Forbidden love

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good historical novel. When I first picked this up I just wasn’t in the mood, for something quite as deep. So I read a few lighter novels and then returned. I’m so glad I went back. The story has it all, illicit love, tragedy and rebirth.
I loved the sound premise to this story. Set in 1666 London. Time of the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy and King Charles. Cecilia Thorowgood’s husband has died of the plague. Cecilia is distraught. She’s suffers various doctors paraded before her trying to cure her of melancholy. David Mendes is a physician come Portugal, now living in a Jewish neighbourhood in Aldegate. He has been asked to treat Cecilia.
The story extends into a burgeoning friendship between Cecelia and David, Cecilia’s increasing fear of entrapment, a proposal of marriage from her sister’s husband’s nephew, her growing love for David, his fear of the harsh opinions of others (with good cause) all overshadowed by the Great Fire of London, when lives will be reshaped from a crucible of terror, just not in the way expected.

A Penguin Random House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

If only we could stay here always, you and I, and pretend the earth is no longer turning.

The Phoenix Bride is a story of forbidden love in seventeenth century London. When Cecilia's husband succumbs to the plague, she is distraught with grief and escapes to her sister's home in London. After months with no end to Cecilia's depression in sight, her sister hires a slew of doctors to help, the last of which being David.

David Mendes, having fled Portugal with his father in order to practice his faith without persecution, is in London and practicing medicine. Having experienced his own fair share of grief, he treats Cecilia different than the other doctors, and undeniably feels stronger for her than his normal patients. David and Cecilia face many challenges if they wish to be together.

David and Cecilia's love story was so compelling, much of which has to do with Siegel's incredible writing. In just a few pages I was able to fall in love with Cecilias late husband, Will, only for him to be taken away from me!! Honestly, cruel. If you're looking for a beautifully written historical romance, highly recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In 1666 London, widow Cecelia Thorowgood is trapped in her older sister’s townhouse. Doctors are impatient to cure her grief, and her sister finally turns to a new Jewish physician to save Cecilia. David Mendes fled Portugal so he could practice his faith and medicine freely, but still is unhappy in this strange land. Of all people, he knows there is no easy cure for grief. He understands Cecelia's pain and grows attached to her, torn between his heart and his practice. The great plague had come and gone, but the Great Fire is coming...

Cecelia had the good luck to marry for love, while her twin sister married for money and prestige. After her husband died, she fell into grief so profound, we would recognize it as depression. This is what leads to meeting David, who is separated from his mother and much of his community after their deaths in the plague. The two immediately have a connection, as strong as love, but the prejudice against Jews is strong in London, for all that he can practice his faith. There are other aspects he hides about himself that we don't learn until later, but he has a melancholy streak himself.

The picture we have of life in 1666 London is very vivid, and the turns of phrase in this novel are gorgeous. "We all have empty rooms in our hearts. Better to fill them, surely, than to lock their doors and hope they are forgotten." Grief, anxiety, and depression all manifest, and the Great London fire throws it all into sharp relief. We get to see what matters most to Cecelia and David, as well as their closest friends. Fear can make a prison that's difficult to escape from, and learning to move past that fear will allow happiness to shine through again.

I haven't read many historical fiction novels, but The Phoenix Bride thoroughly captivated me. The writing was very poetic, and the characters were well-crafted. The slow burn romance and the drama was a big plus for me as well.

Genre: historical fiction
England, 1666

Cecilia is convinced she knows true happiness on the day she marries William Thorowgood. Plague cares nothing for happiness though, and within months of their marriage, Will is dead. As are so many others. Cecilia’s sister Margaret tries to save her from drowning in her own grief by bringing all manner of doctors and physicians to save her. Margaret has an ulterior motive - to get her well enough to marry her husband’s heir, a charming but flighty young lord, to ensure her own financial future. One those doctor is David Mendes, exiled Jew from Portugal who comes from a long line of physicians. Their religions and classes should keep Cecilia and David apart, but compassion and companionship will help them both see beyond the grief at losing people to the plague. Cecilia learns to embrace freedom as a part of her treatment, and that means learning to love again.

The Phoenix Bride is sad, charming, bittersweet, and yet somehow still delightful. There is sorrow, but also love and joy on so many levels. I was convinced this would be a book about plague (a favorite subgenre for me), but instead it’s about medical empathy. The plague of the first few chapters sets the stage for Cecilia’s and David’s grief, and the different ways in which they confront loss. 17th century medical remedies may not have always worked, but Siegel equips David with a background that was mostly likely to do the most good, but seen as the most likely to do harm. As a Jewish physician, he’s the last person Margaret wants to have help her sister, but she’ll try anything. When Cecilia falls in love with David, Margaret is convinced he must have hexed her, and tries cures to break the curse.

