Destiny Calls

The Phoenix Rising #1

by Phenice Arielle

Have you ever felt like you’ve been preparing for something… bigger?

Do all your friends think your dreams are just plain… crazy?

College student Kay Morowa goes up against warlords, poachers and human traffickers in The Phoenix Rising – Destiny Calls.

Find out what Kay must sacrifice to help somehow familiar strangers bring about peace.

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From Kirkus Reviews:

“After her parents reveal that they haven't been honest with her about her past, Kay leaves for South Africa feeling bitter and anxious.

Her excitement on arrival is cut short when she becomes a victim of a human trafficking ring operated by a large-scale poaching operation. She flees … to a refuge called Ipharadisi.

There, she meets the majestic, menacing Queen Zaina and a handsome doctor named Erec.”

“With its emphasis on South African politics and current events, Arielle's novel is a refreshing departure from the well-trod ground of paranormal romance stories.

...The constant athletic competition among donga fighters will remind readers that despite the prevailing desire for peace, this is a warrior culture that must remain battle-ready. Kay's narrative voice, as written by Arielle, is well-suited to a promising young journalist, and she comes across as witty and observant but self-conscious and vulnerable. ...smart..." --Kirkus Reviews

If Kay can survive, she may just become the kind of peace-seeking hero her classmates would never believe. Kay might even stumble through homesickness and loneliness into a surprising love.

Of course, our brave girl may instead discover the answer to something she never wanted to know the answer to:

What happens… when you die.

Hold on to life

Fall in love

And FACE YOUR FEARS

Book 1 in the Series

Your journey begins here.
Answer the call.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Suspense, Adventure, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

507 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2013

Reviews

[Caitlin V · Rating 4 out of 5]

*The author gave me a copy of the book for an honest review* Full review at www.thebooksbeyond.blogspot.com.

So the author emailed me talking about my blog and asking me to review her book. We had a long conversation about the Fast and Furious movies ;) haha. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm so grateful to have met Phenice. Did you know she's the female cover model??? Fun fact :D She's so nice and gave me a paperback of her book! I mean I normally get e-copys from authors or I'd have to pay for the paperback. And honestly? I'm a teenager. I don't have a lot of money, so it's not like I can buy every book out there (I wish). So yeah, she's really awesome and I hope we keep in touch. I was looking around and her book hasn't had a lot of reviews on Amazon or Goodreads... or anywhere, really. So, I just wanted you guys to know that this book was super action-packed with lions! Haha. Seriously though, I really want to help and get her book more out there. So if you want to get this book on Amazon, click here! It would mean to world to her! Good or bad review, she likes the input we readers have to give.
Now, since I have a lot to say, I must get onto this review! When I was reading, I had to write all my thoughts on my phone because I had so many feels and I didn't want to forget each one xD But before I get to how I felt, I'll attempt to make a short summary. But I suck at synopsis' so you might just have to look it up xD
Destiny Calls is about a girl, Kay, going to Africa because she was selected to go as a school trip. Instead of her intended journalist vacation, she is kidnapped and rescued to a magical-and secret- place called Ipharadisi. There she finds family, friendship, and love. Between fighting evil and her weird visions, she also finds the importance of loyalty and the true history behind Africa's secret utopia.
I honestly don't know where to start... so much has happened and I'm still trying to process everything. Okay, I guess I'll start with the romance, since that I can think about. Most books these days have a love triangle or square or whatever shape. I guess the author wants you to struggle. Haha. Well this author doesn't. You might think so, but when you take a step back, she it really isn't a triangle. I actually really like that about this book. It's refreshing to not have to guess all the time on which man she's going to pick and just focus on the action and putting the pieces together. Now, Kay, the main protagonist, does meet two guys that she cares deeply for. And she does feel attraction to both, but there's really only one guy she loves, and will always love (And I knew it all along xD). I personally like both of the men she gets involved in. If she picked the other guy, I'd be equally as happy... maybe more just because THE ENDING WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. HOW COULD YOU PHENICE?
Haha another thing I absolutely loved about it was, I never got annoyed with the book. You know how sometimes the story line or the way the characters think or act just makes you so annoyed? Like you just want to shake them and yell.
Well, I'm happy to say, Destiny Calls isn't like that! Or except for two scenes, anyway. I think I was so wrapped up in the story, the fighting and figuring out about her family, that I didn't really feel like anything was annoying. I wanted to keep turning the pages to find out was was coming next.
Although I loved the story line, there were a few things that I didn't particularly like about the book itself. It's more of the technical errors that I saw. The first thing I saw was the formatting. I noticed that she used bolded and italicized words to show a beginning and end of a flashback or vision, and that was good and clear. Different, I've never seen bolded words before. I got used to it eventually, but sometimes flashbacks or visions weren't in the bolded words and it threw me off because I wouldn't know where it ended and sometimes began. So what I'm trying to say is that the formatting was inconsistent a some points in the book. Also, there was this one scene in the book I was really confused about. I can't really explain it without giving the scene away, so for those who've read the book, it'll be in the spoiler section of the review.
I also saw some grammar errors. I didn't so much towards the end, but in the beginning, when the story was just building up, I did notice a few. It didn't take away any of the story. Like I said, I was never annoyed with the book. But, I did notice and stop to think about how it should be different.
Other than that, I found this book gripping, exciting, and intriguing. Full of twists and turns. It's like you think you're walking on the right path with how everything and playing out and the next thing you know, you're lost in the forest, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. I found it quite fun, trying to piece together the story and if this character was good or if that character was bad.
I highly recommend this book. 4 out of 5 stars for Phenice! Seriously, the story line is unique and the cover, eye-catching. If you guys like a book with a lot of questions and fighting, you'll definitely love this book.
I must get on with the second part of the review! To those of you who haven't read Destiny Calls yet, I hope you liked the review and will soon pick up the book!

