My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher William Morrow for an advanced copy of this book of historical fiction that takes place in San Francisco dealing with a missing people, family, second chances and a mysterious wealthy patron and his antiques, while a catastrophe looms closer and closer.

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres as well obviously it combines two things I enjoy history and fiction, but it allows writers to share more about the life of people and the events they observe, sometimes in ways that are better than straight history. In well-researched books one learns about the time through food, drink, occupations, class and more. Some books have a habit of making their characters stick out too much, oh look how liberated and ahead that person is which can take a person out of the story. Also there is a fascination with changing history to fit narrative which I am not a fan of. Which is why I enjoy the books of Kate Quinn. This is a different book for Quinn, taking place at the turn of the 20th century, not World War II as she is known. And writing with a co-author, which allows her to look at the life of a great city through another person's eye, which is always great. The one thing that hasn't changed, Quinn can write and hold readers and The Phoenix Crown is another perfect book from Kate Quinn, and Janie Chang.

The book starts with Gemma, needing a change of scenery and quickly. A talented singer, Gemma has lost her position in the Opera company she was with because of a scandal, and has found a job working a chorus line in San Francisco. Gemma writers to her friend Nelllie, who runs with an interesting crowd, telling Nellie that Gemma is coming, but when she arrives San Francisco Nellie is no where to be found. Suling is a young Chinese woman caught in a desperate situation. She has been promised as third wife to a doctor, a deal Suling has no interest at all in keeping. Suling has been hiding as a male, when Suling meets Gemma ad decides to help her look for Nellie. At the same time a wealthy patron is wooing Gemma with stories of becoming her patron and bringing her up in the world. Thornton has an incredible antiques collection, might know something about Nelllie, and just seems off. And as these characters interact, a countdown is set for a catastrophe that will change many things in the city.

Again, a different kind of book for Quinn, but one that shows Quinn's range, abilities, and savviness in picking a co-writer. The story is entertaining, interesting, sad and very good. I really enjoyed the use of a countdown, or doomsday clock to when the Earthquake would hit. I though that was quite a good way of dealing with the big object that would shake the room. The story is told in alternating narratives, which are clear and make sense. Readers won't get lost following along. The writing is very good, as is the dialogue of the characters which seems to fit them well. The authors show how hard it is to be a woman, and the many travails that women have to deal with, and yet the characters loose none of their well gumption. A very good story.

I appreciate when authors change things up, not become complacent and try something new. A very enjoyable story, one that tells a very big story, and tells it well. I'm excited to see what Kate Quinn might try next.

A disgraced opera singer flees NYC to meet up with her friend who is a paonter in SanFrancisco. Upon arriving, she meets a Chinese "boy" who turns out to be a seamstress who is trying to evade an arranged marriage. She also meets a wealthy man who offers to be her patron. She has not yet discovered his deception and his dark side. When the earthquake occurs, all their lives are thrown into turmoil, and these women travel to the ends of the globe to seek justice. An engrossing, fast-paced work of historical fiction!

Two excellent authors, Kate Quinn and Janie Chang collaborate on this elegant and intriguing historical novel set again the background of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Art music and exquisite rare antiques feature heavily as does experiences in China and Chinese experience in San Francisco at the time. A very compelling book.

4⭐

I love Kate Quinn novels and fell in love with her writing with The Rose Code and The Diamond Eye.

The Phoenix Crown is different in many ways, and is co-written with Janie Chang. It takes place in San Francisco during the San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire in the early 1900's.

I actually liked this book more after I read the author notes at the back of the book about the characters and which parts of the book were real and which were imagined, so don't skip that part!

Gemma is a disgraced Opera singer, still singing in the chorus line, and desperate for a fresh start. When she lands a role in a chorus line in San Francisco, she immediately writes to her friend Nellie, an artist currently living in San Francisco, to let her know she could really use her friend.

Nellie has just written back to let her know she will be there but when Gemma arrives, she is nowhere to be found. This isn't entirely unusual for her free spirited friend, but seems a little out of character to have written her and said she'd be there and then she isn't.

Suling, a Chinese American, is soon expected to marry a much older doctor, and join his household as his third wife. When her parents drowned, her whole world fell apart, and her Uncle took over her life. He gambles away their earnings and has squandered her parent's laundry business. She plans to leave San Francisco behind and try to start new somewhere else on her own, rather than marry.

When Gemma arrives, she meets a handsome wealthy man, Henry, who has a proposition for her. He wants to make her a star. Everything seems too good to be true, and when she starts to suspect Nellie didn't leave on her own, things get complicated.

Strong female main characters made this a fun read, but it was a little slower than the other books I have read by Kate Quinn. It picked up more towards the middle!

Thanks to netgalley for an eARC to review.

This book didn't hold my attention quite as well as Kate Quinn's previous novels, but it was still an exciting read. I really liked the POV characters; they were all very different women, and I really appreciated how they all complemented one another. I also hadn't read many books about the time period, so it was interesting to explore a city and time I wasn't very familiar with.

Kate Quinn has recently made a name for herself with her historical novel set in WWII. This is a new subject for her. I love books set at the turn of the century involving immigrants and robber barons in NYC. However, this takes place on San Francisco. The authors did a great job of creating the time and place, and the feel of the city at the time. It is clear there was a great deal of research prior to the writing of the book. While it is a commentary on the social sensibilities of the day, and women's place in society at any given time, it is also a well-crafted mystery surrounding a priceless Chinese artifact. It can be a little slow in parts, but the most part it is a highly readable and enjoyable historical novel.. Thanks Net Galley for this ARC opportunity!.

The Phoenix Crown
By Kate Quinn and Janie Chang
Pub Date: September 19, 2023
William Morrow
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Dual timeline: Versailles 1912
SanFrancisco 1906
This book was slow starting for me but I did enjoy it! The writing was excellent and really set the stage for 20th Century Vibes.
Gemma & Sally’s chapters were the most interesting to me, I highly recommend.
4 stars

I loved The Phoenix Crown! I am a big Kate Quinn fan so I was expecting big things and was not disappointed. In combination with Janie Chang, they have presented us with an unexpectedly diverse cast of characters that are all lovingly constructed, When you add in all the period details both authors are known for, you get a rich, complex narrative that is thoroughly entertaining, enlightening and guaranteed to generate more interest in the period and in the historical figures that make appearances in the book. An excellent read!

"The Phoenix Crown" mixes historical fiction with a bit of a suspense plot. I enjoyed the female friendships and the setting. The book kept me interested, but it was not a favorite in the end.

I loved this book and enjoyed reading historical fiction set in San Francisco. Will be recommending this as another solid pick for Quinn.