I received an ARC of The Phoenix King from Netgalley for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Well, it's not the first book I've left unfinished, and it won't be the last, but The Phoenix King has unfortunately been added to that list, and I am genuinely upset about it. I believe I made it through four chapters before deciding it was not the book for me. "But Jess, that's so fast," is probably what you'll say, to which I reply, "When you know, you know."

I had such high hopes. I haven't read many books based on Indian mythology or about Indian culture in general, so getting to read something I don't know much about is always fascinating. What I was not prepared for was the complete overload of information I received in those four chapters.

Fantasy is tricky because you have to make people believe that everything you're making up is real. Same with science fiction. I went into The Phoenix King assuming this was a fantasy story. I was completely unprepared when they started shooting laser guns and using holopads (I believe that's what they were called, but don't quote me on that). I didn't know this had science-fiction elements. Okay, cool. No issue with that. My problem was that I was getting so much information but not the information I needed. All these words and new terms were coming at me, and I had no idea what they meant and were. Context clues are essential for introducing people to the things you've created, and I didn't get that. I got loads of information about the world and places (there were so many names, though, that I wouldn't have been able to tell you who was where, when, or even where that place was in general), but little to none about the new things of this world that were being introduced to me. There was backstory and descriptions of everything else, though, which is excellent. But these new things completely removed me from the story because I was so confused about what they were. Cultural words are one thing. I am aware enough to realize that I won't understand all of the cultural references. It's the brand-new things that were stopping me.

Maybe that's just me being super particular, but considering the amount of description of everything else, I didn't understand why there just wasn't any for this.

I'm not sure what else I can honestly comment on since I didn't get very far into the book, but I will also say that I was not captivated by the story, and that's mainly why I put it down. Yes, the descriptions (and lack thereof) played a part, but I wasn't connecting to the characters or what was happening. I didn't, for lack of a better word, care. I hate saying that, but I wasn't invested in the story or the characters. I needed the story to pull me in, and it just wasn't.

I am disappointed that I put The Phoenix King down, and perhaps someday I will return to it, but for now, this will grace the top of my unfinished list.

DNF at 60%

I have been reading this for a month and have been avoiding picking it up; therefore, I feel that it is time to DNF it. I am disappointed by this because I was so excited by the premise of this one. I truly enjoyed the world - it is more sci-fantasy and blends some pretty cool sci-fi elements with a super interesting fantasy world. I liked that it is more high-tech, and I really enjoyed the lore and other elements of the world. I think that my favorite thing was a race of female warriors whose hair is able to turn into weapons. That was pretty cool. I feel like the book was doing something interesting looking at the fanaticism and cult=like influence that leaders can have over their followers, and how much that can poison a country - very apt for these current times. I think that where it fell apart and where I lost interest was definitely in the characters. They all felt like they were on their way to being very well established. They are all rather morally gray and I thought that their individual stories were interesting enough. However, after thinking on it for a long time, I think the reason that I just wasn't super compelled to keep picking this back up is because there was very little interaction. We have three POV characters in the same space and they rarely interact with each other. This is pitched as an enemies to lovers romance, but it is VERY slow burn, and even if I continued to read, I'm not sure I would be able to get behind it with as little direct interaction that the two characters have had. This is one that I potentially will return to once it is complete becuase I truly was very interested in the world, and the project is something that I also am interested in. But we will see how it goes.

Thank you to Orbit Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Phoenix King, previously titled The Boy With Fire, is a young adult fantasy novel about a world nearing war, a trio of characters in the midst, and a prophecy tying them together. While it’s cliche to compare any story of elemental magic to Avatar: The Last Airbender, this story is reminiscent of the Fire Nation, if it were inspired by Hindu myths, with aspects of India’s geopolitical history. It’s a solid novel, with a very promising start for an expected series.

