3.5/5 stars! I think this was a strong debut. It generally works and the pacing was good. I struggled at times with the world-building and I didn't really like Elena as a character. That said, I love assassins so Yassen was more my speed.

Aparna Verma’s *The Phoenix King* marks a bold debut in the realm of high fantasy blended with sci-fi elements, offering a world steeped in rich lore inspired by Indian mythology. The narrative follows Elena Aadya Ravence, the heir to the throne of a kingdom beset by political intrigue and the looming threat of war. Alongside her is Yassen Knight, an assassin seeking redemption, as they navigate a landscape marked by both personal ambition and ancestral prophecies. While the novel showcases Verma's potential, it is not without its challenges, presenting a mixed bag of engaging moments and notable shortcomings.

One of the standout features of *The Phoenix King* is its ambitious world-building. Verma crafts a kingdom that exists at the intersection of ancient customs and futuristic technology, a juxtaposition that adds layers of complexity to the setting. The opening chapters are particularly captivating, immersing readers in a vivid landscape where "the desert may be unforgiving, but it was spun from stardust." This poetic imagery resonates throughout the narrative, effectively conjuring the sights, sounds, and scents of a rich cultural tapestry. The inclusion of excerpts from historical texts at the beginning of each chapter is a delightful touch, enhancing the sense of depth and history within the world.

Moreover, the political landscape is drawn with considerable care, addressing themes of governance, power struggles, and the influence of religious ideologies. Verma's handling of the protagonist's growth—Elena's struggle to embrace her heritage while grappling with her father's heavy legacy—offers a compelling foundation for future explorations of her character. The moral complexity of characters, particularly Leo, the king, who navigates the treacherous waters of fatherhood and tyranny, adds to the depth of the narrative.

However, the novel falters in its character development and pacing. Elena, while portrayed as a fierce warrior, often comes across as one-dimensional. Her emotional landscape feels stunted, making it difficult for readers to fully engage with her internal struggles. This is particularly evident in her relationship with Yassen, which is marketed as a slow-burn romance but lacks the depth and chemistry necessary to truly captivate. Many readers express disappointment in Elena’s apparent lack of vulnerability, which undermines the emotional stakes of their relationship.

The pacing, too, is uneven, with the first three-quarters of the novel feeling slow and at times meandering. This slow development could be acceptable if it led to nuanced character arcs and intricate political drama; however, many readers find that the groundwork laid feels rushed or bloated. This lack of focus can detract from the overall enjoyment, as readers may find themselves skimming sections in search of more engaging content.


Overall, *The Phoenix King* offers a promising start to what could be an intriguing trilogy. Aparna Verma's writing is evocative, and her ambition is commendable; yet, the novel struggles with character depth and pacing that may frustrate some readers. Despite these shortcomings, the foundation is laid for potential growth and development, particularly as Elena's journey unfolds in subsequent installments. Fans of fantasy seeking a story rich in cultural nuances and moral complexity may find enjoyment in *The Phoenix King*, though its current state may appeal more to those who appreciate a blend of genres rather than traditional high fantasy alone. As Verma continues her journey as an author, it will be fascinating to see how her storytelling evolves in future entries.

A great start to a trilogy, with action-packed elemental magic and morally-grey characters. It's on the bigger size, page-wise, and there's quite a bit of world-building, so I'd recommend reading it physically.

WHAT A BOOK WHAT A DEBUT I AM IN LOVE! I'm always on the look out for more South Asian stories cause YES WE DESERVE TO TELL OUR STORIES! and this was such a beautiful book. Honestly, the author knocked it out of the park. I am in love with everything about this book and I need a sequel now now now!

I loved getting into this world that is fuelled both by fantasy and science fiction elements and has
fire at its core.

Loved the introduction of the three main characters, Elena, the heir apparent to the thrown, Yassen, hired assassin now body guard, and Leo, the current Phoenix King and Elena's father. We experience the unfolding story through Elena's, Yassen's and Leo's point of view.

And then we also meet Elena's soon to be husband Samson, who comes with an army of his own, the Black Scales.

