I’m honestly speechless. I did not think this book could get better and it did. Aparna did such an amazing job of forming this world and her characters. I will write a much longer and detailed review for TPK. But if you don’t take any other recommendation from me take this one!!

The characters are just so amazing. The plot is everything I want. There are twists. And the characters just keep you guessing. I love it so much!!

Elena's story line was amazing. She is much a good character.

All of the Main Characters have so many layers to them, and it's amazing to read.

Thank you to Aparna, Orbit, and NetGalley for allowing me to be an arc reader for this story again!!


Previous Review for The Boy with Fire:

A king whose reign is coming to an end.
An heir who can’t hold the power of the rulers.
An ex-assassin who wants to return home.
A prophecy that threatens them all.

<i>The Boy with Fire is being traditionally published by Orbit as The Phoenix King!!!! </i>

I don’t know how to put into words how much I loved this book. It was amazing. It’s my new favorite book. If I could give it more starts I would. It has everything that I love in it. The plot is so interesting, and I love the characters.

It has badass women. Morally grey characters. It’s a fantasy world with sci-fi elements. It’s got political plotting and enemies to lovers and slow burn romance. The magic system in this book is also so interesting. It’s also inspired by Indian Mythology which is so cool, and this world is so interesting.

The characters are all amazing. There are so many sides of them that you get to see, and it’s done on such an amazing way. They’re all so interesting. They have their own stories and character arcs. None of them are simple either. They all have different layers and parts of their characters. I love them all so much. And even when you’re like “what the heck are you doing?”, you can see what makes them who they are. Like you find yourself sympathizing even they’re doing the worst things.

I especially can't wait to see Elena's development through the series. I think that she has so much room for growth. There is just so much potential in her. I also think her ending in book one leaves so much to explore in book two. I think all the characters have so much potential but especially Elena.

<b>“If there was one thing he could claim, it was this: that even in the darkness of death, he would know her.” </b>

There is romance, but it definitely is not the main focus of the story. That is exactly how like my books. Especially one like this that explored so much with the politics and magic of the world. I loved how the romance was just woven into the story.

The world building is fantastic. I loved that it’s kind of entwined throughout the entire story. You don’t get an overwhelming amount of information all at once. Some of it comes from dialogue, some is just woven into the plot. I really liked that it wasn’t just thrown at us.

There are also little excerpts at the top of each chapter from different documents and books that exists in the world. That's something I loved so much while reading. Some of my favorite quotes are from those little excerpts. I would love to have actual full length copies of this historical texts. I think it would be so cool.

The book hurt me in so many ways, but it is so worth it in the end. The twist and turned and surprises are so good. It keeps you guessing the entire time. And the ending is just… I can’t even explain. It’s just amazing. I can’t wait for book two!

<b>TW’s: Violence, torture, grief, death, fire/fire injury</b>

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Aparna Verma for this arc in return for an honest review. All of the thoughts in this review are my own!*

Review copy (eARC) provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“The Phoenix King” is the traditional publisher renaming and re-publishing the initially self-published debut fantasy novel from the author's "The Ravence Trilogy" series (which was initially called The Boy with Fire). There are three POV characters: (1) Leo, a king; (2) Elena, his daughter and next-in-line to the throne; and (3) Yassen, an assassin who, oversimplified, is struggling with his identity.
Without spoiling the story, Leo is working to maintain his/his family’s power and his relationship with Elena. Elena is pushing back against certain values she feels are unjust. Yassen is unsure of his place in the world and who to trust.
While I enjoyed the book, and it’s clearly well-written, my two main problems with it are:
(1) I wasn’t that interested in the main romance. It felt a little too YA and plain, which led me to feel less engaged with the overall story. I enjoy YA, to be clear, but when I was expecting something different, it just did not fit with my reading mood at the time.

(2) The pacing was a little too slow for my tastes, such that it seems like not a lot happens until the end, and by that point, I was not as invested.

That said, I think my reasons for not connecting as much with the story are personal to me and not flaws with the novel. If the book looks appealing to you, I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

3/5 stars.

