The Phoenix Crown is one of those books that reinforces why I love Historical Fiction! Placed in San Francisco starting 2 weeks before the the great earthquake of 1906, we meet four courageous women of the era. Suling, a young Chinese American who lives in Chinatown and is a great seamstress/embroiderer, she has to dress as a boy to leave Chinatown because it is not safe as a woman. Gemma, a soprano with a contract to sing in the Opera's chorus as they travel the US, but of course, dreams of a starring role. Alice Eastwood is a botanist who will do anything to protect her research and Reggie/Nellie a painter who is the connection between Suling and Gemma.

There is lot based on factual history in this book, most notably the earthquake itself and the fires in its aftermath. It is obvious that the authors did a tremendous amount of research for this book and I was fascinated to find that the character of Alice Eastwood was the real life Alice Eastwood.

The lives of these women are ruined not only by the earthquake but the man, Henry Thorton, who latches on to talented women promising to help make them famous. But when they become inconvenient, he disposes of them. I admit there was a time in the beginning when I thought he wasn't that bad even though he tells Gemma when he meets her that he is not good. His true self is revealed and as a reader I relished the women working together to bring him to justice.

I really loved all these women and appreciate that they were able to be successful in 1906. They all had jobs where it was acceptable to participate as a woman and their successes made sense in the time period. The authors did a great job of showing us San Francisco in the early 20th century especially bringing Chinatown to life, along with the prejudices and racism involved there. I truly felt that I understood Suling and her lack of choices as a woman of Chinese descent.

I highly recommend this book! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

CAPTIVATING!

Kate Quinn has an incredible talent and voice for drawing you in immediately and captivating you with her characters and storylines. I am very familiar with Kate Quinn‘s works, but had never read Janie Chang’s. I can’t wait to read more from her. I loved all of the women’s powerful narratives and how they came together. I discovered so much about a period in history I was less acquainted with. An overall outstanding read.

I was drawn in from the very beginning. It’s one of those books you simultaneously want to read all at once, because you can’t put it down, and slowly cherish because you don’t want it to ever end.

Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for sending this book for review consideration.

A mesmerizing and unforgettable story that intricately connects the experiences of two women who have endured unfair treatment. This captivating tale transports us through a range of settings, from the chaotic aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake to the magnificent grandeur of the palaces in Versailles.

This was a fun and interesting historical novel set mainly during the days immediately before, during, and after the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. An unlikely foursome of women are brought together by a complicated series of events in the days leading up to the earthquake. After the quake and the traumatic events surrounding it, the women separate to try to continue their lives—only to be called back together to find revenge and closure.

I enjoyed the story. The individual experiences of the women were all interesting and enlightening, and the plot was fast-moving. The writing was excellent. My only criticism is that perhaps it tried to do a bit too much—an historical, action, feminist, caper novel? It was a bit overwhelming—but in a good way. I loved it and highly recommend it.

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

What a fantastic collaboration from Historical fictions Queens, Kate Quinn and Janie Chang. This tale of San Francisco in the weeks leading up to the historic earthquake of 1906 focuses on the lives of 4 fierce women. A young Chinese American embroiderist , a elderly botanist, a under recognized Opera singer, and her artist friend. All 4 of their lives intertwine in the days leading up to and after the deadly earthquake. This story is every bit a Historical fiction based on real people, events and details. Of course it weaves in fictional characters and takes small timeline liberties but it is also steeped in mystery and intrigue. At times even reading like a fast paced thriller. The voices of the two authors blend beautifully and it didn't feel that the book had more than one author. I loved how most of the book was a count down to the earthquake and I had goosebumps at times and I cried more than a few times. These are powerful women characters that you can't help but love. Phoenixes rising from the flames of their struggles like the city of San Francisco after the historic earth quake, the characters and this this book are descriptively beautiful, captivating and it could be one of my top reads of the year.

I will read ANYthing Kate Quinn writes. Even it's just her grocery list. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this one did not disappoint. Set in San Francisco in 1906, just before the devastating earthquake of that year, it tells the story of Gemma and Suling then jumps ahead five years, ending up in Versailles. This was the PERFECT book for me as I love anything surrounding the 1906 SF earthquake and have always been fascinated by Versailles and its history.

Quinn and Chang created such a thrilling, fast paced, and entertaining historical fiction. Quinn is one of my favorite authors but I loved Chang’s writing as well and am excited to explore more of her books.

I was unable to tell who was writing for who because their writing styles blended so well. Each characters storylines came together in such an interesting way that I was left gasping. I did not see that reveal regarding Reggie coming!

I loved the setting and the historical moments we get. The aftermath of the earthquake and then the fire was so nerve wracking and emotional. I was left on the edge of my seat.

The ending was the only part that I felt was a little fast paced but it was still an exciting ending and did not effect my overall feelings towards this book.

Set in San Francisco in 1906, Gemma has just moved across country to try to be a singer. She falls in with Henry Thornton, a man with means to make her a star, but also with a sordid past. Another woman, Suling, works in her family’s laundry business in Chinatown, and is all but invisible to people like Thornton.

