Nailed the finale of "Pearl City" Julia and Ken. On 15 July 2025 folks can enjoy this conclusion to Emiko's journey from Butcher to Worldbreaker. Plus the ending evoked vibes of one of my favorite pieces of media. Thank you for the copy, been my pleasure to lend my platform to The Phoenix Hoard.

The General has shown themselves. But Emiko's Talent has been unleashed before the Jiaren, just what she needed, another reason for them to fear The Butcher. Clan War erupts in San Francisco pulling her friends and city into a conflict no one is prepared for.

Reasons to read:
-The ending
-A journey of redemption for one who thinks she isn't deserving of it
-The arcs for the side characters, Freddy coming into his own was a joy to see
-Ripped my heart out of my chest and then put it back (thankfully in less than 2 chapters)
-The growth!
-More creatures from myths a lot of folks might not be familiar with
-The food and style
-I mark out at a place deciding that "Yea I like this one" and just supporting them
-The crows
-Bao

Cons:
-Tiny thing, a mention or two about a certain tiger smelling nice while a tiger. That has to be magic because they are kinda stinky up close.

The Phoenix Hoard series is what made me realize I could like urban fantasy, so look…. I’m a little biased.

This is such a great urban fantasy with crazy family drama, incredible dragon magic, martial arts, and a foo lion companion?!! If that doesn't sell you on it, I honestly don't know what will. This was an epic conclusion to this trilogy that is full of action and suspense. Ken and Julia nailed it!

A real selling point of this series are the characters. There is a traditionally long (fantasy readers get it) cast of characters but each person is so well fleshed out that there is no doubt in your mind who is who. This world and characters are in technicolour, there’s no doubt about it.

I don’t want to say too much plot-wise, because this is the last book of the series, but it wraps things up so nicely and it really is satisfying. This is a great series to invest in, there are no loose ends (although I do see that maybe this isn’t the end of Emiko’s story???? Please???)

This is the third (and final?) book of The Phoenix Hoard, a pan-Asian urban fantasy series that features lots of fighting scenes, political intrigue, the damage that our parents do to us, and minimal romance.

Pearl City starts shortly after the second book ends with Emiko unsure of her new status as Sentinel and unskilled with her talent. The shapeshifter Kamon has asked Emiko– with her new powers– to help his family. It’s a great way to see Emiko in action and the positives and negatives of her new talent before the lingering conflicts from the second book arise.

Like the other books, this felt pretty episodic in nature with small arcs throughout that connect into a larger plot. (I think it would be a great pick for a prestige TV series. The amount of narration Emiko does would be a challenge, but the Murderbot adaptation has shown this can be done well.) This felt almost like one encounter after another– my impression is that there was less time for the non-violent character interactions that charmed me in the prior books, though there are some here. In particular, we get a little more time devoted to Emiko’s complex relationship with her parents. There’s also resolution to the very small romantic subplot in the book. I found it personally disappointing because I think it deserved more attention, but the conclusion did make sense.

While many of the threads from the first two books connected to Emiko are resolved in this volume, there are many lingering questions and ample room for sequels, especially stories centered around Emiko’s family, Kaida, or Oda. I think this trilogy can be viewed as one arc about Emiko and an introduction to the Jiārén world. There’s still a lot to explore, and that left me feeling unsatisfied despite the resolutions we did get.

Reflecting on the series as a whole (so far!), I think this is one of the best urban fantasy series out there. It’s an interesting world. Emiko, with all of her complexities, is a fantastic POV character. The earlier volumes reveal her complex past in really enticing trickles. It’s fantastic to see a series focused on Asian characters. There are also lots of representations of female characters who are strong in different ways. And despite my complaints above, the plot can stand on its own without the romance. Last but not least, it has one of my favorite himbos in fiction, Freddy Tran, who shows unexpected depth.

And y’all– just like the second book, this book has also has a synopsis of the prior volume. SO appreciated. I wish more books did this.