It becomes clear fairly quickly that all is not well in the Kingdom of Ravence, and rebellion maybe even a revolution maybe well on its way.

As events escalate Elena finds herself thrown into a series of events that change her, as she has to make choices as to where her alliances and her trust lies, assuming, that there is anyone she can trust.

Underlying the whole novel is the magic of the phoenix and its outward symbol of fire. It is beautifully woven into the narrative as we get glimpses of the phoenix through what each of the main characters believes about the phoenix and his powers. And yet, the true magic of the phoenix still has to be revealed.

There, too, is an immersion into colours and flavours/scents that I have not yet encountered in a fantasy novel. I absolutely loved this sensual layer, that brought colour & spice into the story & to me as a reader.

The book ends on a cliffhanger of some magnitude.

And now we wait and see where the story takes us from there.

I have to admit that I am curious whereto the story will develop. Hopefully much more of the phoenix magic will become apparent. I expect for, Elena, Yassen and Samson to be amazing in their new found powers.

No sé si caí víctima de su campaña de marketing o quizá mis expectativas eran demasiado elevadas, pero la lectura de The Phoenix King no me ha terminado de convencer. Probablemente sea debido en primer lugar a las cantidades homeopáticas de tecnología que se introducen en la historia para intentar que sea fantaciencia o el término que se utilice ahora para la fantasía que se mezcla con la ciencia ficción, o simplemente que la historia de Elena se hace muy pesada.

El relato en sí es bastante previsible, con un rey que prepara la sucesión del trono para su hija, aunque esta sea incapaz de doblegar el fuego sagrado que es el fundamento de su poder. Las profecías auguran el advenimiento de un poder que pondrá en peligro el reino, ya de por sí rodeado de poderosos enemigos y el rey decide cortar por lo sano para evitar esta presencia desequilibrante, desencadenando una ola de muertes que no parece la más correcta para mantener la paz en el reino. ¡Qué manía de intentar destruir las profecías de raíz en vez de retorcerlas para su conveniencia!

La presencia de Yassen Knight, su ejército y su compañero, es un mal necesario para afrontar los previsibles ataques de los reinos vecinos ante la supuesta debilidad de la heredera. También es mala suerte tener que poner al zorro a cuida a las gallinas, desde luego este rey es un fino estratega.

El resto del libro, de considerable duración, son las vueltas y más vuelta que Elena da para ir descubriendo en los documentos más antiguos la raíz de la magia y qué sucedió en realidad con su madre en el pasado, unido a una totalmente inesperada (cof, cof, previsible hasta decir basta) relación amorosa que pondrá en peligro el reino. Una serie desordenada de peripecias que quizá convenzan a otros lectores pero que a mi, la verdad, me dejaron muy fría.

Entiendo que es un libro que tuvo el suficiente éxito como para ser republicado por una editorial con más músculo como Orbit, pero sinceramente, no sé qué le vieron.

(Updated review of the re-release as "The Phoenix King")

4.5 stars - Fantastic debut set in a lush, Indian inspired world

It is really hard to believe that this is a debut and so it will be surprising exactly noone that "The Boy with Fire" has been picked up by Orbit and re-released as "The Phoenix King"! This is a truly accomplished first book in a fantasy series with fantastic world building, interesting characters and relevant themes (religion, power, fanaticism) that are well explored.

The story is told from the perspectives of Yassen, a former assasin who has defected and is now working for the enemy, the Ravani. Next we have Elena, the Ravani princess who is about to ascend the throne but is struggling to control fire, which is a prerequisite to being the ruling monarch. And then we have Leo, the current king and Elena's father, who is ruthless in his desire to protect his kingdom but also really tired from the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders.
The Ravani kingdom is forever being threatened by its neighbour and so he is constantly walking the tightrope of diplomacy, political plotting and demonstrations of military power. This alone would keep any monarch busy, but a prophecy that might mean the end for the whole world is making matters a lot more complicated.

With their mix of Fantasy and Science Fiction elements, the aesthetics of the world of The Phoenix King felt very distinctly Final Fantasy to me - in the best way possible. This characteristic mix of futuristic and fantastical elements, the intricate and gorgeous location design and the general feeling of ornate lushness was all brought to life with seeming ease by Verma.