Now, I have a spoilers part on my blog for those of you who've read the book and want to see my rant. But since I don't want to hide this review, I'm leaving it out. If you want to see my spoilers part, see the link at the top.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh WOW! Where do I even begin?!?!

Towards the end of January I got an email through Goodreads from Phenice Arielle whom I'd never heard of asking if I would read her book and review it for her. So apprehensive, I went to the book's info page and after seeing the cover I was like "I don't know....." then I read the synopsis and I thought, "okay I'll give it a go." And boy am I glad I did!

This book The Phoenix Rising - Destiny Calls is......it's.....I don't even have words! The story starts with a disturbing Preface (click here to read) that leaves you thinking that our MC is being tortured for the memories that become our story. Nanyamka, or Kay for short, is a beautiful African American college student in NYC who has been awarded the chance of a lifetime - a one month internship in South Africa for the NY Times. What journalism major could pass that up?! Well, if you could predict the future you would! At the airport in Cape Town, there's an explosion and Kay is kidnapped and forced into a poacher's slave camp. At the camp, another slave rescues her and the others that are imprisoned there and takes them to her tribe Ipharadisi (which translates to "paradise"). Here Kay learns about herself and what she is capable of doing for those she loves.

I loved these characters! Kay is so relatable in terms of her transformation from a normal American college student to a moral leader. The things that she encounters (love, loss, being kidnapped) all contribute to her development and I must say when faced with those atrocities she handles them well. She appropriately breaks down, but then she picks herself back up. Then there's the two men in her life: Callum (her American, not-so-much boyfriend, but definitely love of her life) and Erec (the doctor in the African tribe she takes refuge in). This is not a typical love-triangle scenario, instead put yourself in Kay's shoes....she's been kidnapped, probably is thought dead, no hope of returning home......I'd move on to the sweet, attractive doctor too! And I can't write a review without mentioning Beth and Tuki. Beth was Kay's college roommate and best friend, then the whole kidnapping thing happens. Tuki is the slave who saves Kay from the poachers and in turn becomes her best friend. I loved both of these characters so much. They bring the best out in Kay (just like friends should).

The writing is phenomenal. I loved each and every aspect of the plot and the imagery of South Africa. I felt like I was there, experiencing what Kay was feeling, hearing, and seeing. Told in first person POV, we get to see inside Kay's head and not only experience things as she does but also feel her emotions! What a roller coaster this book was! I was laughing out loud, crying and my heart warmed with some of her experiences.

This story has a little bit for everyone! Mystery, suspense, romance and a bonus it's a clean-read. I don't think I read a single foul word in the book! Though (my guess) Kay is 21 or 22 this book can be a YA or NA read with themes that I think teenagers will learn from. Caution though, there is a cliff-hanger! Can't wait to find out what happens to our Kay and the rest of the characters in book two!

I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Marianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

On January 26, 2014, I received a random e-mail from Phenice Arielle at Goodreads... I did not know who she was nor have I heard of her previously. She asked me to read her book, The Phoenix Rising, Destiny Calls for a fair review. I have read several books from new authors and I did not have super high expectations. My general assumption was that the story would probably be okay and that I would have to deal with a lot of grammatical and spelling errors. I read some other reviews from Amazon to see what other reads had to say, and, seeing generally positive reviews decided to agree and read the book having no major expectations.....

Today is February 5, 2014 - just 10 days after I began to read this book. I finished the book last night. I decided that sleep would not come to me until I finished every last word in that book. For someone like me, reading is a luxury that I have a hard time finding. I run 3 companies, I'm a parent of 2 kids, I'm the PTA President at our local elementary school, I sit on the Governance Council at our local Middle School, and my kids has activities 7 days a week (violin, piano, art class, etc)... Thus, reading an entire book in 10 days is a difficult feat for me....

The bottom line is this..... THIS BOOK WAS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ IN A VERY LONG TIME.

First, the grammatical and spelling errors that I expected to find were not present. The book was very well edited so I did not have to deal with those distractions - HUGE Bonus.

