Thank you to Orbit Books US for my advanced digital review copy!

Let me just get this out of the way: My review is 3.5/5 stars (rounding up).

I'm going to alternate my bads with my goods here.

This book was slow. So, so slow. Not much happened until just after 40% in. Then it was slightly more stuff happening, but still not a lot. Around 75% of the way in, things happened. BIG THINGS. Then it meandered between that climax and the end. The end was strong, however. The epilogue? Astounding. There was a master class in red herrings throughout The Phoenix King.

The Phoenix King is told from three PoVs: Yassen (an assassin), Elena (the princess and heir of Ravence), and Leo (the king of Ravence and Elena's father). I personally found Leo's PoV to be the strongest of the three. I originally thought it was an odd inclusion, but it was my favourite, and I was always excited when it alternated back to him. Yassen and Elena's PoVs were fine, but then did read a bit younger than they were (at least 25 years old). However, the balance of all three provided different perspectives of the same events, so that was good.

Part of the social media advertising of The Phoenix King was Yassen and Elena's relationship. I'm going to be honest, most of the time I didn't buy it. I think the idea was good, but it felt very rushed to me. Whenever is escalated I was just kind of staring at my phone and going, "Huh? That came out of nowhere." It was much less show and much more tell. They forgave each other for a lot of very bad things far too easily.

A great thing about The Phoenix King was the world-building. The digital ARC didn't have the map, which is a shame, because that would've been super useful. I loved the blend of sci-fi and fantasy in the aesthetics. I loved the real world influences, how the Kingdom of Ravence was a blend of Indian culture and myth and classic sci-fi elements. The technology aspect was amazing. I specifically loved the design of the Kingdom of Jantar. I thought that King Farin (The Jantari's king) had a really really interesting design, and I wish we had seen more of him. I know we will in future books, but that was so cool.

The prose was also largely great. It flowed well. There was a good use of metaphors and similes that added to the descriptions without passing into an overdone level of purple prose (and I love purple prose).

I'll definitely read the second book when it's out, because the set up was great. I can clearly see where we're heading with this. I also believe that with the feedback received on The Phoenix King, Verma will be able to craft a very strong sequel.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is a good start to a new epic fantasy/soft sci-fi series!

I won't lie, I love the potential and foreshadowing for the FMC, Elena, to become a ruthless future queen. Ymmv, but I'm totally here for an FMC breaking bad to get what she wants. If you're not a fan of that trope, then this novel might not be for you.

The Phoenix King had a very slow start. The setup takes about the first 40% of the novel. There's an event around the 43% mark that really set everything off like a domino effect. By then, I couldn't stop reading.

We're introduced to the three POV characters: Elena (the Ravence princess), Yassen (the bodyguard/former assassin), and Leo (the Ravence king). I think Leo was the most interesting POV out of the three, since it's essentially the POV of an absolute ruler. I might even suggest that he's a dictator.

Through both Leo and Elena's POVs, it was pretty interesting (and cool in a f'ed up way) to see how deep the seeds of corruption were in Ravence. The push and pull between father and daughter was slightly tropey, but there was nuance to it in this novel. Elena rebels indirectly, unlike in a stereotypical YA fantasy where the princess acts out in a spoiled and immature fashion.

I didn't particularly care for Yassen's POV, but I'm glad at least there were some plot twists with his story and he provided a different viewpoint than the two royals.

I really liked the religion/magic system that dealt with fire and the Phoenix as a vengeful god figure. Both Elena and Leo have really nuanced views on their beliefs that feel realistic (if you compare it to how irl people feel about a religion that they follow because of culture, but don't truly believe in). The Phoenix is always there, interwoven in everyday life in Ravence. It felt really believable if you're from a religious background and can understand the importance of religion to a culture.

There were a few things I didn't really like:

The fact that Leo easily accepted a former assassin, Yassen, as his daughter's bodyguard didn't seem believable. Sure, both Yassen and his friend/princess consort/future king, Samson, both officially defected from the Arohassin, it still feels like such a huge risk to have Yassen so close to Elena.

The romance between Yassen and Elena didn't feel believable in the beginning. She just ends up trusting him with valuable info?? Just because they spent a night in a cave in a sandstorm (like platonic almost strangers, nothing sexual lmao)?

The combination of the above and Elena making simple mistakes playing political games with her father's gold caps (who are everyday citizens trying to cozy up with the crown by spying on other citizens) makes Elena seem really immature. I'm not sure if that was intentional? She's still young, so it could be. Who knows?

I would've liked a POV that was more grounded (like an everyday Ravence citizen or someone who doesn't have 24/7 access to the royals).

This is extremely nitpicky, but I still can't get over how a cabin in the middle of bumf*ck nowhere has power for a front door with access control??? Was there a generator on the property somewhere?? Yassen didn't mention a security system that he had to disable?? Also, the front door still worked after over a decade of neglect???