To be completely honest, I'm not sure how to feel about this book. I had incredibly high hopes going into it (which may have been my mistake), and the beginning of the story seemed to live up to these expectations. The tech/fantasy combo was well-executed, there was interesting worldbuilding, and some of the characters were very unique. But something about this book didn't quite click with me, and I think I've identified the main reasons.

This book stars three characters--Elena, a princess who must learn to hold fire before her coronations, Leo, her father and the morally-iffy king, and Yassen, a former assassin serving the crown. The story follows the three of them as the King hunts for the Prophet, essentially a mysterious someone destined to destroy the world, and as Elena's coronation rapidly approaches and the political stakes grow.

At first, the perspective of the older king really intrigued me. It's not typical that we get a parent POV in YA fantasy, so I was eager to see how it would work. But it mostly confused me. I felt like I was supposed to see Leo as a bad guy, and while some of his actions were very evil, I never really got the "power-hungry" vibe he kept being advertised as.

On the other hand, I really appreciated some of the other characters. Seeing Elena and Ferma both portrayed as strong women with political power and physical strength was AMAZING, And Yassen and Samson were both interesting characters with complex backstories, which I appreciated. However, this cast of characters gets cut down a lot over the course of the book, and at the end it's just Elena and Yassen, which was.... fine. I cared about them enough to see what happened to them, but I felt as if the story was MUCH more character-focused than it should have been. The romance that I was supposed to be super invested in felt flat, and didn't really add much to the story for me.

I had other small issues, mostly with the pacing and the strange switch in tone/subject as the plot moved forward. BUT. I truly believe this book had potential. The writing was good, the story was interesting, and the political intrigue and worldbuilding were both well-developed. Hopefully this review makes sense, I stayed up late to (finally) finish the book.

In conclusion: This story DID NOT click for me, but it's not by any means a bad book. If you like similar stories, I'd check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books, Orbit for an eARC of The Phoenix King!

This Sci-Fi/Fantasy is definitely a solid read! I was floored by the intensity and the originality of the story. However, the pacing was a bit off in some parts and it took me a long while to finish the book. This book was previously self-published under The Boy with Fire. Definitely looking forward to seeing how the author and the story grow!

The Phoenix King has a great concept, compelling characters and an intriguing magical system. Unfortunately, as much as I loved those aspects of the novel, the world building didn't really work for me. There are a lot of sci-fi elements in this novel that felt out of place, as they didn't match the overall tone/world the story is set in. About halfway through, I started trying to imagine this story was set on Tatooine, which did help, but not quite enough.

Other than the sci-fi elements that felt out of place, I enjoyed the writing. I really liked the chosen POVs - particularly Leo's. I've rarely seen POVs from the perspective of the current ruler/parent of the MC who is on track to acquire the throne.

Overall, this was not a bad book, but it's not going to be a favorite.

-----3.5/5 stars

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of political intrigue, assassination, inheritance, power, impending war, and betrayal, betrayal and more betrayals.

Taking place primarily in the kingdom of Ravence, we meet four characters:
-Yassen Knight: Assassin and one PoV, who is trying to leave the secretive assassins guild, which he grew up in, after his last failed assassination contract.
-Leo Ravence: Near the end of his reign as King, and full of fear and doubt about old prophecies and an impending war with a neighbouring kingdom, and another PoV. Leo can also control and manipulate fire.
-Elena Ravence: She is Leo's daughter, and has trained in all the ways she can, except she cannot manipulate fire, and grows increasingly worried about ruling her people without a demonstrated ability to control the element. She's also working to undermine one group of violent men whom her father has used to whip up support for his rule. She's the final PoV.
-Samson Kytuu: A childhood friend of Yassen, he managed to escape the assassins' guild, and has built up over years an impressive martial force. He comes to Ravence to form an alliance, with the expectation that his and Ravence's forces can take on Ravence's increasingly warlike neighbour.