I enjoyed how this story was told from 2 POV, and I was anxiously awaiting for Gemma and Suling’s worlds to collide. It took a while for the action to ramp up, in my opinion, but I loved the setting and the storyline the authors weaved to set the stage for the climax of the book. I learned so much about this time in San Fransisco history, just before a large earth quake and subsequent fires destroyed the city. I was captivated by the terror the people felt while trying to find safety during such a massive natural disaster.

These two women, as well as Alice and Nellie, formed a bond despite being different economic status and race, which was extremely difficult to navigate during the early 1900s. I recomend this book to those who love dual POV HF and want to read a complex character driven novel, along with some tense moments.

The authors tag team to write this gem of a historical fiction account of the great earthquake in San Francisco. It’s told through the eyes of women from the time period from a myriad of backgrounds that come together to become lifelong friends. This story isn’t for the faint of heart - there are earthquakes, bigotry, and murder. But there is also art, music, nature and friendship that all come together in this wonderful tale that is quite uplifting in the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read.

Kate Quinn and Janie Chang form a woman's fiction novel with the backdrop of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. In alternating chapters readers become part of Gemma's goal of being an opera diva along with Suling, a talented embroideress who dreads a forced marriage. Both Gemma and Suling encounter Henry Thorton, a wealthy man with a huge collection of Chinese antiques including Phoenix Crown, a legendary relic from Beijing. The two women and their personal problems are developed in detail until the earthquake and fires destroy the city. Many secondary characters are inserted especially botanist Alice Eastwood an actual historical figure who comes across larger than life. The shift ahead to 1912 and the reemergence of the Phoenix Crown and the women's revenge on Henry Thorton takes away from the earthquake human drama. This is not one of Kate Quinn's better works perhaps due to the shared author format but remains a decent historical fiction work.

Fast-paced, well-written historical fiction from two masters of the craft, set in San Francisco and Paris
This book has history, mystery, and romance, plus a strong focus on female friendship. Do NOT miss the author’s note!

In the days leading up to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, we meet four strong women trying to achieve their dreams in a society ruled by men. There's Gemma, the opera singer; Suling, the young Chinese woman trying to avoid an arranged marriage; Alice, the brilliant botanist; and Reggie/Nellie, an artist and Gemma's best friend.

I was fully immersed in the growing tension and this world of inequity and greed and was especially intrigued learning about the inhabitants and families of San Francisco's Chinatown, which burned to the ground in the wake of the devastating earthquake. The Phoenix Crown bears Quinn's signature research into the city's history and Chang's voice is clear in the descriptions of hostility and racism the Chinese faced in San Francisco. The descriptions of the many Chinese antiquities, including the Phoenix Crown owned by Henry Thornton, were stunning. I could visualize the blues of the gown, the ivory in the crown.

Together, these four strong women bond as friends and provide support and compassion to one another through their ordeals with the unscrupulous businessman Thorton as well as the earthquake and beyond.

As always, the Author’s Note at the end of the book is definitely a must-read. Quinn and Chang provide some historical context for both the characters (several of whom were real people or based on real people) and the various events covered in the story as well as how they maintained their collaboration.

The plot and pacing seemed a bit uneven at times and I would have enjoyed more on how Chinese artifacts and other historically significant treasures been stolen and smuggled from their homelands. But that's really not the focus of the story and probably would have bogged it down a bit more. Nonetheless, this is another excellent piece of historical fiction that I highly recommend..

The first half of the book I struggled to get into. There’s a lot on the characters and their stories, which is fine, but it felt a little drawn out and very detailed without having a feel like we were going somewhere.

I’ve read about the 1906 earthquake before so I enjoyed another perspective though it was a surprisingly short part of the book.

What I liked most was the women’s friendships and how they were invested in each other after dealing with their character flaws. Always love a good story about women having each others’ backs.

The second half I felt more invested in, though it felt like it wrapped up really quick. I expected a little more of a back and forth to the plot and there really wasn’t. It just resolved. So good in writing and overall content, but it just felt kind of weird mix of slow and fast.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

I was excited to see two fantastic historical fiction authors collaborating on this new book! The Phoenix Crown is set in San Francisco in the early 1900s and I think this was a fantastic setting and choice for these two authors to explore. The book starts off being told from the perspective of three women: Gemma, Suling, and Alice Eastwood (who I had no idea was a real historical figure until the authors' note -- be sure to read that, there are so many great historical tidbits there!) and is set before and after the days leading up to the San Fransisco earthquake in 1906.

The book has a lovely writing style (I'd expect nothing less from these two!) and it highlighted a setting that felt unique to the historical fiction these authors have written previously. The characters were all incredible women with strong motivations and backstories (although I will admit that I fell in love with Suling particularly!) And I loved the building tension as the chapters counted down the days until quake.

While I have some lingering questions regarding the strength of the plot, it was still an entirely enjoyable read that I absolutely couldn't put down! These two authors will continue to be go-to reads for me! Many thanks to the publisher for my gifted advance copy!