This was a super cool fantasy, sci-fi novel! This south Asian inspired world of Ravence and Indian rep throughout the book added a lot to the world-building. While I was impressed by the detail spent to the country of Ravence, its people, and religion, I wanted more about the general world outside of this country. Readers get a few looks at the neighboring, warring country, and a few mentions of peaceful/ non important nations, but I just wanted a bit more.

However, I can't stress enough, how cool Ravence was. Like the attention spent on this place and the inner workings of the royal family make readers become invested in the outcome of the country. The main characters, all three, are tired to Ravence in different ways, and that plays into their end goals. Each has something they owe the desert, something they want from the desert.

Talk about morally gray characters! I didn't feel any of them could be placed into the "good" category, at least not by past book/reading standards. Leo, the Phoenix King himself, was one of my favorite characters. Yes, he was the "bad guy" but there were reasons!! And they weren't entirely terrible reasons!! His love for his daughter Elena and his departed wife was so strong, it really shined in his character arc.

The plot was pretty slow going, in my opinion. The very beginning was suspenseful and got me hooked, but up until maybe the last 6 chapters of the book I felt like it dragged. While I thought the world and plot were rich and diverse, I struggled to maintain interest. I think that maybe if I go back and reread, ar a less busy time in my life, I would find it more fast paced. I really think that this is just me, personally.

The romance of the book left a little to be desired. While this is sort of an enemies-to-lovers like romance, I found the relationship between Elena and Yassen lacking. They had no trust at the beginning snd I feel like they built some resemblance of a friendship. But the romantic notions seemed out of place to me, I felt like it could have been built up more. When they finally kissed, I felt like they had reached friend levels with hints of maybe more, not to the point where they built romantic interest.

"The Phoenix King" was a diverse, rich, world to dive into, thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc. While there are things I wanted more of, the ending plot twists have me hooked for the entire trilogy.

This story was sooooooo good. I didnt know what to expect with this since I went in blind, but I am blown away. The events that occur in this book will without a doubt hurt your heart. I was gasping and tearing up through the entirety of the last 30%.

This is such a refreshing unique fantasy romance book with high stakes, political warfare, love, loss, betrayal and so much more. The ending perfectly sets up for book two but does leave on a really severe cliffhanger.

I cannot wait to own a physical copy of this book for my favorites shelf and will be patiently waiting to devour book 2 to see what happens next!!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am not finishing this book. DNF at 13%. This book is just so slow and I like my fantasy to be action packed and to feel emotionally attached to the characters. I usually don’t rate and review books that I don’t read, but I don’t want to hurt my feedback ratio and this makes me put a star rating in order to post it.

This is a great debut novel. Once you get into the characters the story is gripping. I would have liked more explanation on the world at times but I will 100% be reading the next in the series.
3.75

DNF.

I couldn't get connected with this story and I think a lot of it stemmed from the world-building. It was hard to understand the time because they were using modern weapons and hoverboards but yet still living with other things not being so technological.

I did appreciate the different point-of-views but I didn't connect with them and thought that they fell kind of flat.

Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary earc to review! All opinions are my own.

"The Phoenix King" by Aparna Verma is a thrilling and imaginative debut that seamlessly blends elements of fantasy and science fiction into an epic tale of power, prophecy, and intrigue. Verma introduces readers to a captivating world where fire magic reigns supreme, and the fate of an entire desert kingdom hinges on the actions of its determined heir, Elena Aadya. As Elena navigates the complex world of politics and power, she finds herself entangled with Yassen Knight, an enigmatic assassin with a hidden past. The author masterfully weaves a tale of danger, secrets, and shifting loyalties that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. With elegant prose and intricate world-building, Verma creates a universe that is both immersive and unforgettable. The dynamic relationship between Elena and Yassen adds depth to the story, and their journey is a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected twists. "The Phoenix King" is a riveting page-turner that delivers exhilarating action, well-developed characters, and a compelling exploration of the choices individuals make when faced with destiny-altering decisions. Verma's debut promises an exciting new voice in the genre, leaving readers eager for more from this series.

