The Phoenix Bride is a historical romance set in 1666, following Cecelia, a young widow living with her sister, and David, a Jewish, queer man trying to get by as a physician in London. When David is called on to be the next in a line of doctors trying to “fix” Cecelia, they meet and are irrevocably changed.
At the top, I loved that this actually read like a historical fiction book that someone put real effort in researching. Too often, historical romances can feel modern in setting and tone, just some hot people wearing fancy dresses, but that was not the case with this book. You could tell the author put research into how live in London in the 1600s worked, how it was to live as a Jewish man in England, medicines of the time, etc.
Cecelia’s growth from wasting away in her sister’s guest room due to her melancholy to trying to carve a life for herself in London as much as she could independently, was really nice to see. There were some moments where I wished Cecelia would listen to David and his concerns.
Speaking of David, he was maybe my favorite of the two. From his anxieties around living in London, to his equal parts love and worry over being in love with Cecelia, to his torment over a lost potential love in the form of his friend Manuel, David was really going through it in the book. That all made it the more satisfying when he got the ending he deserved. Plus, I really liked the side characters associated with his life, his dad, Sara, and especially Jan (I’d love a little short story regarding Jan and his hints at romance in the finale.) Also yes, he does explicitly say he was in love with Manuel and is in love with Cecelia, so this is a queer book!
The pining in this book was exquisite. Truly a case of forbidden love as a Jewish person and gentile (let alone if different social classes) could barely be friends with each other, let alone marry. At some point, their arguments of “we should be together,” “no it’s too dangerous,” got a little grating, but I still rooted for them for the entire book.
I rated this book 3.5 stars! Definitely recommended for fans of historical romance and pining!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Another great read from this author for me. Lyrical and beautiful writing and evocative characters. This exploration of grief and how we survive it and find new hope was very beautiful and thought provoking.

A solid 3.5 🌟!!

This book wrote about grief so beautifully and took you through Cecilia and David’s obstacles so well. I loved how Cecilia and David were written and also loved Jan. While the two main characters were great I did not like Margaret at all, when she is taking care of Cecilia and trying to do the best for her it is rather difficult when she ends up locking Cecilia in the house. I also thought the book was set in the 1800s instead of the 1600 but that could be because I was reading another historical book at the same time.

Overall, I enjoyed the main characters, there are GREAT quotes in this book that i highlighted while reading. I think even if you have not struggled with grief this is such a good interesting book!

An evocative narrative set in seventeenth-century London, exploring plague, fire, and forbidden love, comes from the acclaimed author of Solomon's Crown.

In 1666, a year post-plague devastation in England, young widow Cecilia Thorowgood finds herself imprisoned within her sister's expansive London townhouse. Despite the legion of doctors attempting to alleviate her grief, Cecilia remains trapped in sorrow. Desperate for a solution, her sister hires a new physician known for unconventional methods, but he is a foreigner—a Jew. Despite his efforts, he understands the unyielding storm of grief within Cecilia. Melancholy proves resistant to easy cures.

This novel delves deeply into grief and the healing process after tragic loss. Cecilia, having lost her husband, finds kinship with David, who also grapples with grief. Together, they embark on a journey of mutual healing. The writing is lyrical and descriptive, portraying strong and distinct narrative voices for both Cecilia and David. The intertwining of their lives and their shared path toward overcoming sorrows was thoroughly enjoyable.

Gratitude to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for providing the ARC of this novel for review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this page turner historical fiction book that is based in 17th century London. The main character, Cecilia, find herself a young widow and in the midst of a strong grief depression. She is staying at the home of her twin sister, Lady Margaret Eden. Her sister has tried numerous doctors who have leeched, poked and prodded at Cecilia to get her better. In desperation, she hires a Jewish physician, David Mendes, to help cure her. Cecilia is rightfully wary of anymore treatment as she has been through so much. David is kind and uses medicinal herbs to help her eat and rejoin the land of the living. In time, they fall in love which is very much forbidden as Jewish people suffer prejudice and persecution. David Mendes has fled from Portugal with his father, where he was forced to hide his Jewish faith. In London, he can be free to walk around as a Jew, but he still wouldn’t be allowed to have a relationship with Cecilia. Lady Margaret has plans to marry off Cecilia to her nephew in law to keep the family royal line in case her husband dies. Cecilia does not want to marry Sir Samuel Grey, and the story proceeds from there. I found the writing to keep me quite interested and staying up late to finish it. There were some parts that didn’t make sense and the end left me wanting a few more pages, but due to the way that it captivated me, I am giving it 5 stars.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

The Phoenix Bride is a quiet study of grief and love against the backdrop of the Plague and London fire of the mid-17th century. Cecilia is a young girl very much in love with her husband when he dies from the Plague. Bereft, depressed, and rudderless, Cecilia goes to live with her sister and titled brother-in-law in London. Desperate to pull Cecilia out of her deep sadness (and get her married off), her sister hires David Mendes, a Jewish physician newly arrived from Portugal. David has seen his own share of grief, and his quiet understanding helps Cecilia as much as his herbal decoctions. The two form a deep bond that is tested when fire breaks out.
Natasha Siegel's writing style is understated and lyrical, and the book flows beautifully. Its only flaw is in time-and-place setting, because at times I forgot this was 17th century London, as it could have easily felt like a Regency, Victorian, or WWII story. The writing and characterization make up for it, and this book is recommended for fans of gently well executed historical fiction.