The love story between David and Cecilia is a focal point of the novel, but the side characters brought the story to life. I love that none of the “other men” in Cecilia’s life are bad characters. We only see Will through Cecilia’s honeymoon eyes, but he’s filled with love and joy and sunshine. The man that Margaret wants Cecilia to marry, Sam, is warm and loving and open-hearted. Every page that Sam appeared on had moments I loved, and I was cheering for him, even as Margaret was trying to take Cecilia from David to marry her to Sam. Likewise, David’s best friend, the Dutchman Jan, has moments of frivolity balanced with serious insight that make him a good foil for David and a fully realized side character.

The underground Jewish community of mid-17th century London is fascinating subject matter. According to the author’s note, Jews were exiled from England until the 1650s, so in 1665 when this story begins, the community hasn’t taken a strong foothold yet. David and his family come to London in 1655 from Portugal where they had practiced their religion in secret, keeping Christian symbolism in their households so as not to arouse suspicion. Hiding his identity for so long makes David feel like a bad Jew who never understood how to practice, which he struggles with through the story.
One thing David does not struggle with, though, is his bisexuality. He actually met his friend Jan at a molly house, and when they realized they were not romantically compatible, they became close friends. David always assumes he will marry a woman, and that never bothers him, nor does it bother him to consider clandestine meetings with men. I appreciate Siegel’s normalization of David’s orientation, because not all queer historical stories require angst.

The Phoenix Bride is an impressive sophomore novel from Natasha Siegel.

The Phoenix Bride is a historical romance about Cecelia, a widow in mourning for her husband, and David, a bisexual Jewish doctor. The year is 1666 in London and after surviving the plague Cecelia lives with her sister Margaret while in the grips of depression after losing her husband during the plague. David mourns the lost of his unrequited love and best friend.
When David is tasked with treating Cecelia after so many other physicians have failed sparks fly and the two begin a slow burn romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the chance to read and review this book in exchange for my honest opinion and I am giving this book 4⭐️.
I thought this book was well written and a lovely story about overcoming grief and finding new love while dealing with obstacles constructed by society. I enjoyed both Cecelia and David as characters as well as almost all of the supporting cast.
I liked this authors first novel, Solomon’s Crown and this book exceeded my expectations. I will definitely post about this video on my social media (TikTok and YouTube) in early March prior to its release date and will probably purchase a copy of this book for my home library as well.
Video link of review added 3/10/24

Thanks to Dell/Random House Books and Netgalley for the ARC.


Now that I have dried the tears, I am definitely adding Natasha Siegel to my auto-read author list. I adored Solomon's Crown and so was very excited when I got the chance to read her sophomore effort. Needless to say, The Phoenix Bride more than lived up to my hopes and expectations and I once again found myself thoroughly enchanted with this story. Natasha's prose feels just effortless to read and her characters are so lovingly created on page that you immediately feel like you know them. In addition, she brings you to a particular place in time and allows you to understand the historical events in such an intimate way that you can't help but come away with a better understanding of the events of the time and empathy for the experiences of the characters.

Set in 1665 England, we find our two protagonists, Cecilia Thorowgood and David Mendes both reeling from loses caused by the plague that has recently swept through. Cecilia finds herself under the care of her sister and after numerous physicians have not been able to "cure"
Cecilia of her afflictions, as a last resort she calls upon a Jewish physician, David Mendes in hopes that he can help. David quickly comes to understand that simple physical cures are not what Cecilia needs, and he sees in her a kindred spirit also dealing with a devastating loss. Through the relationship they begin to build, both Cecilia and David begin to find their way to healing.

There are so many things I loved in this story. The world of 1665 London and how members of the Jewish community, who were recently allowed back to England, work to not only integrate into the city, but do so while maintaining all of the customs & beliefs that so many of them had to hide in other countries. The depiction of depression, anxiety and the different coping mechanisms is portrayed in truthful and heart-wrenching prose which makes you feel all of the emotions that Cecilia and David do. These characters suffer, rage, laugh, cry and find connections to each other in some unexpected ways. The romance in the story is brought along in such a realistic and heartfelt way that you can't help but root for Cecilia and David. In addition, I adored Sam and honestly just wanted to hug him. If you are looking for historical fiction that brings to life divergent characters across all spectrums and has wonderful LGBTQ representation, then you need to read this book and Solomon's Crown. Just make sure you have a box of tissues on hand.

