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Sandra is Phoenix
A near-death experience left her a physically indestructible, high-IQ shapeshifter. But is this superhero ready to dive into a magical underworld?
Dr. Sandra Carboni has mastered the art of spin. And though the media-savvy millennial is in control of her day job, her superpowered nighttime alter-ego is giving her growing pains. But when she loses the ability to repress her crippling self-doubt, her PTSD surges as she discovers an unethical vampire hunter is claiming innocent lives.
Finding her fanged foes to be frustratingly elusive, Sandra worries her already fragile composure will crack before she roots out a killer. And with teens dying and a huge tech conglomerate trying to capture her for study, the manipulative perfectionist fears a chaos-driven narrative will permanently tar her as a villain.
Can she confront her inner turmoil before it destroys everything?
Sandra is Phoenix is a dark contemporary urban fantasy novel. If you like flawed characters you can root for, interconnected shorts with overarching narratives, and stories that take on real-world issues, then you’ll love Greg Neyman’s witty tale.
Buy Sandra is Phoenix to rise from the ashes today!Content Depictions of Intimate Partner Violence, Suicide, PTSD, Body Horror
Dr. Sandra Carboni has mastered the art of spin. And though the media-savvy millennial is in control of her day job, her superpowered nighttime alter-ego is giving her growing pains. But when she loses the ability to repress her crippling self-doubt, her PTSD surges as she discovers an unethical vampire hunter is claiming innocent lives.
Finding her fanged foes to be frustratingly elusive, Sandra worries her already fragile composure will crack before she roots out a killer. And with teens dying and a huge tech conglomerate trying to capture her for study, the manipulative perfectionist fears a chaos-driven narrative will permanently tar her as a villain.
Can she confront her inner turmoil before it destroys everything?
Sandra is Phoenix is a dark contemporary urban fantasy novel. If you like flawed characters you can root for, interconnected shorts with overarching narratives, and stories that take on real-world issues, then you’ll love Greg Neyman’s witty tale.
Buy Sandra is Phoenix to rise from the ashes today!Content Depictions of Intimate Partner Violence, Suicide, PTSD, Body Horror
Hardcover
Published December 31, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 23, 2024
I mostly enjoyed this new book from this new to me author. The main character, Sandra, leads a double life as the Phoenix. In Sandra mode, she works as a doctor at the local hospital; in Phoenix mode, she scales the city helping people and hunting things! As the Phoenix, she has an incredible amount of abilities and powers, including shapeshifting, flying, camouflaging and generally being virtually indestructible with super fast healing powers. There seemed to be almost nothing that she couldn't do!
But how can she do all this? With the help of some amazing, futuristic technology, but unfortunately we didn't really get to find out how she came to have this technology inserted into her body and how it caused her to gain these powers. I did feel we needed to know more about her accident and what the company responsible did to her and why.
Phoenix found herself in lots of situations where she had to adapt her physical self and some of it was just amazing, if a bit gruesome at times too! I would love to have some of these powers.
While I enjoyed Sandra's character and the opposing character of Ulrich, who worked for another company desperate to get their hands on Phoenix, I feel there was too much missing about the backgrounds of these people and their motivations. Sandra seemed to jump from crisis to crisis, helping out people where she could, but there wasn't really an over-riding story arc. Maybe there didn't need to be one, but I think more could have been made of Ulrich's actions and why the Concern were so interested in Phoenix - did they want her for her abilities? Did they want her for the technology she carried? Did they want her for other nefarious reasons? I have no clue! It almost felt at times like this book was in the middle of a series and I had missed all the build up. Maybe in the next one, there will be more details about how Phoenix came into being!
Thank you to Greg for the ARC copy of this book. I look forward to reading the next one and seeing what Phoenix/Sandra get up to next.
But how can she do all this? With the help of some amazing, futuristic technology, but unfortunately we didn't really get to find out how she came to have this technology inserted into her body and how it caused her to gain these powers. I did feel we needed to know more about her accident and what the company responsible did to her and why.
Phoenix found herself in lots of situations where she had to adapt her physical self and some of it was just amazing, if a bit gruesome at times too! I would love to have some of these powers.