Second, Phenice's writing style is superb. I loved the flash backs - they kept me on my toes. I loved the description and the details. I loved the fast pace of the book - there was not time to get tired of reading about a scene because the book moved so fast. Something new was happening on each page - in each paragraph. I loved the fact that the book contained some BIG ideas - peace, love, respect, caring for others, responsibility - to mention a few. I have found that many of today's authors simply write a "cute" story, but do not handle the BIG ideas and I was pleasantly surprised and super pleased that this book had them in it. I'm in my 40s and love Young Adult literature, but I don't often tell my 13 year old that she must read a specific book unless I felt it was worth her time and that she would get something more than a "cute" read out of it... This book is on the MUST READ list for her, and eventually, my 9 year old as well.

Third, I was pleasantly surprised when I quickly figured out that this book is about Africa and the African people (mostly).... Most of the books that I pick up do not cover this part of the world. For me, it was super refreshing to read about a new land and a people that have such an amazing and rich culture and history.

I loved every letter on every page. THANK YOU, Phenice Arielle, for picking me out randomly and asking me to read your book. I feel like you gave me a rare gift that I will treasure and pass along to my kids as well. Please keep writing as I am waiting for Book 2 with bated breath. You truly have a gift and readers all over the world will soon realize what a treasure your story is.

My only regret is that the book wasn't longer and the characters within its pages did not have longer interactions and relationships so that I, too, could have continued to experience their lives.

An amazing book that no one should miss reading.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoenix Rising is one beautifully descriptive book. The authors very talented with world building. To read a story about a place that you're not familiar with and be able to visualize it almost like a movie is amazing. This is one book that I will not soon forget. Love, adventure, betrayal, and family all revealed in a far away place, Africa. This was the first story that I've read that is primarily set in Africa and I really enjoyed it. I would place this book in the new adult arena. The main characters are juniors in college, so they're young but mature.

Let's start with the end shall we? I'm not sure what to make of it. I was kind of taken aback by it. I was really hoping for happy ending after all the drama that poor Kay had been through during her time in South Africa. Instead we got a cliff hanger of sorts. One that made you go “Hmm". Maybe that's where the title ties in. Kay seems to be a phoenix rising at the end of the book. Clearly there's going to be a second book to explain what becomes of Kay.

Now back to the beginning of things. The story starts on in New York, where we learn about Kay, her summer romance with Callum and her upcoming internship in Africa. Once she arrives in her new destination, things go left very quickly. Kay is kidnapped, then rescued, she finds a new life, a new family, new responsibilities.

Although I really I enjoyed the story, I do feel that some of the transitions between Kay's narrating in the present then giving us glimpses into the past needed a tad more finesse. Especially in the first 50 pages or so. Once I got into the rhythm of the authors writing style I didn't have as many problems identifying when the story flashbacks began or ended.

Now on to the characters. I adore Kay. She's strong, kind, and always tries to do the right thing. She's not perfect, which makes her relatable. You'll find yourself rooting for her the whole time. I like Callum and I like him with Kay. They had a true love affair that blossomed quickly and lasted a lifetime. When Kay left the country after breaking up with him I felt really bad for them both. I was really hoping that he would come back into the picture. Which he did eventually did, just in time. I wish that there was a bit more explanation as to why Kay was seeing Callum die in her dreams. I sort of felt that once the story got going in Africa, her dreams concerning Callum were sort of left behind.

The people of Ipharadisi really took Kay in and her life there was almost like a fairy tale. Her sisters Zania and Tuki, her grandfather, even her quasi love interest Erec, all added depth to the adventure. To read about that sort of culture and the dynamic where a village has to Queen was very interesting and entertaining.

I really enjoyed the story. I hope to be able to read the second book when it comes out, as I would love to find out what happens next. I recommend this book for those looking to read a multicultural book, or even a book in an exotic location.

[Leylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not know where to begin to describe what this book encompasses. Let’s just say that when I read the first chapters I was not fully convinced that I was going to like the concept of the plot. I felt it was disorganized and hard to follow. However, after giving it a real chance, I realized that it was supposed to feel that way. Our protagonist Kay suffers from these “dreams” that feel so real and are so random that as a reader you feel the same mental unease that she does. As you read further on, the scenes of the start of the novel are forgotten and a whole new world is revealed. A new set of colorful characters are introduce take center stage in Africa that eventually mesh with the life Kay had dreamed about in New York. I don’t want to give the plot away, or write a summary of what I read as to not kill the story line or give something away.

My absolute favorite aspect of reading this novel was the cultural influence portrayed. It feels like I also traveled to a part of Africa and got an insider’s look at a small town there. The characters, at least the ones in Ipharadisi are beautifully written. The dialect snippets are smoothly interwoven in the plot that they don’t feel randomly placed for the sake of it. Finally, there is Milkshake. A comedic relief in the form of a pygmy elephant with a taste for Blueberry tarts.

