Synopsis
I had a sister, once. . .In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders- legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire- until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.
I promised her the throne would not come between us.
Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dream of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders- even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.
But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.
Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders' return and intends to destroy them once and for all.
Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.
Loved
Oh my goodness I just adored this book. Pretty much every single thing about it was just perfect, but here are some specific things I absolutely loved:
- The world building. Nicki Pau Preto is so thorough and detailed in her world building that it feels like you're reading history, not fantasy. Many of the chapters are proceeded by "texts" from preserved archives, including specific histories of certain jewels, phoenixes, queens, and legends. It's amazing to me how detailed and well-thought out this world is. I hesitate to compare anything to Brandon Sanderson, but as far as YA fantasy goes, I think this world building is as close to Sanderson's detailed and expansive worlds as I've seen.
- The Mulan trope! I mean girls dressing up as boys always promises some awkward encounters and frustrating moments, and this does not disappoint! There are some laugh-out-loud awkward moments for Veronyka that just killed me.
- The characters. We get a few different POVs here, which always provides more depth and understanding to each character. Every character is so complex and relatable as each strives to reconcile his/her traumatic pasts with who they want to be now. Each character has different weaknesses they have to overcome- many of them are not naturally brave and fearless, but become so as they face fears and insecurities (I'm looking at you Tristan and Sev- you both have my heart!) I want to just write a paragraph about each character and how much I love them, but I will settle for saying that I've fallen hard for all the characters, and having just read this a second time it felt so good to be reunited with them again :)
- The Phoenixes! Um hello, phoenix riders? Yes please! These warriors bond with phoenixes and ride them into battle- how cool is that? The phoenixes in this story are just as real of characters as any of the human characters. Their bonds are so fascinating and totally makes me want to have my own phoenix friend :)
- The magic system. The magic in this world is mostly based on being able to communicate with animals, but not in a Disney princess type of way. It's realistic and totally makes sense in context. I also like that we learn how the magic system works as Veronyka herself learns about it throughout the series.
- Disability (or differently-abled) shoutouts! One character has a phobia of fire that he fights throughout the story. A prominent character is blind. A story of a legendary fighter who lost an arm in an accident. Love these shoutouts to all abilities :)
Didn't Love
- I pretty much thought this story was flawless and just adored it. However, there is a lot of info-dumping at the beginning, which is a little overwhelming. There's a lot to know about the world, and sometimes I had to go back and look at timelines and things, but it's definitely doable. The info-dump is worth the expansive, creative and detailed world we get to experience.
- I have also heard a lot of people struggle with an event that happens in the first couple chapters. In order to stay spoiler-free I can't say too much, but there is a rather shocking scene at the beginning of the story that might make you so mad you are in a bad mood all day at work (that may or may not have happened to me. . . :) Just FYI.
Content
- Language:
- One or two uses of "damn" and "hell."
- Curses by the gods of this book such as "gods no," or "godsforsaken," referring to the gods of Pyra and other lands in the book.
- Sexual content:
- There is a developing romance between two male characters throughout the story. They are about to lean in for a kiss when they are interrupted. Physically, their romance doesn't progress past that point in this book.
- There is a verrrrry slow burn romance between a male and female character, made complicated by Veronkya's dressing-up-as-a-guy-stunt, so nothing physically happens between them in this story, but their relationship deepens and they start to develop more-than-friend feelings for each other.
- There is a scene where a male character, thinking she is a man, touches Veryonkya's chest while teaching her to shoot. He also encounters her in the bathhouse and, once again assuming she is a man, bathes in front of her. She closes her eyes and does not see anything, and nothing is described except for "the dark trace of hair that trailed down his muscled stomach and into the water below" (page 227).
- There are several references to Veronyka's flat chest.
- Violence: There is quite a bit of fantasy violence in this story, but it is not described graphically.
- In the first few chapters there are references to Val coming back from the market with blood on her hands, having killed to steal.
- Throughout the story there are many references to the Blood War, and how the two sisters fought against each other and each died on the battle field.
- One of the characters is a soldier and witnesses a raid in his own camp, which is quite violent. There are mentions of throat slittings, stabbings, poisonings, and getting shot with arrows. A prominent character is killed by getting hit with an axe multiple times in the neck.
- At the end of the book there is a battle fought, in which many humans and animals die and are wounded. Descriptions of people being burned with phoenix fire, shot down from walls with arrows, being stabbed with spears and swords, and being cut down with axes.
- Other themes:
- LGBTQ+ Rep: A developing romance between two male characters.
- In one scene, Veronyka explains that although they can communicate with animals, the animals understand why the humans eat meat and they are okay with it.
- One or two uses of "damn" and "hell."
- Curses by the gods of this book such as "gods no," or "godsforsaken," referring to the gods of Pyra and other lands in the book.
- There is a developing romance between two male characters throughout the story. They are about to lean in for a kiss when they are interrupted. Physically, their romance doesn't progress past that point in this book.
- There is a verrrrry slow burn romance between a male and female character, made complicated by Veronkya's dressing-up-as-a-guy-stunt, so nothing physically happens between them in this story, but their relationship deepens and they start to develop more-than-friend feelings for each other.
- There is a scene where a male character, thinking she is a man, touches Veryonkya's chest while teaching her to shoot. He also encounters her in the bathhouse and, once again assuming she is a man, bathes in front of her. She closes her eyes and does not see anything, and nothing is described except for "the dark trace of hair that trailed down his muscled stomach and into the water below" (page 227).
- There are several references to Veronyka's flat chest.
- In the first few chapters there are references to Val coming back from the market with blood on her hands, having killed to steal.
- Throughout the story there are many references to the Blood War, and how the two sisters fought against each other and each died on the battle field.
- One of the characters is a soldier and witnesses a raid in his own camp, which is quite violent. There are mentions of throat slittings, stabbings, poisonings, and getting shot with arrows. A prominent character is killed by getting hit with an axe multiple times in the neck.
- At the end of the book there is a battle fought, in which many humans and animals die and are wounded. Descriptions of people being burned with phoenix fire, shot down from walls with arrows, being stabbed with spears and swords, and being cut down with axes.
- LGBTQ+ Rep: A developing romance between two male characters.
- In one scene, Veronyka explains that although they can communicate with animals, the animals understand why the humans eat meat and they are okay with it.
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