That's the kind of soft sci-fi that's in this series. Just don't think about it and you'll be fine.

Anyway, I'd recommend this book for someone who's dipping their feet in epic fantasy with a good dose of South Asian influences.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this arc.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Aparna Verma's The Phoenix King was one of my highly anticipated books of this month. Alas, it did not serve the excitement and adventure I expected.

To start with the positives, the book is well-written, with complicated characters that didn't match my expectations of them; has great, contrasting settings, from the desert to the mountains; and the concept of wielding fire is cool enough to warrant interest.

What was disappointing is that the premise was one thing and the plot was another. This book felt like a prequel to a novel and not like the first in a series. There is a prophecy mentioned throughout the novel but nothing of it comes to fruition. The king commits horrible crimes to make sure the prophecy is not fulfilled. And still, nothing really of the prophecy.

Possible spoilers ahead--

Our main characters, Elena and Yassen, changed from the beginning to the end but it wasn't a very drastic change, which was also quite disappointing. What was the point of Elena's earlier actions if she was only going to eventually fit into the mold she was 'born for'? Why did Yassen go back to something he didn't want to be a part of?

Honestly, a lot of the twists at the end, or the reveals that come by then, felt like they were there for more of a shock value than anything else. They didn't fit the narrative of the book. If there were even some slight indications, I would have leaned into them more, accepted them more easily. But the way the book was building, the way things were going, the reveals didn't feel natural to the storyline. Also, it has me questioning why Yassen is a part of the storyline at all. :/

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐💫/5

I really wish I'd liked this book more than I did. I thought the storytelling and writing style were amazing and I really loved Elena and Leo's storylines and how they worked with and against each other. The story really lost me at the climax and the last fourth basically scrapped the storylines that I had been most invested in. And the ones that I liked that remained took a severe back seat to this romance that I was not interested in enough for it to be such a focal point of the finale. I also didn't love how the author described Farin, referring to the aspect of him having a body that has machinery in it as monstrous and inhuman. It's reminiscent of how some will write villains and their fatness will be a part of what makes them evil but in this case the party impacted is people that use medical tech. I didn't love it.

I really want to try another story by this author, but I don't think I'll be picking up this series any time soon.

First I have to give praise for such an intense debut novel! Verma has such dynamic characters and a rich plot!

Elena is set to be crowned the new Queen of Ravani, but as part of her lineage she is expected to hold fire. She cannot and she doesn’t know why.. her father, the King is protective and won’t share the secret which causes great strife between them.
Her father Leo wants a strong kingdom for her daughter and makes alliances with unlikely partners- Samson and Yassen. Unfortunately for Leo, the prophet is here and if the profit is allowed to come into their power it could mean trouble for Elena.. or at least that is what Leo believes,

Can Elena have it all? The crown, the ability to hold fire and peace in her kingdom?

This was a roller coaster ride! Elena as a character was fantastic, but I’ll say my favorite was Ferma. I enjoyed the book very much although the tech did take me out of the story a few times. All in all I’m excited to continue one with the series!

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the eARC of The Phoenix King in exchange for my honest review!

I think this is a solid start to a rich fantasy trilogy (as far as I’m aware it’ll be 3 books). While I do wish there was some more depth of themes as this is an adult fantasy, I can appreciate how the author wove together the story. I’m looking forward to seeing how the next book continues!

This fantasy set in a desert country is full of fascinating characters with conflicting loyalties. As the soon-to-be crowned heir of her home, Elena fights against the demands of her position and the loneliness of her life. Yassen is an orphan assassin who longs for freedom. Leo is the outgoing king that longs to save his daughter from her legacy and keep their kingdom free from invaders. As politics and prophecies collide, their lives become more and more complicated.

The setting, clothing, and food descriptions all made the story feel close and real. At times, I struggled to keep up with the changing positions of the characters' loyalties, but the story kept me reading to see what would happen next. I appreciated Elena's struggles and enjoyed the push-pull between her betrothed and her bodyguard. The twists surprised me and I look forward to seeing where the rest of the trilogy goes and who survives.

The Phoenix King is the first book in a trilogy set in a sci-fi fantasy world full of desert storms, political unrest, merciless fire, and people willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their desires. The setting was captivating, the plot was compelling, and the heat of the flames rose from within the story.

The action begins on the very first page with Yassen, an assassin, on what he hopes will be his last mission. Next, we get Elena who is preparing for her ascension to the throne and longs to finally achieve her birthright: the ability to control fire. And then there’s Leo, the Ravence king, desperate to protect his daughter and his kingdom. But, Yassen, Elena, and Leo are at the mercy of an angry god whose mysterious prophet threatens to destroy everything.