Some aspects I had issues where that at the beginning Kay does come off as a bit pushy and one dimensional, you see growth and maturity if maybe at a quickened pace as the novel progresses. Plus, I have ambivalent feelings toward Callum, Kay’s main love interest. I can see where he is supposed to love her unconditionally and devotedly to the degree that may seem a bit obsessive to us common folk. I understand that it seems like their story and life paths are divinely written, however, I just don’t feel the connection as ardently as it is written. I felt more when she met with Erec at the medical tent the first time. *SPOILER* Even when all three paths intercept, I still root for Erec and hope they eventually end up together. Very happy to know that there is a sequel in the works to answer a couple of lingering questions. On that note, all I will say is that the last paragraph of the epilogue was unexpected.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It took me three separate dedicated days to complete it. It absorbs the reader in such a way that you just have to know what is going to happen as there is not set formula of predictability that can be applied. I think I may just read it again to make sure I didn't miss anything the first time around. It gives you plenty to think about and good advice as well on life matters via Grandfather.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, first I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of her work for me to read and review. It was truly an honor.

Now- where do I begin with this novel. I loved it. I hated it. It made me laugh, cry, wand to pull my hair out, scream and or throw my hands up in their air. I've never had so many emotions come at me from reading a book full force before.
An enchanting story about a young woman trying to find her way in the world when things don't go as planned. Haunted by dreams and visions she can't explain, destiny calls and takes her on a wild ride and life journey she can and will never forget.
Kay, the main character is everything I love and hate about female leads. She is strong and independent, yet gullible and so naïve about the world around her that she winds up making so many bad decisions that just wind sup leading her into turmoil, danger, and peril.
Throughout the book I'm screaming at her to just accept her gifts and just work with it. Accept her destiny, all of it and work with it, yet no matter what, even when you think she accepts it or at least one aspect of it, she fails at accepting other aspects of her gift, her journey ands her destiny. Not to mention, I'm really not a fan of that love will save us crap. Not that I don't believe love isn't powerful, but when a man has a loaded barrel of a gun pointing at your head and you know for certain her will not hesitate to use it on you, your friends, your family and will never stop coming after you, why do you then try to save his life? I'm sorry, I'm a realist. Some lunatic is coming after me and my loved ones and the authorities are corrupt, yeah... I'm killing that person. But hey, that's just me.

Besides that, I absolutely loved reading this book and am extremely excited to read the sequel so I know what happens to Kay, seeing as the ending was angrily predictable. *sigh* But barable knowing there is more to Kay's story.

[Meranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I started on Thursday night and was done by Sunday night (and helped my brother move into a new house in between lol). I love books that I just get lost in, and that make me think about the plot while I am not reading, and this was one of those books.

The book is about a young woman named Kay, who is a blossoming journalist at NYU. Since she was a small child, she's had nightmares and visions that impact her life in more ways than one. She is awarded an opportunity to go abroad to South Africa, where things go terribly wrong right after she sets foot off the plane; however, things begin to take a turn and her life shifts dramatically in an unexpected way.

The Phoenix Rising - Destiny Calls, is one of those novels that takes you through all kinds of emotions. I found myself laughing, sad, angry, rooting for Kay, and really loving all the characters that are so well portrayed and described in this novel. The detail and thoughtfulness the author put into each individual character was incredible.

While I am not sure I would necessarily classify this as a young adult novel, it is brilliantly written and an excellent novel for all fiction readers.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this novel as a gift from the author, Phenice Arielle, and I began reading it as soon as I received it. I was a bit intimidated by the size of the novel and was worried about how long it would take me to finish. I was unprepared for this book to suck me in from page one and keep me on edge throughout the entirety of the novel. I am in LOVE with this story. I admit though, I'm upset with the end because it broke my heart and I'm now DYING to read the second book in this series.

Kay was amazing. A little on the stuck up side at the beginning and through a bit of the book, but as time went on she grew into the woman who would be a good idol for children. Kay's tale throughout the entire novel was amazing and a whole lot different than I had expected.

The Phoenix Rising: Destiny Calls is one of my favorite books of 2014 and I will be anticipating the release of the second book in the series and cannot wait to read the rest of this series.

I also, in this review must thank Phenice Arielle for letting me read her novel. It is a fantastic novel, though I know it's not for everyone, but a very good debut novel for Phenice!

Also, I want Milkshake!!!!!!!!!!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I review this novel I just want to know where Phenice Arielle got her inspiration for it?!?! It was an amazing book! I couldn't put it down!! I am on the edge waiting for the next one!! This novel was given to me by the amazing, creative author to review honestly.

This novel is about a young woman who is in her junior year in college studying journalism. Her name is Nanyamka Apiyo Morowa, also known as Kay. Basically she falls in love and that's when everything changes. She's been having nightmares since she was eight years old and one in particular tares her away from everything she's ever known and loved. You follow her through a journey that is so unexpected you don't want to put the story down. There are several twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat! This is definitely a 5 Star novel and should be on everyone's reading list.

