I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read Phoenix Fire. All opinions and thoughts are my own and do not represent the publisher or author.

Unfortunately I could not connect at all with Phoenix Fire. The premise sounded amazing, but sadly the execution fell very short. Often I was having to read a paragraph or two back just to keep track of things, as the writing appeared a bit 'jumpy'. Ava was a little hard to stomach, whiny and distrusting of everyone, despite what they had done for her. The multiple POVs for characters did not work well, I found myself struggling even more to keep up with the changing views. The characters seemed very shallow, without much depth and I really couldn't get that invested in the story.

I can see how this book would be a 5 star read for some, but it just wasn't for me.

*I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review*
2.5 stars
Unfortunately I couldn't connect at all with Phoenix Fire.
At times there was a little too much going on, making the plot convoluted, yet it was an original new idea, and I would not be averse to reading future books in the series, to see how things work out for the characters. Give this one a try if you are looking for a YA read with a difference.

Actual rating: 3.35
I am not going to lie, I had a hard time reading this book at some point but I am glad that I didn't give it up because in the end it was very enjoyable. I am going to tackle writing style, characters and plot in this review.

Writing style
In the beginning I found the writing rather mediocre and simple, sometimes unnecessarily using complicates words to make it more interesting. The author kept describing every little detail of the houses or the neighborhood which, personally, I didn't find relevant to the book. But as the book went on the writing improved, becoming rather poetic at some point and that kept me captivated. There were parts, like a kissing scene between Yuki and Cade, where the style and the all scene were a little cringe so the writer needs to work on this kind of scenes.
Another thing that i found rather annoying was the fact that in the first half of the book the author kept us in the dark with all the Phoenix business and didn't give us enough details to make sense of things and I thing that she should have laid a more solid background regarding this matter. An example of such things would be: the powers, their family history, the story about Gwen.
Sometimes, while describing an action, it felt a little rush and sloppy, the author losing herself in too many details which made it hard for me to understand what was happening.

Plot
To be honest, I found the concept of the book very unique because I have never read a book about this before. The two types of Phoenix power, the Dark and Light Phoenix are very interesting concepts. I like how the author alternated the action giving the main characters memories of their past lives. But i felt like the book was rather slow-paced until the last 200 pages when all the action took place, even so, those pages were full of very good plot twists which, to be honest, really took me by surprise, that in the end it didn't matter.
A thing that i found unpleasing it was the sometimes it felt like the book was love centered most of the times and it didn't let the action develop in the way that it should have. I didn't know why the author felt like pairing all the three main characters with somebody from the first book when only 2 pairs were relevant to the action.

Characters
Ava: I found Ava a very annoying character and I didn't like her. She kept going on and on with this "not wanting to get close to people" thing to such an extent that it was bothersome. There were times when I thought that she was not mature enough and doesn't know how to set her priorities right. Ava was a little obsessed with Wyatt and she would rather trust him than her brother, which is a stupid thing to do. Despite all this, she is a loyal person and would do anything for the people that she loves and cares about. There were times were she appeared a little bipolar and she clearly cannot control her emotions very well.

Nick: I think Nick was my favorite character of them all. He is the perfect older brother that would do anything to protect his family. He is so caring and he clearly loves Ava and Cade no matter what. In my opinion he was the most balanced characters of them all and he deserves so much better so I am hoping that in the second book things are going to be go well for him.

Cade: Cade was my second favorite character and I loved his dynamic with Nick. He is funny and such a nice guy and there were times when I really felt bad for him. I didn't see why the writer had to put him through so much pain and make him suffer by giving him so many memories moments. There were times when I didn't like him that much because he thought that he wasn't important enough and he was important just because he had to protect Ava.

Wyatt: Wyatt is Ava's love interest and a very sweet guy. He really tries to overcome his dark side despite him being controlled by the villain. It is very obvious that he loves Ava and would do anything for her.

Yuki: Yuki is the supportive friend that is by Ava's side every time she needs her and Cade's love interest. She is a very strong girl and she doesn't let her health condition define her. She can be sassy and sensitive at the same time. I liked the fact that her relationship with Cade was a slowburn one and not instant love.

Gwen: Gwen is the villain of the book and I found her a well structured one.She really gave them a really hard time and she is full of surprises. I would like to know more about her than it was presented in the book.

All of this being said, I really enjoyed the book and I am really looking forward to reading the second one and I definitely recommend you to give it a shot when it comes out.

This book was a thrilling ride from start to finish. I could not put this book down once I started reading it.
Ava is a teenager who has spent her life in the foster care system. She has no memories before she was four and found in the woods. Ava begins to have flashes of memories involving Wyatt, her foster brother's ex-best friend, and Cade, the new guy that is hiding something. Ava needs to remember her past lives as a Phoenix in order to stay alive in this life.
I have not read a book with such an original idea in a very long time. I was hooked from the first chapter. I loved the fact the book is written in multiple first person points of view. Everyone was keeping secrets, but the reader knew what was going on the whole time.
I am so excited this is book one in a series. I can't wait to see what is in store for everyone in the next book.
I reviewed this book after getting an Advanced Readers Copy.

Phoenix Fire by S.D. Grimm is the first book in the new young adult Phoenix Cycle romantic fantasy series. The story is told from multiple points of view along the way switching as the chapters change.

In the opening we meet Ava who seems to be a teen that has spent her life in foster care but has finally settled with a family. Ava has one strange quality about her in that she has these flashes of what feel like memories but the aren’t her own.

When Ava gets in an argument and takes off she witnesses a horrible accident involving her foster brother. At the accident jumping in to help Ava is Wyatt who Ava has seen around but doesn’t really know well. After coming home from the hospital Ava notices Wyatt seems to have been injured but when she checks nothing is there. Then Ava’s own injuries seem to heal on their own too.

Next readers meet Cade and Nick who are actually Ava’s brothers but have been separated from her. Nick has his memories of being a light Phoenix but Cade who is Ava’s twin is just regaining his but Nick knows that time is short and they must get to Ava before the dark Phoenix, Gwen, finds them all.

Now when starting off reading Phoenix Fire my first thoughts were hm, this could be interesting. But then I’ll admit as the chapters switch around the point of view it did get a tad confusing in the beginning piecing together the characters and situations. What a reader has is one with no knowledge of the Phoenix at all, one who is slowly figuring it out, one who seems to know something but doesn’t admit to it and one who does know but refuses to let all of us in on the details. As I said a bit confusing.

As it went on I did get more into the story as I learned of the Phoenix and how the rebirths and the battle that they have been fighting. The characters kept getting more fleshed out along the way to piece their stories together and there were also some other nice side characters that I liked too.

But then I came to another little detail as it went on in that as each have their flashbacks it did seem to get a tad repetitive along the way. By the time I had gotten to the end of this one too I wasn’t at all surprised to have it hang a bit up in the air as this is just the opening of a series so there will be much more to come. I decided when all was said and done to give this opening 3.5 stars as it is interesting but I’m hoping the next in the series will be a bit more focuses on the present now that things are more established with the characters.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

"Phoenix Fire" is a great YA paranormal romance about a new kind of creature (which really makes it very original all around). Phoenixes are humans that have special powers to fight creatures of darkness (vampires, werewolves, shadow creatures, etc.). They can heal extremely fast, move with extreme speed, and create a fire- they also regenerate when they die into a young child in some time and place that will eventually receive their memories of past lives in the teenage years (around 16). They can also be Givers or Takers- Givers can make humans into phoenixes while Takers can end a phoenix forever- no more coming back.

Here, we follow a few points-of-view- primarily Ava, a 16-year-old foster child who has been bounced around the system after she was found stepping out of the woods alone at 4 years of age. We also follow Nick and Cade, her brothers and also phoenixes. Ava also finds herself drawn to a mysterious teenage boy, Wyatt, whom she remembers from past lives. Oh yeah, and she finds out that she is going to have to fight a Dark Phoenix that has been stopping her in all her past lives.

The paranormal aspects of the book were spot on, and I really enjoyed learning about these different creatures. The romance was also lovely- you really root for Wyatt and Ava. Although, I will say, there is a secret which is hidden about them for a long time and hinted at for so long that it does become a little frustrating (if you are like me and want all the answers). Speaking of that, all the answers about everything are not given in this first book, and it seems like it is holding out for the next book (especially about Cade and his love interest- who might feature in the next book? I am guessing...).