While I enjoyed Sandra's character and the opposing character of Ulrich, who worked for another company desperate to get their hands on Phoenix, I feel there was too much missing about the backgrounds of these people and their motivations. Sandra seemed to jump from crisis to crisis, helping out people where she could, but there wasn't really an over-riding story arc. Maybe there didn't need to be one, but I think more could have been made of Ulrich's actions and why the Concern were so interested in Phoenix - did they want her for her abilities? Did they want her for the technology she carried? Did they want her for other nefarious reasons? I have no clue! It almost felt at times like this book was in the middle of a series and I had missed all the build up. Maybe in the next one, there will be more details about how Phoenix came into being!
Thank you to Greg for the ARC copy of this book. I look forward to reading the next one and seeing what Phoenix/Sandra get up to next.
March 18, 2024
Stumbled upon this book by chance and I'm so happy I did. Not the kind of book I usually read but I enjoyed it from start to finish. The world building, imagination, wit and sarcasm of the author kept me glued to this book. And I definitely want more of Sandra's adventures. Her character is so relatable and still so deliciously grating. To keep it short, grab a copy and start reading. You won't regret it.
May 18, 2024
This isn’t the typical book that I read, but I’m definitely glad I did. Sandra is a complex character dealing with being a super hero. I love that it’s not your typical super hero story. She’s not trying to be perfect, and that is so refreshing.
February 5, 2024
We’ve all read some great books over the years. Books about heroic surgeons/anesthesiologists/doctors saving the day, despite insurance conglomerates, hospital CEOs, and the public’s best efforts. They’re great! We, as readers, have also all read about superheroes who stalk the night, carrying out vigilante justice while trying to save people from the dangers they (REGULARLY) fall into. They’re great too! Hidden identities are a blast, hospital drama is compelling, and it all makes for really good writing.
What if I told you that there’s a book with… wait for it… both! No really, I’m serious! I invite you to enjoy a book I’ve just finished titled “Sandra is Phoenix” by (Dr.) Greg Neyman. The book’s got just about everything I look for in a good read. Snark, sarcasm, attempted 4th-wall destruction, tragic hero backstory, monsters, meddlers, secret identities, superpowers, plus-sized awesomeness, the works! And on top of it all, THE HOSPITAL/MEDICAL PARTS ARE ACCURATE!!! PRAISE BE!!!
Sandra is an anesthesiologist of the highest caliber. Aloof and distant with a cutting wit, she’s got her entire career in front of her and the respect of a hospital supporting her. She’s anyone’s go-to for a cool, clear head whose medical knowledge is beyond contestation. Sandra’s also got a family that loves her, a step-mom who’s been trying to make a connection with her for years (not evil), and a few friends that she can roll up on even at 2 in the morning. After events that will be revealed in the novel (I’m not the spoilers kind of guy), Sandra is Phoenix! A shape-shifting, flying, flame-decal-sporting superhero. With 4th-wall breaks that would make Deadpool proud, a snarky sense of humor that diffuses just about any situation (or at least distracts them), and a learning curve that would make even Sisyphus do a double-take she’s out to help her city. Really, just her city, she’s not into the whole “save the world” thing.
“Sandra is Phoenix” is the first book in a new series by a new-to-you author, Greg Neyman! It’s fun, funny, creative, and wonderfully original. The pages almost turn themselves as the reader is drawn into this urban fantasy novel with some really nifty original variations on common tropes. I cannot recommend it enough. Sandra isn’t your average hero, she’s different in many wonderful ways. Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this e-book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What if I told you that there’s a book with… wait for it… both! No really, I’m serious! I invite you to enjoy a book I’ve just finished titled “Sandra is Phoenix” by (Dr.) Greg Neyman. The book’s got just about everything I look for in a good read. Snark, sarcasm, attempted 4th-wall destruction, tragic hero backstory, monsters, meddlers, secret identities, superpowers, plus-sized awesomeness, the works! And on top of it all, THE HOSPITAL/MEDICAL PARTS ARE ACCURATE!!! PRAISE BE!!!