[Veronica W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed to receive an advance copy of The Phoenix Rising – Destiny calls from the author. This was a very well written novel and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Ms. Arielle’s storyline was both engaging and very visual. As she shifted between the past and the present, I felt like I was watching a film instead of reading a novel, with the detail she provided on her characters. This story is a journey through the main character’s life to fulfill her destiny. It is also her embracing a side of herself that she had never known and is challenged to embrace. It is a very powerful tale of growth, sacrifice, family, honor, faith, spirit and loss. Ms. Arielle creativity is amazing and I am looking forward to reading her upcoming novels in the series.

[Carolyn Keel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.

It was fantastic. Reading this book was like watching Avatar (the beautiful one with the blue Naavi people, not the kid's cartoon on Nickelodeon.) It was a BEAUTIFUL book set in a whole new world. The plot and characterization were both spot-on, and the action was set at a the perfect pace.

However, the imagery was what really sold me on the novel. It was simply ... just breathtakingly beautiful. I know I've said beautiful in this review a lot, and I know it's not one of my best reviews, all told... but honestly, there is no other word that fits. It's just a BEAUTIFUL book.

There wasn't a single page in this book that I didn't enjoy. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

It was great.

[Toni Michelle-Editor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the story and Kay’s mission for peace. This book is really long but it’s quite good. There were some slower areas in the book that weren’t too interesting but for the most part it was full of action. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the fantasy world and although it has a bit of love in it. I don’t think I could really recommend it to those into love stories. Many fantasy stories have big love scenes; this one just isn’t one of them. But that does not take away from the enjoyment!
There is more fighting action in it so if that’s what you seek, you should give this book a shot.
I really enjoyed it.

[Chande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying the author gave me this book for my honest review. I would like to thank her so much for the chance to read such a good book!! I can honestly say that I loved it. It is not a short book but it feels like it is because you will be done reading before you know it. I had a very hard time putting it down . You will just keep turning the pages because it will keep your interest page after page. There is a lot of action adventure and a nice love story to keep you wanting more. I think this would make a really good movie. It is a good book for young adult and old!!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. This book is simply amazing story with a beautiful cover. You are engaged and invested from the very beginning. The Phoenix Rising will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. You will laugh, you will cry, you will get lost inside the story. If you are a fan of either The Hunger Games Trilogy or The Game Of Thrones series I would recommend reading this book. I am very much looking forward to the next book.

I was given a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Jan farnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rec’d this book from the author for an honest review. This book was amazing. The author totally took me to Africa brought me back and then wrenched my heart out. I am totally in awe of where this story is going to go. I even told the author i could not write my review right away cause i was an emotional wreck. If you want a good descriptive story unlike anything you probably read this is the book for you.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just start with I loved this book and all the turns it takes you through!!! This book takes a look at faith without being religious. The characters are well developed and continue to learn about themselves and develope as you get attached to them. There are a few turns that surprise you as you become attached to different characters :-). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a life journey book with a little of a love story thrown in with it!!!

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author sent me a free copy to read and review. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next book in the series. It is an amazing, very different story from a very talented author. There are many unexpected twists and a big cliffhanger at the end. It was an emotional roller coaster of a story and one that will make you think long after you finish reading it.

[Alaina Maxam · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. REALLYENJOYED THIS BOOK. IT WAS HARD TO PUT DOWN. IT IS INTRIGUING TO FIND OUT ALL THE CONNECTIONS OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK. I COULDN'T HELP BUT WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS NEXT. I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK

[Olivia McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even begin to describe how amazing this book was. How can I possibly wait for the sequel.....

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story glad I finally picked it up to read it. Look forward to see whats next

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First a disclaimer, the author provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Also, there are some spoilers contained in this review.

OK, so first let me say that I really liked the plot of this novel. It's very different from anything that I have read so I really appreciated that. It kept me interested the whole time and I really felt like i could relate to the main character, Kay. Even though she was put into some crazy situations, I still feel that the actions she took were similar to what I would have done if I were in that same situation. I really liked the diversity and culture present in this book. It's not a cookie cutter story, some major themes are similar to other YA novels, but the environment and characters give it a whole new twist. Also, the ending really got me! I was outraged, then hopeful, then excited, and then sad because the book ended.

You may be wondering why I only gave this 3 stars when my review so far has been glowing. Well there were some issues with this novel as well.

1. The constant flashbacks and dreams are really confusing and throw the story off a bit. It was hard at times to remember if I was in the past or the present or a dream. Would have been really nice if those sections were perhaps written in italics, or a different font, just something that lets the reader know that they aren't currently reading about the present.