Some readers apparently were not happy with the pacing and found it to be slow. For me, it was just right, being a reader who is not really into action and who likes a focus on world-building, the characters' inner lives and a slowly unfolding plot. A lot of action happens towards the end of the book as events escalate and some crucial information is revealed, but that was actually my least favourite part.

I thought that the characters were well drawn, but their interaction was maybe a little lacking in depth. But that is actually quite nit-picky as I would recommend this book to just about anyone who enjoys Fantasy. Since this has been picked up by a big publisher the chances of this trilogy getting finished have increased significantly, and I'm really looking forward to the next part!

I have received a digital review copy via NetGalley and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you!

This high fantasy is mixed with beautiful Indian culture, and thrilling sci-fi action. Inspired by Indian myth, it is a debut novel by Aparna Verma about redemption and the threat of an ancient prophecy that might overturn their powerful kingdom.

The heir to Ravence, Elena’s, coronation day is fast approaching, but as the only one in her family who cannot wield eternal fire, she is worried about being as good as her father in the role of the throne. She also has another problem on her hands: Yassen Knight. An assassin who was once a traitor of the throne but is now seeking redemption and claiming loyalty to the throne. Elena doesn’t believe him but her father, Leo, King of Ravence, ours his trust in him and makes him part of the Royal Guard.

Their relationship is complicated, with Elena being quite cold with him and not trusting of him.

It’s only when her soon to be betrothed, Samson, betrays her and the kingdom, and she has no-one to turn to, she starts to put her trust in Yassen. He helps her find her magic and their relationship blossoms. The plot line of the romance doesn’t overwhelm the storyline which I really like as it focuses on the actual plot more than this.

There’s a huge threat of war and political unrest in the Ravence kingdom and a prophecy threatens to tear apart Leo’s family before Elenas coronation day!

The Phoenix King has quite complex story building in the beginning. From incredibly in depth details to descriptions that would get your senses tingly, it all adds to the brilliant story of bad ass woman, morally grey romance, magic, Futuristic technology & ancient kingdom all wrapped in an enemies to lovers/slow burn parcel.

Once I got into it I really enjoyed how the author wrote, and the seamless transition between the Indian mythology & culture, and the sci-fi fantasy element!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of The Phoenix King.
Elena's the heir of a desert kingdom. Yasen's an assassin and now one of Elena's guards. The world is shaped by its location and its mythical origin. But war's on the breach and there's a country full of unrest. Elena as the heir has to make sure she has her people behind her.
I really loved the desert setting. And the blooming romance between Elena and Yasen was what kept me swooning. I also loved the very intriguing world-building. It's a book full of family and belonging. I can't wait to read the next book in this trilogy.

This book was brutal. I thought for a bit that the author was going to kill ever single character in the book. It was really effective to show loss and tragedy on a character. It's going to be interesting to see how the rest of the series progresses.

This book contained a bit of a mix of Fantasy and Scifi, it was definitely the plot and culture of a fantasy book with the weaponry and tech of Scifi occasionally popping up. It threw me a bit at first because I would forget I was reading a Scifi book and then there'd be a pulse gun mentioned. I got used to it, but I do wonder why the author chose to have that mix rather than just pure Fantasy.

I really liked the culture in this book, of which there was plenty. I think I would love a book or series completely about the Yumi because they fascinate me completely. There was not enough written about the Yumi in the book for me.

Aside from the culture though I found the book didn't leave much of an impression on me. I'm looking forward to the sequel because of how the book ended and I'm hoping that one catches my attention more

If you've seen a BookTok about a morally grey heroine, then you've probably heard about The Phoenix King. This multiple POV story is action packed and I wasn't sure who my favorite character was. In The Phoenix King we can witness the varying motivations of Yassen, Elena and Leo. This speculative fiction world is one that examines the power of religion, destiny, and prophets. The lines in the sand we draw and the ones we won't cross. All the sacrifices we are willing to make for our foals, our children, our religion, our future.

This book was jam-packed with incredible world building, fascinating characters and battles for power. What more could you need in your fantasy?