I loved how Verma wove the world-building into the story. I loved how the strong female characters were kicking ass while the men were busy plotting and scheming. I also enjoyed the slow burn romance. The most interesting part of the story was the history of the Phoenix mythology and the powers of the fire. I did think the book could have benefited from a bit more political intrigue, maybe even some other characters’ perspectives. Overall, however, I thought this was a great introduction to a fascinating world, and I’m eager to read the next book.

The Phoenix King is an India-inspired science fantasy filled with morally complex characters, ancient magic, political unrest, and a prophecy that could destroy the world. It’s told through three POVs: Leo, the king of Ravence; Elena, his daughter and heir; and Yassen, a former assassin.

I was honestly SO impressed with this debut. The writing was excellent and the world-building was so rich. The characters are multilayered with nuanced relationships, and the story has plenty of plotting, intrigue, and a nice slow-burn romance. I particularly liked how information and background was gradually revealed without info-dumping, both through the actual story and through the chapter headers, which were “excerpts” from in-world texts.

My only complaint is that this felt a tad overlong. There’s a pretty significant event that occurs at about the 80% mark which felt like a natural ending to this part of the story. But instead of a conclusion, we have a few more chapters that felt like they should’ve been the beginning of the next book rather than the ending of this one. And then the epilogue sort of "flashes" back to that event, which felt a bit confusing to me (but it does have one whopper of a reveal, let me tell you).

Regardless, this is a great new entry into the fantasy space and I can’t wait to see where this story goes.

A delightful South Asian fantasy with a bad-ass FMC. The romance is enemies-to-lovers at its finest. This is perfect for fans of Trial of the Sun Queen, ACOTAR, and The Bridge Kingdom.

This book has a cool premise. The Heir, can not control the family’s magic, but feels like she needs the power to be the leader her country needs. The assassin wants out of his life style, so betrays the order, sells secrets at his chance of freedom. The King wants to protect his kingdom and prevent an inevitable war.
How far are you willing to go to achieve your goals?
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Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own

Fantastic fantasy debut, we got here strong characters facing a great deal of adventures. We got Elena, Leo and Yassen fighting alright! Good cast of characters and fun to follow. It's the first in a trilogy and can't wait to read more of their struggle. Really fun and diverse. Loved the story pace. Thank you Netgalley for the book!

I wanted to enjoy this book more! I found all three perspectives engaging enough but felt like I could've done without Leo's POV (at least I wasn't looking forward to his POV). It was also a little hard to get into this book. There was a lot of terminology thrown around that was tough to follow initially. The book also seemed like it suffered from inconsistent pacing. We went from nothing really happening to have TONS of action which is off-putting. Overall, not a bad read!

This was a fantastic debut - and a treat for fantasy readers of all kinds! Verma did an amazing job crafting an incredible narrative that sucks a reader in from start to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The Phoenix King is the definition of sci-fi fantasy. It blends the magic of their history with the technology of their future, creating instability across the land and behind the closed doors of the palace. While that might not necessarily be the focus of the story, it is definitely the lifeblood that flows through it.

We follow three morally grey characters who have intertwining roles but conflicting beliefs. Their character developments were good, but not great. The plot was captivating, but the pacing jumped around a bit. The world-building was beautiful, but with a little nudge, it could have been breathtaking.

Rest of the review contains spoilers, so read it at your own risk!

Let’s talk about characters.

Leo is a king who rules by manipulation through a religion he has no belief in. He is an interesting character who isn’t afraid to be the villain and use people to reach his goal. I knew when his story ended, though, and didn’t let myself get too attached.

Elena’s development was so close to being the insane vengeful woman I love, but was just shy of hitting that mark for me.

Yassen, you say? Aparna got my ass with that plot twist! I did not expect him to still be doin’ what he was doin’! I DID expect him to be the prophet but she said SIKE!!! Unfortunately, he still came off as generic.

The relationship between Elena and Yassen was lukewarm for me. It’s not enemies to lovers. She doesn’t like him from the start but immediately warms to him, and next thing you know they’re getting down and dirty in the middle of figuring out how to blow up a mine. It didn’t feel authentic.

Plot time!

I loved the internal religion vs. politics conflict while dealing with external threats. The issue was that the first 60% or so of the book was pretty slow and uneventful, but then it blows up into an action-packed adventure.

Last but not least: world-building.

The embedded lore and history was vast, but not necessarily intricate. I’m a sucker for fine details, but there weren’t enough to really pull me in. I did still love the intensity of it, though, and the unique mixture of fantasy and science fiction elements.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this arc.

I've seen a lot of this book, but never really paid attention to the marketing, so I was going in pretty blind. This definitely shifted how I approached the novel. For the first 15% or so, I was met with an intriguing premise. The tropes were scratching the correct areas of my brain. They were lighting up appropriately. Unfortunately, the follow-through was not as great as I could've hoped.

The ultimate flaw is how passive the characters are for the vast majority of the novel. Even if they are doing things, it doesn't feel like they're making decisions that affect the outcome of the novel. I know, in a strict sense, this isn't true, but it feels like it. The first 70% is dedicated to setting up the interiority of these characters, the stakes, the conflict, and yet it falls flat. Elena comes across as a one note character. Yassen has an intriguing backstory but we only ever really see him in service of others. Leo is the most interesting character because he's actually doing things, but those things aren't very great, so it isn't like we're rooting for him. Which, we don't have to root for characters necessarily, but it would have been nice if that kind of depth and agency was extended to characters we are meant to empathize with.

This author's prose is good and the world has a very strong visual construction, but I just was left wishing for more. The book needed heft. It did shock me a few times, and I did find myself intrigued and interested in certain scenes, but anytime there needed to be a legitimate payoff, it didn't quite hit its mark. Honestly, maybe what this needed was nuance? It's difficult to explain, but while the characters were "morally gray", it came across as disjointed or as if they swung between two extremes. What they needed was to operate in two opposite spheres concurrently. That would've made for a much more interesting novel, especially if they were active participants following the first act.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

The Phoenix King is part of a fantasy trilogy.
Where do I start with this book? There are very clear touches of trauma and history, mythology and the like. The genre feels unique, or at least unique to me.
The author did an amazing job at making the readers feel the emotions the characters were going through / feeing. And to me, that's talent.
I love that the book was told in multi-pov. and honestly, i can't wait to read the rest of the series!

“𝓘𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓭, 𝔀𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓫𝓾𝓻𝓷”

⚠️TRIGGER WARNING⚠️
Fire wounds, battle violence, murder

Aparna Verma’s debut novel, The Phoenix King, is a South Asian Si-Fi Fantasy, inspired by Indian mythology. The story follows the journey of three main characters.

Elena Ravence, the distressed heir to the throne who cannot yet control fire

Leo Ravence, the king who must retain power and control, especially with the threats of war, and a dangerous prophecy

Yassen Knight, injured and on the run from the Arohassin, the former assassin seeks aid from an old friend and hopes to earn the very freedom he has longs for

My favourite thing about this novel is how beautifully detailed it is. It takes you on this amazing journey. You can actually envision yourself in the book, feeling the heat from the desert sand, recognizing the scent of every spice, the adrenaline from all the action. While this book does have some action to it, you discover that each of the characters have an amazing complexity to them as you dive deep into the love, loss, sacrifice and bravery crafted in their storylines.

This book is very slow paced as the world building is very detailed and essentially sets the scene for the next novel in the series. Originally, when the book was first published I rated it 5/5⭐️. However, after giving myself the opportunity to read this a second time, I will be changing my reading due to the fact that I felt it was just too slow for me. Not to say that there’s anything wrong with slow-paced books, I just personally prefer fast-paced books

Overall, it is a beautifully written book that I still consider one of my all-time favorites, and would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a Desi fantasy novel with badass female characters, morally grey characters, slowburn enemies-to-lovers romance, and multiple POVs. 4/5⭐

This was a wonderful young adult fantasy book! The author did a great job with world building in this one! I loved all the characters in this book as well. The Phoenix King immediately grabbed my attention and kept me invested until the very end and has some great twists and turns. This action-packed epic fantasy is sure to keep your attention and will leave you wanting more.

Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.


I can honestly say that I am extremely impressed with the universe that Aparna Verma has created, and I am excited to see what else is in store with this series. As a longtime fan of ATLA, the firebending element definitely piqued my interest initially, and the strong, well-written female lead held it for the entirety of the book. A woman with astounding fighting prowess channeling her inner rage to accomplish her goals and garner respect? I'll have seconds, thirds, and fourths, please. Elena has quickly risen the ranks of my favorite female main characters, alongside Aelin (ToG) and Talyien (The Wolf of Oren-Yaro). I was also very excited to see a fantasy book representing Indian culture and Hindu mythology as it was a nice change of pace from many Greek or Norse mythology titles that are prevalent in today's market.


While I loved the worldbuilding, I will say that there were times when the pace dragged a bit, particularly during the first half or so of the book. I had moments where I would be heavily captured by a scene and then a large amount of exposition would appear and interrupt my flow. The information is interesting and helps me flesh out the world in my mind, I just think it could be incorporated a little smoother. That being said, I do look forward to finding out more about the world and the people who inhabit it as the series progresses.


All in all, the book was enjoyable and one that I will definitely recommend to other fantasy readers, especially those interested in powerful women, morally grey characters, and slow burn romances.