2. Some of the dialog seemed really unnatural or fake. For example, Kay is a university student and it really concerned with her class rank (i.e. freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) and the university even holds a party only for students that are juniors. I don't know how her school is but this seems really strange. Yes, class rank is given a lot of importance in high school, but definitely not in college, at least not to the degree in this novel. Also, with some of the dialog, when characters are talking to each other, they constantly say each other's names. This seemed really strange to me. When we are talking to someone, we don't say their name every time we talk. Once you are engaged in conversation, it's pretty clear who you are talking to. On a kind of related note, some explanations and descriptions throughout the book were just too wordy. It really felt like a lot of things could be taken out the book as they are not needed. This would harm the story itself in no way and would actually make the flow of it improved.

3. Finally, and a big one for me, there were quite a few inconsistencies in the story. This (along with the previously stated issues) really made it feel like this book didn't have an editor. For example, on page 180 Kay's says that her mother never told her where the butterfly blanket came from, only that she received it on a trip. However, on page 75, when Kay's mom recounts the story of receiving Kay, she mentions that Kay was wrapped in the butterfly blanket when she took her from her birth mother. As another example, on page 79 Kay says that she picked up her coat and stormed out of the house. However, just one paragraph later, she says that she is cold because she left her coat at the dance the night before and never brought it with her. There are a few other inconsistencies like these that I noticed while reading as well. As a reader, this types of mistakes really irk me and take me out of the story because I have to stop and go back and check what the author wrote previously to make sure I'm not remembering it wrong. Real buzz kill.

So, overall, I did enjoy this book. My issues with it were fairly minor and could be fixed with a good editor. The story itself was extremely interesting and I enjoyed it immensely. I really hope the author comes through with a sequel (and hopefully a better editor) as I would love to read it!

[I · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This book was given to me for free by the author in exchange for an honest review*

This book is the literal definition to why I love books.
Honestly, books are a place where you can take any idea that you have and develop it in the way you want to. There is so much talent out there that you probably will never get to experience everyone's offerings in the world.

I am glad that I got to experience this showcase of talent.

I will admit that before reading this book I was a little skeptical about how I would react. From the synopsis and the cover (I know kill me about the "Don't judge a book by its cover" thing but I can't help it) I thought that this book was going to lean towards the fantasy YA book genre which I am not especially fond of.

However, this book was not too out of this world and was very balanced when it came to the supernatural. Actually I would say limited use of fantasy elements were involved (because I swear if there was a dragon out of nowhere I would have flung the book across the room).

The book starts off by introducing us to the normal college girl Kay Morowa.

The only thing that is not normal about her is her wicked dreams or nightmares and intense visions.

As the book's title implies destiny takes Kay upon her awesome adventure.

And I mean AWESOME.

I commend the author on the plot of the story which was very unique and had very few unnecessary points. Most of the writing was relevant, even the romance aspect.

It all tied into the characters journey through the book.

I especially appreciated how the author illustrates the main characters development and growth. You can feel a gradual change in Kay all the way up until the end of the book.

The book contained lots of surprising twists without being too out of nowhere and the writing style was a little different but I got used to the format.

The author would have the narrator describe something in the present and also go back in time. The narrator would also have visions of danger that were blended into the story seamlessly before revealing that those events didn't actually occur... it was merely one of Kay's nightmares. Even later in the book when anything surprising happened, I held my breath until I was absolutely sure that it wasn't just a dream or vision.

I could not believe the ending of this book, and I actually had to read it a couple of times to actually wrap my brain around what had happened.

Since I am not going to spoil anything all I will say is I am extremely excited for another book... heck I usually get annoyed by authors writing lots of sequels but this book could even warrant two more books. It was just THAT GOOD.

I can't wait to see where this thrilling adventure will go next!

-Iman

Follow me on Goodreads @ Iman Oza
Contact me: jenminoa0820@gmail.com
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Check out this book: http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Rising-...

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

**please note: I received this book by the author in exchange for an honest review** so here goes:
I will try to avoid any definitive book spoilers where possible. This is not going to explain what happened in the book, just my impressions.

There are some novels that spend the whole time getting you to a particular place and then when you get there it's not as good as what you envisioned. This is not one of those novels. The "Paradise" that was found in this book was meticulously and carefully described, better than I could have hoped to get as an idealized impression of this place. I would read it again for the parts of the book that painted such a pretty picture in beautiful phrases. In a time when I read dystopian societies one after another, it was a breath of fresh air to encounter the utopia (sadly, I remained cynical about it for a third of the book! I didn't expect humanity. Maybe I need to reflect on my choices of book selections.)

That being said, there was a lot of foreshadowing and "little did we know" as well as "soon we would see" that once there I was kind of annoyed I didn't get to be surprised or taken away by the experience. Sometimes it felt like overkill. Still, the Callum Kay relationship was all about mysteries (with those "soon it'll be clear" innuendos) that I'm hoping will continue in the ongoing books of the series, but i didn't need to be so hand-held.