Pearl City is a fabulous series ender. It ties up these threads that have been building for the past two books. Emiko and who she is, what she stands for, has been a theme that has been steadily climbing. She doesn't want to be known for destruction and violence, especially with her past. Pearl City begins with action. It hits the ground running and doesn't let up. In the aftermath of Blood Jade, Emiko struggles with everything she has given up and taken from others. And when one thing seems to be doing okay another crumbles at her feet.

Pearl City, book three in the Phoenix Hoard series, and one urban fantasy novel in particular that I have been waiting for with baited breath since reading its predecessor, Blood Jade, last year. Thankfully, all that anticipation wasn’t wasted. Pearl City is just as, if not more, epic than the two books previous. It ups the ante with more magic, bigger monsters (*cough* dragons *cough*), and far deadlier clan politics.
That being said, it also surprised me with how introspective it got. While Blood Jade was a mile a minute action fest, Pearl City slowed down to focus on Emiko and how her newfound power and responsibilities have been weighing on her.
That being said, the narrative does still maintain that very dynamic and fast-paced fantasy quality that originally made me fall in love with the series. It’s just not to the extent where things feel like they lack explanation. I also continued to love the Japanese folklore aspect, and the general vibe of the theology surrounding the secret societies and the clans, and how they operate almost like dynastic gangs. The entire book honestly felt very prophetic, in that a lot of stuff that has been building since Ebony Gate feels like it has come full circle to finally be addressed, but in a way that also seems to take into account the character journey. Kind of like a prophecy coming to pass not because of fate, but because a character’s morality would not allow anything else.
Overall I could not recommend this series enough. It is a wild ride that I hope so many more people discover for themselves. My only hope is that it doesn’t end here, and we get more of Emiko Soong and this amazing world that these two authors have created.

I just love this series so much. I am really going to struggle to review this without any other spoilers for the season. But let me tell you Ken and Julia gave me everything I needed and wanted in this last book. If you were in the room with me for the last 20% you would have seen/heard laugh, crying, and lots of gasps. Ken and Julia knocked it out of the park with this last book, and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next. I am going to miss Emiko's story so much and wish it could go on forever, she is in my top five favorite FMCs. She has everything you are looking for when you are rooting for your main character and the side characters are just as lovable. I found in this series that it was constantly nonstop, the second and third book lived up to the greatness of the first book and built off the excellent world building, character plots, and overarching series plot. All of the character growth and development made sense and no one's character arc drastically changed from the first book. This trilogy will always be God tier for me. Asian fantasy is always some of my favorite fantasies, but this series had the pull of fantasy and the pull of the heart strings. For the millionth time, I implore you all to read this series!!! You will not regret it!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for the opportunity to read Pearl City as an arc before publication. I almost never read for arc reviews because I know I'm a mood reader and I would hate to lose my mood and let anyone down, but I was confident in asking for Pearl City because I've enjoyed the first two books in the series so much. And Pearl City did not disappoint!

More of all the good stuff, and better: extremely well-dressed secret descendents of dragons meet their past in physical and quite overwhelming form on the streets, towers, and foundations of San Francisco. (I love the author's detailed clothing descriptions! It adds something really unique to the flavor of the series overall, and I'm with our practical, sword-wielding, pearl-bearing Sentinel of San Francisco in being somewhat normally unexcited about the whole thing, so you know it's well done.)

With this third book in the trilogy, things that were hinted at beginning with book one come to fruition and are either resolved or irretrievably broken. Emiko doesn't have long to settle into who she now is, and what she has to protect, when two San Francisco jiaren clans go to war, and she's drawn forcibly into the violence against friends on both sides. And that's just the warmup for what's really coming.

Emiko as a character also has to deal with her family history, which in previous books has been shown to be very traumatic and difficult, and I especially appreciated that aspect of the story. Emiko has to choose between the way of life she's inherited as a jiaren without power, and a possible new way of being from the new world she's found as a sentinel, and the new relationships she's built. Emiko's serious nature, and desire to succeed in defending her city and her people, is always heightened by her dry sense of humor and her complicated relationships, which go in new and unexpected directions in this book.