I think from the cover and title of this book I thought I would be reading about magic and swords type and a more classic fantasy book. I didn't really read what this book was about. They have tech in this world that seems quite advanced and other things that don't match their means of transportation, weapons or communication. I was into this story at the start but somewhere I just started wondering where this story is taking me. The political intrigue is done well for the most part, but I never like that kind of thing really. The action comes from in here and there and is satisfying to read and imagine. I didn't think there would a romance but there was one and not the one I expected. Most people are turned off by fantasy romances as they just seem to happen. In the real world though people make falling in love so much more complicated than it has to be, so this romance isn't the worse. Didn't really feel like I connected with any characters though. Overall, I didn't like or dislike any character in the book. This book has twists and turns that seem obvious once you have read enough of the story and then other things happened that did take me by surprise. I am wondering how people will receive this book as it could be anything from a dnf to a five-star book for some readers, I think.

This was such a fun start to a very promising Indian inspired sci-fi fantasy series!🔥

While I’m not a big fan of sci-fi books, there’s moments where I need a nice break from fantasy and historical settings, and sci-fi is a great way for me to get that break without needing to remind myself that the real world exists, and boy did this one deliver.🧡

I found the world building spectacular especially with Ravence and Jantar as they were great juxtapositions of each other with the hot desert and the forested mountains. Rani was such a vibrant capital city and even made me wish I was there in the midst to experience it all. I’ve not such a vibrant city setting like this since The Daevabad Trilogy, and man did I miss it.🌇

The characters were such a fun treat of grey morals. Leo’s decisions throughout the novel, while yes distressing, were understandable even if they are extremely questionable from the start. Elena’s desire to be a good queen at the cost of her relationship with her father was something I don’t normally see with books nowadays, and I’m so glad it not a black and white situation with these two, but instead a lot of grey area mixed with love.👑

I adored the relationship between Elena and her guard Ferma. It reminds me a lot of a tough love kind of relationship, but it was such a loving version of it.⚔️

And Yassen was such a fun unreliable narrator that when his plot twist happened, my mouth was agape for the rest of the chapter. I loved his redemption arc towards the end, and am now desperate to see him and Elena together again in the next book!💞

The only thing that I wish I could have gotten more of was a bit more in-depth knowledge into the fire magic that the Ravani royal family possess. That, and a bit more explanation into why Elena’s mother was hit with madness when it’s the royal family who primarily get it.😔

But in the end, it was such a fun start to this series, and I will definitely can’t wait to get Book 2! 🏜

Thank you again to @orbitbooks_us @netgalley and @spirited_gal for such a fun end of the summer read! ❤️

Overall: 4.25/5⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
Some important points:
• The pacing of this book is veeery slow; there was far too much filler and buildup that could’ve been cut down
• The chemistry between the love interest(s) is not very strong, if there at all
• None of the characters felt compelling or interesting
• I would only classify this is adult due to the age of the MC and due to unnecessary and slightly awkward cussing; the writing felt more juvenile than adult
• Mythology aspect of the Phoenix was pretty cool!

While I really wanted to like this one, overall, it just fell flat for me.

I would say this is a 4.25-star read for me.

Verma's prose is absolutely stunning and her careful attention to detail made the world-building all the more compelling. Because this is the first book of a trilogy, there was a lot to set up in terms of stakes and descriptions; but toward the beginning especially, even though Verma's writing was beautiful, I had to push myself to read a bit at a time, asking the question, "What is all of this for?" With all of that said, avoiding spoilers, when the twists really started to come, even though I could feel they were coming, they still washed over me in a satisfying way. If you are willing to wait for it, there's a point when you suddenly won't be able to put the book down, as you can start to taste the nearness of answers. So, I think this would have been a 5-star read for me if I were the kind of person who willing did 2000+ puzzles on weekends. That's the best way for me to describe it.

P.S. Again avoiding spoilers, I really hope that my favorite character has their own perspective in Book 2. Low-key, I would read something starring them alone lol.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hard copy. All opinions provided are my own.

Aparna Verma’s The Phoenix King is a monster of a fantasy with lots of twists & turns, a couple of “oh sh** moments,” & an ending that left me with a couple of questions.

An heir to a kingdom, a former assassin trying to secure freedom, a ruthless king who will do anything, go to any lengths, no matter how violent, to take the future he thinks is right…

This fantasy has a lot going on, not to mention secrets, betrayal, gods, conquered countries, & a smidge of a love triangle.