Sandra is an anesthesiologist of the highest caliber. Aloof and distant with a cutting wit, she’s got her entire career in front of her and the respect of a hospital supporting her. She’s anyone’s go-to for a cool, clear head whose medical knowledge is beyond contestation. Sandra’s also got a family that loves her, a step-mom who’s been trying to make a connection with her for years (not evil), and a few friends that she can roll up on even at 2 in the morning. After events that will be revealed in the novel (I’m not the spoilers kind of guy), Sandra is Phoenix! A shape-shifting, flying, flame-decal-sporting superhero. With 4th-wall breaks that would make Deadpool proud, a snarky sense of humor that diffuses just about any situation (or at least distracts them), and a learning curve that would make even Sisyphus do a double-take she’s out to help her city. Really, just her city, she’s not into the whole “save the world” thing.
“Sandra is Phoenix” is the first book in a new series by a new-to-you author, Greg Neyman! It’s fun, funny, creative, and wonderfully original. The pages almost turn themselves as the reader is drawn into this urban fantasy novel with some really nifty original variations on common tropes. I cannot recommend it enough. Sandra isn’t your average hero, she’s different in many wonderful ways. Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this e-book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 9, 2024
Didn't know what to expect when this was the next book in my new Indie Book Club.
Definitely an interesting read. Part super hero, part tech with a mix of quantum science and and a bit of reincarnation theory if you look hard enough and are steeped in that paradigm. I'm big into the Many Worlds Theory and there is some of that here as well. For all these reasons and more I found this book fascinating.
Once I understood what was going on, I couldn't stop reading.
I liked Sandra as Sandra wasn't your typical woman, that she was a little out of shape. It gave her a more realistic appearance.
I also liked that she only looks for people to help.
This may not be something you would typically read. But I think you'd be missing out.
Definitely an interesting read. Part super hero, part tech with a mix of quantum science and and a bit of reincarnation theory if you look hard enough and are steeped in that paradigm. I'm big into the Many Worlds Theory and there is some of that here as well. For all these reasons and more I found this book fascinating.
Once I understood what was going on, I couldn't stop reading.
I liked Sandra as Sandra wasn't your typical woman, that she was a little out of shape. It gave her a more realistic appearance.
I also liked that she only looks for people to help.
This may not be something you would typically read. But I think you'd be missing out.
April 5, 2024
3.75 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
May 10, 2024
This is the sort of book I love finding. Wildly inventive, insanely funny and 100% different, it follows Sandra as she attempts and mostly fails, to navigate the perils of being a superhero. Sandra is funny and relatable and the way she's presented in the everyday with these fantastic powers is a ball. The book is written in a "story of the week" style and is wonderful if consumed as a series of discrete stories with an overarching narrative. This book is exactly why I love Indie writing. It reminds me of reading in the 80's when books were fresh and exciting and not afraid to take chances. Huge recommend.
January 12, 2025
Rollercoaster!
Rollercoaster!
This is a world where magic and technology collide, and not with just a fender-bender.
If you enjoyed the movie "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once", this story is your happy place.
Sandra, the MC, is an Anaesthesiologist who experienced a horrific accident that left her mangled and near death. The deal she struck with a shadow agency to recover left her with amazing abilities but may have stripped away her humanity.
This is a fun story that makes you pay attention. Read on, and enjoy!
Rollercoaster!
This is a world where magic and technology collide, and not with just a fender-bender.
If you enjoyed the movie "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once", this story is your happy place.
Sandra, the MC, is an Anaesthesiologist who experienced a horrific accident that left her mangled and near death. The deal she struck with a shadow agency to recover left her with amazing abilities but may have stripped away her humanity.
This is a fun story that makes you pay attention. Read on, and enjoy!
April 18, 2024
This is a book that makes you think! It's a fascinating walk through the life of a doctor/superhero, not in the way you think! Slight spoiler alert - there's no big plot. No big scheme. No rising action and climactic battle. It's not that kind of book. If you knew the author, as I happen to, it would ALL make sense. If you don't? Read and enjoy and be a little mystified.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews