While I appreciate the inclusion and applaud the author for the intent, the nonbinary pronoun can be difficult/confusing to read in a novel. I am definitely interested in reading more from this author in the future.

A thrilling, wildly diverse adventure with dragon automatons and a lot of heart with much to say about the Japanese occupation of Korea. I enjoyed the world and am glad more titles are forthcoming!

Phoenix Extravagant uses fantasy trappings to thinly veil Korea and the Japanese Empire as secondary-world versions of themselves to tell a story heavily draped in themes of colonialism and cultural erasure.

And boy does it. Jebi is a phenomenal protagonist, and the relationships between them and their sister, the dragon, and others are altogether fantastic. The story is enthralling, and who doesn't love an automaton dragon?

The pacing leaves a little to be desired, frankly. It starts, in my opinion, fairly slow, before ratcheting the speed up all the way for the back portion/half of the book. That's not terrible, and it's the way a lot of fantasy is paced, but when it comes to standalones that don't have to deal with series pacing, I prefer a more gradual spread.

Either way, this is a relatively easy-reading book with some heavy themes, and Lee shows off his chops again.

3.75.

Wow its super hard to review this book as i went in pretty blind. I kinda saw dragon on the cover and was like yep I'm going to read this lol. So firstly I do have to say that the author writes beautifully, the writing made me continue reading when I was unsure where it was going. The art was interesting and I would have liked to have read more where magic from the pigments is being used. I felt like there was too much about the revolution which I just wasn't interested in.

The dragon is actually mechanical but is still a total babe. I feel like he totally stole the book. I loved that when we meet the dragon (Arazi), he is then in the book frequently. Also having a non binary main character was a nice touch I have to say.

So a refreshing, beautifully written book with an awesome mechanical dragon and some magic. But needed more magic and less war stuff.🤣 however I'm glad I read it.

First things first, I got this book from NetGalley, so thank you NetGalley and Rebellion Publishing Ltd. / Solaris Books for this opportunity.

This was not my first exposure of Yoon Ha Lee, I had previously read one short story by the author which made me interested in longer fiction and led me to request this in NetGalley.

This book had a very interesting setting clearly inspired by the Japanese occupation of Korea, which really was used in a thoughtful and charismatic way. The anti-colonial sentiment was expressed in a rather unorthodox way using fantasy. The magic system was also quite unique and brilliantly depicted and kept me going through the pages to find out how it worked as a whole.

Another great thing was the beautiful mechanical dragon Arazi on the cover, which was once again detailed with finesse and was the main star of the book despite appearing after one third of the book. The main character Jebi also brought their unique sense of worldview and his quest to do the right thing. Some of the other characters were also quite interesting despite their minor roles.

But the main problem was the use of pronouns were a bit confusing especially when the author used they/them for only Jebi when the scene included multiple persons. It often distracted from this otherwise engrossing book.

I will give this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Phoenix Extravagant, written by Yoon Ha Lee, is an enthralling sci-fi novel that will capture the hearts and imaginations of readers. Lee's prose is stunning, whisking readers away to a world where mythical creatures, advanced technology, and political intrigue collide. This novel is a gripping journey that will leave you spellbound, with each page revealing new twists and turns in the plot.

The characters are well-developed and captivating, each with their own unique voice and motivations that add depth and richness to the story. The world-building is breathtaking, with Lee creating an intricately detailed and immersive world that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

In short, Phoenix Extravagant is an extraordinary work of science fiction that is not to be missed. Lee has crafted an unforgettable tale that will appeal to fans of the genre and newcomers alike. This book is a journey through a world of wonder and danger, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a thrilling and imaginative sci-fi adventure.

"Phoenix Extravagant" by Yoon Ha Lee is a fascinating and intricate tale of political intrigue, rebellion, and art set in a unique and vividly imagined world. The story follows a young artist named Jebi who is caught up in the middle of a conflict between the invading Razanei government and the rebels fighting against them. When Jebi is forced to work for the Razanei as an artist in their Ministry of Armor, they soon discover a powerful and dangerous secret that could change the course of the war.