I loved the action sequences, which are intense and focused, and the creative magical system that blends mythology and traditional medicine with martial arts. The sense of place that the authors bring into this series make it a true urban fantasy that really couldn't take place anywhere else, where the city is quite literally a character in the book. As a Bay Area resident it doesn't get much better than seeing San Francisco living out its unique history in a fantastic way, and every building, landmark, and neighborhood mentioned got an "oooh" from me.

I need everyone to read this series! What an end to this fabulous series. The authors freaking killed it. I was stressed for about 60% of Pearl City and was so worried about these characters especially Bao, Freddy, and Emiko.

I loved seeing how all of the different storylines we explored in book 1 and 2 came together in the end and it felt like the gathering of the Avengers during Endgame.

I'm not going to say anything else right now because I don't want to spoil it for people but just wanted to say, go read this series! You won't be disappointed!

First things first, I loved that there was a recap before the book started! It's been a while since the last book released and I needed a little refresher! This book begins with Emiko still trying to avoid her duty as Sentinel of San Francisco, but she is helping Kamon since she is the only one who can help. Once she is back, she feels alone and alienated after the tournament. Now everyone knows her talent, but not everyone can see past it. There is an uneasy peace in San Francisco between the Louie's and the Tran's, but how long will that last? And of course, her enemy Batuhan is still working against her in more ways than she can imagine.
This book about Emiko's transformation as a person and a Sentinel. She is trying to repair fractured relationships between family and friends the entire book. She is still unsure of herself and her ability to act as Sentinel. On the surface she knows that she is the Sentinel and the protector of the city, but she has to learn what that really means. That is a big part of her transformation process and the moment she realizes what she has been misunderstanding is such an amazing moment!
I also loved that we got more of the family dynamics and why Emiko's family was the way they were. Her mother's back story and talent are explained more and we get a better glance at her father and his stoicism. It was heartwarming to see her family come together in a way only her family can. One of my favorite plot lines was definitely between her and her mother. And even though her friends have been put through the wringer with her, they are still by her side. Some may be upset, but there is always room for forgiveness.
There is so much going on in this book! Right from the beginning, it is non-stop action, whether that is physical or mental. Emiko is constantly having to put out herself in danger or try to plan ahead to stop what has been set in motion. There are magical, physical and mental/emotional battles. OH! And a dragon! What more could you ask for? This book kept me captivated and engrossed the entire time and I am happy and sad for it to have come to an end! There are some threads that could be loose, so maybe in the future we could return to this world!

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available for my review.

Very enjoyable, this third book in its series does a good job of wrapping up many of the plots and subplots, while still leaving enough open that we could potentially get more books with these characters. We get lots of Asian and Asian/American culture, magic links to cities, dragons, family relationship drama (and some explanations as to why it occurs), reasons why you should not meet your gods, and plenty of personal growth for our main protagonist. I'll be looking for anything that these authors publish in the future.

Another thrilling urban fantasy outing in the pan-Asian disapora. I didn't notice this is billed as the last book in the trilogy - I hope Vee and Bebelle continue writing books set in this unique and exciting universe!

This book just hits the ground running and never stops. Where the previous 2 stories gave the reader some time to breath between battles, this book is basically one giant end battle. And while I did thoroughly enjoy the battles, I missed the moments of friendship and family comradery that made the first two books so re-readable to me. I do hope that we will visit this universe again in the future.
One thing that I did not love in this series was the romance. I got the ending that I was hoping for here, but I didn't feel like it was built up well. I spent the first 2 books wondering which direction I was supposed to be looking in. It made the romance difficult to root for.
Otherwise, I do think this was a good ending to an excellent series.

Please be aware I am about to gush!!!

This was a transformative, incredible conclusion to a sparkling trilogy. An ending that matched every thing we learned and loved about our conflicted but noble heroine, Emiko.
Not every trilogy gives you a satisfying ending that has you screaming and cheering, but this one poured that out and more from chapter one to the final sentence.

The plot was simple. Whatever could go wrong...did. Furthermore, it all ended up in Emiko's lap and she had to find a way to fix it. From a dweller of a another realm, to her relationships with friends and family coming into screeching focus. There was no running away. There was no cowering. There was only Emiko standing in her truth and finding a way forward that may just break all the rules she was drilled to observe and follow.

With non stop action and continuous secrets being revealed the authors steal your breath away page by page. Whenever things seemed calm it was only a space for strategy and startling truths to be disclosed. It was all so exciting and dramatic at times lol...making it such a fun read!!!

For me though, one of the most important arcs throughout the series, was that relationship between Emiko and her parents. It started full of tension, mistrust, and with Emiko feeling as though she was so much less than they needed her to be. But in this book, we get that satisfaction of knowing exactly why things went the way they did, and when I say the fam bam SHOW UP...they SHOW UP!!!! Not going to lie, reading this specific part had me tearing up. It was perfectly written, for all of us trauma babies lol!

In reading this story, look forward to action, bad stuff happening, and unorthodox solutions... heavy on that part especially :D!!!!

Unreservedly, loudly, and with heartfelt fervor, I recommend this book, this series, these authors. When I picked up book 1 of Phoenix Hoard, Ebony Gate, last year I had no idea of the ride it would take me on. And I have ABSOLUTELY no regrets going on this journey. Sincerely, I hope many more join me as fanatics of Emiko and her world so we can get even more stories about them!

If action filled fantasy, relatable but bad a$$ FMCs, ancient lore, found family, and humor are your thing...you should be chapters deep in this series already. Stop stalling and get into it today!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and the authors for allowing me to review this arc. It was a true pleasure!

Giving this book a 5 star.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of Pearl Cit.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with the way the book ended. READING THE ENDING COMMENTS FROM THE AUTHOR. i was like omg. Yes Emiko, did we go full circle from book 1 to now. and the answer is YES. YES WE DID.

This book is full of non-stop action. Seriously, I'm like.. how many fights are we going through? That said, even though Julia and Ken include a summary of previous books, I think I needed to reread the entire series because sometimes I was like wait what happened. I did not want to wait and go back and read the two books so honestly that's on me. LOL. I have questions about the ending in the sense that ...like Julia and Ken you two know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. I have questions. I want answers. LOL.

My only "complaint" is that I wish we could actually spend more time with Emiko and her family. There are some things that could be a bit more flushed out, like I just wanna know more, but take that as a good thing. Julia and Ken made me love the characters so much I want to know more.

Like I mentioned in my review of Ebony Gate, it's fun and weird to be reading about books set in SF because..is there or is there not jiaren in the city? Will I basically walk past Emiko on the streets. Is Bao just a big chow chow I walked past. Is there a *insert spoiler* in Japantown??? LOL

I immediately drop everything that I was reading so I can start reading this book once I got an approved eARC! I needed to know what’s going to happen with Emiko. I have been with her since the beginning, and I will continue to do so until the end.

I don’t know how to say it, but Pearl City literally outdid my expectations and more. I could not believe my eyes when I finished this book. I still thought I was reading until I reached the last page in one sitting. It was that freaking good. And I want more of Emiko and the others from the universe. I don’t want to say goodbye.

Let’s get back to why Pearl City outdid itself. I won’t say too much because it will ruin the plot and the overall story. I will say that this book is made for all fantasy readers who love John Wick or Studio Ghibli. It has the vibes of them, plus the endless complexity within the characters.

Emiko!!!! She is my girl! Literally, I have rooted for Emiko no matter what, especially with a certain ex. I won’t say anything more than she is my girl. Emiko has always done her best and more. And she has learned even more as she settles within herself.