I really loved that this book focused on the time period surrounding the San Francisco earthquake as well as learning about the different cultural aspects. These two aspects combined brought a really unique storytelling element to the book. Kate Quinn is an autobuy author for me, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. It wasn't a favorite of min, but I'm glad I gave it a chance!

The lives of four women intertwine in San Francisco, days before the earthquake of 1906 hits.

Gemma, an opera singer is heading to California to join a traveling theater group and hoping to reunite with her artist friend, Nellie. Upon arriving in San Francisco, Gemma finds her friend is missing. At the boarding house, Gemma befriends Alice - a botanist and curator at the University. Suling, a Chinese embroideress, is being forced in to an arranged marriage by her uncle. Suling has fallen in love with an employee of the rich and famous Henry Thornton, and one day finds that her love has gone missing.

The paths of these women cross during Thornton's lavish parties, where he shows off his antique collection, including the famous Phoenix Crown. Together the women unravel the mysterious past of Thornton, just as the San Francisco earthquake hits.

This was a great historical fiction novel, set in a unique time and place, that kept me interested through the whole story.

Even though I have most of her books on my shelf, this was my first Kate Quinn read and I’ve got to tell you, I was pretty disappointed. I was so intrigued by the setting of this book: the big earthquake and fires that ruined San Francisco in 1906 and I enjoyed learning more about the city, especially Chinatown, in the early 1900s, but it wasn’t as much of a focus as I expected. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and wasn’t really invested in their stories. I thought the last few chapters in Paris were the most interesting and I loved seeing the women work together to get justice.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Book Club Girl for the ARC.

I've been a big fan of Kate Quinn's books starting when I read The Alice Network. When I saw the promos with "The Phoenix Crown" coming out soon, I was so excited not just about the authors, but the subject of San Francisco in the early 1900's and when the city was devasted by the earthquake. That city has so much history. I haven't read Janie Chang's books, but I will be looking into them. I do love historical fiction and I see that's what she is known for. The story is based on two strong women, Gemma a soprano singer who comes to San Francisco to perform in the opera. She was an orphan and has been through some very tough times. Also, there is Sulie a Chinatown girl who is trying to better herself and is an amazing seamstress and embroideress. Two other women are Nellie an artist and Alice a botanist that add to the story. All their lives are intertwined as they become friends. They all fall prey in many different ways to Henry Thornton a philanthropist who was known for his collection of Chinese antiques and the main one being the Phoenix Crown. Henry buys his fame through the arts and women are his victims. I will say it took me about 100 pages to get into the flow of book and then something happened that made me think I'm hooked.
The whole world for these characters fell apart when the earthquake hit and truths came out, but I say strong women survive. The authors
have written an impressive novel with copious amounts of research. I would compare their work to authors such as Stephanie Dray and
Alison Pataki. Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins I've upped my joy of reading.

I really liked this one but didn't quite love it. I do think it's worth the read but go into it aware that it's slower-paced and at times feels like a lot going on with three main characters. I did love all three women after getting to know them. There's Gemma, a fancy opera singer who's trying to further her career. Suling, a young and talented embroideress trying to save enough money to leave Chinatown. Last but not least, Alice, a highly successful botanist. All three women live very separate lives until their stories intertwine when they're wronged by the same man. The story is set in 1906 San Francisco and begins shortly before the devastating earthquake and fire (that sadly happened in real life and took more than 3,000 lives.) I liked that this felt like two or three stories in one. It's obvious the authors did a great deal of research and I hope they decide to write more books together.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was an enjoyable read that delved into a period of time I wasn't very familiar with - the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. There are four women from different walks of life whose paths cross and they become friends. Alice is a botanist who makes plants her life's work - she's no-nonsense, I can do anything I set my mind to, societal rules be damned woman - and personally my favorite character. Reggie is an artist and Gemma's life-long friend who convinces her to start anew in San Francisco but mysteriously disappears. Told primarily from the perspectives of Gemma - an older opera singer trying to make it, and Suling - a Chinese American that is skilled in embroidery, these women have to make their way through a world filled with dreams, challenges, and unexpected friendships.

Kate Quinn is one of my favorite authors. She has the ability to bring historical women to life in a gripping and engaging style that I always enjoy. While The Phoenix Crown was meticulously researched and focused around several women, I felt the essence of a Kate Quinn book was lost.

