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.

A thrilling and unforgettable narrative about the intertwined lives of two wronged women, spanning from the chaos of the San Francisco earthquake to the glittering palaces of Versailles. From the beginning of this book, I had a heightened anticipation and sense of dread as the chapter's countdown to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Reading about this devasting and catastrophic historic event was riveting and horrifying but I could not stop turning the pages. The well-developed characters, the detailed research of not only the time period but the social divides between class and race combine to create one the best historical fiction books I've read in 2024.

Wonderfully written with so much going on you want more but it's perfect at the same time. Loved this book and the characters within.

An absolute disappointment. After reading Kate Quinn's The Alice Network, I was happily looking forward to reading another one of her novels, and was excited that the next one I got to read was an advanced reader. But sadly I was extremely disappointed with this novel and would not recommend it to others. There are many things throughout the story that led to my dissappointment.

To begin, I found it extremely irritating that she reused thoughts and ideas from The Alice Network. The fact that she had yet another character with a mangled hand, was cheap to me. There was a variety of different options that could have been done, yet she resorted to using something she has already written. Not only did she repeat this, but she also repeated the use of her characters being orphans, and the repeated use of the idea of characters being portrayed as whores, in her words. I found this to be very unoriginal, to use so many things from a previously written story.

Not only did Kate Quinn reuse thoughts and ideas in her new release, but she continued to use a writing style that I found to be distracting when reading The Alice Network. In her writing, Kate Quinn provided foreshadowing to where nothing that you read was a surprise. In addition, she used language and terminology throughout the novel that made the reader assume that she believes she is smarter than her reader. In addition to this, I found it distracting to include the countdown to when the earthquake occured, as well as the switch between different perspectives between and within chapters.

In regards to the storyline, I found it incredibly boring. There wasn't anything that was making me like the story or to stay interested in reading, I found that it just continued to drag and drag. Then, after reading the author's note I strongly believe that this novel should not even be characterized as historical fiction. What this showed me was that unless the storyline is given to Quinn, she is not able to write a story that can keep the interest of the reader. Not only was it a struggle to start, but I continued to find myself hoping for the end.

When the story did come to an end, similar to the Alice Network, I was not pleased with the ending and thought that the story should have ended before it was drug on even further. I feel as if rather than having an ending that was more fit and flowed better, Quinn wanted to give the reader closure. But that closure seemed forced and provided more dissappointment than necessary.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more reviews and discussions, listen to my podcast Thr Honest Book Reviewers with Nate and Emma.

https://open.spotify.com/show/3H3ugH4xlzvjMXuUo1Lyvh?si=ewdzfkUnSVKyDmAvHMHIPQ

Thanks to Book Club Girl, William Morrow Books, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for this copy of "The Phoenix Crown."

Set in the Gilded Age of San Francisco before the earthquake of 1906, four women cross the path of Henry Thomton, a wealthy man who collects antiquities and aspires to be a patron of the arts.

We see the juxtaposition of the very wealthy alongside the very poor, but then the earthquake shatters those boundaries and we see what they truly value and try to save.

Kudos for authors Quinn and Chang for awesome Author's Notes with character biographies!

I am a big fan of Kate Quinn's stand alone novels and so I was very happy to be given an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. I hadn't read much about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and I enjoyed reading about that time period. Like Quinn's other books, the story features strong women with interesting lives and circumstances. There's a lot to like about this story, which is a good balance of historical fiction and a mystery with a satisfying ending.