In its best moments, this book captivated me & I waited with bated breath to see what other danger / horror would attend the characters in this world.

But there are also moments when the book drags a bit for me, & by the end I had the feeling that the book is somewhat too long—never a great feeling to have. The scope of this one feels too large.

This is definitely a big book in all the ways & it takes the reader for a real ride. I think book 2 could be a turning point for the series, seeing if it focuses in more & picks up & tightens the threads started in book 1.

4⭐️. Out 08/29.

Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWS but know that this book includes gory depictions of violence & murder, including burning people alive.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the book in front of a flower garden with zinnias on the left & a massive sunflower in the background.]

The Phoenix King: This book might be one of my favorite summer reads. Now before I get to deep in this is very much a world building entry as it is the first book in a trilogy, BUT! Don’t let that stop you, this books has great character building. I mean you really get to know the characters, their desires and why’s. For a debut novel this is really stellar work. The ending left me wanting to know what happens next and the quality definitely left me impressed for such a new writer. I will be watching Verma’s career with great interest. You follow Elena approaching ascending to the throne, her fiancé Samson and the man he hired to protect her Yessen, the man with a messy past who is determined to prove he is reformed. The is mystery and secrets peppered within this book and I don’t want to spoil anything in this review. It would be a disservice to the author’s hard work. Despite there being romance it doesn’t overtake the actual plot and intrigue of the story. I found this very refreshing as a lot of authors as of late have leaned very heavily on that trope. I definitely recommend this book!!!!

To be honest, this book blew my mind. I have never read a book with such well crafted world building and politics that aren't boring. I'm the type of reader to read a book for the romance and that's it. However, with this I was so deeply invested in the world and the plot that the romance was the last thing on my mind. These characters are so intricately woven and they all feel so real, and I loved them even with the dark and messy parts of them. I mean this book was seriously EPIC. The culture, the characters, the plot and political schemes, the magic, the writing - all of it was amazing.

I truly appreciated Aparna's writing. It was gorgeous. Lyrical but not heavy and overbearing. Quick and snappy when it needed to be. It painted such lush and vibrant pictures of each scene and had some really hard hitting lines.

Honestly, I'm scared to continue reading from her. She's proven she is NOT afraid to break our hearts into pieces. As a writer, I seriously admire her skill, but as a reader my heart is shattered.

My one issue with this book was how the end seemed to drag. The climax was seriously INTENSE and I loved it! So so well done! But the aftermath of the climax went on for a bit too long. I feel like that portion could have been moved to the beginning of book two.

Overall - I LOVED THIS. 5/5 stars and I cannot wait for book two!

Thank you so much Orbit and Aparna for my ARC!

This novel was an enjoyable read. Was it one of my favorite books I have read this year? Not really. But this is mainly because of my personal taste when it comes to what I like in the fantasy genre. If you like a mixture of Dune and Game of Thrones, then you are a better audience for this book. My tastes go more for traditional fantasy without modern technology, but still while I cannot say with certainty I will read the next book in the series, I will say that now that I am more comfortable with my understanding of this world that Aparna Verma created I may come back to this world of technology, folklore and fantasy in the future.

The tale is told from the POVs of three characters: Elena, Leo and Yassen.

Leo is the King of Ravence and wants the transition of power to Elena to go smoothly and is willing to do anything to make sure Ravence continues to flourish and his family is protected from inside and outside forces. Ravence beholds its success to the Phoenix God, the god of fire and destruction. Leo knows what it is to hold this power. Maybe not to control it- because how can anyone control fire- but at least learn how to use it as a tool for the betterment of his kingdom.

Elena is the daughter of Leo and heir of a desert kingdom known as Ravence. She will soon be the queen of this desert kingdom and is worried that she will never learn the secrets of the Eternal Flame and be accepted by the Phoenix God. She knows she is not ready as our story begins, but she also knows that she must learn how to embrace the Phoenix God as her time grows closer for her to start her reign.

Yassen was once a cold-hearted assassin who is reviled by Ravence for past assassinations and his past association with a secret terrorist organization known as the Arohassin. He is looking for redemption by taking an offer from his only friend Samson, who is to marry Elena and become king. Yassen is returning to Ravence, his native land. Yassen will be part of Elena's guard, her protector.

