This is a beautiful story about loss and learning to love again after. We take a look at grief, familial love and also betrayal. We also see first hand the antisemitism Jewish people faced in the 16th century as well as a glimpse of the homophobia queer people were facing.
Natasha creates such a beautiful and heartbreaking story but the real stand out is her character work! Within two chapters I felt like I already knew Cecilia and David on a very personal level.
Cecilia, who is grieving her husband that died from the plague. Now she is living as her sisters ward, and is extremely lost to her grief. So lost that she is no longer taking care of herself. So her sister is trying to find a doctor to “cure” her which is our introduction to David.
David is a Jewish doctor doing his best to survive in a London where he isn’t exactly welcome because he is Jewish. He’s also taking care of his ailing father while grieving the loss of his beloved friend, Manuel.
These two meet and immediately find a understanding and care that they have not found anywhere else. Soon enough they are falling madly in love but their circumstances do not want these two to be together. But after more tragedy and a fire maybe they can find a way.

CW: antisemitism, death of a spouse, death of a parent, forced confinement, homophobia

4 stars

I've been having bad luck with historical novels lately and I could not be more thankful that Natasha Siegel's The Phoenix Bride actually landed for me! An exploration of grief and rebirth amidst the events leading up to the Great Fire of London, The Phoenix Bride is full of heartbreak, romance, and hope.

I have to give Siegel immense credit in how she crafts the characters of Cecilia and David. They sit on opposite ends of the religious, social, and class divides, which is shown brilliantly in their distinctive character voices. However, they are truly kindred spirits who have known great loss and getting to witness their journey in bridging the gaps between them is truly a thing of beauty.

The Great Fire is not as much of a plot point as I thought it would have been and serves more as a symbol for both their relationship and for London at large. I would have loved for it to have been a major conflict and to feel that sense of danger, but I understand the reason Siegel chooses to utilize the event within her story. All in all, I'm glad that this book broke me out of my historical slump and I look forward to reading whatever Siegel comes out with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Queer
Representation: Bisexual character
Content Warning: Abuse

I was intrigued to read this book because of the dilemma of the Jewish doctor struggling with his faith and his love for Cecelia, a newly widowed woman. It takes place in the 1600s, and I don't feel like I know that time period as much as others. It was hard to read the change in the sisters' relationship.

This book talks about love and loss more than the first flush of falling in love. It's an interesting way to approach the story. Of course, I was rooting for love to conquer all.

I think because I don't love books with abuse in them, that affected my perception. But I think the right audience will love it.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for this novel!

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the relationship that forms between David and Cecilia- both of whom have suffered from the loss of a loved one. The characters in this book (at least most of them) were very likable and I feel like many could relate to them on some level.

This book mostly circled around themes of religious discrimination as well as grief and loss. David, a Jewish man falls in love with a gentile Catholic woman, which during 1666 is unheard of. Their love is forbidden, but for David and Cecilia, it is the only choice either ever wants to make.

Though I really liked David and Cecilia, my favorite character has to be Sam Grey- I loved him from the first time he appeared in the book. I also really loved David’s friend, Jan.

Overall this was a lovely book and the first I’ve read of Natasha Siegel’s work. I will be sure to pick of more of their work in the future!

Cecilia is a widow from the plague in the late 17th century and David is a Jewish doctor at that time. Both are struggling with seemingly insurmountable grief for different reasons but in certain ways they may be the only ones who can help each other.

This author always impresses me with the most beautiful and delicate prose that really makes me feel as if I am there, in the story. And, the many details, the attention towards recovery of this kind of grief is what really makes this story so special to me.

Definitely recommend this!

Out March 12, 2024

“She is ivory and gold. She is Granada; she is the mezuzah on the doorframe. And someday, perhaps, things will change: the fire will end, a new summer will come, the linden will bloom again.”

I am absolutely astounded at how much I loved this story. I knew I was a fan of Natasha Siegel’s writing and her gorgeous, poignant historicals after Solomon’s Crown, but this really was a whole other level for me. Picture the most exquisite longing, the slowest, tenderest pining, magnify it by 100, and you’ll get The Phoenix Bride

Set in late 1600s London, it is the story of recently windowed, grief stricken Cecilia and the physician hired to treat her melancholy— a Jewish physician called David. Slowly, as the two get to know each other, they find a kindred spirit in both grief and love, and the walls between them, in station, religion and background, begin to crumble.

I adored the pacing and how character driven it was, especially around how careful the two MCs were with each other, and how softly they fell into love. Like in Solomon’s Crown, alongside the romance there’s a greater historical conversation happening. David is Jewish and fled Portugal years earlier with his father for England in the hopes of being able to practice their faith openly, despite the continuing persecution happening on both sides of the Channel. I found the aspects surrounding identity and privilege to be thoughtfully handled and full of delicate nuance, and enjoyed learning about a facet of history I was previously uneducated on.

If you’re a fan of a slow-to-trust romance with a rich historical background and a plethora of queer characters, I couldn’t recommend this more. With aspects of a forbidden romance that I truly couldn’t see a way around, I felt the longing between the characters to be together as keenly as if I was in the story. So many times I had to stop and reread passages that were so exquisite with pining I felt a bit ill (complimentary). I know it’s only February and I have a big year of reading ahead of me, but I can genuinely see this being one of my top reads of the year, and it has really cemented Natasha as one of my favourite historical writers.

The Phoenix Bride takes place in 17th century London, and follows Cecilia, a grieving young widow, and David, a Jewish doctor who has fled Portugal due to religious persecution. Cecilia's sister hires David to "cure" Cecilia of her grief, and the two form a connection.

I knew I wanted to read this because I adored Siegel's debut, Solomon's Crown. This follow up solidifies a few things for me:
1) Natasha Siegel is a really good writer.
2) Natasha Siegel writes really good historical fiction.
3) If Natasha Siegel writes it, I will read it.

That said, this gets 4/5 stars for me because, as gorgeous as the writing is (and it truly is stunning - Siegel manages to craft such rich, evocative prose without it feeling dense, purple, or otherwise unnecessary), I wasn't as invested in the characters as I wanted to be. I liked them both and was of course rooting for them, but something didn't quite spark. Still, this was a really fascinating look at a time period that I know fairly little about, and I really appreciate how well Siegel weaves reality into the fiction she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Phoenix Bride is a beautiful historical fiction love story. It is told from two points of view, that of Cecilia Thorowgood and David Mendes. As the story alternates between the two points of view, we learn about the loss that each has experienced which has deeply affected them. I immediately liked both of these characters. Cecilia's grief and heartbreak are almost tangible. There are many obstacles for this couple to overcome, and I cheered at each victory and mourned each setback. The author has written a story that is perfectly paced, with events taking place over an extended time period, which allows these characters to develop individually and together. I highly recommend this book to every historical fiction lover.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell Publishing for the advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Phoenix Bride is the story of late 17th century Europe, which is gripped by a plague, and two star-crossed grieving people find comfort in each other, even though something much worse is coming.

Our main characters have run from devastating circumstances: young Cecelia grieving the loss of her husband to the plague and a Jewish physical, David, mourning the loss of his best friend, Manuel. Powerless to escape the judgment and prejudice of the time against Jews, David has escaped Portugal with his education as a doctor intact, but still, he is fearful that the tides may turn against him. Unbeknownst to an emotionally/mentally unwell Cecelia, her family is setting her up to be married again, but she must be better to secure her groom.

But along with the lack of security that comes with late 17th-century life, the fires of London have come calling.. and not many will be spared.

This is not a romance per se, but the story has romantic elements. More of a journey in developing deep friendships and the healing powers of love and understanding. Giving this a 3.5/5 because even though the story took me a bit to get into - the writing was beautiful!

**Thank you to Ballantine, Dell & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I received this book as an advanced reader copy, my first, in fact!

This is more of a personal note: the best part of the book for me, hands down, is the representation. I’m a Sephardic Jew, and it was an absolute thrill to read about a part of history that coincides with my family’s story.

The strongest parts of The Phoenix Bride was the setting — London, mid 1600s. The impossible love story of Cecelia and David is sandwiched between the end of the Bubonic Plague and the Great Fire. We get glimpses into the window of high society which is colorful and lush, but of course comes with prejudices and expectations. We also see the struggles of being a woman despite privilege. Creating a nuanced and believable snapshot in time is where Natasha Siegel shimmers brightly.

