pacing and my lack of connection. That's vague, I know, but there you have it. This book contains all the elements of things I love in fantasy (hence my request!) but for some reason, I found this book lacking. There are assassins and magic and folklore inspiration. Reviews like this are so hard for me to write because I wanted so badly to fall in love with it--and I didn't. It's also difficult to articulate why I didn't like this one apart from a standard "Just not for me" sort of response. When this happens, it's usually because I'm not connected enough to the characters (especially Elena in this case) and while I felt the world was super cool... that was about it. The slow pacing didn't help much, either, though I do appreciate the effort to flesh out a world that feels real. I likely won't read the rest in the series, but I encourage others to pick this up to see if you connect with it more.

This was SO good and exactly what I hoped it would be! Verma does a fantastic job drawing the reader in. It’s the perfect mix of world building, enemies to lovers, some morally gray characters, and a redemption arc. *chefs kiss* I really enjoy multiple pov and loved the sayings and texts she included at the start of each chapter. Can’t wait to read the second one!!

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book!

I have scheduled promotional posts around release day for this book and I will provide a full review on my Instagram once I am able to get to this read.

Rating 5 stars on Netgalley as a placeholder for me to update later once the review is complete.

Will also complete a review on Goodreads once read.

Thanks again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I almost didn't request this title and that would have been an absolute tragedy because… wow. What a debut!! I did not read The Boy With Fire which was the self-published version of this book, but this publisher-ready copy was fire… Ha!

A King, a Princess and an Assassin. Need I say more beyond that?? When done well, there really is no other story that compares for me.

The world and characters were flawless, and I appreciated every character and highly anticipate the introduction of new people and places in the sequel. I haven't been this devastated about waiting for the next in a series for a long time, and what a wait I have now! Fingers crossed I can finagle my way into an ARC of that book too.

I will say that this book had a really great opportunity for its end-point but continued on for a few more chapters and while I have no critique against what took place or the story told for that bit, I still felt like it could have been roped into the next book to capitalize on that edge-of-your-seat feeling that could have happened. But… I am dying for the next book either way, so I guess my point may be moot.

This was a cool fantasy book, with very rich world-building and political intrigue. The motivation reveals and betrayals through the course of the book (esp the last 25%!) were absolutely shocking and well-done. This book has 3 povs, and I particularly loved Elena's pov - she was raw and full of heart and wholesome, and I am very excited to see her journey in particular in the next book.

I would have liked a bit more interaction between the MCs of this book - most of the chapters focussed on the world-building and individual thought processes.

Also umm, that cliffhanger?? I theorized many things but that ending was not even close to any of my theories :O

TWs - death, violence, gore, gun violence, blood, death by fire, accidents caused by fire

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I had a good time reading The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma. The plot twists, the sci-fi vibes… there were so many things I loved but my favorite part was the amazing protagonist, Elena, who was so layered and unapologetically herself. I also loved Yassen and his relationship with Elena so, so much. Overall I can’t say that this was my favorite book ever, hence the 3.5* rating, but it’s definitely one I enjoyed reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t get into this one at all. From the premise, it sounded like it had everything I could want in a story. But something about it just didn’t connect with me. I didn’t really feel any emotional attachments to the characters. The pacing was a major issue for me. It was very slow and lacked any drive to keep me turning the pages. The setting felt a little off to me as well. Although I typically like when stories unexpectedly blend science-fiction elements, it just didn’t work well for me in this one. I had a difficult time really immersing myself into the story world, or picturing things as they were happening. This to me felt like a solid draft that with more working, editing, and development could have been something amazing. It just fell short of my expectations and I wasn’t particularly motivated or enjoying it enough. I had such high hopes and excitement surrounding this book and it just didn’t captivate me like I was wanting it to.

The Phoenix King is book one in The Ravence Trilogy by Aparna Verma.

The world-building is so captivating and beautifully done.
I loved the story and the exploration here. Honestly it was pretty amazing.
Aparna Verma’s writing style was really outstanding.
I was hooked almost instantly and hard such a hard time putting the books down.
The atmosphere that’s created is a very intense but so entertaining.
This book has magic, secrets, assassins and a world that’s so interesting I didn’t want to escape it.
Overall, the book itself was really a great experience. I enjoyed the action, the fantasy and magic.
A fascinating new series that me completely captivated.
Pretty excited for the second one.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Orbit for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma is a brilliant start to The Ravence trilogy, a high sci-fi fantasy saga that grips your interest from the very start. As an American born South Asian I was immediately drawn to it's beautiful world building and the story arc, inspired by Indian culture, deities, mythology and folklore. At times, I found it very difficult to believe this was Aparna's debut novel because the writing is just sublime and shows immense potential of who she can be in the future. Though The Phoenix King isn't a fast paced book, it's slow and steady world building and character development with it's beautiful story made this book a pleasure to read. Even though we all expect twists and turns to come when reading a book, Aparna has a talent to spring those twists when we least expect them and I loved her for it.

The world building in The Phoenix King was fantastic. Although it reminded me a lot of Dune series by Frank Herbert, it was amazing to see how Aparna loosely based her world on South Asian region. Ravence being Rajasthan in India, Janta being Pakistan, Cyleon being Sri Lanka, The Islands being Maldives and so on. The science fiction aspects were beautifully married to fantasy elements and didn't feel out of place at all. I believe this is something that is very hard to pull off given people's common ideologies about religions fading away once the technology reaches its peak. The politics among the nations were beautifully explained as well. I really enjoyed all the little things about Ravance traditions, religious rituals, dances, the garb and it's origin story. The glossary at the end of the book was a great idea because I sometimes wondered to myself whether someone who wasn't familiar with South Asian terminologies would be able to enjoy the book as much as I did.