The beginning was also a little slow as we uncover the truths alongside Ava, but I did not mind overall, because it really picks up well later on. I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait for the next in the series! I highly recommend to all YA fantasy readers looking for something truly unique!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Phoenix Fire is a story with a lot of potential. In a saturated market, it presents a fresh idea in the fantasy genre, and overall I enjoyed the premise. I did come to care for Ava; however, I had more difficulty connecting with Cade and Nick. There is a lot to process in this story, with info flying at you hard and fast, and with jumps from the past to the present as the characters remember former lives. I had no trouble keeping up with this; nevertheless, it did make Phoenix Fire a book in which you really have to concentrate on every page, as opposed to being a relaxing bedtime read where you can skim through the pages. In the end, I am giving this 3.5 stars. At times there was a little too much going on, making the plot convoluted, yet it was an original new idea, and I would not be averse to reading future books in the series, to see how things work out for the characters. Give this one a try if you are looking for a YA read with a difference.

Ava just wants to belong to a family, to be with a group of people who love her. But moving from foster home to foster home has meant Ava has trust issues, and has decided she gets by just fine on her own leading her to sometimes not be in control of her own mouth. Ava is one of the first-person POVs this story is told from, and we know that deep down she is caring, and regrets pushing those people away who she could love. This theme of learning to let people in is one which continues throughout the story and provides a good basis for character development on Ava’s part.

The other POVs which Phoenix Fire is told from are her brothers Cade and Nick. Nick is the eldest of the trio, and also one of the Phoenixes whom retrieves their memories the fastest – this retrieval of memory allows them to unlock their powers.

I particularly enjoyed the premise for this book; it had a similar feel to Cassie Clare’s Shadowhunter books with monster hunters, protecting the human realm, and also contained glimpses of typical “monsters” such as werewolves and vampires. So if you are a fan of those, I definitely recommend you try Phoenix Fire.

I also enjoyed the writing style; in some places the storyline overall seemed a little rushed – we didn’t really see much of the trios day-to-day lives, but it was easy to follow, and provided good background to character stories and situations. This was done through the use of memories; unfortunately something which sometimes confused the story – if a character started their chapter in a memory or almost immediately fell into a memory and you’d go back and forth and between memories of different cycles, but ultimately it was just something the reader has to get used to. Those memory elements provide crucial information to the story and they are necessary, just some indication or heading might’ve made it easier to follow.

The storyline overall is gripping and action packed, and contrasts this with more romantic storylines to balance out the book making it suitable for a number of reader-groups. The book itself is a great into to the series, but ends on a cliff-hanger. One thing I like is when a first-in-series can stand on its own, but luckily this book held my interest brilliantly and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Phoenix Cycle #2 to find out what happened! The fact this book ends on a cliff-hanger doesn’t mean that questions are left unanswered however, the author does a really great job of wrapping it up and tying lose ends before inserting a little teaser into the book to take us onto the next stage in the quest.

In terms of character development; this story is primarily one of trust and cooperation, Ava, Cade, and Nick know that despite sins in their past which evidently they will all remember eventually, in order to once and for all defeat Gwen they need to not only work together, but harness all the help on offer to them, regardless of past occurrences. In that regard I particularly enjoyed Ava’s character development, going from a moody teenager who pushes everyone away, to a much more mature individual who sees a bigger picture. Cade – in my opinion – didn’t have a huge amount of development, but as there are more books to come I expect this will be more of a focus in later instalments. Cade’s development in this book had more of a feel of just learning how to interact in general, similarly with Nick – though I think Nick’s job of trusting those who had betrayed his family previously, or just not being on constant guard to protect his younger siblings, was more of a challenge for him personally.

Overall I’m awarding this book 4*/5. A really enjoyable and easy read, with lots of action and a busy plot. I found myself a little confused and overwhelmed at the time jump element but being crucial to the story I stuck with them and got used to them eventually. I really liked the characters; all of the protagonists being likable in general; even the secondary characters for the main part. I would recommend this to any Shadowhunter fans or readers who generally enjoy an action packed fantasy with romantic storylines.

The story is a little complicated because of all the past lives of most of the characters. There were times I was a bit confused on which life they were remembering. It was given to us in bits and pieces in addition to going to different time periods throughout the book and not in any real order. The action was well paced and steady for the majority of the book. There was a little bit of a feeling of "ok keep to the present life" about 3/4 of the way in the book. I would have given it a five star if the past lives were not so strung out and left me feeling lost for the first half of the book. Overall the story was unique kept me interested. Will definitely pick up the next one. Loved the cover too. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***

Unfortunately I couldn't connect at all with Phoenix Fire. I have to say the book actually bored me, enough to sleep twice while reading it.

It was very hard to relate to the characters and most of the time the story was very confusing. Specially when it went from past to present with Cade and Ava's memories. Sometimes I couldn't even realize when they were supoosed to be in the present or if they were supposed to remember, like they were inside a memory.

