The Phoenix King is the first installment of a new sci-fi fantasy trilogy loosely inspired by Indian mythology.
Synopsis
Elena Aadya Ravence will soon inherit the crown, but she first needs to learn how to control the Eternal Flame. Her father, Leo Ravence is not ready to step down; there are still things he needs to do to protect his daughter and maintain stability for the kingdom. And he will do whatever he deems necessary to achieve it, no matter how heinous. And then there’s Yassen Knight who wants to shed his assassin past.
Review of The Phoenix King
This book was originally independently published and has since been picked up by Orbit.
It is slowly paced and lays the groundwork for the next two books. The world-building is richly detailed, from the futuristic sci-fi elements to court intrigue to the religious landscape.
While the world-building was great, the character development was a bit lacking. Leo was the most complex character; his motivations, no matter how horrible, were clear. Elena and Yassen were slightly one-dimensional, their budding romance flat. And although this is targeted at adult readers for its dark and brutal content, the writing style felt YA at times.
However, the last quarter was when things really took off, and now I’m intrigued to see where the rest of the trilogy goes.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Expected Publication: 29 August 2023
Thank you to Orbit for the digital and physical arc copies.
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