A lovely, powerful, atmospheric story. Loved the setting and the character development, and the writing was gorgeous.

With the excitement of Bridgerton coming soon, l've been trying to satiate my hunger for historical romances and came along this gem.
The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel very quickly caught my attention with its lyrically written story of Cecelia, a recently widowed woman trying to heal through her grief after the loss of her husband.
David is a physician who has been hired by Cecelia's sister to
"cure" Cecelia of this depression through tonics to have her up and well before the next season so that she may marry her off once more.
Set in 17th-century London, this dual POV forbidden romance is founded on a connection through grief that will have you giggling and kicking your feet. As a big fan of P&P's attention to hands and subtle details of longing, I find that this book does a fantastic job of showing one's love and interest more subtly and charmingly that I absolutely adore. I lost count of the amount of passages highlighted as they were so well described in a such a delicate and lyrical way.
I also admire both the representation of LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent people that were very much looked upon in this day.

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel is a poetic and romantic novel that immerses readers in the vibrant setting of seventeenth-century London. Set against the backdrop of this historical era, the story follows two star-crossed lovers who are brought together amidst turbulent times. The narrative unfolds through alternating points of view, offering a unique perspective on their journey. Siegel's rich prose and vivid descriptions bring the characters and setting to life, making this a captivating and immersive read for fans of historical romance.

What an absolutely beautiful book. It is heartbreaking but also tender, soft, and full of yearning.

I was absolutely captivated by the writing and the way Siegel brought 1660's London and its characters to life. I loved David and Cecilia and the slow way that they were able to overcome their trauma amidst the backdrop of political and social upheaval following the plague and Great Fire. This book is a journey of discovery and hope and also sacrifice. It's such a beautiful love story between two people who have loved and lost and are reaching out to one another while trying to overcome insurmountable obstacles.

Honestly, I thought with the beautiful cover and the enticing blurb that this would be a little more compelling - but it was probably meant for people who solely read historical romance. I did not enjoy it - I don't love the whole religious undertone, and it was depressing from the start. Just wasn't my jam.

Like a phoenix that rises from the ashes, love can grow from grief. Two individuals, separated by class and faith in a society that can never allow them to be together, fall in love against all odds. Set against the backdrop of 1600s London, this story follows a widow and a Jewish doctor as they process their respective losses in the face of societal expectations.

I loved this book, and couldn't put it down. The writing was poetic and powerful. Natasha Siegel creates a brilliant, lovable cast of characters in a complex world that feels real from its historical grounds. Most importantly and impactful, I loved the reference to a range of real issues that still plague the modern world: women's rights and independence, LGBTQ+ relationships, inter-faith and interracial relationships, anti-Semitism, and more.

I can't recommend this book enough. I am very grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Let me know if you check it out!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this book.

It's post-plague England, and Cecilia Thorngood is grieving the loss of her husband. Brought to London by her sister, who has married into a wealthy family, she is severely depressed and blames London and the city for the death of her spouse. A Jewish physician, David Mendes, is brought to the house to try and save her. David is fleeing demons of his own, choosing to leave Portugal where he had to hide his religion, and is mourning the death of his best friend/crush.

They seem to heal each other, but religion, class and circumstances are obstacles they may not be able to overcome. And Cecilia is being pressured to marry again.

I enjoyed Natasha Siegel's Solomon's Crown - this was a new tale and was really well written and interesting to read. I enjoyed it and liked reading about a time that I knew very little about.

This is a beautiful story about loss and learning to love again after. We take a look at grief, familial love and also betrayal. We also see first hand the antisemitism Jewish people faced in the 16th century as well as a glimpse of the homophobia queer people were facing.
Natasha creates such a beautiful and heartbreaking story but the real stand out is her character work! Within two chapters I felt like I already knew Cecilia and David on a very personal level.
Cecilia, who is grieving her husband that died from the plague. Now she is living as her sisters ward, and is extremely lost to her grief. So lost that she is no longer taking care of herself. So her sister is trying to find a doctor to “cure” her which is our introduction to David.
David is a Jewish doctor doing his best to survive in a London where he isn’t exactly welcome because he is Jewish. He’s also taking care of his ailing father while grieving the loss of his beloved friend, Manuel.
These two meet and immediately find a understanding and care that they have not found anywhere else. Soon enough they are falling madly in love but their circumstances do not want these two to be together. But after more tragedy and a fire maybe they can find a way.

CW: antisemitism, death of a spouse, death of a parent, forced confinement, homophobia

4 stars

I've been having bad luck with historical novels lately and I could not be more thankful that Natasha Siegel's The Phoenix Bride actually landed for me! An exploration of grief and rebirth amidst the events leading up to the Great Fire of London, The Phoenix Bride is full of heartbreak, romance, and hope.

I have to give Siegel immense credit in how she crafts the characters of Cecilia and David. They sit on opposite ends of the religious, social, and class divides, which is shown brilliantly in their distinctive character voices. However, they are truly kindred spirits who have known great loss and getting to witness their journey in bridging the gaps between them is truly a thing of beauty.