Especially after reading the end, realizing that the entire beginning was a foreshadowing for a whole different book is a little much. The end of the book (bringing you back to the beginning chapter) was clearly a cliffhanger to get you to read the next one, but without having read it yet, I am ambivalent. It didn't end with too many loose ends, mainly one sledgehammer of a "to be continued..." Usually, I prefer the books where I finish and think: that was great, but I still wonder about ::fill in the blank:: and am then grateful for the idea of a sequel helping clarify that story. This ending felt a bit hollywood (great for a movie ending when the sequel's coming out soon, but abrupt for a book).

A personal pet peeve of mine in books is when authors use a term (maybe for effect) but the meaning is not accurate. I was grateful when "night terrors" became the much more appropriate term of nightmare or vision. While it may be terrifying to have those, a night terror implies no memories after. (Thus endeth the lesson on sleep disorders).

All this being said, I still want to know what happens, since like a phoenix, I'm guessing Kay will be rising to continue her journey. I can't wait to learn more about Beth and Callum, since I'm hoping those two have more layers that what has been shown to us so far. But I guess "soon we will see" :) I gave this rating as a combination of the book as a whole as well as the potential of what the series can become.

[Saritha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy by the author in exchange for an honest review. I have done my best to do so.

A well written story about Kay, an extremely talented NYU student who gets a coveted trip to South Africa & finds herself in an impossible situation & is forced to decide whether she is willing to sacrifice the life she’s lived all her life to help strangers, who don’t feel like strangers, to bring about peace.

The main character is Nanyamka Apiyo Morowa, nicknamed “Kay”, an ambitious young woman, who wishes to be a journalist & is working hard towards it. I liked her felt a connection to her. Another important character would be Callum, a guy who loves her a lot. I liked him a lot. Her friend Beth is a character who extremely fun & is like a sister to Kay.

The characters seem real & you feel a connection to them. They’re not perfect & you love them for it. I loved them & I felt that their varied mix of personalities was just the right mix for this story. Kay wins the coveted trip to South Africa that she had been trying so hard for. But the reception is not what she expected & she finds herself faced with a difficult choice - can she give up her family, friends & the life she’s lived until now & join a bunch of strangers, who, oddly enough, don’t feel like strangers, to fight to bring about peace.

I especially liked the scenes right after she gets to South Africa. & also the scenes where she is conflicted are written beautifully. You feel with her & I felt as if I was there in the story with her. The story made me alternate between laughing, crying, anxiety & sheer curiosity.

It was an extremely engaging book which keep me glued to my kindle till I reached the end. It was fresh, interesting & had just the right amount of plot twists to make for a very interesting story. I liked it & I can’t wait for the next book!

This is a copy/paste of my amazon review which can be found here

http://www.amazon.com/review/RRDID1R4...

[Ayn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided by the author for honest review.

This book is a first person account from Kay, a NYU Journalism student. Kay has been haunted by nightmares most of her life. Her parents sought out therapist to help her, but nothing worked. The nightmares were reoccurring and made Kay dread to sleep. Shortly after Kay starts her story, these nightmares start occurring during the day when she's awake. Kay only sees snippets without fully knowing the situation. She comes across various textbooks that hint to why she may be having them that cause her more anxiety - it can be a foreshadowing of what's to come. She's further alarmed after meeting the boy from her dreams in real life.

Kay receives a scholarship for a journalism internship in Africa. Once she gets to Africa, through a series of events, she finds herself far from where she expected. Instead of spending the summer studying journalism and gaining experience, she finds herself captive in a poachers camp, which is only the beginning to an incredible story of bravery, courage and discovery of oneself.

I have to admit, the story was a bit slow going at first. It didn't just jump into the action, but it worked. Arielle was excellent at giving details to paint the picture Kay would be seeing. She incorporated internal thoughts of Kay to help grasp what type of person she is. I kept reading because I was curious as to what was going on, how the dreams would connect, which wasn't revealed till about halfway through the book, when things really picked up. However, I think this worked well because by that point you have a good enough idea of who Kay is and her emotions, feeling and character so you experience the news with her. Like most books, the bulk of the epic action happens toward the last quarter, but it's well worth it! I definitely can't wait to read the sequel!

[Stephenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *
Upon receiving the book and glancing at the cover I wasn't sure that I would enjoy the book, I admit I was judging a book by it's cover, and I was soooo wrong. I enjoyed this book from start to finish. There were so many plot twists that I wasn't sure if I was coming or going. The story caught my attention right from the start and held it to the end....and now I wonder if there will be another. The ending could be the end, but it could also segway into another book with no problem (I started to make up the next one in my head). I loved the characters, the dynamics between the characters as well as the connections that were made between them all. I felt like I was a part of the story and wondered how I could find my way to the little section of paradise that is in the jungles of Africa. It was so descriptive that I felt like I was a part of the whole thing. I was slightly dismayed by the way the plot twisted at the end and when "Kay" returned to her "home", as I loved her as Queen of the village, however, perhaps the next book will explain more about the decisions that were made at the end. I felt for all of the characters as they made the discovery of who they were, how they were impacted and I enjoyed learning more about the poaching camps. It felt so real and I could feel for the characters. Overall it was a well written story with lot's of twists, minor relationship drama, family and caring. It was a good book that I would recommend to others. Don't be alarmed by the size of the book (over 500 pages) as it will fly by. There were a few typos, and misspellings but nothing that would prevent the reader from understanding. Pick this one up and enjoy!