The Phoenix Crown was a slow burn historical fiction. While I enjoyed the characters I never felt truly invested. In my notes, at the 20% mark, I wrote that I still wasn’t sure what the plot conflict was. At 40%, the pacing begins to make some headway, and then at 50% the plot conflict finally reveals itself and gives the book some direction. For me, if the character development isn’t central, the plot unfolding at the halfway point took too long.

I did love the historical details of the book — clothing, societal norms, the glitz and glamour. I got to feel what it was like to live in San Francisco in 1906. The setting and timeframe were the strongest aspects in the book for me. The actual earthquake and the following hours after were especially poignant as San Francisco was virtually leveled by destruction and fire.

I’d recommend this to any historical fiction aficionados who enjoy a slow-burn read about the strength of female relationships mixed with gilt and glamour.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication date: Feburary 13, 2024
Pages: 384

Thank you to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the uncorrected e-proof in exchange for an honest review!

I have loved Kate Quinn's novels since The Alice Network and this one did not disappoint! While I haven't read anything by Janie Chang just yet I have already added most of her books to my tbr to read as soon as I can!

The novel follows Suling, a Chinese American seamstress, and Gemma, a Nebraskan farm girl turned opera singer as they navigate a society that does not make it easy for them to succeed. I admired both of the main characters and the way that they grew and came into themselves throughout the course of the novel. It would be really cool to see both of them along with a few of the side characters such as Alice and Reggie make appearances in future novels.

This was one of my anticipated new releases this year after seeing all of the work that both of the authors put into the research and development of the novel. The descriptions of San Francisco during its' Golden Age were great, especially in the way that it hi-lighted the beauty of a Chinatown that was lost in the fire. The earthquake and the fire that followed were described so well that I could picture the confusion of the city and the panic that they faced as they tried to save the city from destruction.

Happy pub day to The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang! I had been looking forward to a new book by Kate Quinn, and I’ve never read anything by Janie Chang, so this sounded like a treat. Here’s what I liked:

✔️The 1905 San Francisco is already a fascinating time and setting, and knowing there’s a massive earthquake is heading their way made for an extra suspenseful plot.
✔️The book was full of strong, female characters (an opera singer, a seamstress, an artist), but Alice (a botanist) in particular, was fantastic.
✔️I always love a good author’s note at the end of a HF novel, and this one was so detailed and gave a sense of the research that went into the book. It was obvious these friends had a lot of fun writing together.

Overall, this is a good escape read that need not be taken too seriously. I had to suspend disbelief a few times (and may have rolled my eyes a time or two). So just a heads up that in my opinion, this isn’t on the same level as The Rose Code or The Huntress. But, I still did enjoy it!

The Phoenix Crown is a book that will stay with me long after reading. Set in the early 1900s, the story brings together women from different walks of life into a sisterhood of love and protection, all due to one man’s greed.

The reader gets a view of how the citizens of Chinatown were viewed and treated before and after the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, yet the narrative gives each of them a voice. I loved the rich history regarding Chinese antiques and the value placed on someone with fine sewing skills. The women portrayed in this story were so well-developed and complex. I was captivated by each of their stories and how their experiences were brought to life.

Dazzles with its characters and shines in its storytelling.

Thanks NetGalley and William Morrow Books, for the ARC!

Synopsis –

San Francisco, 1906 – 3 very different women –

Gemma Garland – a soprano singer who needs to reboot her opera career.

Suling – a talented young woman from Chinatown who dreams of a bigger life and better opportunities for her embroidering skills.

Alice Eastwood – the renowned botanist and the curator at the California Academy of Sciences.

Their paths intersect when they come under the wing of Henry Thornton, a successful business man and a connoisseur of art with a huge antique collection including the coveted Phoenix Crown, acquired from the looted Summer palace of China. The 1906 earthquake changes their lives and fortunes forever.

Review –

Kate Quinn is my favorite author and I can’t afford to miss a new one from her. #ThePhoenixCrown is another glorious feather in the author’s crown (pun intended) and what’s more – the collaboration with Janie Chang makes this a triumph of a historical fiction novel.

Oh the characters! What a story! I am in awe of how the authors chose such unique women as our protagonists. What’s common among them is the passion for their work, the innate talent they were gifted with, the spirit and yearning they had to achieve more, do better, get the recognition and remuneration they deserved.

Although I loved Gemma and Suling’s characterization, it is Alice Eastwood who stole the limelight. Her knowledge, accomplishment and contribution to the world of Botany in the early 20th century is simply commendable!

The narrative shifts between Gemma and Suling’s perspectives and as the timeline inches towards the fateful day of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, we come to understand their pasts, their deepest desires, flaws, struggles and dreams.