While the story was slow moving at times, I found myself rooting for happiness for each character. in the 1600s, forbidden love was truly forbidden by society. Had these characters lived today, they would have not had the same obstacles. The Plague and the Fire of London are a backdrop of the book, and it gives a good slice of what life was like in London in the 1600s.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set in London 1666 when the plague ran rampant. Cecilia loses her husband to the plague and David loses his lover as well. As their lives intertwine they learn to process their grief and move forward. While this is a romance, grief is a huge part of this story, and those struggling with it in their own lives may find this book relatable. This is a slow burn and also deals with David's struggles as a Jewish immigrant in England and as a bisexual man.
This will be a great read for those looking for an emotional journey that deals with grief and learning to rise from the ashes to fall back in love.

I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC!

Cecilia and David made my heart hurt but in a good way. I just wish it wasn't so back and forth with 'i love you but i need to leave you.'

This is a beautiful literary love story. I adored the lush writing and historical detail, and the romance at the center was heartrending, I only wish the main male character would have embraced his bisexuality rather than all of the internalized homophobia on the page. Historically accurate? Sure. But I hoped for just a touch of nuance to his view of himself, a little acceptance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC copy of "The Phoenix Bride" by Natasha Siegel

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐⭐

Tropes: marriage of convenience, slow burn, forbidden love

Genre: historical fiction, romance

Release date: March 12th


Falling in love is the easy part, what they don’t warn you about is having to learn how to live again when they leave. And that is exactly the predicament Cecila Thorowgood is in - learning how to live again after the tragic death of her husband Will. That is until she meets David, a doctor from Portugal and a quite curious man.

I loved everything about this book; it was more than just a romance story. It was a story of life after grief, learning how to love yourself again, and the struggles of being a part of a society that chooses to not understand the main characters, solely based on the religion they follow, or the person they fall in love with. The title The Phoenix Bride perfectly sums up the story of Cecilia and David - both had to rise out of their own personal ashes and became stronger from the darker times in their lives.


Some of my favorite quotes:

“You cannot seize happiness by feeling sorrow. They often lie in the same direction.”

“We all have empty rooms in our hearts. Better to fill them, surely, than to lock their doors, and hope they are forgotten.”

Wow, I absolutely loved and devoured this story. I am learning I love historical romance so much. This was a beautiful, poetic, melancholy, and lovely story. This is for fans of Addie Larue.

This was a beautiful story of two people and how their lives intermingle. Deals with grief, desires, and expectations in a beautiful manner.

IS there anything in England's history that is looked back upon with a smile?
Over the last decade (at least) we have been given many novels about the horrors, grief, and love stories born out of WWII. And this very well could have been a suitable setting for this novel, and it wouldn't have changed the story much. Rather, this author pulls at the reader's emotions as mental illness and a lack of understanding it, are set against post-plague England. Where there is little time to heal before a great fire sets upon the hustling citizens of London.
You will tear up at Cecilia's struggles and David's. Then you will get a glimmer of hope when their griefs collide.
A novel to remind you hope and love are possible when it was all recently lost.

The Phoenix Bride is described as a passionate tale of plague, fire, and forbidden love in seventeenth-century London, but that is merely its backdrop. As Natasha Siegel put it, this novel “is a love letter to immigrants, to faith, to London, to recovery from trauma and learning to forgive yourself.” These themes are prevalent throughout the tale of Cecilia Thorowgood, a young widow who is trapped and isolated within the London townhouse of her older sister. Cecilia is grief stricken and her sister seeks to cure her by any means necessary—and then marry her off to a convenient suitor.
A local doctor, David Mendes, is a Jew who fled Portugal to seek a new life in London so he could practice his faith openly. These two struggling souls forge a forbidden connection that threatens his safety and her marriageability.