"The Phoenix Bride" by Natasha Siegel, centers on Cecilia, who, after experiencing a profound loss early in her first marriage, is consumed by grief. Her sister enlists the help of a Jewish physician named David to help cure her melancholy, and despite their different religious beliefs, Cecilia and David are instantly drawn to each other. Despite the seeming impossibility of being together, Cecilia and David must navigate their connection amid the prejudice and societal expectations that surround them. Set against the backdrop of England in the 1600’s, "The Phoenix Bride" is a heartfelt exploration of grief, healing, resilience, and love.

I loved the idea of this book, and I appreciate that the author tried to reach for authentic language, but there were just so many errors of fact that I found myself thrust constantly out of the story. I wondered when we got to her wedding dress if this was actually a fantasy. Especially as they were drinking tea years a hundred years before it became a household custom. At this point it was barely being introduced in coffee houses, and there were no dedicated teapots left.

On the first page, a priest is "droning"--at a time when England had just finished religious wars, and Catholics had been burned at the stake not so long ago, their wedding is presided over by a priest and no one seems to notice? The wedding guests leave without a charivari? Here and there you could tell where the research had been done,--plague, the Great Fire--but no, the wealthy didn't live in "townhouses", etc, etc, etc.

I got a third of the way before giving up. I did like David's character, but the rest of them, including the heroine, seemed like cartoon caricatures.

eARC Review: The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel 🔥

This was a wonderful historical romance set in the time leading up to The Great Fire of London in 1666. Focusing on themes of grief, trauma, the treatment of Jews at the time, and interfaith relationships, it really hones in on how grief can not only drown a person, but also in a way, connect. 🥀

The story follows the two love interests, Cecilia and David. Cecilia is a widow who is struggling with her grief over the death of her late husband. Siegel did a fantastic job showcasing how all consuming a tragedy can be for someone. Along with her depression, her twin sister Margaret is keeping her hostage in the hopes of marrying her off to secure her own survival. I found her relationship with her twin rather interesting as it’s the opposite of what assumed twin love is. I felt for the women as they come to realize this situation and their status in life has come to be a wedge in their girlhood love of each other. Regardless though, I did find Cecilia rather reckless at times and found myself agreeing with her friends and sister here and there on her choices. 😅

David was the character that I found myself most interested in. As a Jewish man questioning his devotion to his faith, it really was an interesting look into how intertwined a person is with their religion and upbringing. I also found his relationship with his bisexuality endearing since it can be assume that being out was incredibly isolating and disastrous for some people. His desire to keep Cecilia from society’s scorn for her involvement with him did make me a bit annoyed here and there, but I understand his hesitancy and fears. 💕

The things I did wish a bit more of were a longer examination of Cecilia and David’s trauma bonding and bit more into The Great Fire of London as an event. I feel like both would have provided a more clear insight into the two’s attraction and also really help set the tone and title of the novel better. But those are my personal thoughts. ❤️‍🔥

In general, I had a wonderful time with this couple and their rendezvous through mid-17th century London. 🥰

Thank you goes out to Random House Group for reaching out and asking to be part of the early readers, and to the author for crafting a wonderful historical interfaith romance! ❤️

Publication date: March 12!

Overall: 4/5 ⭐️

An atmospheric and emotional historical romance featuring an unusually diverse group of characters. David and Cecilia alternately tell their story of grief, friendship, and love in 1666 London. David, a Jewish physician lost his best friend Manuel to the plague and Cecilia her new and much loved husband. Now, her sister Margaret has hired David to treat her but this turns into so much more. Even as their relationship grows, an arranged marriage to Lord Grey- Sam-lurks for Cecilia. Manuel's sister Sarah proposes to David. Can these two be together. This rises above the genre with the supporting characters- with David's pal Jan, with Elizabeth the house keeper (what a hoot), with Sam, who is so much more than he seems at first. And then there's the fire. Siegal pulled me in from the first and her storytelling kept me reading. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this- highly recommend.

The Phoenix Bride is well written historical fiction, with a lyrically flowing writing style. The historical time period written about really captured my interest and having David as Jewish and a physician was a really interesting twist to the typical English period historical fiction. Cecelia's character is also well written, sympathetically written, but highlighting her strength within despite her mental health struggles. A really fascinating read...and the chemistry between David and Cecelia was spot on.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for the ARC.