Lee's writing is masterful and immersive, and the world-building is incredibly detailed and well-crafted. The blend of magic and technology is particularly interesting, and the way Lee explores the role of art in society is thought-provoking and well-executed. The characters are well-developed and engaging, particularly Jebi, who is a unique and compelling protagonist.

However, while the plot is engaging and full of twists and turns, it can also be somewhat slow-paced at times. Additionally, some readers may find the world-building to be overwhelming, as there is a lot of information to digest and keep track of.

Overall, "Phoenix Extravagant" is an excellent novel that will appeal to fans of political fantasy and thought-provoking speculative fiction. While the pacing and complexity may not be for everyone, those who are willing to invest the time and attention will be rewarded with a rich and satisfying story. 4/5.

Normally a favorite SF author, this one just didn't click for me. The pacing is the biggest issue, as there is a lot of ramp-up to finally get to the dragon.

In audio, the name "Vei" and the pronoun "they" caused considerable chaos trying to figure out who (and how many) was doing what. We really need a better solution in English for nonbinary pronouns! Props for the inclusion, but I think it requires incredibly tight control of language to feature a nonbinary main character and avoid confusing the reader. (I haven't yet seen a book try two they/them characters in the same scene, which is a Joycean-level language challenge.)

A nonbinary MC teas up with a dragon mecha to fight a corrupt empire. Literally what else could ou possibly need to know?

I'm sorry it took me so long to read this because it was one of my favourite reads of 2022. It was just what fantasy should be. Lots of fun, really smart, interesting world building, and good character development. The main character is so likeable, and I love the relationships they develop throughout the book.

I thought it was a really interesting look at choosing to pick a side/make a stand in a complicated and precarious situation, such as a country being occupied by a "benevolent" colonizer. And being in a situation where you feel you are choosing between surviving as peacefully as possible and doing the right thing.

Heartily recommend this to any fantasy fans! I'd really love a sequel!

This book has a niche spot in the SFF world and I'm not sure that I'm it.
I appreciated the cool dragon robotic dragon and the non-binary character. I also appreciated the values threaded in this story.
It struggled to keep my attention fully however and the world (and building) wasn't something that captured me. All that made reading this a bit of a chore, sadly.

I’ve read the Ninefox Gambit trilogy and 4th one and that influenced my expectations for this one. As a result, I found this one a bit average and kept wanting it to go deeper into the world and the story. It took some time for the story to pick up and it was 50% done before I felt any real connection with the plot and characters. The relationship formed felt a bit rushed and forced and didn’t seem to deal with some very real power imbalances that Yoon Ha Lee dealt with so well in previous books between military ranks and authority figures.

The ending felt tacked on and didn’t fit with the flow of the story so far for me. The dragon was fun and the best part but even that evolution and explanation of skills often was just “I’m a dragon and thus can do …”, which can be fun. Also, the magic pigments kept being hinted at being darker but never came to light as such so that seemed like it was left out. Finally, a few scenes just seemed totally random like feeding the cat in prison and then worrying if the cat just ate cat meat (no worries, it was a bird). I kept waiting for the cat to somehow mean something, but it just felt random.

I had hoped this was going to be epic and interesting, because the premise sounded intruiging and exciting....but it fell flat for me. I did not care much about Jebi or the other characters, i like the dragon though. But it did not make me fall in love with it.

what I liked:
- casual nonbinary, queer, and polyamory rep
- nuanced anti-colonialist critique - the overt and micro-aggressions that characters of an occupied country face and the different ways they respond
- view from an ordinary artist’s perspective, someone without any particular ambition or special abilities - Jebi isn’t interested in political involvement, nor do they have any particular abilities aside from painting. it was actually pretty refreshing to follow a protagonist who was basically just along for the ride
- an awesome automaton dragon with just the right mix of innocence and snark

what didn’t work for me:
- I never really got pulled in or emotionally invested, I had to keep making myself come back to continue reading despite my appreciation for the setting and characters
- the magic system never totally congealed for me. I felt like I was missing some explanation and as a result was surprised more than once like “oh, the magic can do this? how does that work?” even towards the end of the book