This narrative shifts between Cecilia and David. Both are insightful and well written. His is filled with humor from the start—despite his painful past—while hers takes us from joyful, to grieving, and finally to newfound happiness. This novel is a wonderful piece of historical fiction, replete with detailed descriptions of life in London in 1666 and a host of fictional characters that range from lovable to enraging. I appreciated the love story and its trajectory, but Sam really took my heart.

gorgeous historical fiction with some really fun and interesting characters. tyssm for the arc and i found this a good choice

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Newly widowed and deep in the throws of depression, Cecelia Thorowgood has lost the will to exist. Living in her sister’s home, her melancholy has been incurable by some of London’s finest physicians– lending her family to explore alternative options. David Mendes has know heartache and loss, a Jewish immigrant he left his homeland of the sun-drenched Portugal just in time to become a physician during the Great Plague. Haunted by his past, he continues to provide care to his patients and ailing father while fighting his own struggles.

Tender and full of longing, THE PHOENIX BRIDE is for the lover in us all. Two heartbroken people, kept apart by societal standards and expectations, find solace and rekindle the joy of life with each other.

This is a beautiful love story about grief, trauma, and people living on the margins of society. Normally, I expect to slowly take in a book like this - a long, quiet read - but this one had me turning the pages much faster than expected. As much as I was taken by the MC's emotional journey together and growth, I might have been even more fascinated by the supporting characters, and I really appreciated the diverse rep in this book. I didn't see how the ending could possibly work out in a non-tragic way, but Siegal pulled off something that was managed to be satisfying, realistic, and hopeful.

The Phoenix Bride unfolds the tale of two bereaved individuals, each grappling with feelings of powerlessness and a deep need to be heard.

Set in the latter half of the 17th century England, the story opens with Cecilia recounting her her marriage to William Thorowgood and the brief joy it brought her. However, her happiness is swiftly extinguished by the plague that claims her husband, leaving her a bitter widow who harbors resentment towards her environment and, at times, even her sister Margaret.

This narrative shifts between Cecilia and David Mendes, a Jewish physician who fled Portugal for England to freely practice his faith. In Portugal, the risks of being a surgeon – and a Jewish one at that – loom large, but England seems the safer option. David quickly becomes friends with Manuel and his family, only to mourn Manuel’s loss to the plague. Then, a letter arrives, summoning him to consult for the ailing Cecilia, whom Margaret has unsuccessfully tried to cure through numerous doctors.

During his second visit, while delivering medicine to Cecilia, Margaret informs David of Cecilia’s impending, yet unknown to her, marriage. Cecilia must recover before the autumn, or Margaret can no longer secure her husband’s support for her sister. David recalls his late friend’s advice to always do what feels right, which in his friend’s case, meant telling the truth. Yes David struggles with this, fearing the repercussions on his career from Cecilia’s family.

As a fire ravages wooden houses and bridges, altering its path with the wind and leaving many destitute, the lives of the two protagonists begin to shift with the changing circumstances.

Despite the somber backdrop, moments of humor emerge from the interactions between Cecilia, who detests nearly everything, and David, who strives to heal her bitterness.

The characters in the Phoenix Bride are richly developed. Following their period of mourning, they embark on a journey of self-discovery and hope, set against the historical context of the Jewish expulsion and their ongoing struggle to lead normal lives wherever they resettle.

This expertly narrated story is captivating and poignant, weaving together the lives of two people who dare to transcend societal norms. In an era where mingling of different religions was taboo, they uplift each other, finding a way to rise above their grief and discover a new perspective on life.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

Cecilia Thorowgood and her adored husband travel to London in 1665 to visit her sister Margaret and husband Lord Eden. But their London merriment turns tragic as soon as the couple return home. Her precious Will, husband of less than a year, is now dead of the plague. Back in the city she hates for what it has taken from her, she is living in her sister’s townhouse. Drowning in grief, Cecilia is wasting away. A desperate Margaret sends for numerous doctors to help. Trying to avoid the latest new doctor, Cecilia observes Dr. Mendes from her hiding place. She is fascinated by this foreign-looking man. David Mendes is a Jew who fled the Inquisition in Portugal to make a new life with his father, but in London he remains an outsider.

In chapters alternating between Cecilia and David, their friendship unwisely grows into love. But Lord Eden wants Cecilia married off to Sir Samuel Grey. David has enjoyed intimacies with other men, but an impulsive and starry-eyed Cecilia has upturned his life. He is tormented and torn by his desire for her while remaining devoted to his Jewish faith. Siegel writes of the struggle of Jews forced from their countries to start new lives. As David helps Cecilia out of her despondency, her life blooms. Now Margaret is no longer in control, and this creates great conflict between the sisters. My favorite character is Samuel. Flamboyant, flashy, and feminine, he doesn’t want to marry Cecilia any more than she desires to marry him. It is his kindness and friendship to Cecilia that helps her navigate her world of no options.

Siegel has created terrific characters to love and hate. Set with the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London as a backdrop, this is a delightful read infused with serious issues of Jewish displacement.

Historical Novels Review, February 2024