Historical fiction and Jewish MC? I'm hooked! Except this tried to be too many things and tell too many stories at once. It felt like a jumbled mess and I found it impossible to keep track of everything going on. Plus I struggle with this author's writing.

A story of plague and fire, grief and loss, hope and joy, love and surrender. The writing is poetic, the story is beautiful, the characters are relatable. I loved this book. It was one I wanted to savor as I read it.

***Thank you to Dell for providing a copy of The Phoenix Bride via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I loved The Phoenix Bride from the moment I picked it up. The beautiful, lyrical writing sucked me in and just would not let go. I sped through the story in two sittings because I was completely engrossed in the characters and their world. I was so emotional at several different points, and the way the story delivered a hopeful message despite the difficulties faced by the characters really spoke to me.

The world-building in The Phoenix Bride was fantastic. I enjoyed traipsing around London with the characters. There were so many small details, like visiting a 17th-century coffee shop and information on musical instruments of the time, that just helped bring everything to life in an organic way. I also appreciated getting to learn more about medicine during this time period and loved how it was weaved throughout the story. There was just so much to experience, from disasters like the plague and the London fire to lovely walks in the park, and Siegel described it all brilliantly.

The character work was the real star of The Phoenix Bride, though. Siegel did a marvelous job of making me care about Cecilia and David. I liked the dual POV because it allowed the reader to get to know them both so well, while also providing space to introduce a great cast of supporting characters for them both. Even the characters that had relatively little page time felt realistic and fleshed out.

Both Cecilia and David were struggling with grief in The Phoenix Bride. They lived as a shell of their former selves, largely disconnected from others. The progression of their relationship was slow burn and fraught with peril given their differences in status and David being a Jew and a foreigner. I liked how the structure of the story allowed their relationship room to breathe. It illustrated how connecting with someone who understands your pain can be transformative while also showing that the spark of healing must be nurtured by each individual if it is to grow. The story could have easily relied on the relationship being the cure to their grief, and I am glad it did not.

My only complaint about The Phoenix Bride is that I would have loved to see an epilogue. By the end, the couple still had some massive roadblocks to their happily ever after, and I really wanted to see how they might overcome them. I'm still satisfied knowing that they decided to prioritize their relationship in the end. It just felt like a bit of a cop out for the author to avoid showing us how they accomplished it.

Finally, I can't finish this review without saying how wonderful it was to read a story where the bi male lead ended up with someone with a different gender from his own. The Phoenix Bride was wonderfully queer, and I really appreciated seeing that type of representation because so often a bi man ends up with another man in the end. I always enjoy seeing stories where that is not the case.

There was just so much to love in The Phoenix Bride. The writing, setting, character development, and mental health and queer representation were all phenomenal. With all of these factors in mind, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!

This book was absolutely stunning! I loved the alternating POV's between Cecilia and David. The writing itself was beautiful. I thought the historical setting was intriguing and captivating and loved how medicine was a key part of the story. The Jewish representation was so well done and I adored David entirely. Cecelia was a nice contrast and I enjoyed her character arc throughout the book. This was quick-paced and lyrical and I was invested from page one. It's diverse not only in faith and religion but also in sexuality, mental health, and neurodivergence. The way Natasha described certain events or certain feelings was absolutely brilliant. There was also a nice balance of lightness amidst all the heavy moments and I thought it was done so well. I loved this book! Thank you to Random House for providing me with an e-ARC to read and review!

I read this on a trip to England and it could not have been better. History, slow burn romance, and drama?? Yes please. This book was a quiet read and one I really enjoyed.

Absolutely STUNNING. A beautiful story about 2 broken people seeking answers and solace from the trauma and sacrifices that haven damaged them. This book is proof that you can find love even if you are struggling and that you cannot heal without a support system.

A love story, filled with sadness and hope, set in the early 17th century London, is beautifully written. Cecilia is happily married to Will, even though he was originally supposed to marry her sister, Margaret. When a rich suitor marries Margaret, Cecilia is ecstatic, until she loses Will to the plague. Falling into deep depression, not eating or sleeping, Cecilia is living with her sister when the physician, David Mendes, comes to treat her. David is Jewish, living in London after leaving Portugal. The book weaves their stories, while honoring David’s history and traditions. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for this very satisfying book.

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel is a beautiful historical novel.
With meticulous attention to historical detail and deeply drawn characters, this novel captivates not only with its fascinating history but also with its poignant exploration of love, resilience, and the pursuit of one's true self.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House, Ballantine & Dell for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!