The Phoenix Crown was my first introduction to Kate Quinn. I've wanted to try one of her books for years as I've heard so many great things. The premise for this and that gorgeous cover had me instantly sold. What followed was a story that centered incredibly strong and brave women, and I'm glad that I read it.

In full transparency, this story did not initially grip me. I love when I learn new things and I had never heard of the San Francisco earthquake. But other than that, there wasn't much that initially sucked me in. It started off a bit slow and, for me, pacing can really make or break an historical fiction novel. It took a while, but I did eventually grow invested in the stories of Gemma and Suling and their quest to retrieve the Phoenix Crown. I have to say, while I knew this was historical fiction, I didn't realize there was also going to be a bit of mystery involved and that ended up being my favorite part of the story.

I definitely recommend this one for readers who are looking for strong, women-centered MC's and historical fiction with a taste of mystery.

my rating: 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4 stars)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. All opinions are my own.

What a remarkable book. The Phoenix Crown is an incredible work of historical fiction from two masters of the craft. I found myself completely sucked into the story of Gemma and Suling, two women from completely different worlds who find themselves in the same orbit, the orbit of Henry Thornton.

I love historical fiction and enjoyed reading something set in the early 1900s. I didn't know anything about the San Francisco fires or the huge earthquake and began researching more about it after I was finished. I thought it was unique to have that particular event being the main event that catapults many things into motion.

This is one to add to your list, whether you are a historical fiction fan or not. It's an incredible read.

Thank you, William Morrow, UpLit Reads, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

My request for this ARC was pending approval for a long time. I was so anxious to read this one! The plot was not as riveting as I had hoped it would be! I actually struggled to get into this read. I did love how this book introduced me to a time in history that I did not know much about. It is clear that both authors are strong historical fiction authors for a good reason. This story was just okay in the end. The story was a little simple and the characters didn't keep me overly engaged. It was not a bad read, but wasn't the same "can't put this book down" read I normally get from Kate Quinn.

Set in San Francisco in the days leading up to the great earthquake of 1906, 4 women of different backgrounds find their lives intertwined. Gemma, an opera singer from Nebraska, Nellie a painter, Suling a Chinese American, and Alice, a botanist. Each one of them chasing their own dreams, but unusual circumstances bring them all together. Not an era I am familiar with, but since I am a fan of Kate Quinn, I wanted to read this book and I am glad I did! It also has introduced me to author Janie Chang and am looking forward to more books by her as well.

Is it too soon to announce a favorite book of 2024? I mean I am completely head over heels in love with The Phoenix Crown. Kate Quinn and Janie Chang play off each other beautifully, fully enrapturing me. As I slowly took in the last sentence, I gently closed the book, immediately stood up and gave them a standing ovation. Where Quinn and Chang could come out and take as many bows as they would like. I am telling you this book is phenomenal! The characters are all strong, independent women, who are determined to make it in the man's world of 1906. Each having an astonishing back story that made me fall even more in love. The book is a countdown to the San Fransico earthquake of 1906. Each chapter takes you a step closer to utter disaster.

Gemma is excited to leave her last big misstep in NYC and head for her best friend Nellie, who has been living in San Francisco. Both are striving to find their way in the art world. Gemma for her opera and Nellie for her painting. When Gemma arrives exhausted at Nellie door, she finds that her friend has just up and left San Fran. Without leaving her a note or an explanation as to where she went. Gemma is beyond upset and finds herself at dinner with millionaire Henry Thornton. Henry is always a bit disheveled in his appearance, which makes him that more attractive to Gemma. When he makes her an offer she cannot refuse, she knows that her time has finally arrived. Suling is still reeling from her parents' sudden death. Her third uncle has taken over her parent's laundry in Chinatown and is running it into the ground. He has plans to marry her off to a doctor. Suling is determined to leave San Fransico before this nightmare marriage unfolds. She is also missing her love that just up and left. As these women's paths cross and the reasons why their friend and lover have disappeared comes to light. I was left with my mouth wide open and my heart squeezing. Never trust a man that says he is no good...

I ripped this book open wide and inhaled it. I am telling you the characters and the incredible attention to detail left me mesmerized. You need to read the author's notes on this one. Quinn and Chang left me laughing and had me going down goggle rabbit holes. You can feel all the history oozing out of the pages. Thank you to Kate Quinn, Janie Chang, William Morrow, and Uplit Reads for my copy of this amazing read.

Grateful for an advanced copy from @NetGalley!

I like historical fiction that teaches me something while giving a story. I think this book did that very well and pulled topics of sexism, racism, gender equality and colonial looting into the plot to give the book a well rounded story line but also share some history.

I really appreciate the historical information and resources provided at the end of the book to share what aspects are historically accurate and what was created for the story. I think with so many topics being drawn into the plot, it made it more difficult to have depth in each of these aspects but that overall it’s a great read with strong female characters with very different backgrounds coming together for a found family vibe while also facing the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco where around 3,000 people were killed and majority of the city destroyed by the earthquake and fires.