I actually was super invested in all the POV of this novel. I really also liked the world building and loved how this book used different formats like letters and poems to tell the story. This book focused a lot on female realtionships and i really liked how that was handled this was not a story the focused on only the postive side of female realtionships. I think his story even thought it had three different fronts, was so well crated. I think there was some prediciable moments throughout the novel but the ending was a nice surprise and I am def checking out book 2 in the future. ( )

I actually was super invested in all the POV of this novel. I really also liked the world building and loved how this book used different formats like letters and poems to tell the story. This book focused a lot on female realtionships and i really liked how that was handled this was not a story the focused on only the postive side of female realtionships. I think his story even thought it had three different fronts, was so well crated. I think there was some prediciable moments throughout the novel but the ending was a nice surprise and I am def checking out book 2 in the future. ( )

This was everything I could have asked for in a book. This is the best debut book I’ve read ever. I can't even right now.

Full Review on my blog! - Full review contains spoilers~

Omg. I LOVE this book. The world building, vivid descriptions, the compelling and complex characters, the bond between the phoenixes and their riders, romance and history of the Phoenix Riders, and backstory, was on point. There are a few different POV's but they're easy to follow, also, at the end of each chapter we get an insight to what Avalkyra Ashfire is thinking, which I'm just realizing now after re-reading the ones I highlighted.

It was just perfect, it was everything. It's going to take me a while to get over this one. This is easily the best debut book I’ve read this year. I cant wait to read more from this author!

I'll be honest, some parts were a little confusing, but you HAVE to read til the end, everything will make sense, because the freaking EPILOGUE literally ties the book together, it's so cleaver and perfect.... did I mention PERFECT? It's going to really hard for me not to spoil anything... argghhh

When Veronyka's 'sister' Val comes home with two phoenovo (Phoenix eggs) only one makes it, and it bonds with Veronyka instead, and not Val, who was the one raising it during incubation. Val isn't happy when that happens, she completely changes, she feels angry and cheated, because she wanted the phoenix to be hers... and we get to see why, later in the book.

But, certain events occur, that make Veronyka not want to be around Val, so she leaves her sister in search of more eggs, and other animages (animal magic; people who can control animals with magic), but she isn’t allowed to join them to train to be a rider.

Why?

Because she’s a girl, and at the time there were hardly any eggs left so they only let the boys train, so Veronyka disguises herself as a boy, and calls herself Nyk.

Mhmm that's all I'm going to say... and judging from the epilogue, there's going to be a book two, and it's going to be epic. YOU NEED TO GET THIS. I highly recommend it!

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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 dreams 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.

It wasn't until the very end what I realized what kind of book this was. All along the way, the hero's journey kept me guessing. We see the story unfold from several characters POV, each with backstories, motivations, trials, and contributions to the main conflict and resolution. Yet it's not until the end when we see the front of the woven tapestry for what it is. I very much enjoyed the rich mythology, world building and created history as well as the different characters we meet along the way. Losing some of the characters was hard, but they all seemed to further the plot without being gratuitous.

I'm very much looking for the saga to continue as there are so many open questions and potentials to explore! ( )