Unfortunately, Cecelia, the female main character was the weakest part of this book for me. She felt flat in comparison to David and even minor characters like Jan and Samuel Grey. Her moods were one-dimensional and shifted quickly. In the beginning, her dour desperation felt petulant and bratty, and I had a hard time commiserating with her. The feelings she had for David started off small but tumbled very quickly down a slope into inauthentic territory, but the tension from David putting up the wall between them was satisfying.

There are a few moments of steaminess which were written delicately but also believably. I wish there were more!

One last note: kudos to whoever did the book cover design because it's so lovely.

Overall I’d give this book a strong 3.5, and would recommend to anyone who delights in historical fiction.

I found the historical setting and the context to be very fascinating, and I really appreciate reading about this perspective. However, I just wasn't as pulled in to the romance with the writing style and the pace. I'll give the author another try in the future, but this one was just okay for me.

A beautifully, written historical romance that deals with love after loss. I found myself fully absorbed into this book and loved the world building that the author was able to achieve.

David is a physician hired to treat Cecilia and they slowly build trust and a connection with each other even though there are multiple obstacles that make a future together impossible. This greatly benefits from having chapters from both David and Cecilia’s POVs and there’s a substantial amount of plot that keeps things moving along at a fast pace. I also enjoyed many of the charming side characters. This sort of faltered a bit for me in the end but I still appreciated how hopeful and brave both characters were.

Highly recommend this one! Thanks to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

With life comes eventual loss but from the ashes of devastating plague and fires in seventeenth century London comes new happiness in Natasha Siegel’s The Phoenix Bride.
After a year in her sister’s London home grieving the sudden loss of her new husband to the plague, Cecilia feels trapped and isolated by her circumstances and her health reflects her ailing mental state. David, a Jewish physician from Portugal who is dealing with his own grief over the loss of a beloved friend, is called upon to help treat Cecilia. With Cecilia’s skepticism that he can provide a cure for what ails her, David treads carefully and provides tinctures to slowly improve some of her symptoms to restore her to a happier state. The pair develop a comfortable companionship bolstered by secret and chance outings that help Cecilia experience the wonders and freedom that London provides and help David believe that he could love again despite the impossibility of who he loves. As challenges to their happiness face them at every turn, Cecilia and David are driven to pursue their happiness and love despite the impossible circumstances, both personal and societal, in their path.
Weaving together the lives and perspectives of Cecilia and David, the narrative slowly combines their experiences of grief from the losses they’ve suffered and their efforts at persevering and finding happiness born from the ashes of that loss against a backdrop of historical details that incorporates the plague and fire that ravaged London. The characters are well-depicted with distinctive traits of their personalities shining through and with histories and internal conflicts providing context for the decisions they make and the way they behave, especially toward one another, that make it easy to become invested in their lives and future; while most of the focus is on Cecilia and David as the central characters, the secondary characters are also memorably distinct, with Margaret as understandably frustrating and Jan and Sam as entertainingly endearing.
Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Phoenix Bride is a historical romance set in 1666, following Cecelia, a young widow living with her sister, and David, a Jewish, queer man trying to get by as a physician in London. When David is called on to be the next in a line of doctors trying to “fix” Cecelia, they meet and are irrevocably changed.
At the top, I loved that this actually read like a historical fiction book that someone put real effort in researching. Too often, historical romances can feel modern in setting and tone, just some hot people wearing fancy dresses, but that was not the case with this book. You could tell the author put research into how live in London in the 1600s worked, how it was to live as a Jewish man in England, medicines of the time, etc.
Cecelia’s growth from wasting away in her sister’s guest room due to her melancholy to trying to carve a life for herself in London as much as she could independently, was really nice to see. There were some moments where I wished Cecelia would listen to David and his concerns.
Speaking of David, he was maybe my favorite of the two. From his anxieties around living in London, to his equal parts love and worry over being in love with Cecelia, to his torment over a lost potential love in the form of his friend Manuel, David was really going through it in the book. That all made it the more satisfying when he got the ending he deserved. Plus, I really liked the side characters associated with his life, his dad, Sara, and especially Jan (I’d love a little short story regarding Jan and his hints at romance in the finale.) Also yes, he does explicitly say he was in love with Manuel and is in love with Cecelia, so this is a queer book!
The pining in this book was exquisite. Truly a case of forbidden love as a Jewish person and gentile (let alone if different social classes) could barely be friends with each other, let alone marry. At some point, their arguments of “we should be together,” “no it’s too dangerous,” got a little grating, but I still rooted for them for the entire book.
I rated this book 3.5 stars! Definitely recommended for fans of historical romance and pining!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Another great read from this author for me. Lyrical and beautiful writing and evocative characters. This exploration of grief and how we survive it and find new hope was very beautiful and thought provoking.