The characters were multi layered and morally grey and their arcs and backstories were brilliantly executed. The emotional connections among characters was superbly done too. The heartbreaks, loss, grief and betrayals were beautifully crafted and there were some scenes in this book that managed to break my heart in two.

Elena was a great female protagonist. Initially she is impulsive, impatient and naive but as the story progress she becomes calculated and patient. With Leo's character, I feel Aparna managed to embody almost every South Asian parent who would be willing to literally shed blood or sacrifice themselves to give their children a better and a secure future but at the same time failing to consider whether their child actually wants that future the parent had envisioned for them. Also their communication barrier with their children is so commonplace and this was beautifully portrayed with Leo's and Elena's relationship and interactions.

Yassen too was an excellent male protagonist. As someone who was trying to make the best out of desperate situations he was put in, his character navigated them beautifully. The chemistry between him and Elena was slow to build but I really appreciated this instead of an insta-love situation. There was no initial physical attraction. It starts with mistrust but gradually builds into accepting each other for who they are at their core as the story progresses. In the end their relationship is so raw and emotional which made their connection even stronger, for me personally. I absolutely loved it!

However I would have liked to see Samson integrated more into the story because I loved his character with his unyielding confidence and there were some scenes in the book I felt his presence was needed but strangely absent. Ferma, my dear, dear Ferma! She was a brilliant side character. She was badass and it was simply impossible not to fall in love with her.

Concluding my review of The Phoenix King, I was really impressed by Aparna Verma's writing, and enjoyed the story and each character's journey throughout the story immensely. It is an understatement to say that I am looking forward to the next installment of The Ravence trilogy. I hope against hope everyone else love and enjoy The Phoenix King as much as I did.

My sincere thanks to Netgally, Orbit Books and Aparna Verma for providing me this advance reader copy.

Rating: 4.5

My reviews will be posted on my blog and goodreads on 30th July (within 30 days of publication)

Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc of this book!

"And hearing him beg, hearing him plead to her with his hand wrapped around hers, holding her as if without her, he would become adrift, something broke within Elena. Because she knew that without him, she would be lost too."

The biggest thing that stuck out to me was the authors ability to leave quotes that would resonate within the reader throughout the entire story because you knew that everything in between the lines was context as to what would happen next. The way fire evolves, and the way the feelings of the characters changed and matured with it. Whether fire was beautiful, deadly, or anything in between, the author made it clear from early on that you do not mess with something so powerful and willful without being aware of the looming consequences. Verma truly has a way with words, shown especially within her world-making descriptions. Even with minimal words at points, I felt fully immersed within the chaotic world of the Ravences.

The references to mythology also had me very interested in this book, because I adore seeing different interpretations and adaptations of myths of all sorts, especially when a Pheonix is involved!

I also really appreciated the way that the author was able to incorporate multiple perspectives and stories within such a short span (about 450 pages).

"There was nothing special about fire. It burned and raged. Demanded sacrifice, worship. It had no need for a prophet"

The quest for the prophet was one of the main plotlines of the story, and probably the only one I really had an interest in between that and Elena's quest for power. While Elena's story fell short for me at the start, it was the uncertainty and constant twists of the prophet story that kept me invested for the first half or so of the book. It was Elena's father, Leo's, perspective that really stood out for me during the quest of the prophet. He walks a dangerous line in his quest, often mixing duty and personal interest, ultimately leading to a descent into madness over finding his possible usurper. As the reader, we get to question his sanity and are constantly left to wonder, "how far is he willing to go?"

My major hang up with this book was the pacing. While I absolutely adored the author fully immersing us within her world, there were points where I zoned out for a few pages and felt that I really missed nothing by the time I snapped back into it. Like I mentioned, Elena's perspective was probably my least favorite out of the multiple perspectives we received. While both her and her father both felt inconsistent, there was more of a plot reasoning for her father to be that way, while it felt like Elena's personality changed to fit the situation she was in. Her dynamic with most of the other characters constantly felt off because of this, and I never formed any attachment to her because she felt wishy washy. I think the author might have meant for her to come across as morally gray, but this fell short for me unfortunately. Both of the other characters had a stronger morally gray presence compared to Elena, causing her dilemmas and questionable choices to feel overshadowed and not as vital to the overall story.

Overall, though, I enjoyed being introduced to this world and I think that this author will have an amazing future in worldbuilding and bringing more attention to Indian adult fantasies and mythology retellings!

Review copy and pasted from my goodreads.

This was a well-written, richly detailed fantasy novel (although one could argue that it bordered on science-fiction with its certain technologies), but it was unfortunately lacking in both the pacing and the characterizations. The story also seemed fairly generic, as it didn't do much to stand out from the many other books like it. I did like it overall, and I appreciated the morally gray characters, but it just didn't have that unique, so-called "wow factor" for me.

To be brutally honest, I don't really care enough about the characters or the story to finish out the trilogy.

In Ravence, Elena is soon to become Queen, but in order to do so, she must wield the eternal fire. Her father, Leo, wishes to protect the Kingdom at all costs. His daughter soon becomes betrothed, and with her betrothed, comes Yassen Knight. A man with a past. Will the three that come together in the Ravence Kingdom burn, or thrive like phoenixes?

This was a great read! A stunning introduction to a brand new fantasy trilogy, filled to the brim with incredible world building, fascinating characters and political intrigue. Each character was interesting to follow and didn’t feel like any fell short as can sometimes happen.

Elena is a strong and fierce heroin and I’m truly eager to see where the story will take her in the coming books in the series.

There were some twists and turns in the book, definitely had my jaw drop a few times. Prepare to have your emotions stirred as well!

If you love fantasy, political intrigue, rebellion, dash of romance and more in a beautiful setting, I recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read this arc!