It is difficult to go into many details as they can spoil the enjoyment of a review, but I will say, that I am a fan of the main theme of this novel "the greater good." While there are some deplorable actions that our main characters make throughout the novel, it comes down to they feel their actions are warranted to save the many. Leo is a great example of this as he will go to any means necessary to save his kingdom from spiritual, internal and outside threats, and some of his actions while they are logical they are certainly not humane. Elena, also, at times in the novel does some awful things, but she also believes they are necessary. In a sense, the main characters in the book are struggling what they feel is necessary for survival of their way of life with not losing their humanity.

The use of technology in the novel like holo-pads, flying vehicles, and mechanized-humans combined with the mystical Phoenix God took away from my enjoyment. Some though may find it enjoyable, but it took a little bit of time to get comfortable in this world and get invested in the story.

Still, this is a good first novel. The author provided us an edgy and certainly dark at times tale in a setting that we rarely see in speculative fiction. She is a new voice that others should try if they like political intrigue, fantastical elements with technology in a desert setting with powerful, but flawed characters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Orbit for providing me this ARC for my honest review.

"The Phoenix King" by Aparna Verma is an epic fantasy novel that takes readers on a sweeping journey through a richly imagined world. The story unfolds with grandeur, blending elements of magic, adventure, and political intrigue.

Verma's world-building is a standout feature of the novel, with intricately crafted landscapes, cultures, and magical systems. The depth and attention to detail in the setting immerse readers in a realm of wonder and mystery.

The characters in "The Phoenix King" are complex and multidimensional, each with their own motivations and arcs. The political struggles and power dynamics between different factions add layers of complexity to the narrative, giving the story a sense of depth and realism.

The pacing of the novel is deliberate, allowing the plot to unfold gradually while building tension and anticipation. The story seamlessly weaves together multiple perspectives, providing a comprehensive view of the unfolding events.

While the novel excels in world-building and plot complexity, there were moments when the pacing felt slow, and certain character motivations were not fully explored. However, these minor drawbacks do not overshadow the overall scope and ambition of the story.

In conclusion, "The Phoenix King" is a commendable entry in the epic fantasy genre, boasting a richly developed world and intricate narrative. If you're a fan of immersive fantasy tales with political intrigue and a touch of magic, this novel offers a captivating journey into a fantastical realm.

5/5 Stars

TL;DR - A vibrant, sprawling tale, as lush as an oasis and as searing and soaring as the eponymous Phoenix. It has everything - complex characters, deep emotion, vivid imagery, political intrigue, romance - and all of it delivered expertly with razor-sharp prose that’s as beautiful as it is cutting. A science-fantasy masterpiece as far as I’m concerned - excuse me while I die waiting for the second book.

Big thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!

‘The Phoenix King’ by Aparna Verma is the first book in the Ravence Trilogy, set in a futuristic, Indian-inspired world that has as much magic as it does tech. This book is told in alternating POVs from three main characters - Elena Ravence, the princess and heir to the throne who is a skilled fighter and politician, Yassen Knight, a disgraced assassin seeking freedom and peace, and Leo Ravence, the king whose only desire is to protect his kingdom and his beloved daughter. The story begins at the very end of Leo’s reign, only months before Elena will ascend and become Queen, and the nation is in turmoil, with rebellion on the streets of the capital and an enemy kingdom's army massing at their southern border. We follow the three main characters as they navigate political upheaval, familial conflict, deep personal struggles, and ancient, ungovernable magic.

Okay, wow. Speechless. I loved this, almost beyond words. I took so few notes because I was just SO invested in this book. It ticks all the boxes for me, and then some. I’m going to try to put it into words coherently, so bear with me.

First, the writing. It is absolutely captivating. I have pages and pages of highlighted passages saved in my Kindle, so many phrases and paragraphs that are so incredibly well-written and that land with so much grace and yet so much weight. Profound, heart-wrenching, gorgeous, atmospheric to the max - there’s just no way for me to neatly sum up how much I loved how this book is written. I can only say that the prose feeds my soul. Thank you, Aparna.

