SO many thanks to NetGalley and Sonnet House Publishing for the opportunity to read The Protectorate, A Phoenix Rises by Samantha Sonnett. I am telling everyone I know about this book. I could not put it down. Best book by a new to me author in a very long time. That it's the beginning of a new series filled with relatable characters tickles me pink!

Absolutely awesome reading…. Great characters, complex, action packed. I loved this book - we need book 2 and a film of book 1. Thank you to the author. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

An intriguing and original plot, with some nice turns and twists. The different viewpoints help with building suspense. Unfortunately, the writing style was somewhat flat, taking away some of that suspense and making the characters feel a bit one-dimensional.
I did enjoy the inclusion of the literary and musical soundtrack at the end of the book!

Thanks to Sonnett House Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sonnet House Publishing for the opportunity to read The Protectorate

I really loved this book. I read it in two days and was entertained the whole time. The character development is strong, the secret society is fascinating, and I can see this series going places.

I would have loved a little bit more depth to Sofia and Jones, especially, but they were really cute, and I really liked the safe space that they seemed to create in all the horror around them.

The one thing that didn't work for me was the first chapter. It was too graphic for me, especially to start off the book. If I didn't have it as an ARC, I'm not sure I would have pushed through, and I would have missed a really good book if I'd given up!

Thanks to Sonnett House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of The Protectorate A Phoenix Rises by Samantha Sonnett

I enjoyed the whip-smart plotting and the multiple POV characters. The author’s background in law enforcement adds depth from her lived experiences.

This felt like James Patterson meets Dan Brown in the best way! A fast-paced murder investigation mixed with symbolism, secret societies and a found-family police team that made it incredibly easy to keep reading.

The pacing was probably my favourite part. The multiple POVs kept the story moving quickly, and while this definitely felt more plot-driven than character-driven, we were given enough backstory to understand the characters and how their individual stories fed into the wider investigation.

I particularly enjoyed the symbolism woven throughout the mystery and the way the different pieces gradually came together. I did manage to anticipate some of the bigger developments, so I would have loved one really unexpected, gut-punch twist to take the mystery to another level. There were still several satisfying reveals along the way, though, and I thought everything tied together well by the end.

Overall, this was a really entertaining thriller and a great-in-the-moment read. If you enjoy fast-paced murder investigations, secret societies, symbolism and a police team with a found-family dynamic, this is definitely one to try.

ARC Review ❣️
5 hearts ❤💞

The Protectorate: A Phoenix Rises is one of those debut thrillers that feels incredibly confident from start to finish. Set around a chilling serial murder investigation, it combines authentic police work with the mystery of a century-old secret society, creating a story that is both gripping and surprisingly emotional.
My favorite part was the cast of women, each with her own voice, flaws, and strength. The literary references and floral symbolism added depth without slowing the pace, and the twists genuinely kept me guessing. If you enjoy intelligent thrillers with badass female leads, secret societies, and thought-provoking themes, this is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and anxiously await the next one. Characters are likeable and well written. Plot is complicated.