The Great Fire is not as much of a plot point as I thought it would have been and serves more as a symbol for both their relationship and for London at large. I would have loved for it to have been a major conflict and to feel that sense of danger, but I understand the reason Siegel chooses to utilize the event within her story. All in all, I'm glad that this book broke me out of my historical slump and I look forward to reading whatever Siegel comes out with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Queer
Representation: Bisexual character
Content Warning: Abuse

I was intrigued to read this book because of the dilemma of the Jewish doctor struggling with his faith and his love for Cecelia, a newly widowed woman. It takes place in the 1600s, and I don't feel like I know that time period as much as others. It was hard to read the change in the sisters' relationship.

This book talks about love and loss more than the first flush of falling in love. It's an interesting way to approach the story. Of course, I was rooting for love to conquer all.

I think because I don't love books with abuse in them, that affected my perception. But I think the right audience will love it.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for this novel!

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the relationship that forms between David and Cecilia- both of whom have suffered from the loss of a loved one. The characters in this book (at least most of them) were very likable and I feel like many could relate to them on some level.

This book mostly circled around themes of religious discrimination as well as grief and loss. David, a Jewish man falls in love with a gentile Catholic woman, which during 1666 is unheard of. Their love is forbidden, but for David and Cecilia, it is the only choice either ever wants to make.

Though I really liked David and Cecilia, my favorite character has to be Sam Grey- I loved him from the first time he appeared in the book. I also really loved David’s friend, Jan.

Overall this was a lovely book and the first I’ve read of Natasha Siegel’s work. I will be sure to pick of more of their work in the future!

Cecilia is a widow from the plague in the late 17th century and David is a Jewish doctor at that time. Both are struggling with seemingly insurmountable grief for different reasons but in certain ways they may be the only ones who can help each other.

This author always impresses me with the most beautiful and delicate prose that really makes me feel as if I am there, in the story. And, the many details, the attention towards recovery of this kind of grief is what really makes this story so special to me.

Definitely recommend this!

Out March 12, 2024

“She is ivory and gold. She is Granada; she is the mezuzah on the doorframe. And someday, perhaps, things will change: the fire will end, a new summer will come, the linden will bloom again.”

I am absolutely astounded at how much I loved this story. I knew I was a fan of Natasha Siegel’s writing and her gorgeous, poignant historicals after Solomon’s Crown, but this really was a whole other level for me. Picture the most exquisite longing, the slowest, tenderest pining, magnify it by 100, and you’ll get The Phoenix Bride

Set in late 1600s London, it is the story of recently windowed, grief stricken Cecilia and the physician hired to treat her melancholy— a Jewish physician called David. Slowly, as the two get to know each other, they find a kindred spirit in both grief and love, and the walls between them, in station, religion and background, begin to crumble.

I adored the pacing and how character driven it was, especially around how careful the two MCs were with each other, and how softly they fell into love. Like in Solomon’s Crown, alongside the romance there’s a greater historical conversation happening. David is Jewish and fled Portugal years earlier with his father for England in the hopes of being able to practice their faith openly, despite the continuing persecution happening on both sides of the Channel. I found the aspects surrounding identity and privilege to be thoughtfully handled and full of delicate nuance, and enjoyed learning about a facet of history I was previously uneducated on.

If you’re a fan of a slow-to-trust romance with a rich historical background and a plethora of queer characters, I couldn’t recommend this more. With aspects of a forbidden romance that I truly couldn’t see a way around, I felt the longing between the characters to be together as keenly as if I was in the story. So many times I had to stop and reread passages that were so exquisite with pining I felt a bit ill (complimentary). I know it’s only February and I have a big year of reading ahead of me, but I can genuinely see this being one of my top reads of the year, and it has really cemented Natasha as one of my favourite historical writers.

The Phoenix Bride takes place in 17th century London, and follows Cecilia, a grieving young widow, and David, a Jewish doctor who has fled Portugal due to religious persecution. Cecilia's sister hires David to "cure" Cecilia of her grief, and the two form a connection.

I knew I wanted to read this because I adored Siegel's debut, Solomon's Crown. This follow up solidifies a few things for me:
1) Natasha Siegel is a really good writer.
2) Natasha Siegel writes really good historical fiction.
3) If Natasha Siegel writes it, I will read it.

That said, this gets 4/5 stars for me because, as gorgeous as the writing is (and it truly is stunning - Siegel manages to craft such rich, evocative prose without it feeling dense, purple, or otherwise unnecessary), I wasn't as invested in the characters as I wanted to be. I liked them both and was of course rooting for them, but something didn't quite spark. Still, this was a really fascinating look at a time period that I know fairly little about, and I really appreciate how well Siegel weaves reality into the fiction she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Phoenix Bride is a beautiful historical fiction love story. It is told from two points of view, that of Cecilia Thorowgood and David Mendes. As the story alternates between the two points of view, we learn about the loss that each has experienced which has deeply affected them. I immediately liked both of these characters. Cecilia's grief and heartbreak are almost tangible. There are many obstacles for this couple to overcome, and I cheered at each victory and mourned each setback. The author has written a story that is perfectly paced, with events taking place over an extended time period, which allows these characters to develop individually and together. I highly recommend this book to every historical fiction lover.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell Publishing for the advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Phoenix Bride is the story of late 17th century Europe, which is gripped by a plague, and two star-crossed grieving people find comfort in each other, even though something much worse is coming.

