***SOLO MEDALIST WINNER of the 2018 New Apple Summer eBook Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing***Who must she become in order to survive?Since the outbreak of the phoenix fever in Drothidia, Tori Kagari has already lost one family member to the fatal disease. Now, with the fever threatening to wipe out her entire family, she must go against everything she believes in order to save … she believes in order to save them—even if that means making a deal with the enemy.
When Tori agrees to join forces with the unscrupulous Khadulians, she must take on a false identity in order to infiltrate the queendom of Avarell and fulfill her part of the bargain, all while under the watchful eye of the unforgiving Queen’s Guard. But time is running out, and every lie, theft, and abduction she is forced to carry out may not be enough to free her family or herself from death.
more
“Phoenix Descending” is the first instalment on the “Curse of the Phoenix” Duology by Dorothy Dreyer, an enticing, thrilling, well-written NA epic fantasy story, that captivates the reader from the very beginning, with a fantastic well-crafted world, which blends elements of hero quest, adventure, mystery, light horror and Asian inspired lore into a fully unique enticing story.
Tori (FMC) is a young girl who embarks in a quest to find the cure for the Phoenix Fever, is decimating the land, her own sister has succumbed to the disease and she herself is already infected. Her journey brings her across the Rift, and into distant kingdoms. The search for a cure is not only dangerous but also demands a lot from Tori, nothing ever comes free.
Dreyer has constructed a fantastic world, unique, fresh, beautiful, and terrifying at the very same time. Tori is a wonderful heroine, strong just because she needs to be. The secondary characters are fully fleshed and have their own personality, even the dead-inhabitants of the Rift are much more than mere brainless zombies and have their own purpose in the plot. The story is fast-paced, sometimes perhaps a little to fast, but again, we are fevering forward, turning pages in a frenzy, thus we would possibly be complaining anyway . There is an array of very strong women and also a sex-same relationship, which doesn’t – unfortunately – ends in a HEA. The book ends in a real outcry demanding cliff… which – for full disclosure – I didn’t mind at all, but only because I kind of cheated, as the second book was just a screen-touch away on my Kindle (sorry, not sorry)
This is a gripping story. It has action, adventure, mystery, and drama. It is a story that is as unique as it is a fantasy world come to life. The characters are extremely well developed and have the most amazing personalities that you can literally feel throughout the story. It will have you on the edge of your seat trying to guess what is going to happen next. Just when you think you have it all figured out the story will fling you in another direction. Tori and Bram have this feel that is felt like it is someone you know or you are seeing the story played out right in front of you. It is superbly written and the flow of the story is amazing. Yes, the story does end in a cliffhanger but boy I can not wait for the second one. It is most definitely worth reading.
If your family is threatened by a deadly virus, you’d do anything to save them wouldn’t you? I would. And so does Tori our main protagonist! This book has SO many unexpected twists and turns… just when you think you know what will happen next… NOPE!
The next book can’t come out soon enough!!!!
Phoenix Descending (Curse of the Phoenix Book 1) Kindle Edition
by Dorothy Dreyer
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley and am leaving a honest and fair review.
This book is:
Part George RR Martin epic fantasy royal intrigue and machinations
Part fairy tale stepmother – in this case, Aunt
Part Shakespearean doomed love
Park Brontean mystery woman in the attack
Park Luc Beeson girl with weapons mystery
Part Romeo Living Dead
Part Beastmaster cunning pets
Part Katniss
All together that makes on page turning book that I couldn’t put down.
Tori’s family is dying of the Phoenix fever and she is will do anything, even if that means making a deal to infiltrate the palace as a holy woman. Using her skills with throwing knives, throwing stars and acting, she slips in as a High Priestess with three goals, a Book, A Girl and a Queen. She is shocked to meet the boy she had saved from the Undead years ago, even more shocked to discover a very dark justice handed out by the Queen Regent. She works to not only complete her tasks but to save her fiends and strangers both from the horrible injustice and possible upcoming war.
I enjoyed all the characters and really loved the epic fantasy themes without being drowned in the grimdark or brighthope genres that have overtaken the field. The twists and turns were well done and the hints about the woman in the attic are excellent!
The storytelling is a third person POV concentrated on Tori and a few other characters. The POV’s are unique enough that I could tell them apart easily.
The actual writing is smooth and constantly tightens, like the rope on a trebouchet. When the catapult finally releases, just a few pages from the end, it hits like a huge stone.
Tori, Bram, Aurora, Wrena and even adorable little Theo are memorable. The only ‘characters’, I had an issue with was the countries. They seemed at times very close and at other, really far apart. I also sort of got lost as to how long the truce was and why they were fighting in the first place.
An admirable mix of familiar elements that create a phenomenal new work.
4 stars out of 5
https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Descending-Curse-Book-ebook/dp/B075LLJG2M
WOW! This was a thrilling ya fantasy that threw me for a loop, completely surpassing my expectations! Very well written with a gripping story that had me up until 4am reading. I didn’t want it to end and when it did, I had a hard time getting to sleep after! Here’s hoping the next book comes out soon!
Oh and, bonus! It includes some character sketches!
Loved the book. I could have done without the lesbian characters. That was the only thing that stopped me from giving it 5 stars.
I NEED book 2…NOW!!! Phoenix Descending is a fresh new take on fantasy. I need to know how it is going to turn out!! the cliffhanger ending is perfect, and yet so frustrating because it is the end and I have to wait for book 2 lol There’s so much mystery, intrigue, twists, surprises, and villainy in this book that I was kept hooked and interested. I loved it!!
I really liked this book!! Talk about having some cliffhangers at the end to make you ready for book 2!!
If you like a fast-paced story with action, adventure, suspense, romance then look no more. This book has all that and will keep you reading far into the night.
It’s a great story and you are captivated by the plot right away when Tori accepts the offer of a “enemy” to save her family and herself as well as her village.
Her exploits are suspenseful and you are reading into the night just to find out what happens next.
This book has it all and I highly recommend it to one and all to read. Be warned though, however, when you reach the end of the book you want to know right then what happens next but unfortunately we will have to wait until this fall before the adventure will continue.
Read this book. I can assure you you will be held captive by Dorothy Dreyer just as I am. That’s the mark of a great story teller!!