A solid 3.5 🌟!!

This book wrote about grief so beautifully and took you through Cecilia and David’s obstacles so well. I loved how Cecilia and David were written and also loved Jan. While the two main characters were great I did not like Margaret at all, when she is taking care of Cecilia and trying to do the best for her it is rather difficult when she ends up locking Cecilia in the house. I also thought the book was set in the 1800s instead of the 1600 but that could be because I was reading another historical book at the same time.

Overall, I enjoyed the main characters, there are GREAT quotes in this book that i highlighted while reading. I think even if you have not struggled with grief this is such a good interesting book!

An evocative narrative set in seventeenth-century London, exploring plague, fire, and forbidden love, comes from the acclaimed author of Solomon's Crown.

In 1666, a year post-plague devastation in England, young widow Cecilia Thorowgood finds herself imprisoned within her sister's expansive London townhouse. Despite the legion of doctors attempting to alleviate her grief, Cecilia remains trapped in sorrow. Desperate for a solution, her sister hires a new physician known for unconventional methods, but he is a foreigner—a Jew. Despite his efforts, he understands the unyielding storm of grief within Cecilia. Melancholy proves resistant to easy cures.

This novel delves deeply into grief and the healing process after tragic loss. Cecilia, having lost her husband, finds kinship with David, who also grapples with grief. Together, they embark on a journey of mutual healing. The writing is lyrical and descriptive, portraying strong and distinct narrative voices for both Cecilia and David. The intertwining of their lives and their shared path toward overcoming sorrows was thoroughly enjoyable.

Gratitude to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for providing the ARC of this novel for review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this page turner historical fiction book that is based in 17th century London. The main character, Cecilia, find herself a young widow and in the midst of a strong grief depression. She is staying at the home of her twin sister, Lady Margaret Eden. Her sister has tried numerous doctors who have leeched, poked and prodded at Cecilia to get her better. In desperation, she hires a Jewish physician, David Mendes, to help cure her. Cecilia is rightfully wary of anymore treatment as she has been through so much. David is kind and uses medicinal herbs to help her eat and rejoin the land of the living. In time, they fall in love which is very much forbidden as Jewish people suffer prejudice and persecution. David Mendes has fled from Portugal with his father, where he was forced to hide his Jewish faith. In London, he can be free to walk around as a Jew, but he still wouldn’t be allowed to have a relationship with Cecilia. Lady Margaret has plans to marry off Cecilia to her nephew in law to keep the family royal line in case her husband dies. Cecilia does not want to marry Sir Samuel Grey, and the story proceeds from there. I found the writing to keep me quite interested and staying up late to finish it. There were some parts that didn’t make sense and the end left me wanting a few more pages, but due to the way that it captivated me, I am giving it 5 stars.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

The Phoenix Bride is a quiet study of grief and love against the backdrop of the Plague and London fire of the mid-17th century. Cecilia is a young girl very much in love with her husband when he dies from the Plague. Bereft, depressed, and rudderless, Cecilia goes to live with her sister and titled brother-in-law in London. Desperate to pull Cecilia out of her deep sadness (and get her married off), her sister hires David Mendes, a Jewish physician newly arrived from Portugal. David has seen his own share of grief, and his quiet understanding helps Cecilia as much as his herbal decoctions. The two form a deep bond that is tested when fire breaks out.
Natasha Siegel's writing style is understated and lyrical, and the book flows beautifully. Its only flaw is in time-and-place setting, because at times I forgot this was 17th century London, as it could have easily felt like a Regency, Victorian, or WWII story. The writing and characterization make up for it, and this book is recommended for fans of gently well executed historical fiction.

While the story was slow moving at times, I found myself rooting for happiness for each character. in the 1600s, forbidden love was truly forbidden by society. Had these characters lived today, they would have not had the same obstacles. The Plague and the Fire of London are a backdrop of the book, and it gives a good slice of what life was like in London in the 1600s.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.