Aparna Verma has created a world on the edge:
-of war
-of the reveal of a prophecy
-of generational conflict
-of nationalism and bigotry,
-of the building of alliances and
-of faith and duty, and
-of a new, fragile romance.

There is much happening, and I found the pacing was slow. Through the three PoV, we learn of the world's complicated past, of the violent faiths at the heart of the prophecy and the conflict between Leo and its priests, his desperate efforts to shore up power and the heinous things he's willing to do to secure it. Elena embodies both a hope for a different path for Ravence, and an education in the cost of wielding power. Her interactions with Leo, Samson and Yassen are full of mistrust and frustration. The characters are complicated, and none of them are particularly right in their stances, and their actions all seem to actually lead them closer to war than ever.

We spend the most time with Yassen and Leo, and get to understand their struggles, while Elena really begins to come into her own after a series of violent events leading up to the coronation, past the three quarter mark. I anticipate we'll see her develop more and become stronger, focused and more determined in the following book.

The book ends in multiple disasters, with the characters scattered or dead, and the power to wield fire a huge factor every step of the way. I liked many aspects of this story, but did find that it was long. I dearly hope the pacing is a little tighter in the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

The Comps were quite deceiving because this was mostly an ambitious world that didn’t live up to what we expected. The prose was nice digestible but the world building was a little too bizarre at times for me (that merge of modern tech with the aesthetic of an epic fantasy world really didn’t work because it felt a little non sensical at times).
Also the pace in that first 40% was very slow and made me start and stop this many many times and became a chore to finish. The characters were a little flat. Elena is your typical cool YA-type girly but I wish we got way more emotional depth. That flat archetype does not translate well in adult.

To also be fully transparent, I read a huge chunk of the indie version before waiting for the republished version. And reading this - nothing much changed? It felt a little deceiving. It was almost identical.
I don’t think I’ll be reading on.

Aparna Verma brings thunder and lightning with her phenomenal book The Phoenix King.
Assassins, Deceit and Betrayal this book is filled to brim with page turning, can't get enough of moments.
This is one book you won't want to put down.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book to the fullest.

🙏🏽 for VERMA 💜

#❤️APARNAVERMA

#ORBITBOOKS

#NetGalleyGotOrbitBooks

Definitely and interesting debut however it felt a bit swamped down by the world building. I do think future installments will be more interesting to read as this book laid a solid foundation for future installments to really get into the action. Overall just a middle of the run fantasy for me but interested to see where it goes!

This book had every promise be great for me: the literal fusion of scifi-fantasy had me clapping with glee, and I couldn't wait to read about a woman destined to be the great. The setting was rich, the world felt so vivid, and the political backdrop and religious philosophies blended so well within the confines of this world that I have to applaud it. But all of this seemed to lose all luster because the characters finally came into the picture and I just...didn't care. The character POVs were either flat, petulant, or downright longwinded and boring that I found myself constantly skim-reading or outright skipping chapters at a time.

Don't get me wrong, the writing was excellent, and there were a few quotes and statements I highlighted because they felt profound and deep. It just fell off the wayside for me personally.

I think the best way to describe this book is that is a crawling boulder before an avalanche of flames.

THE PHOENIX KING is a science fantasy that reminds me of Black Panther in that it feels both ancient and mythological but also advanced and futuristic. It was interesting reading this at the same time as The Poppy War because of the parallels in the Phoenix mythos, though the direction of its position as a revered god takes a slightly different turn.

There are themes of freedom and duty, religion and faith, identity and its multiplicities, nationality, belonging and unbelonging through intricate world building and the tensions created through its politics and court intrigue and the struggle for power. There is a game of push and pull between allies and enemies—carefully crafted lies and held truths.

At its emotional core, the book is about upbringing, loss, what one has been taught versus what one must do, about desire and need and the dissonance that comes with the discovery of the truth. It is about two lost people trying to find meaning and somehow finding that in each other

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC.