[Fille · Rating 4 out of 5]

***This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.***

Ms. Arielle’s writing style is very descriptive. Descriptive writing can be a great thing, as it paints a vivid, lovely picture in the reader’s head. The reader sees what the character sees, smells, and hears at a very thorough fashion. While this type of writing adds to the reading experience, it can be slightly grueling to read. Scenes are very drawn out, making for a longer novel, but extremely worth it if time is taken to enjoy it, it is beautiful.

This book really packs a punch as there is a LOT going on. I knew the story was considered fantasy before I read it, but I wasn’t sure what I was getting into from the cover. It’s so cool! From the beginning it seems like it’s going to be a contemporary story about a girl in college who has weird dreams and BAM! Kay travels to Africa and a whole mess of other excitement happens.

I’ve never read anything set in Africa before. It was a really nice change because it seems most YA books are set in the US. The author’s descriptive writing worked really well here, as I have no idea what the area might be like. The African

The only thing that threw me off was the flashbacks, particularly in the beginning of the book. It’s not the book’s fault entirely as time travel has always confused me. The font would change but it would be really abrupt and it wasn’t always clear when the scene ended.

Overall exciting book! It was very different from anything I’ve read before. There were lots of plot twists and something new was always happening! There is supposed to be a sequel and I can’t wait!

[Carrie (The Butterfly Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay where do I start? My thoughts are totally everywhere. I planned to do an actual review but every time I try it just turns into a huge giant fangirl mess. So, as I'm sure you can see I LOVE this book! It's so just... I don't even have words! I will say it does start slow but once it picks up, it's so freaking amazing! So if you get this book just hang in there through the first part, it's well worth your time!

I don't want to talk too much about the book because I will spoil it and that would be awful. But the characters are my favorite part about this book, though don't get me wrong, the plot is fantastic and pretty dang original but the characters take the gold. I love Kay, she is a wonderful character. She is someone I would love to have as a friend. We'd get along perfectly.

The downside, the flashbacks, yes the author does use a method to show the reader where they start and stop but I still sometimes found myself a little confused with them. When I did get the hang of it, it was pretty easy to follow. But that's the reason I did knock off a star, it will probably turn some readers off but I swear this book is just so good push through it. It really does get easier the more you get used to it.

One last major warning, this book leaves off on a cliff hanger and if you're anything like me than it will drive you crazy wishing you had the next book in your hands!

*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Marsha Cunnings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin.

I'm completely in love with these characters.

So I laughed within the first few pages and was totally hooked by the first few chapters. I actually gasped out loud several times during the book.

It's about a NYU student named Kay Morowa. She is studying to be a journalist and seems to be at the top of her class when she finds out a huge secret about her family. By chance, or destiny, she scores an apprenticeship all the way in South Africa that she hops a plane to, leaving all her family and friends behind (including her love interest the handsome and intensely loving Callum, whose relationship with Kay we initially learn about in a series flashbacks). Kay meanwhile has been terrorized by nightmares about being attacked by a woman with an ivory dagger and who upon arriving in the beautiful Africa, an explosion happens and soon all Kay's greatest fears are then realized.

I loved everything about this book. I loved the characters. I loved the way it was written. There is plenty of action, suspense, cliffhangers, humor and to die for love interests. I loved the lessons that it teaches, including some of a new language! and it's also very relevant to certain current events in the world.

I had so much fun reading this book. It was truly wonderful.

[Erica Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one if tough to rate. Part 1 was definitely 5 stars for me, but then after that the book dragged for a little but once it picked up it was so entertaining that I was hooked all over again.

This book is so descriptive that you feel like you are right there in Africa with Kay. In the beginning she thinks she is crazy because she has these crazy dreams but it turns out she is not so crazy at all. Her parents are keeping something big from her that she finds out right before she leaves on her journalism trip to Africa.

In part 1 Callum is introduced who she really likes but then she dreams about him and it is too much for her to handle to she leaves him. I loved him. He was only briefly in part 1 but what he contributed to the story I liked a lot. I don't want to give anything away that happens in Africa because it is part of the allure of the book. The story over all is really good and I can't wait for book 2. What I loved was that this is a long full book, it isn't a short story that ended abruptly. It was full and the end is crazy that left me wanting more but I also felt fulfilled. I can't wait!

So I remember when book 2 comes out. At the end Kay is back in the US and giving a conference and is stabbed with ivory by her sister. She is pronounced dead and her parents and Callum believe her to be. But it turns out she is not somehow! Can't wait!