Wow. This was just as great as the cover and the blurb suggested it would be. I loved following Jebi as a protagonist, even if it took some time to get used to the name since it's a rude word in my native language. Having someone who wasn't brave or 100% dedicated to the cause right from the start felt like a real breath of fresh air. They were just an ordinary person with plenty of flaws and blind spots caught in something much larger then themself and the way they acted seemed very realistic to me. The pacing was more intense than I expected, especially in the second half and the book deals heavily with colonialism, resistance, and cultural suppression (Korea-analogue occupied by Japan-analogue?), which I liked a lot. The worldbuilding is excellent, especially on the cultural front, with a lot of attention paid to art and food and the differences between the cultures - something I've always appreciated.

All in all, highly recommended. But holy shit the ending.

What a amazing book! I feel in love with this one. The story is spectacular, all the characters are super vivid. I recommend with my heart.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I've read from this author before and really enjoyed their work but I just didn't get along with this story.

I didn't connect to any of the characters and found myself putting the book down after reading just a few pages at a time

Non binary MC, a mechanical dragon, magic based on pigments and a country controlled by a foreign power. Sounds like good stuff! Jebi is amazing. They just want to paint, much like me. They are timid at times and yet a slow fire of revolution burns in their heart. Arazi is just a contraption, a mechanical dragon meant do the bidding of its masters, but grew a conscience and free will. This book is not just fun. It will make you think.

The first 2/3 were best and it faltered a bit in the last act, but this was a very good look at colonization and cultural preservation in the face of forced assimilation/subjugation. Very much enjoyed that the protagonist isn't an action hero - they fear pain and known their limitations very well.

“Phoenix Extravagant for destructive power, as befits an engine of war.”

Phoenix Extravagant is a steampunk fairytale set in a world inspired by Korea under Japanese occupation, with a magic system based on color pigments and a scene-stealing mechanical dragon.

Gyen Jebi is a reluctant, even obstinate hero at times. As an artist living in Hwaguk under Razanei occupation, they are out of a job, has no idea what the future holds for them and, upon getting kicked out of the house they share with their sister, has no place to live. When their only hope turns out to be working for the Razanei government on a top secret mission involving turning art into pigment with magical properties, they are swept into a plot where they learn more about the government’s horrifying crimes as well as their own family.

After a point, keeping their head down and doing as they’re told is not enough and they are forced to assume the role of a hero which is difficult for them because again, they are not interested in anything but art. In this way they are set apart from the type of main character I am used to reading in fantasy, but this was actually one of the qualities that made me love them. I loved the casual inclusion of queer characters not just in Jebi but in many other characters showing a spectrum of love. I of course ADORED the dragon Arazi and wished, like most who reviewed this book, there was more of him.

Another reason why Phoenix Extravagant got 3 stars and not a lower rating from me is that I happened to listen to it on audio, since I procrastinated writing the E-ARC review on time, and found that the narrator is the amazing Emily Woo Zeller who narrated R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War series. Hearing this familiar voice tell this story elevated my motivation to continue so I highly recommend reading Phoenix Extravagant this way.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see this was Adult, since going into it I thought this was YA. I think the measures of Adult Fantasy worked really well with the story, but it still had that exciting YA side in the narrative that I crave these days where I find myself straying away from YA Fantasy but still look for some aspects of it in the books I read.

I’ve been meaning to read Yoon Ha Lee’s work for so long and it pains me that despite all this, my feelings toward it were mostly ambiguous. I wished there was more hidden between the lines, more depth to both the story and characters, mostly the characters. In any case I will read the author’s The Machineries of Empire series, aka Ninefox Gambit and continue to look for his future works.

Many thanks to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!