The love interests were also quite flat for me. Not enough to pick my attention. The characters seemed completely one dimensional, which made them unrelatable to me.

I loved the cover, though. It's BEAUTIFUL. I just wish the story was half as good as it.

Phoenix Fire was an interesting book about past lives, family, trust, and good vs evil.

The book has multiple points of view which isn't my favorite (I prefer one or two), but it wasn't too hard to figure out whose perspective it was while reading. Ava is just turning 16. She's a foster kid with serious trust issues. During a run, she witnesses an accident and a boy from her school, Wyatt, helps her. She sees glass hit him, but by the time they get back home, he has no cuts. It's very confusing to her, but she sort of shrugs it off. At least until one of her own cuts heals, too. Ava has also been having flashes of things from the past. She's herself, but it's nothing from this lifetime. Ava was found when she was four and they believe she survived a fire. She remembers nothing from before that.

Nick and Cade are brothers. Nick is older and remembers everything from his past lives. He knows that they are Light Phoenixes. They were born to hunt monsters. But some Phoenixes turned dark, including one very powerful one, Gwen. Cade needs to remember and train so they can help Ava when her memories return. Ava is the only one who can kill Gwen for good. There are two types of Phoenix powers. Some are givers and some are takers. Before the dark Phoenix uprising, givers could create new Phoenixes. Takers can kill a Phoenix and stop their life cycles. Also, if a Phoenix heals a human (or werewolf), that person always comes back on the same cycle. Twins are also bound together. If one dies for good, the other becomes a human and dies for good, too.

A large part of the book is spent on understanding what a Phoenix is and how things work. Ava's trust issues cause a lot of problems with her, but she does start to believe and train to kill Gwen. I felt that the book pacing was ok, but the end fight scene felt a bit rushed after the lead up. But it's understandable since it appears that there will be a book two.

I actually really ended up liking two side characters a lot and would love to see more of them. Yuki, Ava's best friend, and Kelsey, Wyatt's sister. Ava can be a bit annoying at times, Nick is a bit grumpy (and we find out why during the story), and Cade is full of himself. Wyatt was decent most of the time. But Yuki and Kelsey were standout characters and I liked them more than the four main characters in the book.

I really enjoyed the story of these light and dark Phoenixes and also the soul mate thing (the ones who came back together and found love in every cycle). I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in book two.

I gave this 3 1/2-4 stars. I received a copy of this book from Entangled Teen for review.

I did not finish this book. The summary of this book made it seem like something I would enjoy but I could not get into it. I tried to read it over several days but I just kept putting it down because it did not hold my interest. Both the writing and the story were a bit boring to me. I am reviewing this book based on an ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

"When a Phoenix dies they are reborn in a different place in time"

The plot in this novel is very unique. Not something I've ever encountered and I read many a book. I did at times feel like it was wordy. There was a lot of dialogue and not much going on within it. The story development was great. The idea behind it was great and despite being at times boring, I did enjoy it over all. I am actually looking forward to reading book two. I look forward to seeing how Avas relationships with her brothers. And also her best friend Yuki. I'd like to find out more on how she came to be with the group and what they will do about Gwen this time. This book is worth the time it took to read. Overall I am happy I read it.

This book is incredible. I don't know if the author herself has some sort of magical writing powers because WOW is it written BEYOND well. This is an author who put a whole lot of love into her writing, and it shows.
This book just works. It truly does. The setting and the plot just weaves itself together so well. You can feel as if you are connected to the characters.
All in all - definitely worth the read! I will be picking up a copy for my bookshelf when it becomes available!

An independent girl in foster care begs her foster family to allow her to go on a run. The girl, Ava, leaves anyway in spite of their protestations, and she is nearly hit by a car. Her saviour, Wyatt, the quiet nerd of her school. Ava cannot explain why she is drawn to Wyatt, or why he is beginning to show up in memories she had never experienced. Then suddenly, two boys show up claiming to be her long lost brothers. They reveal that Ava is a Phoenix, and her destiny is to rid the world of monsters.
All the action happens all at once, and you feel as if you've missed fifty pages of action beforehand. It seemed as if I was introduced to so many new characters all at once that I couldn't get them straight in my head. Ava is introduced very quickly as a girl who is afraid to become attached to others. Then, the novel jumps to Cade's perspective, then back to Ava's. Then, somehow, Phoenix Fire became incredibly addicting and interesting. The confusion I once felt had melted away once I was able to see how the storylines of the main characters intersected. Although Phoenix Fire had a rocky start, the rest of the novel was amazing. All of the characters gradually began to grow on me, and I really cannot wait to read the sequel to see how they will develop even further.
I would recommend Phoenix Fire to those who are looking for a novel with supernatural elements that are not focused on vampires, werewolves, zombies and the like. This was the very first novel I had ever read that features phoenixs as the main supernatural creature. It was really unique!
*I received an advanced copy of Phoenix Fire from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