As we are teleported to this historic time period - the evocation of the time and place is brilliant, adorned with rich descriptions of - Suling’s intricate embroidery, the zeitgeist of the era, opera scene and music, Chinatown, the aromas, cultures, architecture, mindset of the Chinese immigrants, the poverty, rampant prostitution, racism and hardships they endured.

The plot converges the lives of the three women, binding them with a strong mystery element as they all fall under the radar of the conniving Thornton and unveils the enigma behind the “Phoenix Crown”.

It all culminates in a satisfying ending proving nothing can stop zealous, ambitious, determined and resourceful women who rally together.

I appreciated the authors’ note which sheds light on the inspiration behind the characters, as they blend imagination with true events and personalities. Kudos for the depth of research that has gone into this masterpiece👏

This one's not to be missed if you are a fan of the time period or historical fiction in general.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, William Morrow Books, Uplit Reads and the authors for the copy of this ARC to read and review!

This is one of those brilliant historical fictions that immediately transports you back in time! I could feel the hustle and bustle of 1906 San Francisco on every page! @katequinn5975 and janiechang33 did an outstanding job of making me vividly experience the atmosphere, the landscape and the diversity of people who called this city their home … whether natively born there or transported by circumstance. I found myself “Googling” so many things throughout the book … photos of the city, the people, the infamous crown, fashion of the era plus all the art & architecture! I learned so much! Don't miss the Authors' notes at the end ... fascinating!

I anxiously ripped through this story as the days counted down to the great earthquake … and the climax and wrap up were just as satisfying. The Phoenix Crown is an amazing story of friendship, loyalty, strength and survival! I really enjoyed it!

Review will be posted on 2/22/24

Gemma Garland is an opera singer at the Metropolitan Opera and is traveling with them to San Francisco to sing a special performance with Enrico Caruso. This is just the thing that Gemma hopes will revitalize her stagnant career. While there in this bustling city in 1906, Gemma meets Henry Thornton, a railroad magnate, who mixes and mingles in high society. Gemma finds herself thrust into this world and even singing at their parties. Henry seems like a perfect gentleman until she discovers his darker side. He dabbles in Chinese antiques and even has items from Bejing's fallen palace. Gemma's friend, Suling Feng, a Chinese embroiderer, makes Gemma question Henry's character. Suling has been hired by Henry to fix a few items from the Bejing palace, which leads her to question him. To make matters worse, Suling hints at Henry's even darker side as she blames him for her boyfriend's disappearance. The two women band together to challenge Henry, but before they know it, the infamous San Francisco earthquake is upon them. Kate Quinn and Janie Chang's The Phoenix Crown is a solid historical novel filled with strong female leads and a very atmospheric setting.

I enjoyed Gemma from the start of The Phoenix Crown, but I am not very interested in opera, so this portion of the story dragged a bit for me. What I liked the most was going along for Gemma's ride in old San Francisco. Quinn and Chang developed the setting so well and brought it to life. Their descriptions of Chinatown were also very detailed; I felt like I was there. I didn't know about the darker side of it all, so that was especially enlightening, which the authors really explain in the detailed author's notes. I also enjoyed Suling's story and Chang did a really solid job of highlighting what life was like for Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco during the time. I truly learned a lot.

Who doesn't enjoy a historical novel where two strong women team up to take down a powerful (but bad!) man? That was also one of my favorite aspects of The Phoenix Crown. My only complaint is that since two authors wrote the novel, it felt a little disjointed at times, and didn't flow as well as I was hoping. It may be because I am used to Quinn's writing style, so this felt different to me. However, it was a solid historical novel overall, and many of Quinn and Chang's fans will enjoy it.

Have you read Kate Quinn or Janie Chang? Is The Phoneix Crown on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

"𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳."

I love books that celebrate female friendships and 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗫 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡 perfectly fit the bill. It tells the stories of four very different women whose lives become intertwined in San Francisco in the days leading up to the devastating earthquake of 1906 and how they survive together. There's some romance, some mystery and lots of amazing historical details about a time and event I knew nothing about that kept me riveted. I went into this one blind (the description gives away a lot of the story) and I enjoyed being surprised by the turns it took. Don't miss the creative epilogue and the great authors' notes at the end from Kate Quinn and Janie Chang. (PS - there's a cameo from Pauline and Theo from Chang's 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻!)

Thanks to William M0orrow Books for the #gifted copy.