The characters! Elena is clever, cunning, passionate, fearless, kind, but also rash, naive, and ruthless (Inej Ghafa 2.0 as far as I’m concerned). She is everything I want and need my FMCs to be, and more. Yassen is the saddest boy just doing his best and I am here for it. He’s also clever and kind, the perfect mix of protective and trusting Elena to hold her own, but deeply haunted and struggling against his demons - chef’s kiss. Even Leo, who does all the wrong things for what he believes are the right reasons, is fleshed out to the point where he feels like a real person. I haven’t loved an entire cast of characters this much since Six of Crows, and We Hunt The Flame before that.

The world is somewhat hard to pin down, but I still loved every minute spent exploring it. It’s giving Star Wars, Dune, We Hunt The Flame, Avatar: The Last Airbender - so many good things. It was hard for me to stay grounded in it sometimes, because my brain was firmly stuck imagining a fully fantasy world, and then there’d be a hovertrain or a neon sign and I’d remember, oh yeah, this is science fantasy. There’s a lot of good sci-fi elements - holographic communicators, electromagnetic training fields, energy guns - as well as all the magic and mystery of a fantasy novel. The world is steeped in Indian culture, and I had such a wonderful time existing in it for the span of the book.

The plot, oh my gosh, the plot. There’s political intrigue, but not the boring kind. There’s a magical mystery and ancient prophecies. There’s treason, betrayal, blasphemy, murder, mayhem. There’s romance that kindled a spark in my cold, ace heart. And there are twists for days! I called a few of them, and others flew completely out of nowhere. I yelled so much at this book, in good ways and in stressful ones - and the end of the book? SHEESH. I weep that I have to wait like a year to know what happens to these characters. And yeah, this book is 400+ pages long, but it EARNS it! There’s always tension, always mystery, always something happening to keep the flow going. Superb.

That’s it, that’s the end of my notes. There’s so much more to say but I don’t have the words to properly convey it. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a long time, and haunting the author’s everything until the next book is announced.

Final Thoughts:

One of my new favorites. Please read this book.

I will ABSOLUTELY be buying a physical copy, and praying to the book gods that someone releases a fancy, special edition soon.

5/5. WOW. I really liked this one.

The world-building was very unique and creative. It's not pure fantasy-- it's science fantasy, and more heavy on the sci-fi bits than the fantasy. It made for a fun world that felt well though-out and lived-in. Ravence gave off Fire Kingdom from Avatar: the Last Airbender vibes, but if the Fire Kingdom were the (relatively speaking) good guys. There are certainly some parts that were inspired by Dune, and I thought it was a nice homage without being overly similar. I did think it was a little difficult to keep track of all the settings and major players at first, but once the really important ones are established it gets easier. My advance copy did not have a map, but it did look like the final version will, and that will help, too. I'm not as familiar with Indian myth, but it made for an interesting and unique world that made me curious about learning more.

As for the characters, Leo was by the far the best written. He was multifaceted and interesting. Samson is the second-best. Elena has potential to be a fantastic character as well, but needs a little more development that I think will come with more books. I cared about Yassen the least. I liked Elena with Samson better, so I'm hoping this Elena/Yassen doesn't last-- though I'm not optimistic. Overall, however, each of the characters were morally gray and the nuance about each of them was well done.

The plot started off a little slowly, partly because of the time dedicated to world-building at the beginning but it did get more engaging once all the political intrigue began. Anyone who enjoys the political machinations of City of Brass or ASOIAF would enjoy this book too. Also, the plot twist at the end!! I was probably going to rate this book 4/5 but the plot twist really surprised me. I was NOT expecting that, so 5/5 for being well done and completely a shock.

The prose was excellent, which also added to my enjoyment. And bonus points for the Fahrenheit 451 reference in the final chapter.

I'm definitely interested in buying a final, paper copy.

This is a great introduction to this world and series. It could move a little faster, but then we'd lose a lot of the weight and reality of the world. The characters are complex and interesting. None of our POV (or shoot, even the secondary characters) are one dimensional. There is a beautiful sense of place here, and the characters are all wrestling with themselves in a way that feels true rather than angsty. Definitely an author to watch.