Our main characters have run from devastating circumstances: young Cecelia grieving the loss of her husband to the plague and a Jewish physical, David, mourning the loss of his best friend, Manuel. Powerless to escape the judgment and prejudice of the time against Jews, David has escaped Portugal with his education as a doctor intact, but still, he is fearful that the tides may turn against him. Unbeknownst to an emotionally/mentally unwell Cecelia, her family is setting her up to be married again, but she must be better to secure her groom.

But along with the lack of security that comes with late 17th-century life, the fires of London have come calling.. and not many will be spared.

This is not a romance per se, but the story has romantic elements. More of a journey in developing deep friendships and the healing powers of love and understanding. Giving this a 3.5/5 because even though the story took me a bit to get into - the writing was beautiful!

**Thank you to Ballantine, Dell & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I received this book as an advanced reader copy, my first, in fact!

This is more of a personal note: the best part of the book for me, hands down, is the representation. I’m a Sephardic Jew, and it was an absolute thrill to read about a part of history that coincides with my family’s story.

The strongest parts of The Phoenix Bride was the setting — London, mid 1600s. The impossible love story of Cecelia and David is sandwiched between the end of the Bubonic Plague and the Great Fire. We get glimpses into the window of high society which is colorful and lush, but of course comes with prejudices and expectations. We also see the struggles of being a woman despite privilege. Creating a nuanced and believable snapshot in time is where Natasha Siegel shimmers brightly.

Unfortunately, Cecelia, the female main character was the weakest part of this book for me. She felt flat in comparison to David and even minor characters like Jan and Samuel Grey. Her moods were one-dimensional and shifted quickly. In the beginning, her dour desperation felt petulant and bratty, and I had a hard time commiserating with her. The feelings she had for David started off small but tumbled very quickly down a slope into inauthentic territory, but the tension from David putting up the wall between them was satisfying.

There are a few moments of steaminess which were written delicately but also believably. I wish there were more!

One last note: kudos to whoever did the book cover design because it's so lovely.

Overall I’d give this book a strong 3.5, and would recommend to anyone who delights in historical fiction.

I found the historical setting and the context to be very fascinating, and I really appreciate reading about this perspective. However, I just wasn't as pulled in to the romance with the writing style and the pace. I'll give the author another try in the future, but this one was just okay for me.

A beautifully, written historical romance that deals with love after loss. I found myself fully absorbed into this book and loved the world building that the author was able to achieve.

David is a physician hired to treat Cecilia and they slowly build trust and a connection with each other even though there are multiple obstacles that make a future together impossible. This greatly benefits from having chapters from both David and Cecilia’s POVs and there’s a substantial amount of plot that keeps things moving along at a fast pace. I also enjoyed many of the charming side characters. This sort of faltered a bit for me in the end but I still appreciated how hopeful and brave both characters were.

Highly recommend this one! Thanks to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

With life comes eventual loss but from the ashes of devastating plague and fires in seventeenth century London comes new happiness in Natasha Siegel’s The Phoenix Bride.
After a year in her sister’s London home grieving the sudden loss of her new husband to the plague, Cecilia feels trapped and isolated by her circumstances and her health reflects her ailing mental state. David, a Jewish physician from Portugal who is dealing with his own grief over the loss of a beloved friend, is called upon to help treat Cecilia. With Cecilia’s skepticism that he can provide a cure for what ails her, David treads carefully and provides tinctures to slowly improve some of her symptoms to restore her to a happier state. The pair develop a comfortable companionship bolstered by secret and chance outings that help Cecilia experience the wonders and freedom that London provides and help David believe that he could love again despite the impossibility of who he loves. As challenges to their happiness face them at every turn, Cecilia and David are driven to pursue their happiness and love despite the impossible circumstances, both personal and societal, in their path.
Weaving together the lives and perspectives of Cecilia and David, the narrative slowly combines their experiences of grief from the losses they’ve suffered and their efforts at persevering and finding happiness born from the ashes of that loss against a backdrop of historical details that incorporates the plague and fire that ravaged London. The characters are well-depicted with distinctive traits of their personalities shining through and with histories and internal conflicts providing context for the decisions they make and the way they behave, especially toward one another, that make it easy to become invested in their lives and future; while most of the focus is on Cecilia and David as the central characters, the secondary characters are also memorably distinct, with Margaret as understandably frustrating and Jan and Sam as entertainingly endearing.
Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.