The Phoenix King was a fun read with a unique magical system. Combine with two interesting characters with questionable end games, and it was an interesting first book in a series. I liked Elena and Yassen a lot, and while I did wish that some of the politicking was a little more complicated, I enjoyed the story on the whole. I give this book a solid 4/5 stars.

I received an arc via Netgalley, and am leaving an honest review about the book. I’m thankful to the publisher and the author for giving me this wonderful opportunity!

My mind is BLOWN. I’d sworn Yassen was the Prophet, but then it turned out to be Samson, and damn that ending. But also, fuck Samson at the end 🧍🏻‍♀️Yassen better be alive and he and Elena better get married and live happily ever after.

On another note, I adored this book. I loved the twists and the beautiful South Asian culture mixed into the book. Some things were a bit obvious, but not the kind that exasperated you, but the kind that made you go, “Ah!! I knew it!!” I’m so excited for the second book. I need it NOW.

That is all.

Thank you to the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Elena is the future queen of Ravence who has a secret - she can't yield fire like her ancestors. Her father, Leo, is desperately trying to hold the realm together when it is on the brink of war. Yassen has been given a chance at freedom, but really, he is an assassin sent to cause chaos.

This book was wonderful. It was marketed to me on tiktok as an enemies to lovers romance with firebending, but I found this to be a bit inaccurate. At its core, this is a blend of science fiction and political high fantasy with epic worldbuilding and family connection exploration. It slowly built up to an epic conclusion with a cliff hanger that was so intense I NEED the next book immediately. I will definitely be continuing this series as it evolves. For a debut, this was pretty incredible.

My only gripe is that not every POV was interesting, and it dragged at times. Eventually it became much more fast paced.

I tried so hard to get into this book but couldn’t. The futuristic technology in the setting didn’t jive for me. Overall I wasn’t drawn into the plot.

**THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS**

I am giving this book a solid 3 stars. I felt llike the plot was there and was interesting, but the excess of wordiness made it difficult to enjoy. I love a good and long fantasy novel but it felt like much of the descriptors were repeatative and not ading to the story. Also the action didn't pick up until about 70% into the book and with that it wasn't until 85% when the pacing felt like a good speed.

I wanted more on politics and monarchy of Ravance, but it felt like the relegion was overpowering the book without clear reason why. I needed a lot of clarity on people and backgrounds and less descritions of sands and storms as it dragged this book out when really i want to get into the characters. Also the descriptors of the other lands were sparse so i couldn't tell if the war was geo-political, or a land grab? Which way is this story line going with the invasion. What is the motivator?

Elena was an interesting characers but i felt like she was a child despite her being older in this book. In part tht's due to her father keeping her in the dark, But i wish i could feel the emotions happening to her on the page irl.
Samson endng was a anticlimactic plot twist. I do hope to read more about him in the next book. But in this one he felt flat. Yassen i belive was the most fleshed out character in this book having to openly deal with so many hardships and troubling past. There was light romance, which i felt like eas neither here nor there. I didn't feel the chemistry between Yassen & Elena.

Overall this was a solid read. I think maybe this might not have been the best book for me, but other fantasy readers might enjoy this.

Thank you Net Galley for this arc in exchange for a review of The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma. #NetGalley

I’ve read The Phoenix King 3 times. I am drawn back to this book again, and again. Set in a world that is both magical and technologically advanced, Princess Elena Adaya Ravence longs to connect to the Phoenix god that blessed her ancestors with magic and the ability to transform their desert kingdom into paradise.

Elena’s father, Leo, clings to his throne, power, and legacy with his fire magic. The T E N S I O N between Elena, a rising political power in her own right, and her father, who refuses to cede an iota of control to his heir is amazing.

Then, there’s the assassin. I cannot say anything coherent about Yassen, because I will just spoil every single part of this book. I can’t hold back.