A thrilling romp with lots of girl power!! Lovingly embroidered with rich historical details of the Chinese culture and Italian Opera. A truly original story set in San Francisco at the turn of the 20th Century.

In The Phoenix Crown, Kate Quinn and Janie Chang weave a tale of opera, botany, and precious stolen Chinese artifacts through the interconnected stories of Gemma, Suling, Reggie, and Alice leading up to the San Francisco earthquake (and fire) of 1906 and after. Overall, I enjoyed the story, particularly the pacing, events, and background in the days prior to the earthquake. I had a hard time putting it down the first half of the book.

I struggled with how to rate this one, though, because as much as I enjoyed the story, and have always enjoyed Kate Quinn’s books, I felt like something was missing in the 2nd half of the book. Maybe it was the detail and pacing leading up to the earthquake (days) with an abrupt shift to a time period spanning years. Maybe there were too many characters and elements (the Phoenix Crown, the Queen of the Night, Henry Thornton) woven together that ended up feeling disjointed in the end. For this I waffled between 4 and 4.5 stars (rounded to 5).

If you’re a fan of Kate Quinn, or historical fiction (especially non-WWII historical fiction) that is based on real events, I think you will enjoy this book. I can’t speak for whether Janie Chang’s fans will like this one, but it did make me want to check out more of her work. A big thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for the advance copy. 4.5 stars, a solid read, recommend.

The rich tapestry of historical fiction intertwined with factual accounts of the San Francisco earthquake created a captivating backdrop for the narrative. The emphasis on women's strength resonated powerfully, illustrating that their collective unity can conquer adversity.

The enigmatic allure surrounding a relic served as a compelling thread, injecting an element of mystery that heightened the story's intrigue. The author's ability to seamlessly merge historical accuracy with a gripping plot was evident, and the conclusion skillfully tied up loose ends, leaving me with a sense of fulfillment.

In essence, the novel offered a multi-faceted exploration of resilience, the bonds of sisterhood, and the profound impact of historical events, making it a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

4.25 stars. "It wasn't enough for a women to be talented, clever, or good. That wouldn't save her."

I have never read Janie Chang's work before, but I love Kate Quinn as an author and historical fiction is my favorite genre, so I was thrilled to get this book.

This novel is set in 1906 and the first part follows a diverse set of four female characters as they unwittingly countdown to a giant San Francisco earthquake that completely demolished the city. The rest of the book depicts their lives during and after the earthquake as their paths intertwine in various ways and their relationships with each other develop into lasting bonds.

I appreciated how the novel touched upon many important historical themes. including misogyny, racism (particularly toward Chinese immigrants), and different cultural views of LGBTQ relationships (in this case lesbian and bisexual characters).

Overall, this was an interesting and very well-researched book. There were times where the pace was inconsistent, which may be due to having it written by two authors. I did not find it as gripping or compelling as previous works I have read by Quinn (e.g., The Diamond Eye). While I enjoyed it, there was never a time where I felt I could not put the novel down and had to stay up late reading, but I would still wholeheartedly recommend it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and the publisher William Morrow for an e-book of this arc to read in exchange for my review!

The Phoenix Crown is a historical novel set during the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. It tells the story of four women whose lives intersect: Gemma, an opera singer recently moved to California; Alice Eastwood, a middle aged botanist; Suling, a gifted seamstress from Chinatown; and Reggie, an artist. They are connected through their dealings with Henry Thornton, a charismatic but dangerous business tycoon.

I wanted to read this novel because I have never read about the San Francisco earthquake before. The setting, in 1906 California, also intrigued me.

This was a fascinating book! I read late into the night, also sneaking a chapter during the afternoon, and even on my phone when I had a few spare minutes. I found all four women interesting protagonists and I am in awe of how well the authors interwove their stories.

The period details were exceptional. I especially loved reading about Chinatown, the Chinese antiquities that Henry Thornton collected, and Alice Eastwood's plants.

I loved the authors' notes on this book and enjoyed reading more about the real Alice Eastwood there. I looked her up online ... and also listened to a Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast episode about the San Francisco earthquake.

I cannot recommend The Phoenix Crown highly enough. Fans of historical fiction will love this book! I certainly did.

This book was a fun ride. The book was set in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It follows 3 very different women who's lives are intertwined. This book at it's core is about deeply rooted female friendships.

I loved reading about a time and event that was new to me. The perspective of each of the women was completely different but Suling's was the most fascinating since it shed light on life of Chinese Americans at the turn of the century. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a historical fiction.