I was really excited to read this book. But it was super slow, and repetitive and unfortunately, I could not finish it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

4.5 stars

Excellent writing! 'Phoenix Fire' is a clean YA paranormal romance with alternating points of view between three siblings and a fast-paced easy-to-follow plot. Also, this book has heart! As the characters slowly recover memories from their past lives (cycles as a phoenix) readers are privy to their emotions and connections with each other. Looking forward to the next entry in the Phoenix Cycle series!

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ‘Phoenix Fire’ will be available on March 5, 2018. #PhoenixFire #NetGalley

Ava has spent all her life in foster care, trying not to get too attached to people. Getting attached hurts. Loving people hurts. Not to mention the fact that if she opened up to anyone, she would have to talk about her weird flashback-like seizures she gets from time to time. Everyone would think she's crazy. Or is there a hint of truth behind everything that's happening to her?

When Nick and Cade step into her life, she realizes that she has family. When she starts falling for Wyatt, she understands she has lived before, loved before, and come back to live again. It is not all sweet and great, however. There are dark forces encircling her newly found family, and Ava founds out she bears the burden of saving them all. Can she open up and reveal her true self? Is she strong enough for her destiny?

An epic fantasy book transports the reader to a different realm. Unique in its characters, this is a supernatural story completely different from your average fantasy books. There's more than vampires and werewolves. There's a new kind of hero, one that can live again and again to fulfill a purpose noble and true. And, if the title isn't a good enough hint for you: yes, there are phoenixes (and they are absolutely awesome!).

Follow along a story of three siblings that have lived, tried and failed, only to come back and do it again, and do it better. The story will have you guessing all the secrets the family keeps, as you will be constantly getting glimpses of the past, trying to put the pieces together. It will make you gasp, laugh at times, cry. There is love, there is loss, there is strong dilemma in between, and there's a lot of frustration as you empathize with so many characters in this story.

Suspenseful, well written and beautiful, this is a story that teaches us not everything is black and white. Various shades of everything in between come out, and you can only hope that the heroes will find the strength and determination to choose wisely.

Strongly recommended for the fans of fantasy, this is the book you need if vampires have tired you and you need something fresh and well written.

The Quick Cut: A girl goes from a foster family to two brothers after witnessing an accident and discovering she's a Phoenix.

A Real Review:
Full disclosure - I have a real true blue fascination with the mythology of the Phoenix. They're amazing creatures that are a metaphor for the changes a person naturally goes through in life. So when I saw this book with the Phoenix incorporated into the book, I had to read it.

Unfortunately, by the end I was left with the feeling that this could have been so much more. The story has so much potential and really never reaches it. This feels more like a rough draft than a final copy with the pacing, format, and character dynamics.

This book is a very easy read and quick to get through. The chapters have alternating narrators between our lead characters - mainly Ava and Cade. While this is a popular writing technique lately, it really doesn't lend to the story here. In fact, it made following what was going on very confusing at multiple points instead of providing additional insight about what was happening. The story really would have been better served by being solely narrated by Ava.

On the topic of Ava, I found her as a character to be relatable and likable. I would have loved to have gotten to know how better, but the flurry of secondary characters makes it hard to keep track. Cade I really didn't connect with, but I didn't dislike him either.

The pacing on important information and action could have been better timed. They don't get around to expaining in thorough detail how the Phoenixes work until about a little halfway through the book. Then once that conversation happens, our first standoff with our big bad happens less than 30 pages later. It's an issue of a bunch of waiting and confusion followed by a sudden onset of constant action.

While it's a fantastic premise that's not often utilized, the story isn't nearly polished enough to be enjoyed.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My rating: 2.5 out of 5

Long. Really, really long. And repetitive. I loved the idea of the Phoenix, and the overall concept was great, but the execution left a lot to be desired for me. Ava whined, complained and rushed to the same judgement over and over and over again. The constant repetition of her thoughts and actions made this book feel so very long to me. And the villain, well I just didn't really get why she was so evil. So unfortunately this was a miss for me.