I have so much more to say about this book - it’s rich with beautiful description and references to both classical Indian history and culture. It’s a book that will satisfy readers hungry for a futuristic world adjacent to Dune, a high fantasy, or a sweeping royalcore plot thick with intrigue.

Aparna Verma’s début novel is a breath of fresh air in a fantasy market that is too Eurocentric and focused on magic as only existing in the “dark ages.” Verma reminds the reader that a golden age, bright with technology and splendor, casts the darkest shadows where anything can happen.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for gifting me with an eARC and physical ARC copy. This is my honest opinion.

This is an interesting blend of science fiction and fantasy and Indian mythology. It took me a little bit to get into the book and I was thrown off by the modernistic weaponry and technology because you don't normally see that in fantasy books. But the characters grew on me and I am intrigued by their stories and what is going to happen going forward. I do like knowing that this is the first in a trilogy because there was world and character building but it wasn't overwhelming. The multiple points of view gave insight into what the characters were thinking and a little about what was missing from the narratives.

There is very little in terms of romance and the little that is there grows naturally and doesn't seemed forced between the characters.

The characters are beautifully flawed and the world is crazy. If you like The City of Brass, A Darker Shade of Magic, An Ember in the Ashes, then I recommend this book.

4 out of 5 stars. No spice.

[4.25/5] THE PHOENIX KING is a harmonious blend of fantasy and science fiction that draws inspiration from India. Set in a world with king killers, neighboring aggressors, and power-hungry political influencers, the people want a change. Elena sees this and seeks to change her family's rule of Ravani. But what no one anticipates is the looming rise of the Prophet, the one chosen to enact justice ordered by the Phoenix. As the date of Elena's coronation comes closer, events begin to kindle and ignite into a reckoning.

Before I started to read this I didn't realize it has both fantasy and science fiction elements. Neither aspect is heavily done, though there exists a religious system with fire magic as well as hoverpods and ships for local transportation. Some may wish for more of one or the other or both. But I was content with the blend since it allowed me to focus more on the characters and story.

The author does a fantastic job realistically introducing and characterizing the leads: Leo, King of Ravani; Elena, heir of Ravani; and Yassen, orphan turned assassin to survive. Some readers may feel that THE PHOENIX KING has a slow start. But I feel that this is a justifiable pace that allows the reader to become familiar with this trio of characters and their conflicted histories. There is plenty of plotting and planning to otherwise entertain the reader until the plot sparks at about the 50% mark, flaring up from there on out. I also appreciated learning about the traumatic histories of the characters and how that shaped them into the complex and resolute people they are now. Though not infallible to bouts of emotion when seemingly unflappable figurative armor disappears, they each feel strongly about their convictions.

King Leo, who lost his wife to the fire, spent his entire life making sure Ravani was ready for rule by Elena. However, he must now face the possibility that his method was more self serving than intended. Elena loves her father dearly. But now as an adult can see that there is more to leadership than building an army of unthinking followers. Because of this, Elena's and Leo's relationship is strained. Leo won't trust Elena with the truth nor will he approach Elena's concerns with an open mind. Yassen has the opportunity to free himself of his assassin background, but is he strong enough to resist his fear of their influence? And finally there is Samson, Elena's betrothed and former assassin whose agenda is both noble and vengeful: free the Sesharians.

The thematic elements in THE PHOENIX KING don't jump out at me as clearly as in some other books. But I also have a great feeling about the rest of the series and feel there's a lot of growth in store for the characters. However, one apparent theme is that of fate or destiny. The characters grapple with whether one must stay on their path or veer onto another one. The right path isn't necessarily the easiest. At some point they face a choice of putting themselves or others first.

Overall I really enjoyed THE PHOENIX KING and I can't wait for the next installment. It's a great read for those who appreciate careful layering of characterization in addition to political unrest and maneuvering and a fight to protect a nation.

[My review will go live on 9/11 at https://aliteraryescape.com/2023/09/11/the-phoenix-king-by-aparna-verma/]