The Indian inspired world was beautiful and I loved learning more about Desi culture through this very well-written story. The characters were easy to get attached to and I was truly enraptured throughout this novel.

The author managed to pull off a curious mix of both fantasy and science fiction with it being set in a mythical and fantastical place that was also advanced enough to have some pretty interesting technology going on. Normally I would find it hard to get my head around but oddly enough, here I felt that it worked well.

Overall I enjoyed this novel and am forever grateful that it managed to drag me out of a reading slump that I'd been struggling with for quite a while! Looking forward to seeing more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Orbit for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: death, injury, violence, self harm, fire, trauma

"The Phoenix King" was originally self published under a different title but I'm so glad I waited for it to be republished in a more expanded version. This is an epic Indian fantasy with powerful worldbuilding and characters full of trauma and their own aims combined with a fascinating religion and magic system. Yassen Knight, an assassin who once served an ancient order, hasn't been the same since he was horrifically burned on what should have been his final assignment. Forced to flee to the man who abandoned him, Samson, for help Yassen is plunged back into a life he thought he'd be free from after Samson pledges his army's support to the Phoenix King, Leo Ravence, who rules over a vast desert kingdom named Sayon dedicated to the worship of a destructive god. Leo is supposed to abdicate his throne for his daughter, Elena, once she is twenty-five by law. However, Leo has no intentions of giving up his throne yet; he has his daughter to protect from the same forces that took his wife, defend his legacy and avoid the war lingering from all sides.
Meanwhile, Elena wants nothing more than to be able to hold the fire that defines the rulers of her country and sit within the fire of the Phoenix without burning. Until she manages this, her deeply religious country won't accept her as Queen. Despite knowing all the history and the desert as well as she knows herself, Elena can't seem to do what's needed of her. After her father makes a deal with Samson that requires Elena to become engaged to him, she gains a new bodyguard: the legendary Yassen Knight, the man who was once charged with killing her family, only now he's not the man he once was. It seems like Yassen will do whatever is asked of him, and soon enough it becomes clear to everyone that what the fire of the Phoenix wants will happen; the only question is whether or not anyone will survive it.

I really enjoyed this book, especially having the perspective of three different characters. Yassen is badly emotionally and physically scarred and wants nothing more than to be free, while Elena seeks her purpose with a passion that I found to be deeply engrossing. Likewise, Leo is interesting because he is a King who should worship a god, but he now hates it for the impact its had on his life and loved ones. The worldbuilding and magic system of this book are gorgeous, as is the descriptions of the desert kingdom. The only aspect of “The Phoenix King” that I felt was underdeveloped is the romance between Yassen and Elena, they didn’t spend enough scenes together (the ones they did were often the highlight of the book) and so their relationship didn’t feel fully developed. Additionally, I felt that the final section of the book moved too quickly, and that there was a rush to the ending. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing where this series might go, especially with the characters of Yassen and Elena.

I did not manage to read this unfortunately, due to unforeseeable issues at home but I have bought this book as I’m interested in reading it once I get the opportunity.

Really enjoyed this!

Every character point of view is really interesting as they pull you in different directions, and everyone's morality is a little bit grey. The science fantasy setting really pulled me in, and I think the descriptions of a traditional and religious culture blended really well with the mix of technology.

*waves hands* Okay, okay, okay!

You got me! *slaps hands down*

It’s not my fault… you know I have a weakness for maps and glossaries in my Sci-Fi Fantasy reads. You pretty much have my unfailing loyalty to the story from just these two points alone *shrugs*.

Add in multifaceted world-building and complex morally grey characters, it’s fair to say I was hooked. And characters don’t come more complex and diverse as our three main protagonists: Elena, Leo, and Yassen.

At the heart of all great SFF reads is the struggle for power and what those that have it, and what those that want it will do to keep or attain it. Power corrupts and this is a theme played out in TPK against the backdrop of political machinations and religious fervour.

Don’t even get me started on the parallels between this world and ours… *folds arms*

I found myself questioning everyone and everything in the story (as I am wont to do! *snorts*). Motivations are key… if you can work them out *smirks*.

Fire is a character all its own in the book; captivating and deadly. It lives, it breathes… it sees all as it burns.

Full of action, suspense, and a slow burn romance, TPK will suck you in till the end (numb bum included coz it’s chunky) and leave you craving Book 2 to continue the journey.

Well, it will if you’re anything like me!

My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for a free e-ARC of "The Pheonix King" by Aparna Verna.
From the premise of the book I had no idea this will be more of a blend of Urban Fantasy with SF elements.
Besides that, the amount of info dump was quite overwhelming, making the reader confused with the world and the political hints.
I was really rexcited for an Adult Indian inspired Fantasy, but this is not what I expected.
I had to abandon this book as it felt that is just asking from the reader without payoff.

I had wanted to read The Boy With Fire which apparently rebranded and published as The Phoenix King, so if nothing else, that's two books off my TBR.

This wasn't a bad book and Aparna is a good writer, very clear and fanciful descriptions, good pacing for the most part. There were just a few...things. The first thing, which is probably entirely just a 'me' thing, I couldn't resolve this mix of traditional fantasy and also sci-fi tech. I don't know why but something about the character's deeply religious and traditional kingdom but also have a holopod and hovercar, I just couldn't make it work in my head. It felt almost disruptive in some ways. Not a huge issue but something that stuck with me nonetheless.

I think my biggest hang up is Yassen. He's meant to be this amazing assassin, highly regarded by the rebel group etc etc and yet everyone knows his name and face? Surely anonymity is vital if you're committing high target offenses and criminal acts and having Leo and his Gold Caps know your face would be the opposite of what they should want. I also feel like the internal conflict Elena had about him resolved very quickly, despite continuing to pop up. I've stopped being attracted to someone for their political views and he caused the death of multiple friends and family of Elena. Also, side note for that scene they finally get together, they kept talking about how they have to get this plan done fast and quick and it's so dangerous but don't worry, there's still time for a bed boogie and nap. Like, what???

Samson and Leo were arguably two of the more interesting characters and I would have liked more from them. Since this is a series maybe we'll get a little more from Samson as the series goes. I'd have loved to know more about Ferma. Maybe we'll get a few more glimpses as the series goes? Some old letters or something?

Overall, it's an interesting premise. It's generally well written and enjoyable enough. Like I said, I had just a few things that stuck at to me but nothing major enough that I wouldn't read the next book if I have the chance, so fingers crossed for that one.

DNF @ 7%
Not going to rate this book because I don't feel like I read enough of it to do so. I found it did not manage to excite me in the first chapter, and the rest of what I read didn't intrigue me enough to carry on. I thought about pushing through but tbh there's lots of good books out there and my time is precious.

My initial impressions of the world building was confusing. I liked the idea of the Indian-inspired sci-fi fantasy world but found the execution lacking. The first three chapters are littered with words like these:
"pitcher of chaas" "makhana" "colourful lehenga and choli" & "ravanahatha" ... but like no descriptions or explanations with them.

Maybe this is me being ignorant, but seeing as I'm not massively familiar with Desi culture and this is a fantasy book, I was Googling every other word in some sentences. Some are actual descriptions of food and clothing (like all of the above) but when you have a large amount of other made-up words in the mix (like "holopod" "Sesharian" "Jantari") I would expect the author to provide at least a bit more description for the not-made up things, rather than assume her readers would just know what she's talking about. I'm fairly certain I'm being weird by finding this annoying, but it made me feel disengaged for what little I read of the book itself.

Either way, I was bored, confused and therefore lost interest. Not for me!

This is an incredible debut which is rich in indian inspired mythology, new age technology and well fleshed out characters.

The book follows three characters - Elena, a young ruler who is ready to take over the throne, Yassen - an assassin on the run and Leo, the current emperor.

The world building is intricate, maybe a bit slow to begin but once we start to learn of the mythology, prophecies and the Gods of this world it starts to shine. The characters are built with the same intensity and learning about their motivations as you go on really helps to understand the underlying plot.

I think the biggest pull was the south asian inspiration which is something that is still quite rare in books so it kept the book fresh and alive for me.

Definitely pick up this book if you want something different in the fantasy genre!